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Cherry Red continues their ongoing excavation of the Howard Jones catalogue with a new set that collects two remix albums from the mid-’80s: one a special early part of his discography, and one a treasured rarity for Japanese collectors.

The label will issue a 2CD set on March 18 featuring the contents of The 12″ Album and 12″ers Vol. 2, which collected a plurality of mixes, some B-sides and the odd unique track from the Human’s Lib and Dream Into Action albums. 1984’s The 12″ Album featured extended versions of “Like to Get to Know You Well,” “Pearl in the Shell” and “What is Love?” – all Top 10s from 1983 debut Human’s Lib – plus B-side “Total Conditioning,” a new cut called “Always Asking Questions,” and a sprightly re-recorded version of breakthrough debut single “New Song.” A gold-selling album in Jones’ native England, most of the tracks on this album have not been used as bonus material on Cherry Red’s previous reissues. (The 12″ Album was previously reissued by Jones’ Dtox label as part of a box set with American EP Action Replay (1986).)

Japan’s 1985 follow-up 12″ers Vol. 2 took a similar approach to its U.K. predecessor, including remixes of Dream Into Action singles “Things Can Only Get Better,” “Look Mama,” “Life in One Day” and Human’s Lib single “Hide and Seek,” plus two B-sides. (For its first release outside of Asia, a track list “error” has been corrected, using the properly-cited mix of B-side “Bounce Right Back” instead of the original 7″ mix.)

Both programs have been remastered from the original tapes, with the accompanying booklet featuring rare imagery and liner notes by Stephen W. Tayler, who mixed The 12″ Album. Pre-order links and a full track breakdown are below!

The 12″ Album + 12″ers Vol. 2 (Cherry Red PCDBRED852 (U.K.), 2022) (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada)

Disc 1: The 12″ Album (released as WEA (U.K.) WX14, 1984)

1. Always Asking Questions *
2. New Song (New Version) *
3. What is Love? (Extended Mix)
4. Like to Get to Know You Well (International Mix)
5. Pearl in the Shell (Extended Mix) *
6. Total Conditioning *

* previously unreleased as remastered bonus track by Cherry Red

Disc 2: 12″ers Vol. 2 (released as WEA (Japan) P-6220, 1985)

1. Things Can Only Get Better (Extended Mix)
2. You Jazzy Nork!
3. Life in One Day (Part 2)
4. Look Mama (R.H. Version a.k.a. U.K. Extended Version)
5. Bounce Right Back (Cause & Effect Mix)
6. Hide and Seek (Extended Mix)

Disc 1, Tracks 1-2 and 5 first released on The 12″ Album
Disc 1, Track 3 from WEA U.K. 12″ HOW2T, 1983
Disc 1, Track 4 and Disc 2, Track 5 from WEA U.K. 12″ HOW5T, 1984
Disc 1, Track 6 from WEA U.K. 12″ HOW4T, 1984
Disc 2, Tracks 1-2 from WEA U.K. 12″ HOW6T, 1985
Disc 2, Track 3 from WEA U.K. 12″ HOW8T, 1985
Disc 2, Track 4 from WEA U.K. 12″ HOW7T, 1985
Disc 2, Track 6 from WEA U.K. 12″ HOW3T, 1984