Let The Day Begin...Let The Day Start!: Day 348 - The JAMC

 21 Singles - The Jesus And Mary Chain

Rhino

Released July 2002

UK Chart #117

Their First Compilation was this one:

Barbed Wire Kisses (B-Sides and More) - The Jesus And Mary Chain

Blanco Y Negro

Released April 1988

UK Chart #9

US Chart #192

The Cassette and CD Version Included Four More Tracks

1 Kill Surf City    
2 Head    
3 Rider    
4 Hit    
5 Don't Ever Change    
6 Just Out Of Reach    
7 Happy Place    
8 Psycho Candy
9 Sidewalking    
10 Who Do You Love    
11 Surfin' USA    
12 Everything's Alright When You're Down    
13 Upside Down    
14 Taste Of Cindy    
15 Swing    
16 On The Wall    
17 Cracked*    
18 Here It Comes Again*    
19 Mushroom*    
20 Bo Diddley Is Jesus*

*Not on the Original Vinyl Version

Notes on Select Singles

Upside Down / Vegetable Man

Creation

November 1984

UK Indie Chart #1*

*Stayed on the chart for 76 weeks and was #1 twice.

Never Understand / Suck / Ambition

February 1985

UK Chart #47

You Trip Me Up / Just Out Of Reach / Boyfriend's Dead

May 1985

UK Chart #55

Just Like Honey / Head

September 1985

UK Chart #45

Some Candy Talking / Psychocandy / Hit

July 1986

UK Chart #13

Was released as a Limited Edition 2 x 7" pack that featured four acoustic tracks.

C1 Cut Dead (Acoustic)    
C2 Psychocandy (Acoustic)    
D1 You Trip Me Up (Acoustic)    
D2 Some Candy Talking (Acoustic)

All of these acoustic tracks were featured on the 2000 CD release of The Complete John Peel Sessions (Strange Fruit).

April Skies / Kill Surf City

April 1987

UK Chart #8

Was also released as a Limited Edition wth a Free 7"

Mushroom (Live) / Bo Diddley is Jesus

Happy When It Rains / Everything's Alright When You're Down

August 1987

UK Chart #25

It was also released on 12" with the same artwork and two additional tracks.

A Happy When It Rains (Long Version)    
B1 Everything's Alright When You're Down    
B2 Happy Place    
B3 F.Hole

There was a Limited Edition Box that contain a 3-Track 7". 

The third track was Shake.

It was also released on 10" and named an EP

A1 Happy When It Rains (Long Version)    
A2 Shake    
B1 Everything's Alright When You're Down    
B2 Happy When It Rains (Demo)

Darklands / Rider / Here It Comes Again / On The Wall (Porta Studio Demo)

10" 

October 1987

UK Chart #33

Also released as 7" and 12"

The 7" doesn't contain Here It Comes Again.

The 12" doesn't contain Here It Comes Again but includes Surfin' USA.

 

*************

I recall many years ago hearing someone describing what it was like listening to the debut album (Psychocandy) from East Kilbride's The Jesus And Mary Chain in this way:

"Remember when you went to the dentist and it turns out he's an absolute sadist?  He begins his treatment on you by indiscriminatly drilling your teeth without a word of warning and does not stop to  offer you any anesthetic to counteract the immense pain and misery that he has begun to inflict upon you! That's what it is like listening to Psychocandy!"

I thought that was a bit harsh on the Reid Brothers (William and Jim) but I kinda knew what the person was trying to say!

Today's choice of compilation looks back on the many brilliant single released by The Jesus And Mary Chain between 1984 and 1998. I decided also to post the first JAMC Compilation Barbed Wire Kisses (B-Sides and More) as well that covered the period between 1984-1987. I always found it funny that their first compilation would be one made up of B-Sides, rare tracks and just a couple of singles. 21 Singles released in 2002 was actually the first gathering up of the A-Sides.

Hearing them side by side like this is quite an amazing listening experience as it takes in their growth from bedroom band in East Kilbride to the big leagues of rock and roll stardom! Inbetween all of that you have classics like Upside Down and Never Understand - that sound like someone threw The Velvet Underground, The Beach Boys and Ramones into a blender and instead of a smoothie you get these real rough around the edges moody pop tunes! There's these sensitive little numbers like Just Like Honey and Some Candy Talking that seem at odds with their screaching feedback infused sound.Then there's April Skies - clearly one of the greatest singles of all time if you are asking the right people! Happy When It Rains, Darklands, Sidewalking, Head On and Blues From A Gun are all magnificent as well. Blues From A Gun I especially love as William takes the vocal instead of Jim.

On the strength of songs like Far Gone And Out and Sometimes Always you would have thought that The JAMC were tearing up the charts. Sadly that was not the case, only April Skies (#8) and Reverence (#10) ever made it Top Ten and a few others just missed out on the Top Twenty (Happy When It Rains #25, Darklands #30, Far Gone And Out #23, and Sometimes Always #22). It's amazing to me that a single like Head On only reached #57! 

Four days ago it was annouced that the band will release their first album since Munki in 1998 entitled Damage and Joy and it is due March 2017. They also issued the track Amputation on their Soundcloud page.

