Release coincides with ‘Blitz: The Club That Shaped The 80s’ a major exhibition at
London’s Design Museum from September 20
Artwork by original band graphic designer and Blitz Kid Graham Smith
Spandau Ballet, one of the most influential bands in British music, will release their definitive early years collection, “Everything Is Now – Vol 1: 1978-1982” – a comprehensive 9-disc box set featuring their groundbreaking first two albums alongside a wealth of previously unavailable material. It includes a beautiful 44 page book with original photos from fellow Blitz Kid Graham Smith and new commentary from the whole band.
Released September 12th on Parlophone, this meticulously curated collection captures the band’s origins and meteoric rise from Blitz Club favourites to chart-topping innovators. The set includes their seminal albums “Journeys To Glory” (1981) and “Diamond” (1982) on vinyl, plus six CDs of singles, remixes, BBC sessions, demos, and a Blu-ray of Dolby Atmos mixes, videos
and rare live footage.
The collection showcases the band’s evolution through their formative and revolutionary period, from the electronic-infused new wave of early singles like “To Cut A Long Story Short” and “The Freeze” to the funk-influenced sophistication of “Chant No. 1″ and “Instinction. ” They were simply the most cutting edge, futuristic band in the world, at the centre of a creative scene that
defined the 1980s.
This release also coincides with London’s Design Museum, who open their exhibition
‘Blitz: The Club That Shaped The 80s’ from September 20. It explores the ‘Blitz Kids’ who pioneered new music, fashion, film, design and more from the tiny Soho nightclub The Blitz, all to a soundtrack provided by a nascent Spandau Ballet (the only artist to ever play the club). The band’s friend and fellow club goer, Robert Elms, had suggested the new name and they made their debut as Spandau Ballet at The Blitz on December 5th 1979. They were offered a record contract mid set by Chris Blackwell, owner of Island Records and the performance pushed the band “through the looking glass” and onto an accelerated ride through the 1980s and into pop culture history and global superstardom.
The band began to export their music around the world in a series of ground breaking club culture events, including making their first New York appearance in 1981, taking key Blitz Kids with them and staging a concert and fashion show, paving the way for Britain’s second musical invasion of America. Video of this whole performance is included in the box set. On another
legendary night, they played new superclub KU in Ibiza, who released a bull on the night to mark the occasion amongst the 3000 fans, and were pivotal in alerting the UK to the burgeoning Ibiza dance scene.
This boxset charts those origins, from the band building a scene of the coolest fans on the planet in hometown London, through a record label bidding war, an iconic just pre-fame performance aboard HMS Belfast and into worldwide success that went on to almost perfectly span and define the 1980s.
LISTEN TO THE SINGLES
Eyes – Gentry Demo
SpandauBallet.lnk.to/EyesGentryDemo
‘Eyes’ was recorded at Halligan’s rehearsal studio while the band were still called Gentry. It was at the studio that they were given the name ‘Spandau Ballet’ by future broadcaster and journalist Robert Elms. The song can be heard on the ‘Demos’ disc of the ‘Everything Is Now’ box set, which showcases the band’s evolution from 1978 to 1982. ‘Eyes’ was performed on the night which truly launched Spandau Ballet – 5th December 1979 at the legendary Blitz club’s Christmas party.
Steven Wilson Stereo Mix of “The Freeze”
spandauballet.lnk.to/TheFreezeStevenWilsonRMX
the band’s second single after the hit of “To Cut A Long Story Short” . Both tracks reflected the European electronic music that the band heard at The Blitz, making full use of the Yamaha CS-10 synthesizer they had acquired on hire purchase. The mix features on the Blu-Ray Stereo and Instrumental remixesby acclaimed musician and go-to Dolby Atmos mixer, Steven Wilson.
