Hi Heavenite,
I do have the original Strung Up LP, but unfortunately, nothing to play it on now. It's strange that that version of Action never made it to another of the many compilation CDs that have been released. Another Strung Up exclusive, I believe, is the full version of I Wanna Be Committed, which ends without a fade, but I did manage to find that on YouTube, which I ripped the audio from.
Is there a list anywhere, perhaps on the Sweet forums, of all the different versions of tracks? I know there are many, but I'm more interested in 'official' versions, rather than bootlegs, such as the extra guitar overdubbed version of Solid Gold Brass on the Collection CD.
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Oh, and according to Wiki, Strung Up also had an American CD release. Anyone know if this contained the original Strung Up version of Action?
Lord Fickle wrote:
Hi Heavenite,
I do have the original Strung Up LP, but unfortunately, nothing to play it on now. It's strange that that version of Action never made it to another of the many compilation CDs that have been released.
Another Strung Up exclusive, I believe, is the full version of I Wanna Be Committed, which ends without a fade, but I did manage to find that on YouTube, which I ripped the audio from.
Is there a list anywhere, perhaps on the Sweet forums, of all the different versions of tracks? I know there are many, but I'm more interested in 'official' versions, rather than bootlegs, such as the extra guitar overdubbed version of Solid Gold Brass on the Collection CD.
Hi Lord Fickle
I am pretty sure that the reason that the Strung Up version of Action has never made it to CD's is because it was considered inferior to the excellent ending on the single and the updated version on Give Us a Wink. Of course completists like me, and also apparently like you, want the "weaker version" on CD as well. But it has not been forthcoming to date as far as I am aware, even on Strung Up or Anthology.
And I only know of Strung Up holding the full version of "I Wanna Be Committed". Although there are so many compilations out there. I would be very surprised if at least one doesn't have it on CD somewhere. Gosh, I might even have one.
Now I don't think I know the Collection CD you are referring to, as there are so many of them. But the one called Collection that I own, was pretty much Sweet Fanny Adams with a few extra tracks.
But are you sure you're not forgetting that the Strung Up version of Solid Gold Brass does sound somewhat "improved" when compared to the old Desolation Boulevard (UK) version? I mean that may just be the extra guitar overdub you are referring to, especially if you haven't played your LP copy of Strung Up in a long while. If so, then you do already have the Strung Up version of Solid Gold Brass.
Now regarding your request for an official list that excludes stuff like demos, alternate versions and outtakes, well its not that simple with Sweet unfortunately. This is because so much of the stuff got licensed out or was released unofficially in the 90's. To make matters worse, the band has taken over control of its product in recent years to the point that just about everything is official, Even old soundboard recordings and bootlegged copies from the audience are released on CDR through the Sweet website these days.
So because of the early end of Sweet's classic lineup, outtakes, alternative versions and demos have pretty much become the things that people are interested in these days, in order to get as much of the original band as possible. Its not like Queen in that respect, where there still appear to be many songs that have never been released because they are not viewed as being up to scratch as an official release.
So many of the authorised CDs through a record company that came out in the 1990's, such as "Platinum Rare", "The Private Collection" and "Live For Today", largely only hold alternate versions, demos and outtakes, with just the odd song that never made it to one of the singles, b-sides or the nine original LPs being included.
If you are still interested in that sort of stuff, there is a guy called Andreas Spies, who set up a website to help Sweet fans sort through the minefield of the different recordings. But as I said, that site would mostly regard alternate versions and outtakes as worth collecting. However it would still be worth a look I think.
In more recent years, Andy has taken over the release of Sweet product, and it is only released on CD-R on the current band's website (apart from the new cover album of course, which is on CD, but still not released through a record company). This includes all the stuff off the original master reels that Andy has kept, along with soundboard recordings and some bootleg live recording as well. Some of the live rehearsal stuff is actually pretty special I think, but it really depends on how far you want to go.
Hope the above is clear mate.
