New York, NY (Top40 Charts) 17th July 2020 sees the reissue a collection of twenty-two original songs recorded for Julian Temple's 1986 cult classic film 'Absolute Beginners'. The album will be available as a 2LP set, plus a 2LP coloured vinyl edition, which will be exclusive to HMV as part of their 1921 Edition range later in the year. This release will also mark the first time that all 22 songs have been available on CD, previous versions being highlights only.
The album features three songs by
David Bowie that weren't included on any of his studio albums, along with exclusive tracks recorded for the film by Sade, The
Style Council, Ray Davies and Jerry Dammers and more. The soundtrack was much more warmly received than the film was at the time, while the reviews for the film were mixed, the album had good write-ups in the best selling 'inkies' of the day NME & Sounds.
Clive Langer and Alan Winstanley, whose many credits include No. 1 singles for
Madness and Dexys Midnight Runners, produced the album and it also features arrangements by Gil Evans, widely recognized as one of the key orchestrators in jazz, acclaimed for his collaborations with Miles Davis.
Both the title track by Bowie and 'Have You Ever Had It Blue' by The
Style Council were significant UK hits and Bowie was kept off the #1 slot by Diana Ross's Chain Reaction, and he would have to wait another six years before he hit the top ten again.
The album features four tracks that are unavailable elsewhere; Sade's 'Killer Blow', Ray Davies first solo single 'Quiet Life', Riot City', an eight-and-a-half minute Jazz instrumental that marked a first solo outing for Jerry Dammers and an extended version of The
Style Council single 'Have You Ever Had It Blue?'. All four are unique to this album.
The film is based on a novel first published in 1959 and is set against the backdrop of the Notting Hill race riots of August 1958. The star-studded cast included Patsy Kensit,
David Bowie, Eddie O'Connell, Ray Davies, Sade,
James Fox, Mandy Rice-Davies and Steven Berkoff with 'blink and you'll miss it' cameos from Sandie Shaw, Eric Sykes and Strictly judge Bruno Tonioli.
The sleeve notes for the album feature new interviews with Julien Temple, Clive Langer, Alan Winstanley, Edward Tudor Pole,
Simon Emmerson, Mick Talbot and Nick Lowe.
ABSOLUTE BEGINNERS (ORIGINAL MOTION PICTURE SOUNDTRACK) - TRACKLISTING:
LP1
SIDE A
Absolute Beginners -
David Bowie
Killer Blow - Sade
Have You Ever Had It Blue? - The
Style Council
Quiet Life - Ray Davies
Va Va Voom - Gil Evans
SIDE B
That's Motivation -
David Bowie
Having It All - Eighth Wonder ft Patsy Kensit
Rodrigo Bay - Working Week
Selling Out - Slim Gaillard
Riot City - Jerry Dammers
LP2
SIDE A
Boogie Stop Shuffle (Rough & The Smooth) - Gil Evans
Ted Ain't Dead - Tenpole Tudor
Volare (Nel Blu Dipinto Di Blu) -
David Bowie
Napoli - Clive Langer
Little Cat (You Never Had It So Good) - Jonas (24)
Absolute Beginners (Slight Refrain) - Gil Evans
SIDE B
Better Git It In Your Soul (The Hot & The Cool) - Gil Evans
Landlords And Tenants - Laurel Aitken
Santa Lucia - Ekow Abban
Cool Napoli - Gil Evans
So What? (Lyric Version) -
Smiley Culture
Absolute Beginners (Refrain) - Gil Evans
CD1
Absolute Beginners -
David Bowie
Killer Blow- Sade
Have You Ever Had It Blue? - The
Style Council
Quiet Life - Ray Davies
Va Va Voom - Gil Evans
That's Motivation -
David Bowie
Having It All - Eighth Wonder ft Patsy Kensit
Rodrigo Bay - Working Week
Selling Out - Slim Gaillard
Riot City - Jerry Dammers
CD2
Boogie Stop Shuffle (Rough And The Smooth) - Gil Evans
Ted Ain't Dead - Tenpole Tudor
Volare (Nel Blu Dipinto Di Blu) -
David Bowie
Napoli - Clive Langer
Little Cat (You Never Had It So Good) - Jonas (24)
Absolute Beginners (Slight Refrain) - Gil Evans
Better Git It In Your Soul (The Hot And The Cool) - Gil Evans
Landlords And Tenants - Laurel Aitken
Santa Lucia - Ekow Abban
Cool Napoli - Gil Evans
So What? (Lyric Version) -
Smiley Culture
Absolute Beginners (Refrain) - Gil Evans
