News

Cherry Red’s latest reissue in their ongoing Howard Jones campaign is one of the series’ most expansive yet, offering a deeper look at the singer/songwriter/synthsmith’s fourth LP, Cross That Line.

Released in 1989, Cross That Line found Jones in an introspective, experimental mood. His first mostly self-produced album, it featured meditations on lost relationships (“Last Supper”) and extended polemics on power (“Guardians Of The Breath”) nestled within its tracks. There were also classic Jones pop songs augmented by strong horn sections (“Cross That Line,” “Wanders To You”), strong rhythmic programming (“Powerhouse,” a collaboration with Danny D, better known as acid-house hitmaker D-Mob), and even a lush, piano-only instrumental (“Out Of Thin Air”).

For the loyal, Jones proffered two dazzling radio hits produced in conjunction with Ross Cullum, Chris Hughes and Ian Stanley (primary producers of Tears For Fears’ first two albums and that group’s keyboardist for their first few years together): the bubbly “Everlasting Love” (a Billboard adult contemporary chart-topper) and the haunting “The Prisoner,” both of which cracked the Top 40 in America. (Perplexingly, the Phil Collins-produced version of “No One Is To Blame,” Jones’ biggest U.S. hit in 1986, missed the Top 10 in his native England, as did the rest of his singles and albums for the WEA/Elektra labels.)

Fans of the album are in for a treat: Cherry Red’s 3CD/1DVD set features the original album alongside a whopping 34 bonus tracks – nearly two dozen of which are being released for the first time – along with a region-free DVD offering three original music videos (including a rare alternate version of “Everlasting Love”) and a newly-recorded interview with Howard about the making of the album. The accompanying booklet will also feature new notes by Anil Prasad featuring new commentary by the performer; these notes will also figure into a new LP pressing of Cross That Line on 140-gram silver vinyl.

The expanded Cross That Line is out October 9, and the full track list is below.

Cross That Line: Expanded Deluxe Edition (Cherry Red PCDEXRED813 (U.K.), 2020)

3CD/1DVD: Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada
LP: Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada

Disc 1: Original album and B-sides

1. The Prisoner
2. Everlasting Love
3. Powerhouse
4. Last Supper
5. Cross That Line
6. Out Of Thin Air
7. Guardians Of The Breath
8. Fresh Air Waltz
9. Wanders To You
10. Those Who Move Clouds
11. Modern Man
12. The Brutality Of Fact
13. Power Of The Media
14. Powerhouse (Danny D 12″ Edit)

Tracks 1-10 released as WEA WX225 (U.K.)/Elektra 60794 (U.S.), 1989
Track 11 from The Very Best Of – Dtox CD20, 2003
Tracks 12-13 from “Everlasting Love” U.K. 12″ – WEA HOW13T, 1989
Track 14 from “Powerhouse” U.K. 12″ promo – WEA SAM 507, 1989

Disc 2 (previously unreleased except where noted)

1. The Prisoner (Alternative 7″ Mix)
2. Everlasting Love (Julian Mendelsohn Mix)
3. Modern Man (Early Mix)
4. Powerhouse (7″ Instrumental Mix)
5. Fresh Air Waltz (Early Mix)
6. The Prisoner (The Portmeirion Mix)
7. Rubber Morals
8. Have You Heard The News?
9. Powerhouse (Danny D 7″ Edit)
10. The Prisoner (U.S. 7″ Edit)
11. Everlasting Love (Original Mix – a.k.a. The Institute Mix)
12. Cross That Line (Early Mix)
13. Powerhouse Of Love (Early Mix)
14. The Prisoner (AC Edit)
15. Powerhouse (Danny D Acid Mix Edit Version 1)

Tracks 6-8 released as “The Prisoner” 12″ – WEA HOW 14T, 1989
Track 9 released on One To One/Cross That Line/In The Running box set – Dtox DTOXSET3, 2012
Track 10 released on “The Prisoner” U.S. promo single – Elektra 7-69288, 1989
Track 11 released on “Everlasting Love” mini CD single – WEA HOW 13CDX, 1989

Disc 3 (previously unreleased except where noted)

1. Everlasting Love (Instrumental Mix)
2. The Prisoner (Battery Studio Mix 1)
3. Powerhouse (7″ Alternative Mix)
4. Everlasting Love (Julian Mendelsohn TV Mix)
5. The Prisoner (Original Album Mix)
6. Cross That Line (Marquee Rehearsal – 6/18/1988)
7. Powerhouse (Marquee Rehearsal – 6/18/1988)
8. Rubber Morals (TV Mix)
9. Everlasting Love (Alternative Institute Mix)
10. The Prisoner (Instrumental Mix)
11. Powerhouse (TV Instrumental Mix)
12. Everlasting Love (808 Mix)
13. Powerhouse (Danny D Acid Mix Edit Version 2)
14. Everlasting Love (Peter Collins Master Mix)
15. Powerhouse (Alternative Album Mix – a.k.a. Danny D Delay Mix)

Track 12 from “Everlasting Love” U.K. 12″ – WEA HOW13T, 1989

DVD

1. Interview (May 2020)
   • Creating Cross That Line
   • Track By Track Commentary
2. Everlasting Love (promo video)
3. The Prisoner (promo video)
4. Everlasting Love (alternative promo video)