Hi Heavenite,
I do have the original Strung Up LP, but unfortunately, nothing to play it on now. It's strange that that version of Action never made it to another of the many compilation CDs that have been released.
Another Strung Up exclusive, I believe, is the full version of I Wanna Be Committed, which ends without a fade, but I did manage to find that on YouTube, which I ripped the audio from.
Is there a list anywhere, perhaps on the Sweet forums, of all the different versions of tracks? I know there are many, but I'm more interested in 'official' versions, rather than bootlegs, such as the extra guitar overdubbed version of Solid Gold Brass on the Collection CD.
Hi Lord Fickle
I am pretty sure that the reason that the Strung Up version of Action has never made it to CD's is because it was considered inferior to the excellent ending on the single and the updated version on Give Us a Wink. Of course completists like me, and also apparently like you, want the "weaker version" on CD as well. But it has not been forthcoming to date as far as I am aware, even on Strung Up or Anthology.
And I only know of Strung Up holding the full version of "I Wanna Be Committed". Although there are so many compilations out there. I would be very surprised if at least one doesn't have it on CD somewhere. Gosh, I might even have one.
Now I don't think I know the Collection CD you are referring to, as there are so many of them. But the one called Collection that I own, was pretty much Sweet Fanny Adams with a few extra tracks.
But are you sure you're not forgetting that the Strung Up version of Solid Gold Brass does sound somewhat "improved" when compared to the old Desolation Boulevard (UK) version? I mean that may just be the extra guitar overdub you are referring to, especially if you haven't played your LP copy of Strung Up in a long while. If so, then you do already have the Strung Up version of Solid Gold Brass.
Now regarding your request for an official list that excludes stuff like demos, alternate versions and outtakes, well its not that simple with Sweet unfortunately. This is because so much of the stuff got licensed out or was released unofficially in the 90's. To make matters worse, the band has taken over control of its product in recent years to the point that just about everything is official, Even old soundboard recordings and bootlegged copies from the audience are released on CDR through the Sweet website these days.
So because of the early end of Sweet's classic lineup, outtakes, alternative versions and demos have pretty much become the things that people are interested in these days, in order to get as much of the original band as possible. Its not like Queen in that respect, where there still appear to be many songs that have never been released because they are not viewed as being up to scratch as an official release.
So many of the authorised CDs through a record company that came out in the 1990's, such as "Platinum Rare", "The Private Collection" and "Live For Today", largely only hold alternate versions, demos and outtakes, with just the odd song that never made it to one of the singles, b-sides or the nine original LPs being included.
If you are still interested in that sort of stuff, there is a guy called Andreas Spies, who set up a website to help Sweet fans sort through the minefield of the different recordings. But as I said, that site would mostly regard alternate versions and outtakes as worth collecting. However it would still be worth a look I think.
In more recent years, Andy has taken over the release of Sweet product, and it is only released on CD-R on the current band's website (apart from the new cover album of course, which is on CD, but still not released through a record company). This includes all the stuff off the original master reels that Andy has kept, along with soundboard recordings and some bootleg live recording as well. Some of the live rehearsal stuff is actually pretty special I think, but it really depends on how far you want to go.
Hope the above is clear mate.
Lord Fickle wrote:
Oh, and according to Wiki, Strung Up also had an American CD release. Anyone know if this contained the original Strung Up version of Action?
Hi again
Just on this point, Steve owns the rights to the name The Sweet in America, whereas Andy owns them in Europe. So the copy of Strung Up I was telling you about earlier is almost certainly the official release of the album in the US. Its just been released by the Steve rather than through a record company.
Unfortunately, as I said, this version of Strung Up, doesn't have the original version of Action on it and nor does the Japanese album called Anthology. Disapponting I know.
Oh, and according to Wiki, Strung Up also had an American CD release. Anyone know if this contained the original Strung Up version of Action?
Hi again
Just on this point, Steve owns the rights to the name The Sweet in America, whereas Andy owns them in Europe. So the copy of Strung Up I was telling you about earlier is almost certainly the official release of the album in the US. Its just been released by the Steve rather than through a record company.
