Big Country have recently reissued three of their most critically-acclaimed albums. The band have their 3rd, 4th and 5th studio albums “The Seer”, “Peace In Our Time”, and “No Place Like Home” in double-disc sets with a whole host of B-sides, bonus tracks and demos. Big Country’s very original style was a sound created through the now legendary guitar sound of the genius of the late great Stuart Adamson who influenced bands such as U2 and the Manic Street Preachers. When Stuart 1st got together with Bruce Watson a certain chemistry between them just clicked and their sound was born out of the yearning to create something very unique.
After the band had released their 1st two albums “The Crossing” and “Steeltown” to masses of very positive critical acclaim. The pressure was on for Big Country to continue the momentum building around them. U2 and Simple Minds at the time was going global and they both were progressing to performing in Stadiums all over the world. This was also expected of Big Country as they had a trade mark sound that really reached out to people, however apart from short tours with David Bowie and the Rolling Stones they never really reached global stardom. In the British Isles all three albums gained respectful top 40 positions in the charts with The Seer reaching number 2. The band embarked on many successful tour all over the UK and Europe performing to Sold out Crowds in music halls.
It is clear from listening back to these great albums that the band had talents in so many areas, a great passion for song writing with a clear direction of musical progression, though the band rarely strayed from their original musical roots. These collections have been put together very carefully with the true fan in mind with lots of attention to detail. Each album includes a whole host of rare tracks taken from the many formats available at the time. Also the archives have been raided for some unheard previously unreleased demos including “Cuts like a Spoon” from the REL Sessions and “Gypsy Girl” from the No Place like Home Demos. If you are a completest and want to have the whole story of each album then these certainly are for you. Stuart Adamson’s music still remains in people’s hearts today and I am sure will remain there for a very long time to come.
Track Listings
THE SEER
DISC ONE – THE ORIGINAL ALBUM plus B-SIDES
01: Look Away ( 4:23 )
02: The Seer ( 5:19 )- Featuring Kate Bush
03: The Teacher ( 4:06 )
04: I Walk The Hill ( 3:30 )
05: Eiledon ( 5:37 )
06: One Great Thing ( 4:03 )
07: Hold The Heart ( 6:07 )
08: Remembrance Day ( 4:29 )
09: Red Fox ( 4:12 )
10: Sailor ( 4:58 )
BONUS TRACKS
11: Restless Natives ( 4:06 ) B-Side of Look Away
12: Margoís Theme ( 3:45 ) B-Side of Look Away
13: Highland Scenery ( 4:12 ) B-Side of Look Away
14: Home Came The Angels ( 2:09 ) B-Side of The Teacher
15: Song Of The South ñ 7î edit ( 3:49 ) B-Side of One Great Thing
16: Honky Tonk Woman ñ Live ( 3:54 ) B-Side of Hold The Heart
17: Hold The Heart ñ Instrumental ( 6:05 ) B-Side of Hold The Heart
DISC TWO – B-SIDES and 12″ REMIXES
01: Restless Natives – Part One ( 16:45) B-Side of The Teacher
02: Restless Natives – Part Two ( 18:12 ) B-Side of The Teacher
