Metamatic Forums John Foxx Ultravox New remasters

It is indeed. ALL weekend.

We're busy doing final artwork at the moment but we should be finishing off the news release tomorrow.

Cheers,
Cerise.

Here's what we've just posted over on the Extreme Voice website...

*****

We are very pleased to announce that EMI have confirmed the release date for the remastered Vienna and Rage in Eden albums as Monday the 22nd of September, 2008. As previously discussed in our news story in April , we have been closely involved with Ultravox and EMI in the processes involved in once again making these albums available, and we can now confirm the following.

Over the coming months, EMI are looking to release all the Ultravox and Midge Ure Chrysalis-era albums. These will be regarded as Remastered Definitive Editions, and the aim is for each of them to take the following format; Disc One will contain the original UK album, whilst Disc Two will include all of the B-sides and extra tracks taken from accompanying singles, plus (wherever possible) a selection of previously unreleased material. No specific dates have been given for the release of these albums, but we can confirm that the intention is for them to be released in the order in which they were originally made available. As soon as we have further details for these future releases we will make them available on the Extreme Voice website.

Meanwhile, the full track listings for both Vienna and Rage in Eden are as follows:-



Vienna (Disc One)

01. Astradyne
02. New Europeans
03. Private Lives
04. Passing Strangers
05. Sleepwalk
06. Mr. X
07. Western Promise
08. Vienna
09. All Stood Still


Vienna (Disc Two - Further Listening)

01. Sleepwalk (Early version)
From the album 'The Very Best of Midge Ure and Ultravox'.
02. Waiting
B-side of the 'Sleepwalk' 7 inch single.
03. Face to Face (Recorded live at St Albans, 16 Aug 80)
B-side of the 'Passing Strangers' 7 & 12 inch singles.
04. Kings Lead Hat (Recorded live at The Lyceum, 17 Aug 80)
Extra track on the B-side of the 'Passing Strangers' 12 inch single.
05. Passionate Reply
B-side of the 'Vienna' 7 & 12 inch singles.
06. Herr X
Extra track on the B-side of the 'Vienna' 12 inch single.
07. All Stood Still (12 inch version)
A-side of the 'All Stood Still' 12 inch single.
08. Alles Klar
B-side of the 'All Stood Still' 7 & 12 inch singles.
09. Keep Talking (Cassette recording during rehearsals)
Extra track on the B-side of the 'All Stood Still' 12 inch single.
10. Sleepwalk (Recorded live in rehearsals at The Lyceum, 17 Aug 80)
Previously unreleased.
11. All Stood Still (Recorded live in rehearsals at The Lyceum, 17 Aug 80)
Previously unreleased.



Rage in Eden (Disc One)

01. The Voice
02. We Stand Alone
03. Rage in Eden
04. I Remember (Death in the Afternoon)
05. The Thin Wall
06. Stranger Within
07. Accent on Youth
08. The Ascent
09. Your Name (Has Slipped My Mind Again)


Rage in Eden (Disc Two - Further Listening)

01. I Never Wanted To Begin
B-side of 'The Thin Wall' 7 inch single.
02. Paths And Angles
B-side of 'The Voice' 7 inch single and A-side of 'The Voice' 12 inch single.
03. I Never Wanted To Begin (Extended version)
B-side of 'The Thin Wall' 12 inch single.
04. Private Lives (Recorded live at Crystal Palace, 13 Jun 81)
Extra track on the B-side of 'The Voice' 12 inch single.
05. All Stood Still (Recorded live at Crystal Palace, 13 Jun 81)
Extra track on the B-side of 'The Voice' 12 inch single.
06. I Remember (Death in the Afternoon) (Recorded live at Hammersmith Odeon, 17 Oct 81)
Previously unreleased.
07. Stranger Within (Recorded live at Hammersmith Odeon, 17 Oct 81)
Previously unreleased.
08. Rage in Eden (Recorded live at Hammersmith Odeon, 17 Oct 81)
Previously unreleased.
09. Accent on Youth (Recorded live at Hammersmith Odeon, 17 Oct 81)
Previously unreleased.
10. The Ascent (Recorded live at Hammersmith Odeon, 17 Oct 81)
Previously unreleased.
11. Your Name (Has Slipped My Mind Again) (Recorded live at Hammersmith Odeon, 17 Oct 81)
Previously unreleased.
12. Stranger Within (Work in progress mix)
Previously unreleased.
13. The Thin Wall (Work in progress mix)
Previously unreleased.

