1988 saw the band return from what, to the outside world, probably looked like some kind of extended break, but had witnessed the band finesse their studio in Acton and record the album ‘Blue Bell Knoll’. Along the way, it also saw the band make changes in their relationship with 4AD records, including signing a new deal for five further albums for the label and their American releases made via Capitol records, as well as further worldwide territories.
Blue Bell Knoll LP / CD / Cassette / DAT
LP version (4AD CAD 807)
The original release of the vinyl album came packaged in a tri-fold sleeve and, unlike previous releases, it was not the work of 4AD’s in-house designers 23 Envelope, but by designer Paul West and Jeremy Tilston, with photography by Juergen Teller.
Tracklisting:
Side One:
- Blue Bell Knoll (3’22”)
- Athol-Brose (2’58”)
- Carolyn’s Fingers (3’07”)
- For Phoebe Still A Baby (3’15”)
- The Itchy Glowbo Blow (3’20”)
Side Two:
- Cico Buff (3’47”)
- Suckling The Mender (3’34”)
- Spooning Good Singing Gum (3’49”)
- A Kissed Out Red Floatboat (4’09”)
- Ella Megalast Burls Forever (3’40”)
The tracklisting is the same across all formats, there were no format-exclusive extra tracks or variations.
Musically, this album sees the band really start to shake off the darker sound that they had started off with during the ‘Garlands’ era, a lighter, dreampop, dare I say more middle of the road sound emerging, particular on much of side one’s tracks, once past the stunning opening title track, which was keyboard-heavy and equipped with the drum machine battering ram of old. Elsewhere, sonically the bands love of vintage drum machine sounds combined with the latest digitally sampled versions emerges again.
CD version (4AD CAD 807 CD)
The CD format took a different approach to the cover design compared to the LP edition.
Cassette version (4AD CADC 807)
The cassette edition.
DAT version (4AD CADT 807)
There was also a DAT version of the album, it being the new format on the block – I’ve never seen one, it’s not a format I ever encountered and as a consumer format it never took off.
No singles were commercially released in the UK, though there were a couple of US promo-only single releases and the video for ‘Carolyn’s Fingers’ certainly got a fair amount of exposure such that it might well be remembered as a single release.
‘Carolyn’s Fingers’ promo single
7” version
‘Carolyn’s Fingers’ (3:06) / ‘ Carolyn’s Fingers’ (3:06) USA Promo 7” (Capitol/4AD 7PRO-79477)
12” version
‘Carolyn’s Fingers’ (3:06) / ‘Ella Megalast Burls Forever’ (3:36) USA Promo 12” (Capitol/4AD SPRO-79406 / SPRO-79407)
Both tracks appear to be the same as the album mixes.
CD version
‘Carolyn’s Fingers’ (3:06) / ‘Ella Megalast Burls Forever’ (3:36) USA Promo CD (Capitol / 4AD DPRO-79405
Once again, both tracks appear to be the same as the album mixes.
‘A Kissed Out Red Float Boat’ promo 12” single
‘A Kissed Out Red Float Boat’ (4:10) USA Promo 12” single (Capitol / 4AD SPRO-79512)
Another track lifted from the album and which appears to be unchanged. It comes packaged in a unique sleeve design, though minimalist.
‘Blue Bell Knoll Selections’ Canadian promo cassette (Vertigo / 4AD PROC 12)
Side 1: ‘Blue Bell Knoll’ / ‘Athol-Brose’
Side 2: ‘A Kissed Out Red Float Boat’ / Ella Megalast Burls Forever’
Other
There was a VHS video cassette promo issue for ‘Carolyn’s Fingers’.
All in all, while witnessing a high-profile album release, particularly expanding to foreign territories, as far as version craziness goes, this would be a meagre year with just the single album and no other releases that in earlier years you might expect from Cocteau Twins, such as EPs or compilation exclusive tracks.