Unfortunately, as I said, this version of Strung Up, doesn't have the original version of Action on it and nor does the Japanese album called Anthology. Disapponting I know.
Heavenite wrote: Hi Lord Fickle
I am pretty sure that the reason that the Strung Up version of Action has never made it to CD's is because it was considered inferior to the excellent ending on the single and the updated version on Give Us a Wink. Of course completists like me, and also apparently like you, want the "weaker version" on CD as well. But it has not been forthcoming to date as far as I am aware, even on Strung Up or Anthology.
And I only know of Strung Up holding the full version of "I Wanna Be Committed". Although there are so many compilations out there. I would be very surprised if at least one doesn't have it on CD somewhere. Gosh, I might even have one.
Now I don't think I know the Collection CD you are referring to, as there are so many of them. But the one called Collection that I own, was pretty much Sweet Fanny Adams with a few extra tracks.
But are you sure you're not forgetting that the Strung Up version of Solid Gold Brass does sound somewhat "improved" when compared to the old Desolation Boulevard (UK) version? I mean that may just be the extra guitar overdub you are referring to, especially if you haven't played your LP copy of Strung Up in a long while. If so, then you do already have the Strung Up version of Solid Gold Brass.
Now regarding your request for an official list that excludes stuff like demos, alternate versions and outtakes, well its not that simple with Sweet unfortunately. This is because so much of the stuff got licensed out or was released unofficially in the 90's. To make matters worse, the band has taken over control of its product in recent years to the point that just about everything is official, Even old soundboard recordings and bootlegged copies from the audience are released on CDR through the Sweet website these days.
So because of the early end of Sweet's classic lineup, outtakes, alternative versions and demos have pretty much become the things that people are interested in these days, in order to get as much of the original band as possible. Its not like Queen in that respect, where there still appear to be many songs that have never been released because they are not viewed as being up to scratch as an official release.
So many of the authorised CDs through a record company that came out in the 1990's, such as "Platinum Rare", "The Private Collection" and "Live For Today", largely only hold alternate versions, demos and outtakes, with just the odd song that never made it to one of the singles, b-sides or the nine original LPs being included.
If you are still interested in that sort of stuff, there is a guy called Andreas Spies, who set up a website to help Sweet fans sort through the minefield of the different recordings. But as I said, that site would mostly regard alternate versions and outtakes as worth collecting. However it would still be worth a look I think.
In more recent years, Andy has taken over the release of Sweet product, and it is only released on CD-R on the current band's website (apart from the new cover album of course, which is on CD, but still not released through a record company). This includes all the stuff off the original master reels that Andy has kept, along with soundboard recordings and some bootleg live recording as well. Some of the live rehearsal stuff is actually pretty special I think, but it really depends on how far you want to go.
Hope the above is clear mate.
Thanks, I'll check out Andreas Spies website.
The Collection CD I referred to is then one by Castle Communications, and it contains the Strung Up version of Solid Gold Brass, but little else of much interest, as far as different versions go. I thought it had an alternative Lady Starlight, but I've just checked, and it hasn't. I know I've got that somewhere, but can't remember where! I do also have "Platinum Rare", and "The Private Collection", but a lot of my CDs have been boxed away, so I'll have to dig them out one day.
Ah yes, I have checked that now, and that album called Collection is the one I've got, and yes it does seem like the Solid Gold Brass on that album would the one originally off Strung Up.
Re the Andreas Spies site, the page that might be of most interest to you is under the Discography heading and is called "Unreleased". Although maybe "Previously Unreleased" might have been a better description of the items in that list. They are the alternative takes albums that do seem to have some value in the eyes of Sweet fans. The site is very easy to find, but here is the link for you. http://thesweet.sweetworld.de/
Just on Lady Starlight, are you wanting the one wiht extra kayboards that was originally released on the American version of Give Us A Wink? If so, then a good album to pick the same or a very similar version is on Andy's solo album Thirty Years, which contains his solo singles work. You can usually get one off Ebay for not too much, or alternately you can go to "The Sweet Memorabilia Shop" and get one there. They have lots of interesting work on CD-R there too, although the Sweet's own site is usually a bit cheaper, but without the same range of product.
