5CD - Limited Edition Box Set with all their 1980's releases, six BBC sessions with nine unissued tracks plus two whole discs of unreleased rarities. Includes an illustrated 44-page booklet with the story of the band by founder-member Rosie Garland.
The March Violets came out of Leeds in the early 80’s, label-mates of Sisters of Mercy. Releasing six indie singles, they were a constant presence in the UK indie charts, hitting the top two with Snake Dance and Deep and no. 1 with Walk into The Sun. They never recorded an album – their '80's long-players, Natural History in the UK and Electric Shades in the USA, were compilations. Eventually they signed to a major label and were groomed for a USA breakthrough, performing in the 1987 Some Kind of Wonderful movie. However, they were asked to make too many compromises and split up.
Here is their entire 1980’s independent catalogue in both original and extended versions, together with six BBC Sessions – 23 tracks with 9 unreleased songs. Plus the set has two CDs of yet many more unreleased sessions, one from the early years 1982-84, and one covering 1985-87. The collection chronicles their development with lead singers Simon Denbigh, Rosie Garland and Cleo Murray, backed by bassist Lawrence Elliot and guitarist Tom Ashton.
Founder member Rosie Garland contributes notes in a 44-page illustrated booklet. The 85 tracks include all indie chart hits plus alt versions and unheard studio tracks. Features indie chart-toppers Snake Dance, Deep and Walk into the Sun 7” and extended versions.
Tracklist:
Discs and tracks: -
Disc 1 - ‘PLAY LOUD PLAY PURPLE’ (COMPLETE SINGLES 1982-85)
1. Radiant Boys
2. Religious as Hell
3. Fodder
4. Children on Stun
5. Bon Bon Babies
6. Grooving in Green
7. Steam, Crow Baby
8. 1 2 I Love You
9. Long Pig
10. Snake Dance
11. It’s Hot
12. Slow Drip Lizard
13. Walk into the Sun
14. Lights Go Out
15. Essence, Deep
16. Eldorado
17. Electric Shades.
(All the recordings released 1982-85 in original versions)
Disc 2 - ‘PLAY LOUDER PLAY PURPLER’ (EXTENDED VERSIONS & ERAS)
1. Crowbait
2. Snake Dance (extended)
3. Walk into the Sun (extended)
4. Lights Go Out (extended)
5. Essence (extended)
6. Deep (Deeper Mix)
7. Cut Down Pretty
8. Road of Bones
9. Mortality (Demo).
(Club versions plus three 21st Century tracks)
Disc 3 - ‘BIG SOUL KISS’ (THE BBC RECORDINGS 1982-84)
1. Radiant Boys
2. Steam
3. 1 2 I Love You
4. Grooving in Green
5. Crow Baby
6. The Undertow
7. Strangehead
8. Slow Drip Lizard
9. Walk into the Sun
10. Deep
11. Kill the Delight
12. Big Soul Kiss
13. Lights Go Out
14. Love Hit
15. Don’t Take it Lightly
16. Electric Shades
17. The Face of the Dragonfly
18. Snake Dance
19. Deep.
(Recorded by the BBC for the John Peel, Kid Jensen and Richard Skinner programmes)
Disc 4 - ‘INFINITE DARKNESS’ (UNRELEASED RARITIES 1982-84)
1. Strangehead (Alternative version)
2. Grooving in Green (Alternative Version)
3. Radiant Boys (Alternative version)
4. Radiant Boys
5. Children on Stun
6. Steam
7. The Palace of Infinite Darkness
8. Fodder
9. Virgin Sheep
10. Religious as Hell
11. 1 2 I Love You
12. Long Pig
13. Bon Bon Babies
14. Radiant Boys
15. Steam
16. The Palace of Infinite Darkness
17. Big Soul Kiss
18. Cold Blue Breakdown
19. Love in a Nightmare
20. Rich City.
(Studio and live recordings 1982-84)
Disc 5 - ‘SILVER LINING’ (UNRELEASED RARITIES 1985-87)
1. High Times
2. Close to the Heart
3. South Country
4. Avalanche of Love
5. One Cut Too Much
6. Silver Lining
7. Turn to the Sky, Gold
8. The Peacemaker
9. Persuasion
10. No Love No Money
11. Flames of Love
12. Snake Dance
13. Big Soul Kiss
14. Out of This World
15. Face of the Dragonfly
16. Wonderland
17. Snake Dance.
(1-4 BBC Session for Janice Long; plus studio sessions 1985-87)