If you've been wanting to dive deep into the discography of Scottish rock band Del Amitri, Universal Music is satisfying your needs with a trio of double-disc reissues of the band's first three albums for A&M Records in 2014.
While the group, anchored by singer/bassist Justin Currie and singer/guitarist Ian Harvie (both principal songwriters as well), only achieved one hit of note in the U.S., the peppy Top 10 single "Roll to Me," Del Amitri managed a solid streak of reliable album alt-rock in late '80s and early '90s England. Songs like "Nothing Ever Happens" and "Always the Last to Know" were moderate U.K. hits, and a steady touring schedule kept their fans satisfied. While things were rocky for the band after the sudden success of "Roll to Me" - their last album was 2002's experimental Can You Do Me Good? - things seem to be smoothing themselves out for the band, who will go out on a tour next year in the U.K. (the lineup consisting of Currie, Harvie, longtime keyboardist Andy Alston and their most recent sidemen, guitarist Kris Dollimore and drummer Ashley Soan.
Mercury/UMC will reissue Waking Hours (1989), Change Everything (1992) and Twisted (1995) on January 20, each containing a bonus disc featuring every non-LP B-side from the period, more than 50 bonus tracks in all. Those who pre-order from Universal's official store qualify to win a pair of tickets for the band's Hammersmith Apollo show on February 7, along with pre-show soundcheck and meet and greet opportunities.
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_uvSG07xig0]
Amazon U.K. links and full track lists, meanwhile, are after the jump. Special thanks to longtime friend of The Second Disc Matt Wardlaw for the tip!
Waking Hours: Deluxe Edition (Mercury/UMC (U.K.), 2014)
Disc 1: Original LP (released as A&M AMA 9006 (U.K.)/SP-5287 (U.S.), 1989)
- Kiss This Thing Goodbye
- Opposite View
- Move Away Jimmy Blue
- Stone Cold Sober
- You're Gone
- When I Want You
- This Side of the Morning
- Empty
- Hatful of Rain
- Nothing Ever Happens
Disc 2: B-Sides
- No Holding On
- Slowly, It's Coming Back
- Fred Partington's Daughter
- The Return of Maggie Brown
- Talk It to Death
- So Many Souls to Change
- Don't I Look Like the Kind of Guy You Used to Hate
- Evidence
- Another Letter Home
- April the FIrst
- More Than You'd Ever Know
Disc 2, Tracks 1-2 from "Kiss This Thing Goodbye" 12" - A&M AMY 515, 1989
Disc 2, Track 3 from "Kiss This Thing Goodbye" 10" - A&M AMX 551, 1990
Disc 2, Tracks 4-5 from "Stone Cold Sober" 12" - A&M AMY 527, 1989
Disc 2, Tracks 6-8 from "Nothing Ever Happens" 12" - A&M AMY 536, 1989
Disc 2, Tracks 9-11 from "Move Away Jimmy Blue" CD single - A&M AMY 555, 1990
Change Everything: Deluxe Edition (Mercury/UMC (U.K.), 2014)
Disc 1: Original LP (released as A&M 395 385-2 (U.K.)/CD 5385 (U.S.), 1992)
- Be My Downfall
- Just Like a Man
- When You Were Young
- Surface of the Moon
- I Won't Take the Blame
- The First Rule of Love
- The Ones That You Love Lead You Nowhere
- Always the Last to Know
- To Last a Lifetime
- As Soon as the Tide Comes In
- Behind the Fool
- Sometimes I Just Have to Say Your Name
Disc 2: B-Sides
- Learn to Cry
- Angel on the Roof
- The Whole World is Quiet
- Whiskey Remorse
- Lighten Up the Load
- The Heart is a Bad Design
- Don't Cry No Tears
- Bye Bye Pride
- Cindy Incidentally
- Spit in the Rain (Remix)
- I Won't Take the Blame (Acoustic)
- Scared to Live
- Long Journey Home
- The Verb to Do
- Kestral Road
- The Ones You Love Lead You Nowhere (Live @ The Town & Country Club, London - 1993)
- Kiss This Thing Goodbye (Live @ The Town & Country Club, London - 1993)
- Hatful of Rain (Live @ The Town & Country Club, London - 1993)
Disc 2, Tracks 1-3 from "Always the Last to Know" CD single - A&M 390 870-2, 1992
Disc 2, Tracks 4-6 from "Be My Downfall" CD single - A&M 390 884-2, 1992
Disc 2, Tracks 7-12 from "Just Like a Man" CD singles - A&M CD/CDR 0057, 1992
Disc 2, Tracks 13-18 from "When You Were Young" CD singles - A&M CD/CDR 0132, 1993
Twisted: Deluxe Edition (Mercury/UMC (U.K.), 2014)
Disc 1: Original LP (released as A&M 540 311-2 (U.K.)/314 540 311-2 (U.S.), 1995) and bonus tracks
- Food for Songs
- Start with Me
- Here and Now
- One Thing Left to Do
- Tell Her This
- Being Somebody Else
- Roll to Me
- Crashing Down
- It Might as Well Be You
- Never Enough
- It's Never Too Late to Be Alone
- Driving with the Brakes On
- Hatful of Rain (Live)
- Crashing Down (Live)
- Move Away Jimmy Blue (Live)
- The Ones That You Love Lead You Nowhere (Live)
Tracks 13-16 from bonus live disc (A&M 540 396-2, 1995)
Disc 2: B-Sides
- Long Way Down
- Queen of False Alarms
- Crashing Down
- Stone Cold Sober (Live @ "T" in The Park)
- Always the Last to Know (Live @ "T" in The Park)
- When I Want You (Live @ "T" in The Park)
- Life by Mistake
- In the Meantime
- A Little Luck
- In the Frame
- One Thing Left to Do (Acoustic)
- Food for Songs (Acoustic)
- Move Away Jimmy Blue (Remix)
- Stone Cold Sober (Remix)
- When You Were Young (Alternative Version)
- The Last Love Song
- A Better Man
- Whiskey Remorse (Alternative Version)
- Learn to Cry (Alternative Version)
Disc 1, Tracks 1-6 from "Here and Now" CD singles - A&M 580 959/969-2, 1995
Disc 1, Tracks 7-9 from "Driving with the Brakes On" CD single - A&M 581 005-2, 1995
Disc 1, Tracks 10-14 from "Roll to Me" CD singles - A&M 581 129/131-2, 1995
Disc 1, Tracks 15-19 from "Tell Her This" CD singles - A&M 581 215/217-2, 1995
Amazing news! One of my all time favorites! Very excited about this! Thank you!
