Swing Out Sister burst onto the scene in 1986 with "Breakout."  The first song on the group's first album, the sleek admonition reached the top ten on both sides of the Atlantic as well as the top of the U.S. Adult Contemporary chart.  With Corrine Drewery's lead vocal soaring over a fizzy cocktail of funky bass, brash horns, bubbly synths, a sweet string arrangement, and a driving snare drum, "Breakout" bridged the gap between contemporary and retro.  It launched Swing Out Sister to international fame and a discography that's so far encompassed ten studio albums plus soundtracks, EPs, and live releases.  With the 8-CD box Blue Mood, Breakout, and Beyond, Cherry Red's Cherry Pop imprint has compiled SOS's first three studio LPs, Live at the Jazz Café, and four discs of rarities for the ultimate chronicle of the group's early years.

1987's It's Better to Travel, produced by Paul O'Duffy, debuted Drewery, keyboardist Andy Connell, and drummer Martin Jackson's vivid and expansive musical vision.  In addition to "Breakout," the LP (presented on CD 1 of the box set) yielded another top ten U.K. single with the floor-filling "Surrender," featuring a trumpet solo from John Thirkell.  The dramatic "Twilight World" reached No. 32 on the U.K. Singles Chart and No. 31 on the U.S. Hot 100 but found most success at No. 9 on the U.S. Dance survey.  The final single, "Fooled by a Smile," evoked the upbeat northern soul sound but peaked just outside the U.K. top 40.  Its final track, "Theme from It's Better to Travel," hinted at the widescreen John Barry sound they would soon embrace even more fully.  The album made it to No. 1 on the U.K. Albums Chart and earned SOS two Grammy nominations.

With the success of Travel, the group was well-positioned for creative freedom on its follow-up, Kaleidoscope World (1989), included here as CD 2.  On their second effort, the group - now streamlined to a duo, with the departure of Martin Jackson during sessions - paid even more explicit homage to the artists and songwriters who had inspired them, including Burt Bacharach and Hal David, Gerry Goffin and Carole King, John Barry, Sandie Shaw, Flora Purim, Laura Nyro, The 5th Dimension, and Jimmy Webb, among others.  With a bigger budget in place, the decision was made to introduce full orchestrations to enhance Drewery and Connell's compositions.  The decision was one that didn't sit well with Jackson, who was more rooted in the contemporary world of synths and drum machines as well as the notion of SOS as a self-contained unit.

Kaleidoscope World epitomized sophisti-pop at its finest, and wore its influences on its sleeve; Jimmy Webb provided the beautiful charts and conducted the orchestra on "Forever Blue" (think: John Barry's "Midnight Cowboy" crossed with Teddy Randazzo's "Gonna Take a Miracle") and "Precious Words" (with its breezy Bacharach air).  Bacharach's sensibility could be also felt on "Heart for Hire," with its unexpected rhythms and flugelhorn accents, while Barry's influence is clear on the closing, cinematic instrumental "Kaleidoscope Affair."  The opening track "You on My Mind," a U.K. top 30 single entry, captured the big, bright, and bold sound of a '60s Tony Hatch production while still other tracks nodded at R&B (second single "Where in the World?") and contemporary, if brassy, synthpop ("Waiting Game").  Three instrumental bonus tracks, including instrumental mixes of both "Precious Words" and "Forever Blue," shine a welcome spotlight on Jimmy Webb's stunning orchestrations.

R&B would inspire Swing Out Sister's next album.  For 1992's Get In Touch with Yourself (CD 3 of the new box), Drewery, Connell, and producer O'Duffy loosely drew on the '70s sounds of Isaac Hayes and Curtis Mayfield while not limiting themselves to one particular mood or feel; it plays rather like a confident amalgam of its two predecessors with an adult contemporary sheen and a steady beat. (Sadly, it was lacking in any of the ballads which Drewery sang so persuasively.)  The opening title track established the more rhythmic, funky sound of the album but its influences were still broadly retro-oriented.  "Everyday Crime" conjures a Shaft milieu with its funky guitar, ominous strings, and insinuating woodwinds - an instrumental version was also included to spotlight its vibrant arrangement - while second single "Notgonnachange" (No. 49 U.K./No. 22 U.S. AC) melds fizzy pop with a widescreen string interlude.