Tracks that have previously been available were remastered between March and May 2008 at Abbey Road Studios, London, with the previously unreleased material mastered for the first time specifically for these new editions. For reference, previously available recordings were taken from the original master tapes, and not the production masters as previously reported, while the extra tracks were taken from a combination of other sources that include EMI's tape archive and from recordings provided by Ultravox. Given that the recordings are now up to twenty-eight years old, the extensive work that has been undertaken has given these albums a fresher edge that has not been captured on any previous editions. We believe therefore that everyone will be thrilled with the results.

It's worth noting that some of the previously unreleased material was, by their very nature, not up to the usual fidelity of studio recordings, but they have nevertheless been mastered to the highest possible standard. The decision was taken by Ultravox and EMI to include them for their 'historical significance'. These 'extra' tracks all capture moments that would otherwise have remained unheard and further add to the 'Definitive' nature of these releases.

As you'll no doubt have read in the wider media, EMI have undergone considerable restructuring following their purchase by Terrafirma in late 2007, and therefore new practices have fed into how albums will look when released. EMI have adopted a standard approach on what physical (i.e. CD) releases will take across the company's entire catalogue and in line with this Vienna and Rage in Eden will have a protective cardboard 'O' slip case box together with an eight page full-colour booklet. This booklet will mainly contain appropriate photographs and imagery, but sadly no lyrics. However, the individual album design has remained as we always intended, and in line with EMI's guidelines for digital downloading, a separate twenty page version of the booklet will be made available that will comprise the full design, including photos AND lyrics. We understand that Ultravox were keen that the latter was made available to as many fans as possible. We are therefore very pleased to confirm that a downloadable booklet will be available for all albums through the Extreme Voice website on the day of their release, as well as through all of the other official sources.

As we confirmed in the April newsletter, Rage in Eden is going to be released with the re-instated original front cover (Rage Face) artwork. This was withdrawn by Chrysalis after legal issues soon after its release back in 1981 and has been replaced by alternative artwork on all subsequent editions. The licensing of the 'Rage Face' artwork currently only extends as far as the initial run of the physical release of the album (set at 10,000 units worldwide). Future editions will feature new alternative artwork based around the 'three-horse' logo which appeared on the poster that originally came with the album. This 'alternate' artwork will be used for the digital release.

As stated previously, we are in the midst of writing a second 'All You Need To Know' companion piece - the first of which was completed for the Island Records re-mastered albums back in 2006 - detailing the full process behind the Anthology and remastered album re-releases. We will publish this on the Extreme Voice website in due course.

Thanks for your continuing support.

Extreme Voice

*****

Rob

..thanks for that, guys. Will read in more detail later but, hey, all looks excellent...roll on the autumnal equinox!

Many thanks for this Rob and Cerise!

Some nuggets in the selection, especially Rage In Eden;

6. I Remember (Death in the Afternoon) (Recorded live at Hammersmith Odeon, 17 Oct 81)
7. Stranger Within (Recorded live at Hammersmith Odeon, 17 Oct 81)
8. Rage in Eden (Recorded live at Hammersmith Odeon, 17 Oct 81)
9. Accent on Youth (Recorded live at Hammersmith Odeon, 17 Oct 81)
10. The Ascent (Recorded live at Hammersmith Odeon, 17 Oct 81)
11. Your Name (Has Slipped My Mind Again) (Recorded live at Hammersmith Odeon, 17 Oct 81)

That's almost the entire album live! Really looking forward to hearing these tracks, Vienna and the rest of it.

Thanks for this very informative post Rob.

Knowing how hard you and Cerise and everyone else involved has been working on this project for the last xxmonths/years, I can only say CONGRATULATIONS on getting these re-masters done.
You deserve every success with these and the subsequent albums.


Brilliant news - well done guys

I've already posted this over at EV but I cant thank Cerise,Rob & all enough.
I'm really looking forward to hearing both of these.

Rob,are they going to be generally available or through specialist shops?

Brian

They will be generally available.

Cheers!
Cerise.

Gosh that was a quick answer Cerise.

Cheers

Brian

You noticed what I noticed, Gary. I am really looking forward to hearing these tracks.

You should have phoned newvox a couple of days ago like I did.