aaamusic | On 27, Aug 2011

THE JESUS AND MARY CHAIN
Deluxe Expanded 2 CD + DVD Editions
Of All Six Classic Albums – Out Sept / Oct 2011

A violent and electrifying presence on the 80s and 90s indie scene, The Jesus And Mary Chain had a profound impact on the music of their generation and played an integral part in shaping the sound of British music for years to come. A full set of deluxe Expanded Edition reissues of their entire discography of studio albums has been undertaken by the Edsel label (of the Demon Music Group), with each individual release containing the original album re-mastered, a bonus disc of outtakes, b-side, unreleased and otherwise hard to find material, a DVD containing promo videos and TV appearances and an extensive booklet containing lyrics, rare memorabilia and exclusive interviews, and illustrated with never before seen photos. Coming out in chronological order, the first two of this six album series — Psychocandy and Darklands — will hit stores September 26th, followed by Automatic and Honey’s Dead on October 3rd and culminating in Stoned & Dethroned and Munki, out on October 10th.

Although subject to re-marketing campaigns in the past, this is the first time the band’s albums have received the expanded treatment.
Since its first release in November 1985 Psychocandy, The Jesus And Mary Chain’s debut album has come to be regarded as a classic (recently appearing on the NME’s list of the Top 50 Greatest Debut Albums Ever and Q Magazine’s list of the 100 Greatest British Albums) while continuing to exert considerable influence on contemporary bands. The deluxe expanded edition of Psychocandy features all the original non-album b-sides, previously unreleased demos, and rare outtakes. Controversial early track “Jesus Fuck” (which the pressing plant at the time refused to manufacture) is contained herein intact, as are all the BBC Radio Sessions that the band recorded for John Peel during this period (including the legendary 1985 acoustic session) and their seminal debut single “Upside Down”, the release that put Creation Records on the map as documented in the recent film of the same name.

The accompanying Psychocandy DVD has all the original promo videos, alongside previously unreleased TV appearances, including their live debut on the Old Grey Whistle Test, and never before seen footage of the infamous riot at North London Polytechnic with excerpts of the band’s performance, interviews with all four original members, and scenes of the crowd destroying the venue! The accompanying booklet contains exclusive new interviews, including an extensive contribution from Psychocandy-era drummer Bobby Gillespie (who went onto fame as front-man of Primal Scream), and his elusive predecessor Murray Dalglish.

Following up their explosive debut, The Jesus And Mary Chain released Darklands, a more subtle album featuring their biggest chart hit “April Skies”. The deluxe expanded edition of Darklands features such gems as the Some Candy Talking EP, a previously unreleased but much sought-after Janice Long session from 1986, an alternate version of the “Some Candy Talking” single recorded for the NME, a recently unearthed version of the track “Darklands” with strings, and a BBC audio interview with Jim and William Reid from 1987. The accompanying DVD has all the promo videos including the band-made film for “Kill Surf City” and previously unreleased archival TV appearances, including their only appearance on Top Of The Pops and ITV’s short-lived rival program The Roxy.

Fusing rock ’n’ roll with the latest technology, third album Automatic experimented with drum machines, samples and sequenced bass, matched up with pop hooks and buzz-saw guitars. Tight and concise and bursting with catchy melodies, this is probably the easiest entry point into The Jesus And Mary Chain back catalogue for the casual listener.

The Automatic bonus disc includes the Sidewalking EP, live tracks previously unreleased on CD, rarities such as the 1988 re-record of early b-side “Just Out Of Reach” and a radio advertisement for the Automatic tour. Offered for the first time on DVD is the band-made film for “Just the Out Of Reach” along with previously unreleased archival TV appearances, including two complete live performances from SNUB TV, and two MTV features including the Reid brothers’ confrontational exchange with a hapless VJ.

Back with a bang in 1992, The Jesus And Mary Chain released their critically acclaimed fourth album Honey’s Dead. A startling trailer for the album to come top ten hit single “Reverence” married a hypnotic drum loop and propulsive percussion to sheet metal feedback and iconoclastic lyrics. Filtering their trademark combination of noise and melody through state-of-the-art production techniques, the Reid brothers reinvented themselves for a new decade.

The deluxe expanded Honey’s Dead contains the Rollercoaster EP, a rarely heard alternate version of “Why’d You Want Me”, and a complete live set from their Rollercoaster package tour, along with remixes and radio interviews. The DVD includes the controversial video for “Teenage Lust”, along with a 20-minute interview and video retrospective with Jim and William Reid, interspersed with excerpts from all their videos from 1985 through 1992, and live footage of the band at Brixton Academy. The 20-page booklet contains exclusive new interviews, including a contribution from acclaimed producer Alan Moulder that provides revealing insights into The Jesus And Mary Chain’s studio work methods.

Originally conceived as an acoustic album, Stoned & Dethroned, The Jesus And Mary Chain’s fifth studio album mutated over the course of the recording to incorporate electric performances by a live band. Once again defying preconceptions of what the band were capable of, Stoned & Dethroned features some of the Reid brothers’ most intimate work, integrating Americana and 60s West Coast Pop into their signature sound. The album features guest vocals from The Pogues’ Shane MacGowan; but it was the collaboration with Mazzy Star’s Hope Sandoval on “Sometimes Always” that became their biggest chart hit in the USA.

Among the treasures to be found on the bonus disc are “Snakedriver” (recorded for the film The Crow), an alternate version of “God Help Me”, a radio interview with Jim and William discussing the making of the album, as well as a rendition of The Cramps’ classic “New Kind Of Kick”, and a complete 1995 live set. The DVD features promo videos for all the singles (including for the first time on DVD the video for “Something I Can’t Have”), a 1993 appearance on Later with Jools Holland, and four studio performances shot for MTV.

Returning to original label Creation Records for their sixth and last studio album to date, The Jesus And Mary Chain delivered Munki, a sprawling double album of experimental rock ‘n’ roll. Underappreciated upon initial release, Munki is a lost masterpiece of beautifully-crafted melodic noise-pop. Although the Reid brothers’ volatile relationship had by then reached the point where they were recording separately, the resulting album is cohesive and thoroughly encapsulates all the elements that made their records great over the years into a powerful valedictory statement.

The Munki expanded edition features the comp track “45 rpm” and a live set recorded at the Electric Ballroom that captures the band at the peak of its powers. The DVD features the previously unreleased promo videos for all the singles along with two songs performed on Later with Jools Holland. The booklet contains exclusive new interviews that tell the story of the band’s break-up and reformation in their own words, alongside previously unpublished photos and ephemera.

Reforming in 2007 The Jesus And Mary Chain have continued to tour to the delight of fans old and new alike. Their unique feedback-saturated sound remains relevant and has been acknowledged influence on whole new generations of bands including The Raveonettes, The Horrors, Black Rebel Motorcycle Club, Dum Dum Girls and Wavves. This new collection of six albums puts in perspective all the great music they’ve made and sets the stage for renewed appraisal and an enduring legacy.

26th SEPTEMBER 2011

PSYCHOCANDY [Deluxe 2 CD + DVD Edition, EDSG 8006]
DARKLANDS [Deluxe 2 CD + DVD Edition, EDSG 8007]

3rd OCTOBER 2011

AUTOMATIC [Deluxe 2 CD + DVD Edition, EDSG 8008]
HONEY’S DEAD [Deluxe 2 CD + DVD Edition, EDSG 8009]

10th OCTOBER 2011

STONED AND DETHRONED [Deluxe 2 CD + DVD Edition, EDSG 8010]
MUNKI [Deluxe 2 CD + DVD Edition, EDSG 8011]