Although I have just about every bonus track included on these editions from then-expensive import CD singles, these guys are probably my second favorite band of the last 30 years and I will definitely get the lot of these. These three albums, in order, are the perfect introduction to their music. Well, they were for me at least, starting in 1990. Thanks for posting about this. Hopefully you'll convince people to check them out for the first time.
I love Del Amitri and cannot wait for these reissues. And I have to add that each of Justin Currie's post-Del Amitri three solo albums are simply excellent, and just waiting for any Dels fans who haven't discovered them yet.
I wholeheartedly second Steven's recommendation of Justin Currie's three solo albums. There's also his one-off side project, The Uncle Devil Show, that's worth seeking out as well (especially for the song "She Cuts Her Own Fringe"). I got to see them on their one tour, in Scotland, and it was a blast. I've also seen Del Amitri & Justin at least 9-10 times and I've always been blown away. Consistently great music with one of the best voices of all time.
I only rediscovered Del Amitri during Covid lockdowns and became immediately obsessed. I got my very first passport and have travelled around Europe Australia and New Zealand to see them 43 times since 2022.
The masters of the bitter break up song, Just Like A Man is a top tune. Hope these aren't ruined during remastering.Thanks for the tip on JC's solo stuff, chaps, as I've not heard any of it and will definitely check the albums out.
Agreed about them being masters of the bitter break-up song, but of course that may be misleading to anyone who's unfamiliar with their music since most of the songs could also be described as upbeat, melodic pop/rock hiding some deceptively scathing lyrics.
Two of Justin's best post-breakup songs are on his first two solo albums: "If I Ever Loved You" (from What Is Love For) and "As Long As You Don't Come Back" (from The Great War). I recommend seeking out footage from a songwriter's circle he did with Boo Hewerdine & Chris Difford where his performance of the former brought Difford to tears...literally. I would link it here but I'm not sure how Mike & Joe feel about hyperlinks in their comments.
Also, I'd like to add that no one has consistently written such amazing bridges as Justin Currie. It's like there's always another miniature song sitting inside each of his songs.
Change Everything is just about the perfect album - I can't actually dip into it, just have to listen to the whole thing. Good stuff and genuinely a true examination of the Scots psyche (from dour stoicism through to heartfelt passion). A million miles better than the majority of the pseudo-Celtic crap that followed. An under-rated band.
It's about time,this was one of my favorite 90's bands
So excited about these reissues! Occasionally in your life you stumble across a band whose B-Sides are often AS GOOD AS (if not better) than the official album tracks! And Waking Hours and Change Everything have them in spades: No Holding On, Slowly It's Coming Back, Fred Partington's Daughter, Evidence, Lighten Up The Load, Angel On The Roof, Don't I Look Like The Kind of Guy,...etc, etc..... All excellent! Can't wait to hear them again sounding all shiny and remastered|! Lovely!
Bollox record companies at it as again weres" Someone Else Will "and This Side of the Morning live in a car park 3am" "always ridiculously holding back"never mind using the title Slowly its coming back!
I think that it has to be said that Justin Currie is up there amongst THE MOST TALENTED AND AWESOME singer-songwriters in modern music history. He is fundamentally a poet (who writes great poetry), and then turns his poetry into the most amazing music!! I have loved Del Amitri for ever (since I first heard their songs) and was just about heartbroken when they ceased to perform together.
I have followed Justin's every album and tour, since he became a solo artist, and NEVER been disappointed. So, the fact that we now have all of these bonus tracks amongst these 3 re-issues is the best news for loyal fans.
Yes, I can agree with the comment about "The Uncle Devil Show" being a great album also. (I do 'cut my own fringe' so that was a most amusing track for me, personally).
I am SO excited about the Del Amitri tour and now this is just another exceptionally good piece of news that we will have a brilliant collection of Del Amitri songs to re-engage with.
Thank you Universal (and thank God for giving us Del Amitri - and Justin Currie, especially)!!!
Diane Wade