Despite the strong tunestack by Drewery and Connell, sometimes writing with O'Duffy, the album's standout track was "Am I the Same Girl," a deliciously brassy cover of the Eugene Record/Sonny Sanders tune better known in instrumental form as Young-Holt Unlimited's "Soulful Strut" (a top five crossover hit on the U.S. Pop, AC, and R&B charts).  Barbara Acklin recorded the first vocal version and Dusty Springfield later recorded it, but Swing Out Sister's shimmering take was its most successful incarnation, peaking at No. 1 AC in the U.S. and on the European Dance Radio survey.  It barely missed the U.K. top 20 and made it to a respectable No. 45 on the Hot 100.  Get In Touch with Yourself peaked at No. 27 on the U.K. Albums Chart.

Swing Out Sister followed up Get in Touch with their first concert album, included on CD 4.  Live at the Jazz Café (1993) was recorded in December 1992 for release in Japan; highlights would later be included on the bonus disc of the limited edition of the duo's 1994 album The Living Return.  Roughly half of the album's songs were live versions of songs from Get in Touch, but all were substantially rearranged by SOS for live performance.  Though the songs are immediately recognizable from their studio counterparts, the band - Juneroy Johnson on bass, Myke Wilson on drums, Tim Cansfield on drums, Chris Manis on percussion, Gary Plumley on woodwinds, John Thirkell on trumpet and flugelhorn, Erica Harrold and Sylvia Mason-James on background vocals, and of course, Andy Connell on keyboards - brought immediacy and a more organic sound to the live recordings.

The energy is up a notch on the joyful "You on My Mind" and the groove tighter on "Surrender" and "Twilight World."  A breezy bossa nova air cedes to rock on a dazzling "Circulate."  Some songs, such as "Everyday Crime" and "Notgonnachange" gain sleekness and intimacy; "Am I the Same Girl" adds an acoustic piano introduction before soaring in its slightly stripped-down form (and even adding a rap interlude).  Connell and Drewery were generous in allowing the band members opportunity to solo and stretch out, too, resulting in many of the tracks expanded beyond their original scope.  The closing medley is the concert's lone "exclusive" song, mashing up "Who Let the Love Out" from Get In Touch with Yourself with the non-LP side "Coney Island Man" and covers of Lonnie Liston Smith's "Expansions" and Bacharach and David's "Wives and Lovers."  The band's jazz chops shine throughout the album and particularly on this performance.

Chronologically, Blue Mood, Breakout, and Beyond stops there - but the box continues with four discs of rarities - 52 in total - to sate the appetite of fans and collectors alike.  Discs 5-7 (Remixes, More Remixes, and Even More Remixes) gather the dancefloor-aimed remixes that proliferated around the release of the albums contained here and earned SOS many fans.  "We had arguments all the time about people doing remixes," Corinne Drewery confesses in her interview.  "We didn't want them; it was all coming out of our money.  We thought, 'Give us ten grand, we'll do a remix!'" She does admit fondness for Frankie Knuckles' reinterpretation of "Notgonnachange," heard on Disc 7 (among six total remixes of the song).  With so many versions of each song back-to-back, these discs aren't ideal for listening straight through but are invaluable to completists and collectors.  About eighty percent of the material on the Remixes discs has been sourced from master tapes; the remaining tracks were dubbed from clean vinyl.

The final CD in the package, B-Sides and Edits, is yet more manna for the longtime fan with 15 non-LP single sides and the original seven-inch edits of "Surrender," "Twilight World," and "Notgonnachange" as well as the Japan-only single of the live "Circulate."  The B-sides trace the evolution of the duo from the early dancers "Wake Me When It's Over" and "Dirty Money" through the more sophisticated likes of the atmospheric "Who's to Blame," buoyant instrumental-with-wordless-vocals "Coney Island Man," moody yet funky "I Can Hear You But I Can't See You," and the epic "Alone."  A spare piano-and-vocal take on the haunting Michel Legrand/Alan and Marilyn Bergman film theme "The Windmills of Your Mind" is another highlight as it showcases the purity of Drewery's vocal instrument and Connell's sensitivity at the piano.

