Patti Smith Group - Retrospective - Unpublished 1983 album

 

On May 17, 1979, "Wave" was released, an album with which Patti Smith Group said goodbye as a band. They gave their last official concert on September 10, 1979 at the Comunale Stadium, Florence ,Italy. 

After that, Patti Smith, got married with her boyfriend, the former guitarist of the Detroit rock band: MC5, Fred "Sonic" Smith, to whom she had dedicated two songs on the album "Frederick" and "Dancing Barefoot". Patti already alone, without her old band, gave three more performances, between June 1980 and October 1981, before saying goodbye to her fans, with no return date, to be a mother and to dedicate herself to the family.

The years went by without new material, but in 1983 the spoken single : "7 Ways of Going / Fire of Unknown Origin" was released with the participation from old friend: Lenny Kaye, who had been produced the Patti single ("Hey Joe / Piss Factory") in 1974; and had been part of "Patti Smith Group" between 1975 and 1979; at which time there was speculation about a hypothetical return of the band. That rumor brought plans for possible retrospective album and more when Arista Records published a promotional single with these line-up: :“Because The Night”, “Redondo Beach”, “Dancing Barefoot” and “Free Money”; something that was denied shortly after by Patti Smith, who was living in Detroit with her family and .Lennyhe was not interested either, because involved in other projects, such as musical producer, with future music stars as Suzanne Vega and her 1987 hit "Luka".

About the possible 1983 retrospective album ,out of the promotional EP, it never said more. Patti had one more child in 1987 and it seemed that her musical career it was a simple memory , but what nobody supposed is that Patti had been written new songs for her next album: "Dream of life" and "People have the power" hit,  was ready. But that is another story. Today, I bring you a new and interesting reconstruction Bit.ly/83PSGg of what could have been and was not, following the original concept, to include all the greatest hits with material only available in singles or Ep's, something like this:

Part 1:

1.-Hey Joe.(5:08)

Single (1974) Mer Records, # 601

2.-Piss Factory.(4:42)

B -side “Hey Joe” Single (1974) Mer Records, # 601

3.-Gloria.(5:54)

From “Horses” album. Released Dec.13.1975.

Arista Records. -ARTY 122 (U.K) / AL 4066 (U.S)

4.- My Generation (live).(3:26)

B-side “Gloria“ single.

Arista Records AS 0171 (US) / ARISTA 135 (UK)

 (Rrecorded live at Agora, Cleveland. OH.U.S on Jan.26.1976)

Early issues of the British single were released with "My Generation" censored.

5.- Pissing In A River.(4:52)

From “Radio Ethiopia” album. Released October.1976.

Arista Records. - AB4097

6.-Ask The Angels.(3:09)

From “Radio Ethiopia” album. Released October.1976.

Arista Records. - AB4097

7.-Time is On My Side (live).(3:28)

B-side “Ask the angles”Arista/Pathe Marconi/EMI 2C 006-98.529 (France)

This is available only as a French import for being considered a bad quality recording. Here it has been notably improved.

(Recorded live at Le Bus Palladium, Paris, France. Oct 21,1976)

8.-Pumping (My Heart).(3:21)

From “Radio Ethiopia” album. Released October.1976.

Arista Records. - AB4097

9.-Radio Ethiopia / Rock N´Roll Nigger (live).(13:57)

B-side “Hey Joe / Radio Ethiopia” EP (1977)

Arista/Pathe Marconi/EMI 2C 052-60.133 z (France)

This is available only as a French import

(Live at GBGs, New York, NY, U.S on June 5.1977)

10.-Babel Field (poem).(5:49)

B-side “Set Free” EP (1978)

Arista Records ARIST 12197 (UK)

(Live in London on Brian Jones' birthday, Feb. 28,1978). 

Part 2:

1.- Because The Night.(3:25)

From “Easter” album. Released March 3.1978.

Arista Records.(SPART 1043)

2.- Godspeed.(6:10)

B-side “Because The Night” single (1978).

Arista Records (AS 0318)

3.- Privilege (Set Me Free).(3:29)

From “Easter” album. Released Marc 3.1978.

Arista Records. (SPART 1043)

4.- 25th Floor (live).(5:43)

B-side “Privilege (Set Me Free)” EP (1978).

Arista Records ARIST 12197

(Live at Pavillon, Paris, France. March 26.1978)

5.-So You Want to Be (A Rock N' Roll Star).(4:00)

Alternate version “So You Want To Be (A Rock N´Roll Star)” EP (1979).

Arista Records AS 0453 Promo

6.-Kimberly (live).(6:09)

Unreleased B-side “So You Want To Be (A Rock N´Roll Star)” EP (1979).

Arista Records AS 0453 Promo

(Live at GBGs, New York, NY, U.S on August 11.1979)

7.-Frederick.(3:06)

From “Wave” album. Released May 17.1979.

Arista Records. (AB 4221)

8.-Fire Of Unknown Origin.(2:09)

B-side “Frederick” single (1979).

Arista Records ARIST 264

9.-Dancing Barefoot.(4:16)

From “Wave” album. Released May 17.1979.