Just went and checked for a copy of Andy Scott's Thirty Years, and they seem to be a lot harder to find than they used to be, But here is a link to it on Amazon, although the prices are outrageous.
http://www.amazon.co.uk/30-Years-Andy-Scott/dp/B0000086IK/ref=sr_1_fkmr2_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1346552326&sr=8-2-fkmr2
Re the Andreas Spies site, the page that might be of most interest to you is under the Discography heading and is called "Unreleased". Although maybe "Previously Unreleased" might have been a better description of the items in that list. They are the alternative takes albums that do seem to have some value in the eyes of Sweet fans. The site is very easy to find, but here is the link for you. http://thesweet.sweetworld.de/
Just on Lady Starlight, are you wanting the one wiht extra kayboards that was originally released on the American version of Give Us A Wink? If so, then a good album to pick the same or a very similar version is on Andy's solo album Thirty Years, which contains his solo singles work. You can usually get one off Ebay for not too much, or alternately you can go to "The Sweet Memorabilia Shop" and get one there. They have lots of interesting work on CD-R there too, although the Sweet's own site is usually a bit cheaper, but without the same range of product.
Just went and checked for a copy of Andy Scott's Thirty Years, and they seem to be a lot harder to find than they used to be, But here is a link to it on Amazon, although the prices are outrageous.
http://www.amazon.co.uk/30-Years-Andy-Scott/dp/B0000086IK/ref=sr_1_fkmr2_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1346552326&sr=8-2-fkmr2
Thanks. I did check out Andreas's site. A lot of the 'unreleased' CDs seem to contain duplicate material, but I've ordered Live for Today, which I didn't have. On that Sweet Merchandise site, there is a series of 'From the Vaults' CDs. Any idea what those are like? I've only really any interest in Sweet with BC, for that sort of thing.
It's a long time since I've heard the alternative Lady Starlight, but I seem to recall it had more guitar, similar to the Strung Up Solid Gold Brass.
It's a long time since I've heard the alternative Lady Starlight, but I seem to recall it had more guitar, similar to the Strung Up Solid Gold Brass.
Yes, a lot of the unreleased CDs do contain duplicate material. That's why Andreas's advice is quite useful I think. He tells you what's the same as something else and which ones don't have anything unusual or interesting on them. Having said that, if you find you're getting too much of the same thing, then it might be time to stop.
The Vaults Series are the last ones out and appear to be close to the very last of the Sweet releases, although I could well be wrong in saying that. They seem to be adding to CDs that have already been released either to the market at large like Live for Today, or as an Andy-released CD-R just off the Sweet Website or through the Sweet Memorabilia Shop.
The reason I think they might be the last is that Sweet have recently sold a whole lot of 8-Track Reels to the market, which were presumably the place on which a lot of this stuff was previously stored and is now digitised. I actually have a few of these Vaults CD-Rs and found them to be quite good and incremental to what I already had.
If you want only the ones that Brian sang on, then its clear whether he's not on some, but on others you may need to ask. For instance,
+6I think its Volume 3 that has lots of early Andy demos and is clearly marked. Its nascent Sweet, but there's no Brian on that whatsoever. A definite buy for me, but maybe not for you. The other ones that definitely won't have Brian on them are the Identity Crisis and Waters Edge volumes and the Cut Above the Rest tour rehearsals, as they are the two last Sweet albums from the trio and the tour after Brian was gone. The one that definitely will have Brian is the tape from TV appearances when Sweet were at their peak (although I don't have that one myself).
With the others where Brian was a member of the band, there is still some risk that they may once again have no Brian, if they are Andy's home demos and not alternative versions. I would be happy to help you once I buy the whole set, but I'm not sure when that will happen at this point.