Apologies for not providing info on all the singles included on 21 Singles, I was in a bit of a rush and thought I'd at least get a little info posted. I'm sure you can Google to your heart's content to find the info on the rest of them!

Let The Day Begin...Let The Day Start!

Happy Birthday William Reid

HAPPY BIRTHDAY

WILLIAM

MORE JAMC
Just Like Honey (Promo).

April Skies (Promo).

Happy When It Rains (Promo).

Never Understand.

Some Candy Talking.

Far Gone And Out.

Something I Can't Have.

The Jesus and Mary Chain - Automatic Deluxe Edition

  

The third album by The Jesus and Mary Chain, Automatic, when released in September 1989 did not meet with a lot of acclaim. The album was criticized for it's use of synths in place of the bass guitar and a drum machine. The album reached #11 in the UK charts and was well outside the Top 100 in the USA. Two singles were released from the album - 'Blues from a Gun' and 'Head On' (later covered by The Pixies) and both failed to break into the top 30. Included on this Deluxe Version is the brilliant 'Sidewalking' single. The Extended Mix lasting 7 minutes and 51 seconds is the definitive version according to the band and was often the set closer.


I have to totally disgree with Victoria Segal from Q Magazine regarding her comments on the album in the latest issue of the monthly music mag. She said that the album is "unconvincing" and is where "the Reids' love of Americana turned septic. UV Ray and Blues From A Gun sound like The Stooges produced by Bon Jovi and while Head On, later covered by The Pixies, is tremendous - as is the drum-machine bounce of  the Sidewalking single - Automatic is lesscrash and burn, more rattle and hum." (Q304 p144). I don't find the album "unconvincing" at all and after not listening to it for at least 10 years playing it again confirmed to me afresh that I actually loved this album a little bit more than 'Darklands'. I was blown away agin by some of the classic b-sides, 'Subway' in particular and their lovely version of 'My Girl' from the John Peel Session of 31st May 1988, is another great cover to add to the list.



Tracklist: The Jesus and Mary Chain, Automatic

CD 1
1. “Here Comes Alice”
2. “Coast To Coast”
3. “Blues From A Gun”
4. “Between Planets”
5. “UV Ray”
6. “Her Way Of Praying”
7. “Head On”
8. “Take It”
9. “Halfway To Crazy”
10. “Gimme Hell”
11. “Drop”
12. “Sunray”

Sidewalking Single
13. “Sidewalking” (Extended Version)
14. “Sidewalking”
15. “Sidewalking” (Chilled To The Bone Mix)
16. “Taste Of Cindy” (Live in Detroit)
17. “April Skies” (Live in Detroit)

CD 2
Surfin' USA Promo 12"
1. “Surfin’ USA” (Summer Mix)
B-sides
2. “Shimmer”
3. “Penetration”
4. “Break Me Down”
5. “Subway”
6. “In The Black”
7. “Terminal Beach”
8. “Deviant Slice”
9. “I’m Glad I Never”
10. “Drop” (Acoustic Remix)
BBC Radio Session
11. “Sidewalking”
12. “Coast To Coast”
13. “Take It”
14. “My Girl”
15. “Far Gone And Out”
16. “Silverblade”
17. “Here Comes Alice”
Outtakes
18. “Coast To Coast” (Alternate – William Vox)
19. “Just Out Of Reach” (88 version)
20. “Radio Ad”
21. “Nine Million Rainy Days” (Live in Detroit)

DVD
Promo Videos
1. “Sidewalking”
2. “Just Out Of Reach”
3. “Blues From A Gun”
4. “Head On”
5. “Her Way Of Praying”
TV Appearances
6. “Gimme Hell – SNUB TV”
7. “Take It – SNUB TV”
8. “Interview – Rapido”
9. “Interview – MTV Week In Rock”
10. “Interview – MTV Australia”

Sidewalking Extended Mix


Just Out Of Reach (Promo Video)


Head On (Live)



Blues From A Gun (Promo Video)

The Jesus and Mary Chain - Darklands Deluxe Edition

'Darklands' was a very different beast to 'Psychocandy'. It would have been the easiest thing in the world for the JAMC to record 'Psychocandy 2' and the fact that they didn't makes this album a lot more worthwhile. The album reached #5 in the UK charts and spawned their biggest Single Chart hit in 'April Skies' and earned them a place on Top of the Pops (not to be repeated!).

I have to admit that I was not overly impressed by the album when it first came out. I loved the singles ('April Skies' and 'Happy When It Rains') but overall the album seemed a little subdued to me. Listening to it again with fresh ears on this Deluxe Edition I still think the same though I know a number of people who really love the album and think that it is their best release). The inclusion on this package of 'Some Candy Talking' with William on vocals is sweet. It originally came out on an EP given away with the NME in February 1986. I much prefer this version to the later release with Jim on vocals.