Arista Records. (AB 4221)

10.-54321- Wave (Live).(2:43)

B-side “Dancing Barefoot” single (1979).

Arista Records ARIST 281

(Live at The Palladium, New York, NY, U.S on May 23.1979) 

- bonus tracks -

11.-Frederick (live).(5:55)

B-side “Frederick” promo single (1979).

Arista Records SP-62

(live at the Capital Theatre, in Passiac, NJ. U.S on November 5th, 1979).

12.-Chicklets.(6:37)

(Outtake from “Radio Ethiopia” sessions. June/August 1976). 

For a perfect homogenization of the sound, some recordings have been digitally restored.For artwork, I used discarded photos taken for her last album. 

That´s all., see you next week.

Suede: "Animal Lover" (Unreleased)

 

Suede were formed in 1989 by singer Brett Anderson, bassist Mat Osman and guitarist Justine Frischmann. Bernard Butler later joined after the group responded to an ad in the Melody Maker. released their debut single: “The Drowners” on May 1992.peaked at only number 49 on the UK singles chart.

Once the band had signed with Nude/Sony in November 1992, they began official recording of the album. at Master Rock Studios in Kilburn, north west London with Ed Buller as producer-.

"Animal lover", original album title, should have been the Suede debut album in 1993, but this one was modified as the recording sessions evolved.

When they first entered the recording studio, the band had an album already in mind, a result of the two years they had already played it live with this line-up:

Side A: (23:43)

1.Animal Lover. (4:17)

2.Moving. (2:50)

3.My Insatiable One. (2:59)

4.Metal Mickey. (Unreleased 1st version). (2:31)

5.Pantomime Horse. (5:50)

6.He´s Dead. (5:13)

Side B: (24:46)

1.The Drowners. (4:10)

2.Painted People. (2:50)

3.So Young. (3:38)

4.Brass in Pocket. (3:41)

5.Sleeping Pills (Unreleased 1st version).(4:59)

6.To The Birds. (5:25)

As the recording sessions evolved, The album was restructured. Suede added more new songs; remixed others as: "Metal Mickey". This version is the orginal when the song ending abruptly after the chorus, before that Buller suggested an extended fade-out. “Sleeping Pills” was reduced by taking away his pretty introduction. And removed: “Animal Lover”, bit.ly/2ZpP6 “Moving” and "Brass in pocket".  The new version, now called “Half Dog” soon after “I think you Stink”, it had this other alternate line-up:

Side A: 1.So Young. 2.Animal Nitrate. 3.She´s Not Dead. 4.My Insatiable One. 5.Pantomime Horse.

Side B: 1.The Drowners. 2.Metal Mickey. 3.Sleeping Pills (2nd version). 4.Breakdown. 5.To The Birds. 6.The Next Life.

But during the album mixes the group made a decision similar to what happened in the sixties, the songs that appeared in singles later would not be included in the albums, but in this case they left it alone on the B-sides. From The first single, they removed ”To the birds” “and “My Insatiable One”.From the 2nd: “He´s dead”.Something that Brett Anderson always regretted. But they recovered other discarded ones from the original version.

The album´s photos were choosen by Bret Anderson from the 1991 book Stolen Glances: Lesbians Take Photographs. Photos. by :Tee A. Corinne. From all that Anderson chooseed, She only authorized one photo for the cover, a woman kissing to other in a wheelchair. and insisted they, it could only be shown: the heads and shoulders close-up of the women to protect their identity

.Suede was released first in the UK 29 March 1993,vinyl, MC and CD and worldwide 6 April. In the UK becoming the fastest-selling debut album since Frankie Goes to Hollywood's “Welcome to the Pleasuredome” almost ten years earlier.

Their third single, "Animal Nitrate",went to number seven following their performance of it at the 1993 BRIT Awards. Ten weeks after its release the album had reported sales of over 160,000 only in the UK. But Suede's commercial success in the United States was limited, and due to a lawsuit with an American singer with the same name, the group had to change its name for the American market to The London Suede.

To me the original album “Animal Lover” was much better and no wonder that Brett Anderson regretted it  Finally two bonus tracks: "Animal Nittrate"  - (live at Brit Awards 93) and  "He´s Dead" - (live at Glastonbury´93)

Ok.., here's the reconstruction of that lost great album. Enjoy it.

Prince: "Camille" - Unreleased 1987 Project - Unedited

 

"Camille" was one of the many projects Prince left unpublished. Realized in a moment of change of the singer, surrounded of mystery as far as his conception, because for it Prince resorted to the magic and the spiritism in search of a new identiti as artist 

Apparently this work was inspired by the 19th century French intersex spirit: "Herculine Barbin", who also used the alias "Camille" and was the subject of the 1985 film Mystère Alexina.

Years later, with the artist (Prince) deceased, a few copies were distributed promotionally without any type of artwork, with only eight his ten original songs with the setlist slightly altered. Here´s the original and complete project.

On August 1986 Prince abandoning his double Lp “Dream Factory”, shortly after breaking up his backing band “The Revolution”. Between September & October, at Sunset Sound in Hollywood, California with the engineer: Susan Rogers, recorded a new project. In it, Prince experimenting with his vocals in an artificially pitched-up style, achieved either by using a pitchshifter or by recording his vocals at a slower tempo and then speeding up the tape to create a higher, androgynous tone.