In the meantime I suggest you get any of the Vaults CDs you want from Stewart at the The Sweet website. This is because he charges less for the CDs and also for postage. He is also usually quite willing to answer an email, if say you wanted to be sure if Brian was on the Off the Record demos (which I would think he would be).
The Sweet Memorabilia Shop, on the other hand, tends to be a bit more expensive (especially postage), but it much more complete. Although there can also be a bit of crap on there. Unfortunately some of this crap is from Brian's version of Sweet and is just crowd recordings of a very poor quality. Both sites have some other nice material on them as well, quite a lot of which I already have.
The Vaults Series are the last ones out and appear to be close to the very last of the Sweet releases, although I could well be wrong in saying that. They seem to be adding to CDs that have already been released either to the market at large like Live for Today, or as an Andy-released CD-R just off the Sweet Website or through the Sweet Memorabilia Shop.
The reason I think they might be the last is that Sweet have recently sold a whole lot of 8-Track Reels to the market, which were presumably the place on which a lot of this stuff was previously stored and is now digitised. I actually have a few of these Vaults CD-Rs and found them to be quite good and incremental to what I already had.
If you want only the ones that Brian sang on, then its clear whether he's not on some, but on others you may need to ask. For instance,
+6I think its Volume 3 that has lots of early Andy demos and is clearly marked. Its nascent Sweet, but there's no Brian on that whatsoever. A definite buy for me, but maybe not for you. The other ones that definitely won't have Brian on them are the Identity Crisis and Waters Edge volumes and the Cut Above the Rest tour rehearsals, as they are the two last Sweet albums from the trio and the tour after Brian was gone. The one that definitely will have Brian is the tape from TV appearances when Sweet were at their peak (although I don't have that one myself).
With the others where Brian was a member of the band, there is still some risk that they may once again have no Brian, if they are Andy's home demos and not alternative versions. I would be happy to help you once I buy the whole set, but I'm not sure when that will happen at this point.
In the meantime I suggest you get any of the Vaults CDs you want from Stewart at the The Sweet website. This is because he charges less for the CDs and also for postage. He is also usually quite willing to answer an email, if say you wanted to be sure if Brian was on the Off the Record demos (which I would think he would be).
The Sweet Memorabilia Shop, on the other hand, tends to be a bit more expensive (especially postage), but it much more complete. Although there can also be a bit of crap on there. Unfortunately some of this crap is from Brian's version of Sweet and is just crowd recordings of a very poor quality. Both sites have some other nice material on them as well, quite a lot of which I already have.
Thanks, Heavenite.
I'm not that obsessive that I want everything, so I think the Vaults stuff is probably not for me. I think they would probably be a 'play once' purchase, and I don't know what to do with half of the CDs I've got already, so I'll give those a miss.
I'm not that obsessive that I want everything, so I think the Vaults stuff is probably not for me. I think they would probably be a 'play once' purchase, and I don't know what to do with half of the CDs I've got already, so I'll give those a miss.
No worries Lord Fickle. It certainly can go a bit far, especially when it all costs so much. Let me know if you do have any Sweet questions late on.
But I forgot to answer you question about Lady Starlight. The alternative version I know has pretty much the same guitar but has a synth layering on it as well. Lots of American fans of Give Us A Wink were miffed when the remasters came out, as their original album has this on it as an extra track. Presumably it was there to soften the guitar and vocal assault on some of the other tracks...lol.
Anyway, Stay Sweet as they say, but between hefty amounts of Queen, Sabbath and Rainbow of course.
But I forgot to answer you question about Lady Starlight. The alternative version I know has pretty much the same guitar but has a synth layering on it as well. Lots of American fans of Give Us A Wink were miffed when the remasters came out, as their original album has this on it as an extra track. Presumably it was there to soften the guitar and vocal assault on some of the other tracks...lol.
Anyway, Stay Sweet as they say, but between hefty amounts of Queen, Sabbath and Rainbow of course.
Yup, you're quite right, and thanks for pointing me in the right direction - I have the US CD of GUAW, and indeed, Starlight has additional keyboards.
