Associates two-CD deluxe editions

Does anybody know whether the new version of ‘Sulk’ SOUNDS good? I have a copy of the 2000 remaster and have always felt that it sounds compressed and a little ‘lifeless’, like gated effects were used during the recording or something similar. It just doesn’t sound “exciting”. I played an album by Puressence immediately after listening to the 2000 version of ‘Sulk’ and in comparison, it sounds much more exciting, more live, more everything.

I don’t want to do ‘Sulk’ an injustice, for I actually love the songs on it – ‘Skipping’ is amazing, for instance – but the album suffers in that it sounds like I’m listening to a C90 cassette rather than a remastered CD.

I’m keen to know whether they’ve made it sound more “open” during the latest remastering.

The Sulk reissue is glorious – and I was a doubter.
I put a full review on Amazon – it really is Better This Way.

For us who have followed Associates for some time there are very few new songs on the reissues- all the same, its going to be hard not to buy these…

Head over to PLEDGEMUSIC, they have multiple formats available… some of them signed!!!And they are cheaper than Amazon…
On another point, I can clearly remember them being on top of the pops (1982?) and that episode was the first and last time that I liked every song they played (New Order, Wah!, Soft Cell etc etc)

Buying the 3 cd reissues here cost less than Amazon UK and I assume more $ goes to Alan and Mike :

http://www.pledgemusic.com/projects/associates

They have a Pledgemusic campaign going as with vinyl and signed editions as well as other goodies.

All four pre-ordered. Enjoyed a few of the comments on here (Joe MacPherson dashing around LA back in the day) and nice to see someone involved in the production commenting.

Personally I recall Ripping Records in Edinburgh being given an ‘exclusive’ promo of Party Fears Two on condition they played it on repeat for the weekend preceding release – which they did. Loudly. Also remember the gig at the Assembly Rooms in Edinburgh being rescheduled again and again, much to my chagrin. Later bumped into Billy regularly when studying in Dundee in the mid-80s with his beloved whippets. Or were they greyhounds? RIP Mr Mackenzie.

@2wicky

I fully agree with you. The (re)mastering on the V2 re-release was terrible. I gave up trying to listen to it and reverted to my original Sulk CD from WEA. There was a huge loss of dynamic range on many of the so called remasters from the 2000s (The Cure, Duran Duran, Heaven 17 etc.) so I hope that the remastering will be more in line with the original (non brickwalled) CD. If it sounds terrible, it can in any case be returned as faulty product. Amazon are quite good like that.

Record Store Day also sees a 7″ blue-green vinyl release of Party Fears Two /Australia (Previously unreleased version produced by John Leckie)

Question for Ian – if ‘And Then I Read A Book” and “Australia” are previously unreleased versions, does that imply the versions that appeared on the V2 version of Sulk are the only things from those reissues not ‘ported over to these new ones?

Still waiting for Sulk to appear on Amazon :-(

I took the chance and listened to my CD copy of ‘Sulk’ again yesterday, I have the V2 reissue and I must say it really sounds terribly tinny and harsh. Really looking forward to a proper remaster which brings full glory to this and their other albums.
I’d also appreciate a deluxe version of ‘Perhaps’, imho it’s their most exalted piece of work and it may be a bit overproduced but it’s a great album nevertheless and musically catches some of the prevalent spirit of the mid 80s, a mixture of some decadence and cold war angst. The existing cd release unfortunately has no bonus tracks at all.

Ian, thanks so much for the update. It sounds like so much care and attention has (rightly) gone in to these reissues and, despite any quibbling over exclusions, these are certainly the most comprehensive versions yet. So, many thanks to everyone concerned. I’m delighted regarding the press coverage too.
I, too, hope this leads to more. The Perhaps era, for example, is rich (even if the original recordings remain ‘lost’, Annie Lennox et al) there’s multiple remixes and instrumental versions, the Orbidoig single, Take Me to the Girl single (with the wonderful The Girl That Took Me b-side), Live at Ronnie Scott’s etc.

Perhaps, EW99. Maybe my memory is faulty – I don’t have access to my vinyl here – but I am sure that the original promo 12″ (from 1982?) I have says Club Country Club. I can check next month and update you.

