We are used to repeats on the TV and now we have a BBC repeat in the musical sense. Four years ago we had The BBC sessions featuring The Beautiful South's appearances on various beeb radio sessions. This was a two CD set and this year's release is a three CD set with a bonus fourth DVD disk of TV appearances. So the question is very much one of if you already have the previous release should you invest your hard earned cash on this new hardback book style collection from Universal?
Well if this collection was in the £15 mark I would definitely say yes as the sixteen song Live from Blackburn disk two would be worth it on its own. As it is, with an RRP of £35 (street price near £27) it would only really appeal to a completest or those who don't own the original 2007 release. If you are in either category I would suggest picking up the original cheap or adding in the Blackburn gig as individual downloads if it is going to be available that way when it hits the streets on May 2nd.
I've not had the DVD in my review copy so can't comment on if this would tip the balance. This DVD is made up of a selection of The Beautiful South’s many live appearances on BBC Television, mainly Later With Jools Holland on which they were invited to appear on no less than five separate occasions. There are a few select tracks in the fifty total on the audio CDs that also weren't on the original 2007 release including a cover of the Bee Gees You're the one that I want from a 2004 Jonathan Ross session, plus some other assorted live tracks.
The collection is a good one if you put the cost to one side. It not only reminds us of what intelligent songs the band wrote including nineteen hit singles but also the different music styles they embraced. There are a few songs that are on this collection two or three times. Not all versions worked for me as some seemed to loose the plot and focus that the original album versions had. However having said that this is certainly a collection worth having if you can stomach the cost.
Track listing:
DISK 1
1 You Keep It All In BBC Session -Mark Goodier 10/6/89 02:58
2 Song For Whoever BBC Session -Mark Goodier 10/6/89 04:38
3 Girlfriend BBC Session - Mark Goodier 10/6/89 02:47
4 I’ll Sail This Ship Alone BBC Session - Mark Goodier 10/6/8903:48
5 Good As Gold (Stupid As Mud)BBC Session - Simon Mayo 21/2/9403:42
6 You Keep It All In BBC Session -Simon Mayo 21/2/94 02:18
7Everybody’s Talkin BBC Session -Simon Mayo 21/2/94 02:12
8 Let Love Speak Up For Itself BBC Session - Emma Freud 28/3/9403:47
9 Especially For You BBC Session -Emma Freud 28/3/94 03:43
10 Old Red Eyes Is Back BBC Session- Emma Freud 28/3/94 03:25
11 Everybody’s Talking BBC Session- Emma Freud 28/3/94 02:21
12 The Lure Of The Sea BBC Live Session 2/12/98 03:51
13 The Table BBC Live Session2/12/98 02:59
14 Dumb BBC Live Session 2/12/9803:40
15 You’re The One That I Want Jonathan Ross 04/12/2004 03:15
16 Perfect 10 Jonathan Ross04/12/2004 02:51
17 Give Me One Last Love Song Acoustic - Dermot O’Leary15/01/2005 02:39
DISK 2
18 Old Red Eyes Is Back Blackburn,King George’s Hall Show 25.4.92 02:41
19 Girlfriend Blackburn, King George’s Hall Show 25.4.92 02:41
20 From Under The Covers Blackburn, King George’s Hall Show25.4.92 03:52
21 When I’m 84 Blackburn, KingGeorge’s Hall Show 25.4.92 04:16
22 Bell Bottomed Tear Blackburn,King George’s Hall Show 25.4.92 04:10
23 I Think The Answer’s Yes Blackburn, King George’s Hall Show25.4.92 05:12
24 I’m Your Number One FanBlackburn, King George’s Hall Show25.4.92 04:15
25 You Keep It All In Blackburn, King George’s Hall Show 25.4.92 03:23
26 Let Love Speak Up Itself Blackburn, King George’s Hall Show25.4.92 05:48
27 A Little Time Blackburn, King George’s Hall Show 25.4.92 03:00
28 Tonight I Fancy Myself Blackburn,King George’s Hall Show 25.4.92 03:00
29 We Are Each Other Blackburn,King George’s Hall Show 25.4.92 03:23
30 Song For Whoever Blackburn, King George’s Hall Show 25.4.92 05:39
31 36D Blackburn, King George’s Hall Show 25.4.92 05:23
32 Woman In The Wall Blackburn,King George’s Hall Show 25.4.92 05:07
33 You Should Be Dancing Blackburn, King George’s Hall Show25.4.92 08:26
Disk 3
34 I’ll Sail This Ship Alone Live -Shepherds Bush Empire 2.3.97 03:50
35 Rotterdam Live - Shepherds Bush Empire 2.3.97 03:46
36 Have Fun Live - Brighton Centre28.6.97 04:36
37 Blackbird On The Wire Live -Brighton Centre 28.6.97 04:47
38 Liars Bar Live - Brighton Centre28.6.97 05:46
39 Look What I Found In My Beer Live - London Forum 17.7.99 03:13
40 Pretenders To The Throne Live -London Forum 17.7.99 03:50
41 Dumb Live - London Forum 17.7.99 03:38
42 Big Coin Live - London Forum17.7.99 03:50
43 Everybody’s Talkin Live - London Forum 17.7.99 02:39
44 The Lure Of The Sea Live -London Forum 17.7.99 03:58
45 The Table Live - London Forum17.7.99 03:00
46 Perfect 10 Live - London Forum17.7.99 03:36
47 One Last Love Song Live - London Forum 17.7.99 03:20
48 Good As Gold (Stupid As Mud)Live - London Forum 17.7.99 04:53
49 Your Father And I Live - London Forum 17.7.99 06:16
50 Java Fleadh Festival 01:36
Disc 4 DVD
Old Red Eyes is Back Top of the Pops: 16/01/1992
Bell Bottomed Tear The Late Show 25/03/1992
We’ll Deal With You Later The Late Show 25/03/1992
You Keep It All In Later With Jools Holland 03/12/1994
You Just Can’t Smile It Away Later With Jools Holland 03/12/1994
Let Love Speak Up Itself Later With Jools Holland 03/12/1994
Don’t Marry Her Later With Jools Holland 16/11/1996
Blackbird on the Wire Later With Jools Holland 16/11/1996
Perfect 10 Later With Jools Holland 20/11/1998
Window Shopping for Blinds Later With Jools Holland 20/11/1998
Your Father & I Later With Jools Holland 20/11/1998
Rotterdam Songwriter’s Circle 30/07/1999
Old Red Eyes Is Back Songwriter’s Circle 30/07/1999
Closer Than Most Later With Jools Holland 18/11/2000
The River Later With Jools Holland 18/11/2000
You Can Call Me Leisure Later With Jools Holland 18/11/2000
You’re the One That I Want Later With Jools Holland 12/11/2004