I think the one on Thirty Years is slightly different to the other two, but if it is, I can't tell the difference.
Isn't that an Andy Scott release?
All this has prompted me to make up a new iPod Sweet compilation - lol! Here's my playlist:
Hell Raiser
Yesterday's Rain
Burn On The Flame
Lost Angels
Action
Burning
Solid Gold Brass
Love Is Like Oxygen
Live For Today
Turn It Down
Windy City
Need A Lot Of Lovin'
Set Me Free
Sweet FA
I think that would have also made a great live set list! :)
All this has prompted me to make up a new iPod Sweet compilation - lol! Here's my playlist:
Hell Raiser
Yesterday's Rain
Burn On The Flame
Lost Angels
Action
Burning
Solid Gold Brass
Love Is Like Oxygen
Live For Today
Turn It Down
Windy City
Need A Lot Of Lovin'
Set Me Free
Sweet FA
I think that would have also made a great live set list! :)
That's right. Thirty Years is Andy's Solo album. The two classic tracks on it Lady Starlight with synths and Where Da Ya Go, the excellent b-side. Andy's solo stuff from the 1980's is much more forgettable, but Krugerrands made the top 10 in South Africa for seemingly obvious reasons.
I like your songlist. Buth the truth is, they made so many good ones, so its easy to make a good songlist from them.
You clearly like the rockers (as I do too). I might have put in a few softies as well like Medusa, Lady Starlight and Laura Lee. And as I said before, I think Cut Above the Rest is an extraordinary album, so stuff like Mother Earth, Play All Night and Discophony would be in there despite the lack of Brian on that album.
I reckon CATR might have just been the trick in the US if Brian had been on there, after their extensive tours in 1976 and 1978 and the relatively recent success of Love is Like Oxygen at the time.
By the way, did you know that you can get the whole of the Rainbow concert on CD? Might be it since Strung Up seems so difficult and expensive to get these days. I think that version of Done Me Wrong Alright is fantastic. Might put a link up here when I get a chance to remind you.
I like your songlist. Buth the truth is, they made so many good ones, so its easy to make a good songlist from them.
You clearly like the rockers (as I do too). I might have put in a few softies as well like Medusa, Lady Starlight and Laura Lee. And as I said before, I think Cut Above the Rest is an extraordinary album, so stuff like Mother Earth, Play All Night and Discophony would be in there despite the lack of Brian on that album.
I reckon CATR might have just been the trick in the US if Brian had been on there, after their extensive tours in 1976 and 1978 and the relatively recent success of Love is Like Oxygen at the time.
By the way, did you know that you can get the whole of the Rainbow concert on CD? Might be it since Strung Up seems so difficult and expensive to get these days. I think that version of Done Me Wrong Alright is fantastic. Might put a link up here when I get a chance to remind you.
Yes, got the full Rainbow CD when it came out, thanks. Love the version of Wig Wam Bam on that!
My list is mainly of rockers, and I also wanted to stick to stuff Brian was on. There are loads more tracks I could have added, but I just wanted my absolute favourites. Medusa was a close call, as was Heartbreak Today and the extended Midnight to Daylight, but I can always add to it when I feel like a change.
CUTR certainly had some good stuff on it, and I agree that Mother Earth was fantastic. I think it might have been Brian's last album, though, especially if they'd toured again, as the voice didn't hold out for much longer after that. Had the nightclub attack not happened, things might have been so different, as I think a lot of Brian's problems stemmed from that. :(
My list is mainly of rockers, and I also wanted to stick to stuff Brian was on. There are loads more tracks I could have added, but I just wanted my absolute favourites. Medusa was a close call, as was Heartbreak Today and the extended Midnight to Daylight, but I can always add to it when I feel like a change.
CUTR certainly had some good stuff on it, and I agree that Mother Earth was fantastic. I think it might have been Brian's last album, though, especially if they'd toured again, as the voice didn't hold out for much longer after that. Had the nightclub attack not happened, things might have been so different, as I think a lot of Brian's problems stemmed from that. :(