Alison Moyet / Alf reissue due in Nov

This would happen. She’s so over-acclaimed, I’m surprised these things weren’t out years ago. It won’t help “Alf”-an overrated, dated mishmash of style over substance as it was then. “Raindancing” is a huge improvement, but even that has a couple of dodgy stodge on it. But why they all need 2 discs I’ll never know, I can only assume it’s to do with the untouchable critical glow she basks in, much like with the even worse Eurythmics. All Kim Wilde’s RAK/EMI albums just got 1 disc and that was it and even worse, the 12″s of several early singles are no different to the 3 minute 7″s.

Sandra, Voice Of The Beehive, China Crisis, Til Tuesday, Alphaville are top 80s acts that STILL don’t their album reissued, or maybe just one in a couple of cases. As for Kirsty MacColl, that only happened AFTER she horribly passed and even then, her barely known locked away but completed “Real” album stays locked away by Polydor/Universal. I’ve requested it several times and they pretend to answer, but have no intention (predictably) of doing anything about it. Much of the blame can go to ex-hubby producer Steve Lilywhite, who should have fought for it, and actually found it in 2004 but only pulled a few tracks from it for a boxed set in her name released in 2005.

They are all £12 on http://www.lexermusic.com/alison-moyet.

I am sure they will also be available elsewhere to pre-order soon.

I wonder what the delay is on them putting up preorder prices for these or are we in for a shock.

I noticed that the bonus track “Take Of Me” appears on both the Hoodoo and Essex reissues. I remember that it was a b-side on the cd single of “It Won’t Be Long” in 1991 and then a bonus track on the US cd version of Essex in 1994, but I don’t recall there being a difference in the versions. It seems odd to include it on both reissues so I wonder if there might be an alternate version? Anyone know about this?

For the record, the ‘new version’ of For You Only was also released as a single here in New Zealand. And while it didn’t crack the Top 40, it received a LOT of airplay at the time. I remember being very disappointed when I heard the LP version. It sounds incredibly sparse in comparison. Really excited to be getting this on CD finally!

Alison Moyet should have released a 12″ Album like Howard Jones

Suggested tracklist

Side 1
That Ole Devil Called Love (Jazz Version)
Love Resurrection (Long Version)
All Cried Out (The Remix)

Side 2
For You Only (Extended New Version)
Invisible (Extended Version)
Don’t Burn Down The Bridge (Extended Version)

I have been waiting so long for this that I honestly did not believe it was true!

Why was ‘Our Colander Eyes’ withdrawn?

Track 18 on Essex is a little bit cheeky. That is a Lightning Seeds track that features Alison, not the other way around.

Quite a few of these tracks have already been released on some (mustn’t talk about) unofficial CD singles and one of them has an extended mix of Honey For The Bees on it. Does anyone know if that was that ever going to be a single and then presumably shelved?

I’ve got an amazing alternate version of ‘Ode to Boy’ that was included on a free music magazine compilation CD. It’s so much better than album version, I’m surprised it’s not part of this release.

Thanks so much BMG, what took you so long? I have been after a remastered from the original tapes version of ALF by Alison Moyet like forever, not to mention the additional three other albums slated for release. ALF was Alison’s first solo record and was a big hit. I jammed and jammed to that album and wore my vinyl out, yes I am that old. I sometimes feel that the record labels don’t really know what a goldmine they have with some of these artists so when they release critically acclaimed albums like ALF, it is a sensation. I know I plan to get ALF and the other four releases and can’t wait until November!

Brilliant news! I will be buying “Alf” & “Raindancing” as soon as they’re released!

Fantastic news! To have this and Dead Or Alive in the space of a few weeks is amazing stuff. These are so long overdue and while the track lists look to be quite ‘safe’ (am sure there must be more unreleased gems from each of those era’s as well as the missing mixes already noted) it does bode well for any future releases of Moyet material and the news that both Moyet and Dead Or Alive are now working on new albums has made my year!

Question for collectors…

During the Hoodoo era, in Europe, we had 12inch discs for:

It Won’t Be Long
Wishing You Were Here
Back Where I Belong (Promo)
This House

The USA had a 12inch Promo for Hoodoo.

Does anyone know if the Hoodoo single ever had any European releases?

Cheers.

Woohoo! This makes my year. I have been waiting for deluxe versions of these four albums for years.

A little disappointed the Ode to Boy remixes aren’t included. I don’t particularly like them, but the completist in me needs them on CD.

