The Radio One Sessions

Finally after much talk throughout the years the Psychedelic Furs radio 1 sessions have been released. (Release date Feb 3rd '97).

On quick inspection I was delighted to see that almost all tracks are present from the five sessions that they recorded between 1979 - 90 (with an admittedley large gap of about nine years!)

The five sessions were:-

SESSION 1 - 25/07/79 John Peel

Imitation of Christ / Fall / Sister Europe / We Love You

These early recordings show a lot of lyrical differences with the final recording that made it to vinyl. In the sleeve notes the reviewer - Mr Jones(?)- comments on the classic line "I'm in Love with Elton's Wig" included in this version of "We Love You" - marvellous sarcasm!!

SESSION 2 - 18/02/80 John Peel

Soap Commercial / Susan's Strange / Mac the Knife

Check out the intro to Susan's Strange - it sounds like a take-off of theBeatles "Ticket to Ride"! Apparently - according to the sleeve notes - Mac The Knife got butchered in the cutting room and the original 10 minute version was spliced into about 4 mins. Anybody got the full version?? No! - well worth a try!!

SESSION 3 - 02/02/81 John Peel

Into You Like a Train / On and Again / All of This and Nothing

This version of "Into You Like a Train" is excellant - check out the lyric "Train" echoing throughout...

"On and Again" is the early title for "It Goes On". Again all three tracks ended up with lyrical refinements.

SESSION 4 - 09/04/81 Richard Skinner

This is where the producers of this cd release decided to omit two tracks. The original session was 4 tracks as follows:-

She is Mine / * Pretty in Pink / * All of This and Nothing / Dumb Waiters -

*Because "All Of This and Nothing" is already featured in session 3 it was left out. Also for the same reason "Pretty in Pink" was omitted as they did an acoustic version some nine years later in Session 5.

SESSION 5 - 07/02/90 John Campbell

Entertain Me / Book Of Days / Torch (acoustic) / Pretty in Pink(acoustic)

These versions stick close to the original lyrics.