So how are these in terms of sound quality compared to the originals? Honestly, these aren't albums that I thought needed any remastering treatment.
Can't really say yet, as I was listening in the car. But you're right, there had already been remasters issued of most of his catalog, so I don't think this was a greatly needed remastering. But Fish said he wanted his albums to finally have the deluxe treatment, so I guess a new remastering went hand in hand with that. And they do look and feel very nice. And the bonus disks have some worthwhile stuff (I think - haven't listened yet). Being a completest I already have everything on the Sunsets bonus disk though.
I actually sent Mark Wilkinson a message today asking about when the next remasters would be ready. Figured he had a better handle on it than Fish would at this point, assuming they're underway already.
Don't know if you folks read it, but the scaled one is engaged to be married AGAIN! Jeez, he's a glutton for punishment. At least it might provide fodder for another album...
Correction: Both of the new remasters have material I didn't have before. I was forgetting that both have a whole disk of demo tracks I've never heard.
But I already have all the live tracks on Sunsets.
These demos (and some of the live stuff on Raingods) made both worth having for me, plus the nice presentation: lengthy notes by Fish, the single artwork, etc.
Had a listen to the Sunsets demo disk. There are two demos of Perceptions of Johnny Punter with Steven Wilson, and man, Wilson really tears it up with his guitar solos on those. I have to listen again to decide which is best. One is obviously earlier as the opening words are different.
Is one the string of racial epithets and the other " just another wake up, a hostage of a sunrise" and stuff? The tame lyrics are from the American release of the album, altered at, I believe, Roadrunner's request for fear that the unenlightened might not get the satirical intent.
I listened this morning and wrote the words down:
Just another wakeup
A hostage of a sunrise
Just another petrified, ashen faced motherfucker living on the planet
So not the tame version!
But I just noticed you referred to the above words in your post - where have you heard these words before, in a live version? I know I've heard them but as I have all of Fish's live releases, can't remember where.
And no, the other demo version of the song doesn't have the tame words, they're the same as on the UK release, but it's a demo.
Those are the lyrics on the american release of the album, as I mentioned above. I believe it was Roadrunner, tho I could be wrong, it's been ages. But the lyrics were altered as it was felt that an audience unfamiliar with Fish might not get the satirical intent of lyrics and assume he was a white supremacist or something...
It's otherwise the same as the version on the original release.
Still need to get on these. I thought I had them ordered, but I didn't.
I was a bit surprised to find out about his engagement too. Reminds me of his relationships with record labels.....
These look pretty cool, but 'Fellini Days' didn't do much for me. It was the most disappointed I have been with a Fish release. Perhaps, I will revisit it as it has been a while since I have heard it.
None of these three (Fellini Days, Field of Crows, or Suits) would be my favorite, but:
I do love Suits, and played it a lot back in the day and still love it. MR 1470 is one of my favorite songs of his. His voice sounds so cool on this, and the idea of the song is very cool (MR 1470 was the tag on an ancient skull he saw in a museum). Some other great songs like Lady let it Lie (his best ballad), Raw Meat, Somebody Special (one of my favorite Fish vocal moments is when he sings "She likes Japanese movies, She likes Chinese food" then gives a sort of karate yell. Great!), even the songs that aren't favorites are pretty strong and easy to listen to IMO. Also, Black Canal is a great b-side, and well worth getting for those who don't know it.
I agree that 'Suits' is much stronger than 'Fellini Days'. At the point of 'Suits', Fish's voice was still in top notch form and due to his recent record company issues, he was out to prove something with his own label. The album definitely has some really good stuff on it. My favorite Fish albums are 'Vigil', 'Sunsets' and perhaps 'Rainclouds', but 'Suits' is on the upper half of the list as well.
I love Suits myself, up there with Vigil and Sunsets as a personal favorite. I always have this mini movie playing in my head when "No Dummy" comes on, I picture a clumsy wanna-be criminal trying to hang with the big boys. "Mr 1470" is a killer opening track, one of my favorites. "Raw Meat" is one of those songs that always sticks in my head. "I'll always have the strength to carry on..." Great stuff !!
I have the pic disc vinyl and can't wait to get the newest CD reissue once it's available.
Maybe if I experienced the Suits material live I might feel differently, but it just never did anything for me.
I exchanged messages with Mark Wilkinson, and it turns out he was ill for a few months but is now better, and awaiting Fish's readiness to continue work on the reissues.
A Field of Crows was to be next, then another four which I assume would be the first four albums.
I'm hoping the first three are selling well, and that the financial incentive will keep Fish motivated and we won't have to wait too long.
You may be right - I haven't seen them for sale anywhere other than his own site, whereas the last reissues were sold by Snapper so presumably had better distribution (and even then). I've mentioned on his facebook page that I wish he'd offer more concert recordings for download - it seems to me that's a pretty cheap way to bring in more cash, but he's been very slow in adding downloads. He's always worked hard at it yet never been a great businessman. But I guess he's a difficult product to market.
Yeah, I think Field of Crows, which is supposed to be next, is the latest album that will get the treatment.
Do these have lyrics too?
I think it would be stupid to have Deluxe versions with no lyrics. Also what is the update on the first three Studio albums will they be Deluxe also. I'm going to check out his Facebook to see if there's any updates.
So the albums that will be in this series will be the first 8 studio albums?
13th Star will not be reissued?
And obviously A Feast of Consequences doesn't need to be.
The reason I ask, is because I am planning to order the four already released and the DVD version of 13th Star and Deluxe edition of A Feast of Consequences.
I don't want to buy the 13th Star dvd version if they are going to reissue it
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