At the end of October he had completed an album which he planned to release pseudonymously under Camille's name as a self-titled debut with next setlist:

Side A: (22:17) 

1.- Rebirth of the Flesh.(4:57)

2.- Housequake.(4:29)

3.- Scarlet Pussy.(4:15)

4.- Shockadelica.(3:29)

5.- Good Love.(5:05)

Side B: (21:30) 

1.- U Got The Look.(4:16)

2.-If I Was A Girlfriend.(4:47)

3.- Strange Relationship.(4:21)

4.-Feel U Up.(3:42)

5.- Rock In A Funky Place.(4:22) 

But a few days later, on November 5, Prince edit the album once again leaving it with only eight songs, removing: “Scarlet Pussy", which was released as the B-side of the 1988 single "I Wish U Heaven" and “U Got the Look”, also released later in 1987 as a single from double LP “Sign o' the Times”: 

Side A: 1.-Rebirth of the Flesh. 2.-Housequake. 3.-Strange Relationship. 4.-Feel U Up.

On August 1986 Prince abandoning his double Lp “Dream Factory”, shortly after breaking up his backing band “The Revolution”. Between September & October, at Sunset Sound in Hollywood, California with the engineer: Susan Rogers, recorded a new project. In it, Prince experimenting with his vocals in an artificially pitched-up style, achieved either by using a pitchshifter or by recording his vocals at a slower tempo and then speeding up the tape to create a higher, androgynous tone.

At the end of October he had completed an album which he planned to release pseudonymously under Camille's name as a self-titled debut with next setlist:

Side A: (22:17) 

1.- Rebirth of the Flesh.(4:57)

2.- Housequake.(4:29)

3.- Scarlet Pussy.(4:15)

4.- Shockadelica.(3:29)

5.- Good Love.(5:05)

Side B: (21:30) 

1.- U Got The Look.(4:16)

2.-If I Was A Girlfriend.(4:47)

3.- Strange Relationship.(4:21)

4.-Feel U Up.(3:42)

5.- Rock In A Funky Place.(4:22) 

But a few days later, on November 5, Prince edit the album once again leaving it with only eight songs, removing: “Scarlet Pussy", which was released as the B-side of the 1988 single "I Wish U Heaven" and “U Got the Look”, also released later in 1987 as a single from double LP “Sign o' the Times”: 

Side A: 1.-Rebirth of the Flesh. 2.-Housequake. 3.-Strange Relationship. 4.-Feel U Up.

Side B: 1.-Shockadelica. 2.-Good Love. 3.-If I Was A Girlfriend. 4.-Rock In A Funky Place. 

With this new set list, the project with catalogue number 1-25543, was planned for January 1987, preceded by the single: “Shockadelica / Housequake”, But was canceled. Why?. It seems that there were several reasons, one of them tell us: Prince informed Warner Bros. that his image would not appear on the cover and that he would not acknowledge the album as his own work; something that Warner´s executives did not like to and everything indicates this could be the main reason.

Although there is another version that says: Prince had gotten involved in somewhat dark matters of spirits and magic, Camille Bit.ly/88PCC was really a spirit that had possessed the singer, but this entity had abandoned it before that he finished the project, when Prince returned to himself, he had lost interest in publishing this new work dictated from another dimension.

Prince later invoked, once again to Camille for new future project, but the singer this time was possessed by a more demonic entity named “Spooky Electric”. Which led him to a new project:“The Black album” (released in 1994).

Or maybe the solution is simpler than all of the above, without that nothing said was not true: Prince instead decided to expand on the project by incorporating new tracks, resulting in the three-disc set “Cristal Ball”. 

Whatever it was,"Camille" was suspended and when the project was developed into "Crystal Ball", (1st sequenced on 30 November 1986), seven of the eight tracks were kept, only "Feel U Up" was removed. But when Warner forced to Prince to reduce the content of the project to two discs, only four tracks were survived: "Housequake"; “If I Was Your Girlfriwnd” & “Strange Relationship” recorded in 1982; with “U Got The Look”. This new work was renamed as: “Sign o' the Times”. 

Others songs from this unreleased project, (I speak of “Camille”), as: "Shockadelica," was later included as a B-side of "If I Was Your Girlfriend". "Good Love" was later released on the "Bright Lights, Big City" film soundtrack in 1988. "Feel U Up'" recorded in 1981,was released in 1989 as the B-side of "Partyman". The opening track "Rebirth of the Flesh,", released: 28 August 2001 - NPG Music Club Edition # 8 mp3 download.

Photo: Although "Camille" never had a final cover, if there were several sketches, one of them a stick figure with X's for eyes or the model (Cat Glover) - professional choreographer, backing vocalist and dancer on "the Sign o' the Times Tour" and "Lovesexy Tour" - with a head of heart, photos later used in the video "U got the look", or in the double Lp: “Sing O´The Times”. Here I used the second.

That´s all. Enjoy a very good album that Prince should have published officially, in its full version that I bring here.

See you soon.