03: I Will Run For You ( Restless Natives ) ( 4:25 ) Previously Unreleased
04: Look Away – 12″ Remix ( 6:34 )
05: The Teacher – Mystery Mix ( 5:32 )
06: One Great Thing – Boston Mix ( 5:36)
07: Song Of The South – Full Version ( 5:05 )
08: Look Away – Outlaw Mix ( 6:56 )
09: One Great Thing – Big Baad Country Mix ( 6:17 )
PEACE IN OUR TIME
DISC ONE – The Original Album Remastered
01: King of Emotion ( 4:56 )
02: Broken Heart ( Thirteen Valleys ) ( 5:15 )
03: Thousand Yard Stare ( 3:56)
04: From Here To Eternity ( 5:03 )
05: Everything I Need ( 4:44 )
06: Peace In Our Time ( 4:36)
07: Time For Leaving ( 5:06 )
08: River of Hope ( 4:36 )
09: In This Place ( 4:25 )
10: I Could Be Happy Here ( 4:36)
BONUS TRACKS
11: The Travellers ( 3:18 )
12: On The Shore ( 3:43 )
13: Soapy Souter Strikes Back ( 4:15 )
14: Peace In Our Time ñ Acoustic Version ( 3:06 )
15: Broken Heart ( Thirteen Valleys ) ñ Acoustic Version ( 4:01 )
16: When A Drum Beats ñ The R.E.L. Demo Version ( 6.19)
17: Ages of Man ñ The R.E.L. Demo Version ( 4:30 )
18: Cuts Like A Spoon ñ The R.E.L. Demo Version ( 3:41 ) ñ Previously Unreleased
DISC TWO – The R.E.L. Demo Sessions
01: You Lose Your Dreams – Demo ( 5:25 )
02: In Your Homeland ñ Demo ( 3:35 )
03: Thousand Yard Stare – Demo ( 3:34 )
04: Over The Border – Demo ( 5:16 )
05: Everything I Need – Demo ( 5:17 )
06: The Longest Day – Demo ( 6:38 )
07: Mary – Demo ( 3:58 )
08: Time For Leaving – Demo ( 5:39 )
09: Starred and Crossed – Demo ( 4:25 )
10: Not Waving But Drowning – Demo ( 5:56 )
11: Promised Land – Demo ( 5:41 )
12: Peace In Our Time – Demo ( 6:01 )
13: Made In Heaven – Demo ( 6:24 )
14: I Could Be Happy Here – Demo ( 5:30 )
15: Christmas Island – Demo ( 6:46 )
NO PLACE LIKE HOME
DISC ONE – THE ORIGINAL ALBUM plus SINGLE A-SIDES & B-SIDES
01: We’re Not In Kansas ( 6:13 )
02: Republican Party Reptile ( 4:01 )
03: Dynamite Lady ( 5:32 )
04: Keep On Dreaming ( 4:04 )
05: Beautiful People ( 5:33 )
06: The Hostage Speaks ( 5:52 )
07: Beat The Devil ( 4:03 )
08: Leap of Faith ( 5:45 )
09: Ships ( 4:01 )
10: Into The Fire ( 6:00 )
BONUS TRACKS
11: Save Me – Radio edit ( 4:31 )
12: Pass Me By ( 4:02 )
13: Dead On Arrival ( 3:30 )
14: World On Fire ( 3:51 )
15: Heart Of The World ( 3:46 )
16: Black Skinned Blue Eyed Boys ( 3:23 )
17: Troubled Man ( 4:26 )
DISC TWO – B-SIDES & DEMOS
01: Comes A Time ( 3:55 ) B-Side of Republican Party Reptile
02: You, Me And The Truth ( 5:19 ) B-Side of Republican Party Reptile
03: Freedom Song ( 4:32 ) B-Side of Republican Party Reptile
04: Kiss The Girl Goodbye ( 5:13 ) B-Side of Republican Party Reptile
05: I’m Only Waiting ( 4:38 ) B-Side of Republican Party Reptile
06: Return Of The Two Headed King ( 4:29 ) B-Side of Beautiful People
07: Fly Like An Eagle ( 4:25 ) B-Side of Beautiful People
08: Soul On Fire – Demo ( 5:13 )
09: Gypsy Girl – Demo ( 3:56 ) Previously Unreleased
10: Freedom Song – Demo ( 4:02 ) Previously Unreleased
11: Keep On Dreaming – Demo ( 5:05 ) Previously Unreleased
12: Weíre Not In Kansas – Demo ( 5:30 )
13: Leap of Faith – Demo ( 4:41 )
14: The Hostage Speaks – Demo ( 5:12 )
15: Beautiful People – Demo ( 5:34 )
16: Celtic Dreams – Demo ( 6:05 )
Links
http://www.bigcountry.co.uk
https://www.facebook.com/inabigcountry
Words By Dave Chinery (Chinners).
