I bet it's actually meant to be Warner Strategic Marketing (WSM), just like the remasters. The names "Rhino" and "WSM" seem to get used synonymously.

quote:

This was a surprise find for everyone, including Eddie. 29 years ago "Animal Lover" was mixed to stereo as an instrumental. It was even used as music during the credit sequence for the 1979 Split Enz "The Concert" TV special in NZ. When Eddie listened back to the original 8-track multis for this remix project, there was Tim's vocal on one of the tracks singing Eddie's lyrics!

"Creature Comforts" was another surprise find, long forgotten because it had never been mixed in the first place. I'd heard demos before by Tim, Neil and Noel on the Ninees tapes but had no idea it had been later recorded in the studio. I think "Creature Comforts" is Eddie's guess at a title. It was almost going to be called "Gift of the Gab".

Thanks Jaffa. The demo I have isn't an instrumental version of this though, the synths in the verse are different and there are quite a few animal samples used (particularly a horse).

Creature Comforts is one of the best songs on there.

has anyone in Melbourne received theirs yet? I'm trying to decide whether it bounced back to FOTE or it's still on it's way

Here are my thoughts on the one disc version:

Performance wise these blow away even the remixed Frenzy. It's so manic and in your face, and raw. Sound quality is great, the rawness reminds me of the remixed Let It Be ... Naked.

Mishaps

This is a strange one. I've never really liked this song, but I put that down to hearing a distorted live version. On first listen I'm thinking it's ok, by half way through, I'm thinking this is a great song. The opening synths and the synth bass line are great. There's a synth solo that sounds a bit moogy in the middle and a bit Keith Emerson too. The chorus is saved by the almost demented piano pounding in the background. Probably not the best song Timbo's written, but it's more than saved by the complex arrangement.

Home Comforts

THis was the song I was waiting for. I've loved it ever since hearing a live version about 12 years ago. The arrangement is very close to the live arrangement. Probably a little too long, the chorus/guitar solo/chorus then last verse seems a bit clunky and overly long, but it's still a great song, even if the words a bit dodgy. Even by the second song, you start to realise how manic the energy is on these recordings, and how in your face it is.

Animal Lover

Biggest surpise is it has vocals, and it doesn't seem to be the same demo I've had for years (and is floating about out there). No vocoder vocals for a start. The melody is really nice, though the words are pretty dreadful, do I detect Timbo doing a John Lydon impersonation at one point to force the words to fit? Again, still manic and in yer face and I'm loving it.

Carried Away

Great song, always has been. Is this a different mix to the one on the new Frenzy? Thought I heard a couple of new things in there... Always made reminded me of Neil doing a Phil. The bridge to this and So This Is Love always sounded like they inspired each other. Top song, enough said.

Semi Detached

Last of the great Epics, though Hollow Victory, STraight Talk and Creature Comforts are coming from the same area. Top song enough said. Are the multi tracks missing for this song? I noticed it's the only song that hasn't been remixed on disc one. From what I can remember the drop out has been fixed in the guitar solo.

Holy Smoke

Has there been some sneaky speed correction on this? All the versions I'd heard before the tempo rocketed off in the second verse. Thankfully it's now all one tempo and sounds much better for it. A charming song, and I can hear Noel's harmonica much better now. Does this contain one of the first Neil Finn rants at the end??

Message Boy

Still brings a smile to my lips, even though it's a fairly silly song. Nice punk ethic to this. I thought this may be one of the songs they wouldn't realease, glad it's here. Not much else to say about it really. New mix is much clearer than the crackly old 45 I had of it.

Hypnotised

Brilliant song, wonderfully perverse with a nice simple arrangement. Pity they never went further with this. I like the lyrics too and it has a great groove.

Late In Rome aka Serge

Nice demo, just Neil and piano. Very similar to the Rear Enz version (minus the string quartet) but it has an extra little instrumental section which I think was a good thing to cut later on. Nice vocal, amazing he was only 15 when he wrote it.

Straight Talk
Fantastic, Split Enz are still inventive and off the wall at Luton. What happened after Luton? THey were never this off the wall again. A great complex arrangement again, loving the grunge-yness of it all. Only let down by some lame lyrics (but only in places).

Hollow Victory

This, Straight Talk, Semi Detached, Creature Comforts and Hypnotised all sound like they belong together, they're all coming from a similar place to me. They're the last gasp of the epic progressive rock of Split Enz (more's the pity). Another great complex arrangement, took a couple of listens to grow on me

Evelyn

Very much a sign of things to come. A nice pleasant pop song, I particularly like the b5 chord in the chorus. Not much else to say about this one.

