The ACR retrospective on Soul Jazz

Message Bookmarked

Bookmark Removed

Out on April 1. Here's the tracklisting. What do the various Factory and Postpunk-heads around here think of it? It's mostly good stuff and disk 2 looks particularly tasty, but it seems a bit of a botch really. I mean two versions of Skipscada is two too many for me. Why not include the Peel Session version of Day One (from the same session, I think)instead? Some more tracks from Graveyard would have been good, too.

Disc: 1 1. Do The Du 2. Flight 3. Waterline 4. Shack Up 5. The Fox 6. Blown Away 7. Gum 8. Life’s A Scream 9. Skipscada 10. Knife Slits Water 11. Sounds Like Something Dirty 12. Touch 13. Saturn Disc: 2 1. All Night Party (original 7”) 2. Faceless (from Graveyard and Ballroom) 3. Do the Du (John Peel session) 4. All Night Party (John Peel session) 5. Flight (John Peel session) 6. Choir (John Peel session) 7. Skipscada (John Peel session) 8. Felch (original NY mix) 9. Abracababra (12” released as Sir Horatio) 10. Tumba Rumba (7” B-Side) 11. Si Firmer O Grido (Touch Tape – Cassette only release)

― Dr. C, Monday, 18 March 2002 01:00 (twenty-four years ago)

New Answers!

― Dr. C, Monday, 18 March 2002 01:00 (twenty-four years ago)

The title of the album, according to Amazon, is 'Early' - so is this mostly early stuff? And does this matter - is the early stuff the only good stuff?

― Robin, Monday, 18 March 2002 01:00 (twenty-four years ago)

Robin - yes.

Well, obviously this is the most important reissue of 2002. And yes, Dr.C, if you've got access to the whole back catalogue including the Peel Sessions, it begs the question - why be selective, why not put it all out? In that sense, it is a bit of a missed opportunity (it doesn't look as if what they have included will last more than about 60 mins per CD, so it's not as if they ran out of space).

Personal gripes: no "Son and Heir", no "Forced Laugh", no "Day One" (or "Knife Slits Water" - similar to but better than the LP version) from PS2, nothing at all from PS3, which included two songs never otherwise recorded.

All that said, this is not a bad selection of tracks; clearly the person who compiled it knew what they were doing (all the rubbish is omitted). And there are a few things I don't have - PS1 - or had once but lost - the Touch thing - so I will definitely be buying it.

― Jeff W, Monday, 18 March 2002 01:00 (twenty-four years ago)

Jeff. Do you really think the album version of Knife Slits Water is inferior? Surely it's so much more atmospheric, replete as it is with gorgeously spooky noises.

― Daniel, Tuesday, 19 March 2002 01:00 (twenty-four years ago)

All the spooky noises are present and correct in the Peel Session too! The overall performance is however better. But hey, we're talking microscopic degrees of difference here: both versions are classic beyond words.

BTW, I just realised - no "Funaezekea" :-(

― Jeff W, Tuesday, 19 March 2002 01:00 (twenty-four years ago)

yes, I'll certainly be getting hold of a copy, not least I've only heard the remixes of some of these tracks from "Looking for A Certain Ratio". What label is this going to be released on? At least two of their former labels are no more (Factory and Creation) and it wouldn't surprise me if robsrecords is gone too, seeing as Mr Gretton is no longer with us.

― MarkH, Tuesday, 19 March 2002 01:00 (twenty-four years ago)

"What label is this going to be released on?"

The clue is in the question Mark ;)

― Tom, Tuesday, 19 March 2002 01:00 (twenty-four years ago)

Against the LTM re-issues, this is weak. Jeff, you're right, the whole lot should be put out again.

― Dr. C, Tuesday, 19 March 2002 01:00 (twenty-four years ago)

It seems like a decent stab at a Factory Years comp to me. It's not so hard to get hold of pretty much the whole ACR back catalogue, if you're prepared to look for it, so calling for another comprehensive reissue programme seems a little over the top.

Looking forward to seeing them play live again, too.

― Tim, Tuesday, 19 March 2002 01:00 (twenty-four years ago)

oops *looks embarrassed*

― MarkH, Tuesday, 19 March 2002 01:00 (twenty-four years ago)

You must be logged in to post. Please either login here, or if you are not registered, you may register here.