Though housed in a sturdy and handsomely-designed slipcase, the packaging is a mixed bag.  The original album front and back covers are absent from the paper sleeves housing each disc, replaced by a new drawing based on the original cover (and original artwork for the bonus discs).  The covers are reprinted within the thick, 36-page color booklet which features an oral history from Connell, Drewery, and O'Duffy.  The booklet, however, is missing credits for each album other than for the songwriters; even production and musician credits are omitted.  Discographical annotation is also entirely absent for both the albums and the many bonus tracks.  Remastering credits are also missing though the audio is solid throughout.

Swing Out Sister has released seven albums between 1994 and 2017; one hopes these will be addressed in volumes as happily all-encompassing as this one.  Blue Mood, Breakout, and Beyond vividly re-presents Corinne Drewery and Andy Connell's early years in swinging style.

Swing Out Sister, Blue Mood, Breakout and Beyond - The Early Years Part 1 (Cherry Pop CRPOPBOX259 (U.K.), 2022) (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada)

Disc 1: It's Better to Travel (released as Mercury OUT LP1 (U.K.), 1986)

1. Breakout
2. Twilight World (Superb, Superb, Mix)
3. After Hours
4. Blue Mood
5. Surrender
6. Fooled by a Smile
7. Communion
8. It's Not Enough
9. Theme (From - 'It's Better to Travel')

Disc 2: Kaleidoscope World (released as Fontana 838 293-2 (U.K.), 1989)

1. You on My Mind
2. Where in the World
3. Forever Blue
4. Heart for Hire
5. Tainted
6. Waiting Game
7. Precious Words
8. Masquerade
9. Between Strangers
10. The Kaleidoscope Affair
11. Coney Island Man
12. Precious Words (Instrumental)
13. Forever Blue (String Mix)
14. Masquerade (Instrumental)

Disc 3: Get in Touch with Yourself (released as Fontana 512 241-2 (U.K.), 1992)

1. Get in Touch with Yourself
2. Am I the Same Girl?
3. Incomplete Without You
4. Everyday Crime
5. Circulate
6. Who Let the Love Out?
7. Understand
8. Notgonnachange
9. Don't Say the Word
10. Love Child
11. I Can Hear You but I Can't See You (Instrumental)
12. Everyday Crime (Instrumental)

Disc 4: Live At The Jazz Cafe (released as Fontana PHCR-1192 (Japan), 1993)

1. Get in Touch with Yourself
2. You on My Mind
3. Surrender
4. Everyday Crime
5. Twilight World
6. Circulate
7. Am I the Same Girl?
8. Breakout
9. Notgonnachange
10. Who Let the Love Out/Expansions/Coney Island Man/Wives & Lovers?

All tracks recorded live at The Jazz Cafe, London, England - 12/15-16/1992

Disc 5: Mixes

1. Blue Mood (Dubbed-Up Version)
2. Blue Mood (Growler Mix)
3. Breakout (A New Rockin' Version)
4. Breakout (N.A.D. Mix)
5. Breakout (Horny Version)
6. Breakout (Carnival Mix)
7. Fooled by a Smile (Ralph Mix)
8. Fooled by a Smile (TV Mix)
9. Breakout (American Instrumental Mix)
10. Communion (Instrumental)
11. Fooled by a Smile (Phi Phi Mix)
12. Twilight World (Remix)
13. Twilight World (Outer Limits Mix)

Track 1 from Mercury U.K. 12" single MERXR 207, 1985
Track 2 from Mercury U.K. 12" single MERX 207, 1985
Tracks 3 and 5 from Mercury U.K. 12" single SWING 2212, 1986
Track 4 from Mercury U.K. 12" single SWING 212, 1986
Track 6 from Mercury U.S. 12" single 888 836-1, 1987
Track 7 and 9-10 from Mercury U.K. 12" single SWING 522, 1987
Track 8 from Mercury U.K. 12" promo SWINGDJ 512, 1987
Track 11 from Mercury Japanese 7" single 7PP-267, 1987
Track 12 from Mercury European 12" single 870 242-1, 1987
Track 13 from Mercury U.K. 12" single SWING 422, 1987

