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Go West / Dancing on the Couch reissue

Signed prints only with SDE shop orders

By Paul Sinclair

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46

Go West’s 1987 album Dancing On The Couch will be reissued in January.

This follow-up to their platinum self-titled debut saw Peter Cox and Richard Drummie continuing to explore their signature pop-soul sound, and includes the singles ‘True Colours’, ‘I Want To Hear It From You’, ‘From Baltimore To Paris’, and ‘The King Is Dead’ (with guest backing vocals from a certain Kate Bush).

The 3CD+DVD deluxe is packaged in a 7″ hardcover book

This new deluxe edition is available as a 3CD+DVD set which includes the original album newly remastered by producer Gary Stevenson; a second CD of B-sides, rarities and previously unreleased material; a third CD featuring the Hammersmith Odeon show recorded on the ‘Runaway Train’ tour in 1987; and a DVD featuring promo videos from the period and the Hammersmith concert (on DVD for the first time). This set is packaged as a seven-inch hardcover book with a 20-page booklet with photos, lyrics and new sleeve notes from the band.

There’s also a 2LP edition pressed on clear vinyl offers a bonus LP of remixes and rarities.

The SDE shop has exclusive editions of both releases which ship with a print of the album cover SIGNED by both Peter Cox and Richard Drummie. The print is the size of a seven-inch single (for both editions). Additionally, the SDE shop has an ultra-limited edition of the Go West single ‘King of Wishingful Thinking’. This is a special Lathe Cut clear vinyl edition is limited to 50 units. It comes in a white sleeve signed (and numbered) by both band members. Strictly limited to ONE per customer.

Dancing on the Couch will be reissued on 26 January 2024, via Chrysalis. The lathe cut vinyl will ship next week if ordered by itself, or in January if ordered with Dancing on the Couch.

Both editions of Dancing On The Couch with the SIGNED prints will be available for to pre-order for one week only, from today. Order all of these exclusives ONLY via the SDE shop using this link or the buttons below

Tracklisting

Dancing on the Couch Go West / 3CD+DVD

    • CD 1: Dancing on the Couch (2024 remaster)

      1. I Want To Hear It From You
      2. Little Caesar
      3. Masque Of Love
      4. From Baltimore To Paris
      5. True Colours
      6. The King Is Dead
      7. Chinese Whispers
      8. Let’s Build A Boat
      9. Crossfire
      10. Dangerous

    • CD 2: B-sides, Remixes, Rarities

      1. I Want To Hear It From You (A Day In Aarhus)
      2. True Colours (The Snake Charmer Mix)
      3. Masque of Love (Schoolhouse Mix)
      4. The King Is Dead (12″ Long Vibe Piano Mix)*
      5. I’ll Be Waiting / Tears Too Late
      6. True Colours (Demo Mix)*
      7. XL 5
      8. The King Is Dead (Live at Hammersmith
        12″ Version)
      9. I’ll Be Waiting (The Skelefocal Mix)*
      10. Don’t Be Afraid Of Your Dreams
      11. Don’t Look Down (The Sequel) [U.S. 7″ Mix]
      *Previously unreleased

    • CD 3: The Runaway Train Tour: Live at Hammersmith Odeon

      1. S.O.S.
      2. True Colours
      3. Chinese Whispers
      4. Eye To Eye
      5. Little Caesar
      6. Missing Persons
      7. Man In My Mirror
      8. I Want To Hear It From You
      9. Call Me
      10. Don’t Look Down
      11. The King Is Dead
      12. We Close Our Eyes
      All tracks previously unreleased

    • DVD: The Runaway Train Tour: Live at Hammersmith Odeon
      Live at Hammersmith Odeon
      1. S.O.S.
      2. True Colours
      3. Chinese Whispers
      4. Eye To Eye
      5. Little Caesar
      6. Missing Persons
      7. I Want To Hear It From You
      8. Call Me
      9. Don’t Look Down
      10. The King Is Dead
      11. We Close Our Eyes
      Promo Videos
      1. True Colours
      2. I Want To Hear It From You
      3. The King Is Dead
      4. True Colours (Version 2)

Tracklisting

Dancing on the Couch Go West / 2LP clear vinyl

    • LP 1: Dancing on the Couch (2024 remaster)
      Side One
      1. I Want To Hear It From You
      2. Little Caesar
      3. Masque Of Love
      4. From Baltimore To Paris
      5. True Colours
      Side Two
      1. The King Is Dead
      2. Chinese Whispers
      3. Let’s Build A Boat
      4. Crossfire
      5. Dangerous

    • LP 2: Remixes, Rarities
      Side Three
      1. True Colours (The Snake Charmer Mix)
      2. I’ll Be Waiting
      3. Masque Of Love (Schoolhouse Mix)
      4. Chinese Whispers (Live)
      5. XL 5
      Side Four
      1. I Want To Hear It From You (A Day In Aarhus)
      2. Tears Too Late
      3. Don’t Be Afraid Of Your Dreams
      4. Little Caesar (Live)
      5. The King Is Dead (12” Long Vibe Piano Mix)

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46 Comments

46 thoughts on “Go West / Dancing on the Couch reissue”

  1. Received my copy this morning (5 February 2024). Initial verdict: Brickwalled (albeit without clipping), the alleged ‘U.S. 7″ mix’ of “Don’t Look Down (The Sequel)” is a different mix altogether (at different points I have owned copies of both the US and Japanese editions), and the booklet (as such) is put together in such a way that you can’t lay it flat without risking damage.