Also would be nice to have the rejected Essex album at some point, but I’m not holding my breath for that.

In the words of Alan Carr: Chatty Man, “What a week it’s been!”

First Kate Bush, then Yazz, now Alison Moyet – a great week for me (but a terrible week for my wallet when the releases drop!)

Plus with Crowded House, Dead Or Alive, DJ Shadow and great deals on Blondie and Graham Parker, it’s actually been a great 4-6 weeks.

But as a paranoid/pessimistic person, I get the horrible feeling I’m now going to have a terrible 4-6 weeks very soon…

That’s true. The dub version of “whispering your name” should be on the second disc of “essex”. all copies of the promo vinyl 12″ i heard are not in a good quality. Sadly.
With all the other missing promo 12″ versions “essex” would better a 3cd set. but i’m very happy with “alf” – especially with “the remix” !!
maybe a few demos would be good to hear from “alf” because i love all the things
producers jolley/swain did ( bananarama / imagination ). I’m sure that they did demo’s and alternative / dub versions like they did with imagination and bananarama. But they must save material for a “super deluxe edition” of “alf” in the future. I still think that a 12″ version of “honey for the bees” is possibly in the vaults… it sounds so edited on the “alf” album… but all together this is very good news from the alison moyet front !!

I was lucky enough to see Ms Moyet when she played Nile Rogers’ FOLD festival at Fulham Palace in the summer. She was fab, and the audience loved her. Her set was all too short.

I wonder if she’ll receive any royalties from these reissues?

Beautiful.. I am over the moon !

Curious if “There Are Worse Things I Could Do” will be a studio recording. I’ve only heard a live version on Singles/Live compilation.

@Paul S, thank you for this post. I definitely will get the first 2 albums & perhaps when the price is right (lower) will get the other 2 for the Kevorian mixes & other mixes.

Agree with the others, original label/record company always opted for original album with no bonus on CD1! While Cherry Red/Pop & Demon/Edsel will do that, giving us the fans more bonus tracks.

A boxset with bonus CD is nice but I’d prefer a 2CD/3CD-set Remixes & Rarities :D

Great to see these finally reissued. I worked on rereleasing these numerous times several years back ; every time we got close they were blocked. Lovely to see them finally unleashed!!

WOO HOO !

If the record company would have a brain -which I know they don’t safe for a few people- they would issue this also as a box set with all 4 expanded albums including a additional bonus disc of the unreleased remixes mentioned above. Would be a big seller for sure. Make it a ltd edition. Will be sold out in a heartbeat. The entire SDE.com community have been waiting for these reissues. Do it right for once.

Am excited about these releases for sure. Will be able to ‘recycle’ quite a bit of vinyl and CDs (I need the space). Is nice to see something come out that has been wished for repeatedly on this site over the years.

Was reviewing the tracklistings earlier in the week and the following seem to be missing:
All Cried Out – Extended Version (6:51) which Paul explained above. Is interesting that this version was featured on so80s4 since it was already on the album release (which I didn’t know before).

Don’t Burn Down The Bridge (Live) 5:02 from the Sleep Like Breathing 12″

Rise (Live) and Wishing You Were Here (Live) from one of the Whispering Your Name CD singles

F.O.S. from the US Whispering Your Name CD single (as pointed out above)

Whispering Your Name (The Whispers In The Morning Mix) 6:08 by Paul Goodyear from one of the Aussie CD Singles

Whispering Your Name (Dub) from the UK promo 12″ (as pointed out above)

The Ode To Boy mixes as pointed out above. The Factory Mix from the CD is over 9 minutes so maybe that is why it was omitted.
Factory Mix (on CD single and 12″)
N.Y.-L.A. Mix, N.Y.-L.A. Dub, Factory Dub 2 from the 12″

First Time (Are You Sure It’s Your…..) – Mark Saunders First Time Every I Saw Your Face remix from one of the First Time… and Solid Wood CD singles

First Time Ever I Saw Your Face – Attica Blue Mo Wax white label 12″

Ne Me Quitte Pas states ‘Acoustic’; is this the same version on the Essential compilation?

The 11 live tracks from the 2CD version of the 1996 Singles compilation

Others?

I think Alison has come around a little on the first couple albums.

I don’t think it’s necessarily the songs as the production and the process she went through to make them.

They were very mid-80s slick, which is why I think she reworked some of them slightly on her last tour.