Disc 6: More Mixes

1. Twilight World (The World Travel Mix)
2. Twilight World (Vocal Dub)
3. Twilight World (Classical Dub)
4. Twilight World (Instrumental Dub)
5. Twilight World (Beat Your Sister Dub)
6. Surrender (Stuff Gun Mix)
7. Surrender (Pop Stand Remix)
8. Surrender (Roadrunner Mix)
9. Precious Words (Orchestral Mix)
10. Waiting Game (Extended Version)
11. Waiting Game (Remix Edit)
12. Waiting Game (Ultimix)
13. Waiting Game (Dub)

Track 1 from Mercury U.S. 12" single 870 015-1, 1987
Tracks 2-5 from Mercury U.S. 12" promo PRO 560-1, 1987
Tracks 6-7 from Mercury U.S. 12" single 870 270-1, 1986
Track 8 from Mercury U.K. 12" single SWING 3312, 1987
Track 9 from "Forever Blue" U.K. 12" single - Fontana SWING 812, 1989
Tracks 10-13 from Fontana U.S. 12" single 874 191-1, 1989

Disc 7: Even More Mixes

1. Where in the World? (Bongo Fury Mix)
2. Where in the World? (Radical Mix)
3. You on My Mind (Extended Version)
4. Precious Words (Earth Bound Mix)
5. Am I the Same Girl (Bubba's Version)
6. Notgonnachange (Classic Club Version Mix)
7. Notgonnachange (Classic Song Mix)
8. Notgonnachange (Mix of Drama)
9. Notgonnachange (Dashi I Mix)
10. Notgonnachange (O'Duffy's 7" Mix)
11. Notgonnachange (New Jack Swing Out Mix)
12. Am I the Same Girl (Instrumental)

Track 1 from Fontana U.K. 10" single SWING 710, 1989
Track 2 from Fontana U.K. 12" single SWING 712, 1989
Tracks 3-4 from Fontana U.K. CD single SWICD 6, 1989
Track 5 from "Notgonnachange" 7" single - Fontana SWING 10, 1992
Tracks 6-9 from Fontana U.K. 12" single SWING 1012, 1992
Tracks 10-11 from Fontana U.S. CD single 866 855-2, 1992
Track 12 from Fontana U.K. 12" promo SOS 1, 1992

Disc 8: B-Sides and Edits

1. Wake Me When It's Over
2. Dirty Money
3. Who's to Blame
4. Another Lost Weekend
5. Fever
6. Coney Island Man
7. Taxi Town
8. Windmills of Your Mind
9. Spirit Moves
10. Alone
11. Surrender (7" Version)
12. Twilight World (Single Edit)
13. Notgonnachange (Edit)
14. Circulate (Live Single Version)

Track 1 from "Blue Mood" single - Mercury MER 207, 1985
Track 2 from "Breakout" single - Mercury SWING 2, 1986
Tracks 3 from "Surrender" single - Mercury SWING 3, 1987
Track 4 from "Twilight World" single - Mercury SWING 4, 1987
Track 5 from "Fooled by a Smile" single - Mercury SWING 5, 1987
Track 6 from "You on My Mind" single - Fontana SWING 6, 1989
Tracks 7-8 from "Where in the World" 12" single - Fontana SWING 712, 1989
Track 9 from "Am I the Same Girl" single - Fontana SWING 9, 1992
Track 10 from "Notgonnachange" CD single - Fontana SWICD 10, 1992
Track 11 from Mercury U.S. single 888 243-7, 1987
Track 12 from Mercury U.S. single 888 484-7, 1987
Track 13 from Fontana U.K. CD single CDP 820, 1992
Track 14 from Fontana Japanese CD single PHDR-120, 1992