Pre Orders for thins incredible box set are available now
spandauballet.lnk.to/EverythingIsNowPS
Highlights include:
* Comprehensive collection of 7″ and 12″ singles, remixes and versions
* Two complete BBC concert recordings from 1981 and 1982 and a BBC Session from 1981
* Previously unreleased demos including early Gentry recordings
* Dolby Atmos remixes by Steven Wilson
* Rare live footage from NYC’s Underground Club (1981)
* Original albums “Journeys To Glory” and “Diamond” on vinyl
* Includes rare set of remixes for the “Diamond” album. Previously unavailable on CD
* 44 page booklet with all new quotes from every band member and classic photos charting key moments, design and style
The box set features all the band’s early classics including “To Cut A Long Story Short,” “Chant No. 1,” “Muscle Bound,” “Paint Me Down,” “Instinction” and “She Loved Like Diamond,“ and presents multiple versions of tracks that trace their development from initial demos to extended 12” club mixes.
The Blu-ray component includes Dolby Atmos and stereo remixes by acclaimed producer Steven Wilson, alongside original music videos, BBC TV appearances and the complete 56-minute concert from New York’s Underground Club in 1981.
“Everything Is Now – Vol 1: 1978-1982” stands as the definitive document of Spandau Ballet’s revolutionary early period, when they helped define the sound and style of a generation.
SPANDAU BALLET
EVERYTHING IS NOW – VOL 1: 1978-1982
CD1: JOURNEYS TO GLORY ERA SINGLES, REMIXES & VERSIONS
CD2: DIAMOND ERA SINGLES, REMIXES & VERSIONS
CD3: DIAMOND – 12” SINGLES BOX SET
CD4: BBC SESSION 1981 / BBC IN CONCERT BOURNEMOUTH 1982
CD5: BBC IN CONCERT PARIS THEATRE 1982
CD6: DEMOS
BLU-RAY (DISC 7): DOLBY ATMOS, PROMOS & EXTRAS
LP1 (DISC 8): JOURNEYS TO GLORY
LP2 (DISC 9): DIAMOND
CD1: JOURNEYS TO GLORY ERA SINGLES, REMIXES & VERSIONS
7 inch A-Sides
1. To Cut A Long Story Short (7” A-side) [3:22]
2. The Freeze (7″ Version A-side) [3:32]
3. Muscle Bound (7″ Version A-side) [3:58]
4. Glow (7″ Version AA-side) [3:49]
7 inch B-Sides
5. To Cut A Long Story Short (Version) [3:22]
6. The Freeze (Version 7” B-side) [4:23]
12 inch A-Sides & B-Sides
7. To Cut A Long Story Short (Mix 1 A-side) [6:32]
8. To Cut A Long Story Short (Version) (Mix 2) [3.59]
9. The Freeze (12” A-side) [4:36]
10. The Freeze (Special Mix 12” B-side) [6:33]
11. Glow (12″ Version) [8:11]
12. Muscle Bound (12” B-side) [4.51]
CD2: DIAMOND ERA SINGLES, REMIXES & VERSIONS
7 inch A-Sides
1. Chant No 1 (7” A-side) [4:07]
2. Paint Me Down (7” A-side) [3:13]
3. She Love Like Diamond (7” A-side) [2:52]
4. Instinction (7” Trevor Horn Version) [3:34]
7 inch B-Sides
5. Feel The Chant (Short – 7” B-side) [4:04]
6. Man With Guitar (B-Side of Paint Me Down) [2:52]
7. Gently (B-Side of Intinction) [4:00]
8. She Loved Like Diamond (Instrumental B-side) [2:56]
12 inch A-Sides & B-Sides
9. Chant No.1 (I Don’t Need This Pressure On) (Extended Mix – 12” A-side) [5:52]
