The title implies these are by the first line up, or are at least their earliest
recordings but this is not the case. Originally a bootleg release on Mohawk
records, this compilation of the Fowley sessions is the essential partner to the
debut LP. Beware, the sound quality leaves something to be desired as the tracks from
the '73 session were dubbed from acetates and production on the '72 tracks is minimal.
As mentioned elsewhere, the final session took place with the band near collapse: |
It's interesting to note which tracks from these sessions were not included, particularly 'A Plea For
Tenderness' and 'Fly Into The Mystery' (both are on the 10 song acetate made of the '73 session), neither
of which Jonathan was way sick of, and both of which are superior to other material included.
According to Geoff Griffin's and Mark Sturdy's session listing, 'Roadrunner #1', 'Astral Plane'
and 'Walk Up The Street' were all mastered at too high a speed for the Bomp vinyl pressing (and possibly
the Ubik version). Bomp issued the album on CD in October 2000, claiming to have digitally
remastered it from the original tapes. The '72 tracks are generally improved by the removal of the tape hiss, but unfortunately the '73 tracks are remastered from the tapes of the acetates, rather than the original tapes. They've been run through some noise reduction treatment that leaves the sound fluctuating distractingly as the crackles are minimised.
'I'm Straight' was on the original Mohawk issue but was taken off the sanctioned Bomp reissue at
the request of Jonathan (though I have heard of copies of the Bomp LP with the track). In fact, some copies of the Mohawk issue have the track listed
on the sleeve but not on the album. The CD and LP versions put out in 1987 by Line
records in Germany both include the track but don't list it on the sleeve. It is still available on
Bomp in the US (vinyl & CD) and Ubik in UK/Europe (CD only), both without 'I'm Straight'.
For those of you desperate to hear it, the track was recently (and cheekily) included on the
soundtrack CD of the film 'Born To Lose' on Bomp.
Jonathan wrote some sleeve notes for the Bomp issue which make interesting reading (see Jonathan Writes), but the LP as a whole is ultimately unsatisfying but fascinating. |
