In 1977, Richard Hell and The Voidoids set the punk world ablaze with their debut album, Blank Generation.  Hell had already been a part of both Television and Johnny Thunder's first Heartbreakers lineup, and Blank Generation proved that he was more than ready to strike out with his own band.  Hell didn't record a follow-up until 1981, however.  When that sophomore album, Destiny Street, was released in 1982, the artist was dissatisfied: "The final mix was a morass of trebly multi-guitar blare."  Now, forty years on from its recording, Hell has had the chance to fulfill this particular Destiny.  On January 22, 2021, Omnivore Recordings will release Destiny Street Complete, a 2-CD set (also available digitally), and Destiny Street Remixed, a vinyl LP, both of which present the album as Hell intended.  "The sound of a little combo playing real gone rock and roll," he comments in the press release.

That "real gone rock and roll" included Hell originals, a repurposed 1979 B-side, and spirited punk covers of Them, Bob Dylan, and The Kinks.  Hell was joined on Destiny Street by Robert Quine (guitar), Juan Maciel a.k.a. Naux (guitar), and Fred Maher on drums.  (Original Voidoids Ivan Julian and Marc Bell on guitar and drums, respectively, had already exited the band.)   The result was as compelling and powerful as its predecessor.  Hell had long inquired about the possibility of remixing the album, but had been told that the original 24-track multitracks were lost.  In the early days of the 21st century, he discovered a 1981 cassette tape of the rhythm tracks only (drums, bass, and two guitars).  As both Quine and Naux had passed away, Hell called upon original Voidoid Ivan Julian as well as eclectic jazzmen Bill Frisell and Marc Ribot to overdub solos, and he then re-sang all of the parts.  This version was released in 2009 as Destiny Street Repaired.

The story still wasn't over, though.  In 2019, three of the four original master tapes were located.  Hell realized the opportunity to finally remix the album (or most of it, anyway).  Working with producer Nick Zinner (Yeah Yeah Yeahs), Hell got to work.  Omnivore's Destiny Street Complete features three versions of the album: the controversial 1982 original, the 2009 Repaired reconstruction, and the 2021 remix.  The remix will be available on standalone vinyl.

And that's still not all.  This 40th anniversary celebration also features Destiny Street Demos, an LP's worth of demos and earlier studio versions for a chronicle of Richard Hell's songwriting oeuvre between Blank Generation and Destiny Street.  Hell has penned new liner notes to put everything into perspective.  Everything has been newly mastered by Michael Graves at Osiris Studios.  The release also serves to preview Omnivore's Record Store Day 2021 vinyl release of Destiny Street Demos.

Hell shares, "I've been working on this release for 40 years. Long road! Three different versions of the same ten songs, from the same basic tracks by the same four musicians. I couldn't help myself, and I'm glad, god damn it. But really, each of the four parts (including the collection of demos) has its points of interest and then the whole is greater than the parts, for my money. It was a good trip, with lots of roadside attractions, but I'm happy to have reached the destination."

You can pre-order Destiny Street Complete on 2 CDs and Destiny Street Remixed on 1 LP at the below links.  Omnivore will also be carrying a limited edition clear vinyl variant of the Remixed set.  You'll also find the track listing below.

Richard Hell and The Voidoids, Destiny Street Complete (Omnivore, 2021) (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada) / Destiny Street Remixed LP [CD 2, Tracks 1-11] (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada)

CD 1:

Destiny Street (Red Star RED 801, 1982)

1. The Kid With The Replaceable Head (Destiny Street - 2021 Remaster)
2. I Gotta Move (Destiny Street - 2021 Remaster)
3. Going Going Gone (Destiny Street - 2021 Remaster)
4. Lowest Common Dominator (Destiny Street - 2021 Remaster)
5. Downtown At Dawn (Destiny Street - 2021 Remaster)
6. Time (Destiny Street - 2021 Remaster)
7. I Can Only Give You Everything (Destiny Street - 2021 Remaster)
8. Ignore That Door (Destiny Street - 2021 Remaster)
9. Staring In Her Eyes (Destiny Street - 2021 Remaster)

Destiny Street Repaired (Insound, 2009)

10. Destiny Street (Destiny Street Repaired - 2021 Remaster)
11. The Kid With The Replaceable Head (Destiny Street Repaired - 2021 Remaster)
12. I Gotta Move (Destiny Street Repaired - 2021 Remaster)
13. Going Going Gone (Destiny Street Repaired - 2021 Remaster)
14. Lowest Common Dominator (Destiny Street Repaired - 2021 Remaster)
15. Downtown At Dawn (Destiny Street Repaired - 2021 Remaster)
16. Time (Destiny Street Repaired - 2021 Remaster)
17. I Can Only Give You Everything (Destiny Street Repaired - 2021 Remaster)
18. Ignore That Door (Destiny Street Repaired - 2021 Remaster)
19. Staring In Her Eyes (Destiny Street Repaired - 2021 Remaster)
20. Destiny Street (Destiny Street Repaired - 2021 Remaster)

CD 2:

Destiny Street Remixed (2021) [Tracks 1-11 available on vinyl]

1. The Kid With The Replaceable Head (Destiny Street Remixed)
2. I Gotta Move (Destiny Street Remixed)
3. Going Going Gone (Destiny Street Remixed)
4. Lowest Common Dominator (Destiny Street Remixed)
5. Downtown At Dawn (Destiny Street Remixed)
6. Time (Destiny Street Remixed)
7. I Can Only Give You Everything (Destiny Street Remixed)
8. Ignore That Door (Destiny Street Remixed)
9. Staring In Her Eyes (Destiny Street Remixed)
10. Destiny Street(Destiny Street Remixed)
11. Don't Die (Destiny Street Remixed)

Destiny Street Demos (1978-1980)

12. The Kid With The Replaceable Head (Destiny Street Demos - 2021 Remaster) [Single Version]
13. I'm Your Man (Destiny Street Demos - 2021 Remaster) [Single Version]
14. Crack Of Dawn (Destiny Street Demos - 2021 Remaster)
15. Going Going Gone (Destiny Street Demos - 2021 Remaster)
16. Funhunt (Destiny Street Demos - 2021 Remaster)
17. I Lived My Life (Destiny Street Demos - 2021 Remaster)
18. Ignore That Door (Destiny Street Demos - 2021 Remaster)
19. Smitten (Destiny Street Demos - 2021 Remaster)
20. Staring In Her Eyes (Destiny Street Demos - 2021 Remaster)
21. Time (Destiny Street Demos - 2021 Remaster) (Single Version)
22. Don't Die (Destiny Street Demos - 2021 Remaster) (Single Version)
23. Time (Destiny Street Demos) (Live) [Bonus Track]