I understand from various comments that this release is limited by master availability. That said, Johnny Law is pretty spot on with the omissions cited. Adding them would make a stronger package and doubtless increase sales.

+1 to Ian for his comments. He is right – of course – and I for one will be buying all of them. I just hope that the mastering gives us back the dynamic range lost on the V2 releases.

Strange how The Affectionate Punch is quite a bit cheaper on Amazon Germany than it is on Amazon UK (£11.80 vs £18.40)

Great to see these. That said, these re-releases could definitely be improved and should be better.

1. Sulk

I too hope that they include the proper version of Club Country again. It would also be nice also to get back the dynamic range that we lost on the V2 re-release. I have the original Warners CD – audio is actually surprisingly good – and the V2 re-release audio quality was dire by comparison. Do we know anything about the master source?

Rather than this so-called “deluxe” I’d actually prefer a definitive edition of Sulk. By my calculations there’s at least 30 minutes available for the many missing tracks and versions. Instrumental of Party Fears 2 is nice indeed but we’re missing basic stuff like other extended, remixed or single versions. This could all be very easily appended to the release. I might actually buy it then. Also, the 12″ of Club Country is not Club Country 12″ it’s actually called Club Country Club ;)

2. Perhaps

I second the call for a 2CD of Perhaps. I’d happily pay top dollar for the cassette version on CD. How about a deluxe version with a satin inlaid box and 5.1 mixes? I’d love to hear 5.1 mixes of tracks like Breakfast, Those (Extended) First Impressions, 13 Feelings etc. It seems incredible that this was only released on CD with The Glamour Chase back in 2002. Hopefully, they will do something worthwhile for Perhaps this time around.

Not much to add except for agreeing that there are too many exclusions to call these deluxe editions. But then there are so many versions out there of tracks it is hard to keep up!
When Sulk was last rereleased in 2000 a music industry sampler CD called The Tipsheet featured Party Fears Two that was a unique extended mix.
Also the magnificient version of Breakfast live at Ronnie Scotts which featured on a NME free single has never had a CD release so that would be awesome.

Didn’t they do a Blondie cover version? I could be wrong.

Richie

Your attitude is ridiculously close-minded. So much for liberal tolerance.

It’s fantastic to have these albums reissued – they should never be out of circulation. V2 and (original Associate) Michael Dempsey made a superb job of the 2000 reissues, and these new versions by and large augment and expand on those so they should sound great. However, it should be noted there are a few songs from rarities compilation Double Hipness that don’t appear to have made the grade.
New inclusions that I’m looking forward to include Schmoltz (or Schmaltz?), The Tree That Never Sang and the alternate Skipping. I’m really hoping that the version of Australia is the unreleased funkier mix which could have been a single – it is fantastic. And perhaps the version of Ulcragyceptimol is the original B-side version (the version on the 2000 issue was an alternate version).
Inevitably, as a fan, I’m a bit disappointed by the exclusions, among which, for Sulk, are B-sides A.G. It’s You Again and Voluntary Wishes Swap it Productions, both of which are alternate versions themselves (the first being Arrogance Gave Him Up, the second being a heavily-treated largely instrumental Australia). And if you want to dig even deeper, also not included are Mark Arthurworrey’s ‘controversial’ remixes of Party Fears Two and It’s Better This Way from the U.S. album version.
From the earlier years, there’s still a few Mental Torture-era tracks to see the light of day (though admittedly Eloise and Jukebox Bucharest are among the better remaining) as well as alternate ‘rock’ version/ demos of Logan Time and Double Hipness.
The Associates back catalogue is full of marvels and is a surprisingly deep well, considering the MacKenzie/Rankine era only lasted three albums. It’s great to have them back.

Where is the extended mix of Party Fears Two ?

I may be wrong but some of the “unreleased tracks”here looks released yet… I guess Associates fans deserve a bit more than this.

I’m up for any release that keeps The Associatesa In the spotlight. These albums are extraordinary , exceptional and underappreciated. I’m happy to buy them all again (this will be my third time!).