Best Friend

Best version I've heard. Much better than the Anniversary or Extravagenza versions (though I do like the talk about going crofting in the Anniversary version) Wonderfully manic, the energy is great. Particuarly love the compressed lead vocals.

Creature Comforts

For a song that was never mixed at the time and forgotten about, it's probably the best recorded song of the lot on disc 1. It's also a bloody good song with a very strong chorus. Why they never contiunued on with it..... who knows. A lost opportunity though.

Remember When
Blows away the version released as a b side, the percusion is amongst Noel's best. I love the use of the out of tune pinao at certain points, and it's a good vocal performance too.

So, a great release, well worth the wait. Something that is fairly unique to Luton seems to be the group vocals that are on many of the songs, and the shher raw manic energy. I don't think any other Split Enz recordings are as hot as these. So much of Malcolm Green's wonderful tom work too.

quote:

Originally posted by Greatfox:
has anyone in Melbourne received theirs yet? I'm trying to decide whether it bounced back to FOTE or it's still on it's way

I received mine on Monday (yesterday). Hopefully yours will arrive this week!

All sounds tantalingly wonderful. Thanks for the review Joe.

Any chance the Timbo comments re the all blacks made it on either disc 1 or 2???

quote:

Originally posted by crimpies:

quote:

Originally posted by Greatfox:
has anyone in Melbourne received theirs yet? I'm trying to decide whether it bounced back to FOTE or it's still on it's way

I received mine on Monday (yesterday). Hopefully yours will arrive this week!

Sounds like Australia Post all over. If yours was in the first batch Greatfox, then it shouldn't be too far away.

Mine arrived yesterday too, ahhhhh, was rather excited ripping it open. Not had a chance for a decent peaceful listen yet though.

quote:

Originally posted by John:
Any chance the Timbo comments re the all blacks made it on either disc 1 or 2???

That was recorded at the "Frenzy" sessions at The Manor, some months after Luton.

Though it's probably an outside chance, I'd love to see the release of the Luton Tapes open the door for other '78 sessions to come out, be it BBC, Old Mill House, Startling or whatever.

Not much left out of that lot. The Old Mill House rehearsals were recorded on cassette by Nigel and the surviving dubs are rather ropey sounding. "Brick Wall" was one of the better sounding ones. There were only two songs recorded at Startling Studios, one being the hit version of "I See Red", the other a rather good "Next Exit", as you heard on tha y-r-lis. I guess there are the eight BBC songs... ya never know....

Well, Split Enz - Live At The BBC has a nice ring to it, plus 'Brick Wall' and the Startling 'Next Exit' would make great bonus tracks. "Sweet dreams every once in a while..."

quote:

I guess there are the eight BBC songs... ya never know....

Are there 8? I thought there were only 7, did they do 4 tracks for Dave Lee Travis?

Best Friend.

Aah, thanks

Jaffa do you know if Eddie considered releasing Play It Strange from Ayelsbury on the second disc of Luton?

Hang on. Now you've got me wondering. I'll have to check if the version of "Best Friend" that I have labelled as "BBC" is the same as the Luton recording. I'll get back to you on this tomorrow.

As far as I know "Play It Strange" wasn't considered. I've only ever come across audience-recordings and Phil's original demo, though Peter Green thinks there might be a soundboard recording.

I'll come screaming in now.

Yup had my frenz copy on. All I can say is an excited scream followed by a ****ing awesome ! Yup just hit the highway to I See Red, ooooh so cool, so rocks !! The energy, love it. Then smacks into Mind over Matter, I was such a happy driver on that highway, then into Next Exit as I'm cruisin the lanes. Did I mention I was in the car by myself with it up full bore, with all of these fantastic surprises blaring through my speakers? Shear friggin joy !!!

To the Enz lads, Peter and Mark, the hugest bloody thankyou !!!

You lot out there are all gonnna freak !!!

quote:

I've only ever come across audience-recordings and Phil's original demo, though Peter Green thinks there might be a soundboard recording.

I was thinking of the audience recording you used in Enzology (that was Aylesbury wasn't it?) sounded pretty good and as it was fanclub only they may have considered releasing it with So This Is Love and I'm So Up. Ah well, maybe it sounds too ordinary alongside everything else.

The soundboard recording Peter's thinking of isn't Hull is it?

Ooh! In the same way you can taste the perfume of an over-perfumed woman who's begun to marinate in her fragrance, I can *almost* taste Luton. Waiting waiting waiting...the suspense is killing me!