    Fortunately, one of these things can be corrected (or at least compensated for) with some multiband compression.

    I would also note that the back cover indicates an aspect ratio of 16:9 for the DVD, whereas the original videos were presented in the 4:3 ratio standard at that time.

  2. One of the best albums of the 1980s, exquisite songs, great guitarist, interesting disc 2 but… it’s so loud… There is no reason to remaster what was one of the best albums sonically of the era. My mother would say ‘cloth ears’.

    1. Typical remaster. The original 1987 CD is quiet and lacks bass, except of course there’s always the volume and bass knobs you could adjust… This remaster is way louder. The sound isn’t bad by any means but the dynamics have been sacrificed.

      1. One of my favourite albums of the 80’s totally ruined by loud mastering just like their debut. Did nobody else notice that Masque Of Love (Schoolhouse Mix) sounds like it’s from vinyl although it’s claims to be from a CD single ?

  3. It is annoying that the track ‘King Of Wishful Thinking’ from the film ‘Pretty Woman’ has not been added, considering it is available on many of their Best Of compilations. Surely it could have been added as a bonus track, not having been added to the deluxe edition of their debut album. Maybe there will be a deluxe edition of the 1992 album ‘Indian Summer’ with the track included.

  4. Even though this will undoubtedly require a bit of post-purchase tinkering on my part (see my earlier comment), this new set will cost me less than it would have to get a used copy of the 1988 Japan-only compilation CD that included the live version of “The King Is Dead”. Plus it’s been my favorite Go West album since its release.

      1. Super Hit Collection, Chrysalis/Toshiba-EMI CP32-5555. Technically, a December 1987 release (I found it in early 1988). A very hit-and-miss collection of then-current songs from Chrysalis artists:

        The full track listing:
        Huey Lewis & The News – Doing it All for My Baby
        Go West – Don’t Look Down (The Sequel)
        Billy Idol – Mony Mony (Hung Like a Pony remix)
        Living in a Box – Living in a Box (dance mix)
        Jellybean – Who Found Who (club mix)
        The Housemartins – Caravan of Love
        Debbie Harry – In Love With Love (London mix edit)
        The Art of Noise – Dragnet (Arthur Baker 7″ mix)
        The Colour Field – Windmills of Your Mind
        Bonnie Hayes – Some Guys
        World Party – All Come True (LP version)
        Paul Carrack – When You Walk in the Room
        Rupert Everett – Generation of Loneliness (7″ version)
        Go West – The King Is Dead (live)
        Living in a Box – Scales of Justice (7″ version)

        (Source: https://www.discogs.com/release/1476896-Various-Super-Hit-Collection)

        I already had the Art of Noise CD EP, so I really just bought this for the live version of “The King Is Dead”. Except for the self-titled Living in a Box single and the remix of “Mony Mony” (which I later got on the Japanese edition of the Idol Songs album), I wasn’t too keen on this comp, so I got rid of it after dubbing the good stuff to DAT (which I also no longer have).

  5. Great album and welcomed reissue. Each release should be taken on it’s own merits I know – but is anybody else ‘bothered’ that this isn’t in the same physical presentation as the recent debut SDE? Or is it just my own OCD?

  6. I bought last years debut reissue on clear vinyl and… you know what? It sounded absolutely superb, one of the best sounding reissues I have ever bought. I have every confidence that this one will sound just as good.

  7. This is without a doubt the best album they ever did. And then Kate Bush comes on and takes it to another world!
    I have the original vinyl and CD , and although the double vinyl is super tempting I will have to wait for reviews and hope they remastered it well and that copies are still available!

  8. I thought the previous Go West package was really well done so I ordered this one as well!

    I did notice the shipping to the US was $19 USD, that seems higher than the recent SDE blu-rays I ordered. Was there a shipping price increase recently, or is this package bulkier?

  9. Always assuming the mastering is better this time around (and there is no guarantee of that) this re-release has still managed to drop the ball regarding the content.

    There are several US mixes of Don’t Look Down missing (DLD was featured on this album in the US and new mixes were commissioned to promote it), and potentially a number of live b-sides (though it is possible these are included as part of the live CD).