Now I know, at last, some dreams really do come true. I’ve waited decades for The Associates complete catalogue of music to be available, at last. I do hope all of their albums get this treatment!!
I’m guessing most of you writing comments for this column live in the UK, or on the Continent. In the 1980’s as well as the 1990’s. you could actually hear The Associates on the radio, see them perform on television, watch their videos on television, or see them on the screens in a myriad of bars or dance clubs. You became instantly familiar with them. Buying their music was as easy as going to any record store, and the selections were there, readily available to you.
It wasn’t like that in the USA. The Associates essentially got close to zero radio airplay, with the exception of a small number of scattered college radio stations across the nation. Here in L.A., across the FM dial, only 2 stations actually played their music, and it wasn’t often: 88.9 KXLU, out of Loyola Marymount College, and 89.9, KCRW, broadcasting from a basement in Santa Monica College. A few enlightened, sympathetic DJs on these 2 stations would play The Associates. It didn’t happen often, but I was overjoyed when the rare moment occurred that I was hearing Billy MacKenzie’s voice reach to the stratosphere.
The only reason I knew of The Associates, was because every single week, I went into Hollywood and bought the UK music papers Melody Maker, New Musical Express and Sounds. Through these papers, with their insightful reporting and obsession on always seeking out the very latest in UK music, I read interviews with The Associates, learned of the live performances, discovered yet another new 45 RPM or 12″ record was being released- and they actually got reviewed! Amazing! When a new album was in progress, or finally released, thanks to the UK music press, I knew. I was ready to buy. And I DID.
NOT SO EASY, even in Los Angeles. I’d traverse any number of miles, avenues, boulevards across the city, week after week, year after year, to the record shops I knew I could count on. Straight to the Import Section, and there on display on the wall, or in the New Releases bin, I’d find the latest from The Associates. Because their music was all UK import, prices weren’t cheap but my money was gladly handed to the cashier. Once home, I could play a record I’ve never heard before, until that moment. That’s how it was. And I loved what was playing!!
I had a vast library of their music, by 1990. Almost no one I met at concerts, when discussing music at the time, had heard of them. Sad, but not surprising since they had almost zero exposure here. To anyone who’d give me at least 3 minutes of their time at a concert, while waiting for The Church, The Cocteau Twins, The Motels, Duran Duran, Romeo Void, Siouxie & The Banshees, Red Lorry Yellow Lorry, Nina Hagen or so many others to take the stage, I’d extol the miraculous music this band from Scotland were creating.
Year after year I waited, hoping The Associates or later, Billy MacKenzie, would perform here. They never arrived to our shoreline. Essentially, if I wanted to hear The Associates, my living room stereo was where it happened.
I’ll buy ALL of their reissued catalogue, deluxe editions. Who says dreams aren’t for sale?

hmm. was excited when i first read this. sadly it feels like a rehash of previously released material with a sprinkling of unreleased stuff. not exactly enough to open my wallet to buy a 4th copy of Sulk. of course it would be too much to ask to stick all the unreleased stuff on one cd. obviously doesn’t work like that!

Very kind of Ian to provide information about packaging. He noted, “CDs are packaged in 3 pocket (no ugly plastic hub trays! No jewel cases!) digis”. I view this as awful news. Yet another instance in which immortally great music is packaged in such a way as to ensure that the CDs are scratched over time (if not immediately).

Sulk is an amazing LP, Party Fears Two is an all time classic. I bought it on cassette because it had the UK version of the LP on one side and the U.S. version on the other. I can’t remember the difference anymore and will certainly be digging it out for a refresher.

Great news for music lovers young and old.

“And Then I Read A Book” & “Australia”, listed here as previously unreleased, were on the 2000 version of “Sulk” on V2. So I make that 6 actually unreleased tracks across 4 double CDs.
Still, if the remastering quality & booklets are good, I’ll be buying.

It says “Australia” is previously unreleased, but it was included on the 2000 version of “Sulk”. Unless it’s an alternate version.

