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Victor Prose
Unregistered guest
Posted on Friday, March 06, 2009 - 01:18 pm:   

I could be wrong, but as the SHF bonus-disc liner notes identify it as a "demo", it appears as if "Rare Breed" is the only original B-side unrepresented by the GBs reissue program.

IS said version of "Rare Breed" indeed the same recording as the original B-side to "Bachelor Kisses"? And if not, where in the name of whatnot can I find the original?

ALSO: Similar question - was the celebrated "Just A King In Mirrors" radio broadcast from 1978 - 1990 re-recorded for the b-side of "Part Company", or did they use the same recording?

My assumption is, SOMEBODY out there has heard the original vinyls and Knows The Answer.

Many thanks,
Victor
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Jeff Whiteaker
Member
Username: Jeff_whiteaker

Post Number: 1567
Registered: 10-2004
Posted on Friday, March 06, 2009 - 10:56 pm:   

The version of Rare Breed that is the b-side to Bachelor Kisses is indeed different from the "demo" version found on the SHF bonus disc. By the time they'd recorded the b-side version, they had worked out a few kinks and it is a bit better developed. However, it kind of drags. For whatever reason, the band played it at kind of a sluggish tempo, and the demo version possesses a lot more energy. You can only find the b-side version by tracking down the original single (although I'm sure you can dl it from somewhere, of course...) For my money, however, the best version by far is the Peel Sessions version.


The BBC radio broadcast version of Just a King in Mirrors is also different from the version recorded as the Part Company b-side. The radio version is cloaked in reverb and has a different bass line played under the "the saddest thing, he's just a king in mirrors" line. The re-recorded b -side version shares the fuller, dryer, more bass-heavy sound of SHF, and features a lead guitar melody that was totally absent on the radio version, and a less melodic bass part underneath the "...king in mirrors" line.

So, not only is the b-side version of Rare Breed unrepresented by the reissues series, but so is that second version of Just a King in Mirrors.

As to which version of MIrrors is better, that's always been a tough one for me, as they both possess really cool qualities. I love the lazy, reverb-drenched sound of the first version, but the b-side version has some of that typically lovely Grant (I'm assuming) melodic lead guitar playing throughout. It's a tough call.

I understand that with these bonus discs they didn't want to repeat tracks, so they chose what they felt were the superior versions, but to me it's a shame that the b-side version of "Just a King in Miirrors" languishes in obscurity. Ditto the Peel version of Rare Breed.
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Pat Boland
Member
Username: Pat_boland

Post Number: 56
Registered: 05-2005
Posted on Saturday, March 07, 2009 - 08:18 pm:   

The original version of By Chance (c/w Hammer the Hammer) was not included on the re-issues either.

I seem to recall the 12" version of Cut it Out being longer than the Tallulah version. I'll have to check this out and report back.

So, that's three - possibly four - for the Go-Betweens' boxset.
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Pádraig Collins
Member
Username: Pádraig_collins

Post Number: 2627
Registered: 05-2005
Posted on Saturday, March 07, 2009 - 11:26 pm:   

I'm sure the box set will come one day Pat, but not till the world economy picks up again. C'mon America, your economy has to work first before the rest of the world follows suit.
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Victor Prose
Unregistered guest
Posted on Sunday, March 08, 2009 - 03:10 am:   

I found the By Chance, though -- The Missing Link Story (not to mention the Peel Session) is on iTunes. O lucky me.
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Pat Boland
Member
Username: Pat_boland

Post Number: 58
Registered: 05-2005
Posted on Sunday, March 08, 2009 - 09:33 pm:   

Fingers crossed on the box set, Padraig. And the world economy too, of course!

Re. Cut it Out - the Tallulah version clocks in at exactly 4 minutes.

The 12" version is over 6 minutes and 10 seconds long.
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Jeff Whiteaker
Member
Username: Jeff_whiteaker

Post Number: 1568
Registered: 10-2004
Posted on Sunday, March 08, 2009 - 11:00 pm:   

As if 4 minutes of Cut it Out weren't enough?
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cosmo vitelli
Member
Username: Cosmo

Post Number: 75
Registered: 05-2005
Posted on Monday, March 09, 2009 - 10:47 am:   

Just heard the Peel Sessions 'Rare Breed' for the first time and Jeff is on the money - it swings!

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