10. Feel The Chant (Long – 12” B-side) [5:49]
11. Paint Me Down (12″ A-side) [7:05]
12. Re Paint (12” B-side) [6:53]
CD3: DIAMOND – 12” REMIX SINGLES BOX SET
1. Chant No. 1 (I Don’t Need This Pressure On) (Remix) [8:04]
2. Instinction (Remix) [6:59]
3. Paint Me Down (Remix) [6:25]
4. Coffee Club (Remix) [6:49]
5. She Loved Like Diamond (Remix) [3:41]
6. Pharaoh (Remix) [6:37]
7. Innocence And Science (Remix) [4:28]
8. Missionary (Remix) [7:02]
CD4: BBC SESSION 1981 / BBC IN CONCERT BOURNEMOUTH 1982
BBC Session – Studio B15, March 15, 1981
1. The Freeze [4:41]
2. Mandolin [4:07]
3. Muscle Bound [4:52]
4. Glow [4:14]
BBC In Concert Bournemouth, April 19, 1982
5. The Freeze [5:13]
6. She Loved Like Diamond [3:10]
7. To Cut A Long Story Short [3:52]
8. Glow [5:13]
9. Paint Me Down [4:45]
10. Instinction / Chant No. 1 (I Don’t Need This Pressure On) [6:10]
(Medley: Instinction [5:46] / Chant No. 1 (I Don’t Need This Pressure On) [1:24]
CD5: BBC IN CONCERT PARIS THEATRE, LONDON 1982
Produced by Jeff Griffin
1. Instinction (Version 1) [5:28]
2. The Freeze [5:11]
3. She Loved Like Diamond [2:59]
4. To Cut A Long Story Short [3:46]
5. Pharoah [6:07]
6. Glow [5:11]
7. Muscle Bound [4:56]
8. Confused [4:07]
9. Paint Me Down [4:56]
10. Coffee Club [6:38]
11. Chant No. 1 (I Don’t Need This Pressure On) [6:56]
12. Instinction (Version 2) [4:28]
13. Chant No. 1 (I Don’t Need This Pressure On) (Reprise) [1:22]
CD6: DEMOS
1. Toys (Gentry Demo) [4:20]
2. Age Of Blows (Gentry Demo) [3:47]
3. Eyes (Gentry Demo) [5:27]
4. To Cut A Long Story Short (Arista Demo) [3:42]
5. The Freeze (Arista Demo) [4:56]
6. Confused (Arista Demo) [4:10]
7. Reformation (Arista Demo) [4:59]
Component 7 – BLU-RAY: ATMOS, PROMOS & EXTRAS
DOLBY ATMOS, STEREO & INSTRUMENTAL REMIXES BY STEVEN WILSON
To Cut A Long Story Short
The Freeze
Muscle Bound
Chant No. 1 (I Don’t Need This Pressure On)
Paint Me Down
Instinction
MUSIC VIDEOS
To Cut A Long Story Short
The Freeze
Muscle Bound
Chant No. 1 (I Don’t Need This Pressure On)
Paint Me Down
She Loved Like Diamond
Instinction
OLD GREY WHISTLE TEST, BBC TV 1982
She Loved Like Diamond
Coffee Club
LIVE AT THE UNDERGROUND CLUB, NYC, USA
MAY 6, 1981 – DURATION: 56mins 25secs
Intro by Jim Fouratt
The Freeze
Mandolin
Reformation
Chant No. 1 (I Don’t Need This Pressure On)
Toys
Age Of Blows
Muscle Bound
Confused
To Cut A Long Story Short
Glow
EXTRAS
HMS Belfast footage
Component 8 – LP1: JOURNEYS TO GLORY (1981)
Side One
1. To Cut A Long Story Short [3:20]
2. Reformation [4:54]
3. Mandolin [4:07]
4. Muscle Bound [5:06]
Side Two
1. Age Of Blows [4:09]
2. The Freeze [4:35]
3. Confused [4:38]
4. Toys [5:48]
Component 9 – LP2: DIAMOND (1982)
Side One
1. Chant No 1 [4:05]
2. Instinction [4:48]
3. Paint Me Down [3:44]
4. Coffee Club [5:30]
Side Two
1. She Loved Like Diamond [2:55]
2. Pharaoh [6:35]
3. Innocence And Science [4:15]
4. Missionary [7:15]
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