They could release Billy Mackenzie singing Donald where’s yer troosers in the bath and I’d be interested, loved the associates and loved Billy, he really was a class apart vocally and the tragedy of his passing is that he would have flourished in the 90’s and noughties collaboration wise, I have all the associates cd releases but I’ll still be buying these unquestionably. I’m even teaching my young daughter the alphabet using ‘A’ to entertain her :)

Extremely excited for these. If I’m not mistaken these albums have never received this kind of treatment. I bought the Singles compilation that came out in 2004 so I could get the best of the later Associates albums and the sound quality was great on that. Hope they can bring something similar to Sulk, Affectionate Punch which could benefit.

This new so-called “The Very Best Of” is nowhere as good as “The Singles” 2CD compilation which has 28 tracks (2 more than this latest release) and certainly does have some of their “very best” songs which this latest releases is lacking, such as ‘Those First Impressions’, ‘Waiting For The Loveboat’, ‘Breakfast’, ‘Take Me To The Girl’ and ‘Ice Cream Factory’ (Mackenzie Sings Orbidöig).

Great news! One of my favourite bands on the 80s receiving the Deluxe treatment. These will be an instant purchase. Thanks for the info!

Two of my favourite songs EVER off The Glamour Chase, because You Love and The Rhythm Divine. Would like to see a Super Deluxe of all of their releases, maybe PledgeMusic type.

Has/will the 12″ mix of Those First Impressions ever appear(ed) on CD? From the post-Rankine album so probably not in these releases, but I have the 12″ single and it’s great.

Looks promising but I wonder if we have the original LP version of Club Country on Sulk and the full length version of Straw Towels on the second Fourth Drawer Down CD? Those would be the clinchers for me.

And is that the 12″ version of It’s Better This Way? That would be nice.

Double Hipness was previously released on the, em, Double Hipness 2 CD (2000)…

I hope the remaster of Sulk is better than the 2000 version. The sound on that is quite harsh although I’m not sure if that’s to be expected from synths and jangly guitars. However the songs shine through so if consensus is that it is a better remaster then I will certainly purchase again. And £6.99 for a 2CD compilation is a snip so maybe I’ll make my judgement from that.

Although i do own almost everything fron the Associates discography, i really have to yell yes, yes, yes. Billy MacKenzie’s voice is equivalent to elizabeth fraser’s voice (for a man I mean). The Moon Is On Ice…

Another rehash with the token handful of unreleased tracks salvaged from the bin. Need to see a deluxe of Perhaps, not enough here to justify albums that have already been covered.

Hasn’t the original album version of Club Country never been rekeassed on CD?

nice to see, and I know a couple of labels that have been aiming to do a box. Alan once told me the Affectionate Punch masters were “lost forever”, so they’ve either found them or are using a second generation.

Excellent news and not before time. Billy MacKenzie’s octave spanning singing voice needs to be heard by a new generation. Glad to hear Mike Dempsey is involved with these. His bass playing on the ‘Sulk’ album and on the two hit cingles ‘Club Country’ and ‘Party Fears Two’ esepcially is superlatively beautiful and melodic. I have a Yr 2000 reissue of Sulk on CD on the V2 label (17 cuts in all) and I believe that was the last time it was ever reissued until now!

From what I gather from those (admittedly now pretty old) liner notes, the ‘Sulk’ session tapes were so re-mixed. dubbed over, recorded over etc due to indecision on what sounded best that it was (at least in 2000), that it was nearly impossible to get a decent re-master out of them. I shall be very keen to hear the results 16 years on.

I suppose being BMG these will be in tedious slimline jewel cases (yawn!). Other than that I am looking forward to these very much.

I could never love The Associates for their pro – Thatcher/Tory statements. Pity because their music could be sublime.

Oh and being slightly pedantic – I believe the last track on Sulk is called ‘nothinginsomethingparticular’

Hmmm –
I’m away from home (and thus my music collection) at the moment but I seem to recall already buying extended/deluxe reissues of at least The Affectionate Punch and Sulk. Will be interesting to compare the track listings to see if they really are worth the extra investment.

As I (and others) have said on here previously, I can’t escape the feeling of repeatedly buying the same thing in slightly different versions (of course I realise and accept that no-one is forcing me to buy :-)