Disc: 1
01. Darklands
02. Deep One Perfect Morning
03. Happy When It Rains
04. Down On Me
05. Nine Million Rainy Days
06. April Skies
07. Fall
08. Cherry Came Too
09. On The Wall
10. About You

Some Candy Talking EP
11. Some Candy Talking
12. Taste Of Cindy (acoustic version)
13. Psychocandy
14. Hit

Janice Long Studio Session 23/11/86
15. Darklands
16. Down On Me
17. Deep One Perfect Morning


John Peel Session 25/11/96
18. Fall
19. In The Rain
20. Happy Place

Disc: 2
B-Sides

April Skies Single
01. Kill Surf City -
02. Bo Diddley Is Jesus
03. Who Do You Love

Happy When It Rains Single
04. Everything's Alright When You're Down
05. Shake
06. Happy When It Rains (demo)
07. Happy Place
08. F.Hole

Darklands Single
09. Rider
10. On The Wall(Portastudio demo)
11. Surfin' USA (April outtake)
12. Here It Comes Again

Outtakes
13. Walk And Crawl
14. Some Candy Talking (NME version with William on Vocals)
15. Mushroom
16. The Hardest Walk ('Some Kind of Wonderful' soundtrack version)
17. Don't Ever Change
18. Swing 19. Darklands (with strings. Previously Unreleased)
20. Interview (Janice Long Show 28th April 1987)

Disc: 3 - DVD

Promo Videos
1. Some Candy Talking
2. April Skies
3. Kill Surf City
4. Happy When It Rains
5. Darklands

TV Appearances
6. April Skies - Top Of The Pops
7. April Skies - Villa Tempo
8. Happy When It Rains - The Roxy


Some Candy Talking (Promo Video)




April Skies (Top of the Pops)



Kill Surf City (Promo Video)




Happy When It Rains (from The Roxy)

The Jesus and Mary Chain - Psychocandy Deluxe Edition

November 1985 saw the release of one of the most eagerly awaited debut albums ever. Throughout the year we had little tasters with three cracking singles ('Never Understand', 'You Trip Me Up' and the beautiful 'Just Like Honey'). The press had given the impression that these new wonders of the Indie Scene were just about riots at live shows and heavy duty feeback. But The Jesus and Mary Chain were so much more than that and the album 'Psychocandy' proved beyond doubt they were pioneering a new kind of sound. That sound combined The Beach Boys, The Shangri-Las, The Velvet Underground, the Phil Spector wall of sound and industrial noise makers Einstürzende Neubauten. Thrown together the end result was some of the most perfect pop to have ever been released (at least in my mind I think so).

It's hard to believe that 'Psychocandy' only reached number 31 in the album charts (the follow up 'Darklands' would reach #5). Songs like 'The Living End','The Hardest Walk', 'Taste the Floor' and 'In A Hole' are just a few of the beautifully chaotic tunes that make 'Psychocandy' one of the best debut albums. Even today it still sounds so wonderfully uplifting. The reissue programme for The Jesus and Mary Chain looks like it might throw up some great material and if this first one is anything to go by then there's still so much to look forward to.

One of the things on this Deluxe Edition that is priceless is  The John Peel Session that has the band playing four songs Acoustic and these tracks  a great reminder of just how good the band were back in the day and that their music didn't necessarily need all the feedback to stand up.

Disc: 1

1. Just Like Honey

2. The Living End

3. Taste The Floor

4. The Hardest Walk

5. Cut Dead

6. In A Hole

7. Taste Of Cindy

8. Never Understand

9. Inside Me

10. Sowing Seeds

11. My Little Underground

12. You Trip Me Up

13. Something's Wrong

14. It's So Hard

B-Sides

15. Suck - B-Side of 'Never Understand'

16. Ambition - B- Side of 'Never Understand'

17. Just Out Of Reach - B-Side of 'You Trip Me Up'

18. Boyfriend's Dead  - B-Side of 'You Trip Me Up'

19. Head- B-Side of 'Just Like Honey'

20. Cracked - B-Side of 'Just Like Honey'

Disc: 2

Upside Down Single

1. Upside Down

2. Vegetable Man

October 1984 John Peel Session

3. In A Hole

4. You Trip Me Up

5. Never Understand

6. Taste The Floor

February 1985 John Peel Session

7. The Living End

8. Inside Me

9. Just Like Honey

October 1985 John Peel Session - Acoustic

10. Some Candy Talking

11. Psychocandy

12. You Trip Me Up

13. Cut Dead

Demos

14. Up Too High

15. Upside Down

16. Never Understand

17. Taste The Floor

18. In A Hole

19. Something's Wrong

20. Just Like Honey

21. The Living End

22. My Little Underground

Outtakes

23. Never Understand(Alternate version)

24. Jesus **** (Previously Unreleased)

Disc: 3

Promo Videos

1. Never Understand

2. You Trip Me Up

3. Just Like Honey

TV Appearances

4. In A Hole - Old Grey Whistle Test

5. Riot at North London Polytechnic - Interview and Live Clips

6. Interview - VRT, Belgium

7. Never Understand - VRT, Belgium

8. Just Like Honey - The Tube

9. Inside Me - The Tube

Never Understand Promo Video.
You Trip Me Up Promo Video.