    Even more irritating than that though is the lack of any surround mix (or even hi-res stereo).

    Sadly I think I am sitting this one out :(

    1. I was so excited about the previous box set, only to be equally disappointed when I heard the horrible “mastered by Gary Stevenson” result.
      Hi-res stereo of another GS calamity would be lipstick on a pig: it would still be a pig.

    2. I’m still disappointed they didn’t find a way to include another version of “Don’t Look Down” when they made Indian Summer. That would have meant that a version of the song featured on all of their albums.

  10. I really hope this gets a sympathetic remastering as it’s an excellent album. Long overdue for an overhaul as the original is extremely quiet and lacking depth in my opinion. Fingers crossed Gary Stevenson has taken on board negative comments from the last special edition and reviewed his technique! I’ll definitely purchase if it gets positive reviews but won’t risk a pre-order. Great content and good value though. I’ll keep my fingers crossed.

  11. Ordered cd box set and lathe cut 12” to support this amazing site. Sorry Paul but what is lathe cut? Thank you once again for these delicious exclusives!

  13. I think I have listened to the debut box set once since purchasing. The mastering was indeed terrible. Unlistenable. So I’ll skip this one. As for the worst mastering that goes to those responsible for Alison Moyet’s Alf from 2016. I ended up reverting back to the original cd issue, as I did with the Go West and Bangs and Crashes. Shame.

    1. Mmm, by far the worst remastering belong to both the Spandau and Duran 2010 campaigns. The debut Spandau was so shrill and tinny it was painful.

      1. I hated the 2000 remasters of the Style Council catalogue. Café Bleu in particular sounded harsh and brittle, and they added that ridiculous “USA remix” of “Shout to the Top” to Our Favourite Shop (never mind that no such version had ever been released here, with the mix on the Vision Quest soundtrack being the same as the single/album mix).

      2. Not exactly in the same league but Kiss Of Death by Motorhead is a turgid affair of production and/or mastering. Granted I haven’t got top of the range fidelity but turning that album up to a decent level makes you think it was a bootleg. The original version of Music For The Masses by DM also suffered from crap mastering in that case a very low volume thankfully the remaster cleared that up.

    2. Actually the worst mastering was Donna Summer She Works Hard For The Money reissue from 2014 by Culture Factory. The last track particularly was so badly brickwalled the sound cut back after each crescendo. I ended up ebaying for an original. It was an excellent pressing.

  16. One of my top 10 albums of all time I suspect, magnificent album. I echo the previous comment that I hope it’s actually listenable, as the previous Go West reissue remaster wasn’t.

    I hadn’t realised Don’t Be Afraid of Your Dreams came from the soundtrack of Nightmare on Elm Street 4, passed me by that one!

    It would be interesting to know Paul, if Tears Too Late, I’ll Be Waiting and ..Dreams are outtakes from the album or pre Indian Summer tracks please? (I assume an interview is in the works!)

    1. Echoing the above comment, yes the Bruce Forest’ Dance and Dub Versions of Don’t Look Down – The Sequel are missing, though the 7” is included. Is it too late to get them included or are the masters missing?

      1. Even if the masters weren’t available, there is a fan website specialising in rare 12” mixes that released excellent vinyl rips of these very mixes a while back. At a push the label could use those versions for this release.

        2. Hopefully not in the league of Razormaid mixes. The guy that produced them was a total diva objecting years after them getting airtime or being released anywhere without his direct say. And they were unofficial mixes that the artists didn’t authorise so why he had such a hissy fit is anyone’s guess. Thankfully he seems to have disappeared into obscurity…

          1. I think he (Joseph Watt) was trying to protect his work and income. I also thought he worked with labels and artists to create some of the mixes like many DJ services in the 80s and 90s. If they were illegal, you’d think the labels/artists would have sued. No matter how the mixes were derived (tape editing or actual remixing), many of them were very good. A few years ago he became very ill. Last I knew, his partner was trying to raise money to pay for treatment but that was more than 8 years ago.

  17. I’m sorry Paul, but I have to ask, with the lathe cut disc that is “…signed (and numbered) by both band members…” are they going to choose the same number? I’m sorry, I’m the King of Wishful Grammar :-) Ordered!

  18. I hope the mastering is better this time around than it was for the debut deluxe edition. That was a real ear-bleeder – one of the worst remasters I have every bought :(

    1. I’ll be importing the audio directly into Audition and restoring some of those dynamics before I listen to it.

      I’ve found that a lot of the problem can be corrected by using multiband compression (specifically, two or three applications of the “Classical Master” preset, depending on how bad the brickwalling is), mixing back in a small amount of the brickwalled audio if the multiband compression takes out too much of the low end.

      I started doing this about six years ago. It’s a pain in the ass, but it turns a previously brickwalled mess into something listenable.

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