I have noticed the last few years she is more open to what the fans want, and while she continues with new music, she knew her fans from the last 35 years want these original four remastered/reissued.

And I’m sure she will be happy with the $$ too! LOL

Really wish they would do the Yaz stuff again – they did that box that was A) really expensive and B) not in print very long.

And the individual CD’s aren’t even available anymore as remasters.

Wonderful news and release!

Since All Cried Out (7″) is widely available on several compilations I’m not too bummed about it.
I wish these albums would also be released as a boxset though.

That’s my wife’s Christmas stocking sorted!

Sadly we like the albums more than she does. Such a shame.

From the website; ‘Stay tuned for news in 2017 of Vinyl releases’

I’ll purchase at least the first two albums on vinyl, and all four CD sets. Exciting!. I hope the packaging is high quality. A pity Alison isn’t signing any of these but then given the popularity of her early albums she’d probably end up with severe RSI

Paul… Will they come out on Vinyl do You know?

I found the second 12″ of Invisible in a record store in Vancouver a few years ago for 33c, didn’t even know about it until then. Loved the first two albums but only had Raindancing on cassette, which I didn’t bring with me to Canada. Finally managed to find a Canadian vinyl Pressing for $5 and since then have found two for $1-2 after years of searching for the initial one. These releases look interesting.

At long f*cking last! The “Invisible” remixes available on CD! ☺

Is the 7″ of “All Cried Out” available on a greatest hits album even?

Absolutely incredible!!!! We have waited years for this. Even on the last tour AM said this was still stuck in the record company pipeline. To see this released now is a dream come true for all fans!

Naturally the content is incredible. The first two releases are great as most of the content is not on CD. The single version of ‘All Cried Out’ is already on CD so I don’t mind it being omitted, but I agree it’s inclusion would have made a more complete set.

With regards Hoodoo and Essex, these are great but most of the previously released material is on CD anyway but it’s nice to have them compiled here. Yet is it great to have the CD debut of Getting Into Something (Midnight Mix). However, sadly Whispering Your Name (Dub) is missing which was only available on a 12inch promo.

Also, it’s odd Ode to Boy remixes haven’t been represented here! The Factory Mix is already on CD, but these only appear on vinyl; N.Y.- L.A. Mix, N.Y.- L.A. Dub, Factory Dub 1, Factory Dub 2.

It’s awesome to have some new unreleased material from these eras, but a little more research could have made an awesome set of releases a little better!

:-)

My body does one GIANT sigh of relief. FINALLY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I love Alison Moyet and these albums were obviously way overdue. I’m glad they added all the remixes and then some. Couldn’t be happier. I will be getting all 4 of them for sure.
A great week with Alison Moyet, Hipsway and Yazz reissues. Thank you Paul.

This is fantastic news – really looking forward to getting these!

Finally they’re coming!

Curious as to why This House was on Raindancing; was this track originally recorded for that album?

Nice to see most of the single versions too (Essex takes the cake for this, bar the single version of Getting Into Something).

I like the sound of the packaging too. Loving the casebound book sets, and I look forward to seeing these in those sets as well. So glad to see these!

What a great week with this and Kate Bush. Would love some Sade reissues next!

In a way I like it that they kept the albums as they were originally released. On the other hand, it would have been nice if non-album tracks would have been moved from the second to the first disk, so the second disk could be fully used for remixes, live versions, etc. That way all the missing tracks/mixes could have been included (except for ‘Essex’, because there are just too many versions and mixes to fit on two cd’s).
I think at least ‘F.O.S.’ (b-side to ‘Whispering your name’) should have been included. This way, at least a version all released songs would have been presented on these re-issues.
Nevertheless, I’m very much looking forward to the new editions of all four albums.

With regards to BMG releasing these instead of Sony, it would appear according to BMG’S website that when SonyBMG separated again BMG retained the rights to some artists work such as Kylie Minogue AND Alison Moyet.

Kylie isn’t so much a surprise as she was signed to deConstruction, a previously BMG label, however since Alison was a CBS artist, later Columbia both Sony Labels, it does seem surprising that BMG would have retained her rights. But most of the time I don’t really understand how it all works anyway.

been waiting all week to order this! all 4 are must haves!
Paul, thanks 4 highlighting the omission of key 7″. shame it ain’t complete
still it’s 32 years since Alf…

I will be getting all four – it is about time these albums are re-issued and expanded.