Side by side: New Order: (The Best Of) New Order 1994 EU and 1995 US CDs

It’s all about the versions on VersionCrazy and sometimes you come across releases that you make an assumption on, that they will be pretty much standard fare but – somehow, it turns out that they manage to throw up some weird and wonderful regional variations of interest. One such example is this ‘(The Best Of) New Order’ compilation CD from the band, the first fruits for London Records of their deal to acquire the band after the sad demise of the original Factory Records. I guess it was to be expected that after the band was scooped up by a major label (well, in some territories, since they were already on Qwest/Warner Bros. in the US) they would work that back catalogue hard. ‘(The Best Of) New Order’ was the first such example from this deal with London Records, a compilation first released in November 1994 on CD, cassette, LP and video cassette even. But of interest to this article are the differences between that 1994 edition and the American release that followed in 1995.

Side by side: New Order - (The Best Of) New Order EU and US compilation CD front insert designs
^ Side by side: New Order – (The Best Of) New Order EU and US compilation CD front insert designs

The November 1994 edition tracklist on CD goes like this and is notable for including a number of new ’94’ remixes of some of the tracks; (which I have highlighted in bold text) Continue reading “Side by side: New Order: (The Best Of) New Order 1994 EU and 1995 US CDs”

Side by side: Tones On Tail – ‘Tones On Tail’ US compilation CD and cassette (Beggars Banquet/RCA, 2410-2-H / 2410-4-H, 1990)

Another compilation that sifts through the Tones On Tail back catalogue panning for gold… this time out it was on CD and cassette formats only – and the cassette version included three extra tracks. This was issued in 1990 in the United States – and was the third compilation released in the US by this point (preceded by ‘The Album Pop’ in 1984 and ‘Night Music’ in 1987).

Tones On Tail - 'Tones On Tail' US compilation cassette and CD front cover designs side by side

    ^ Tones On Tail – ‘Tones On Tail’ US compilation cassette and CD front cover designs side by side

Continue reading “Side by side: Tones On Tail – ‘Tones On Tail’ US compilation CD and cassette (Beggars Banquet/RCA, 2410-2-H / 2410-4-H, 1990)”

Side by side: Hard Corps – Je Suis Passée versions

Returning once more to an old favourite featured many times before, Hard Corps, and their wonderful single that should have been a hit, ‘Je Suis Passée’ and all its many versions. It has been a long while in the offing, this post, what prompted me to post it now is the newly released compilation CD celebrating the work of producer Martin Rushent, ‘Autonomy – The Productions Of Martin Rushent’, available from Ace Records, as this includes the 7″ single mix of ‘Je Suis Passée’, its first release on CD format.

Hard Corps 'Je Suis Passée' multiple versions sleeve assemblage
^ Hard Corps ‘Je Suis Passée’ multiple versions sleeve assemblage

From the moment I heard Hard Corps I was hooked – that was in the summer of 1984 with the release of the ‘Dirty’/Respirer’ double A side 12″ (and later 7″) single. That love for the band became even greater with ‘Je Suis Passée’. Continue reading “Side by side: Hard Corps – Je Suis Passée versions”

Scritti Politti – ‘The “Sweetest Girl”’ version craziness

‘The “Sweetest Girl”’ never provided Scritti Politti with the full-on pop chart hit that might have ambitiously been hoped for, but the impact it made with its sea-change in style ensured its high profile all the same. What I had not quite appreciated until more recent years was just how many versions of the song there are and it’s curiously stop/start release history.

Scritti Politti - The "Sweetest Girl" versions
^ Scritti Politti – The “Sweetest Girl” versions

Continue reading “Scritti Politti – ‘The “Sweetest Girl”’ version craziness”

Year by Year: Cocteau Twins – 1988

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.

Cocteau Twins 'Blue Bell Knoll' 1988 UK LP fold-out front cover design
^ Cocteau Twins ‘Blue Bell Knoll’ 1988 UK LP fold-out front cover design

Continue reading “Year by Year: Cocteau Twins – 1988”