Associates two-CD deluxe editions

BMG are to reissue Scottish post-punk band Associates’ first three albums as two-CD deluxe editions, along with a new double-disc anthology.

Formed in Scotland in 1976 by Billy MacKenzie (vocals) and Alan Rankine (synths / guitars / programming), the pair settled on the name Associates in 1979 after a short period as The Ascorbic Ones and then for a while in 1979 with the moniker Mental Torture. Their debut album The Affectionate Punch was eventually released (on the Fiction label) in August 1980. The following year the band issued six singles (on another label, Situation Two) whose A and B-sides were gathered on the next long-player, compilation Fourth Drawer Down.



The next album Sulk (on yet another label, Beggars Banquet) would be the commercial breakthrough, delivering two top 20 singles in Party Fears Two and Club Country. This would be the last album with founding multi-instrumentalist Alan Rankine.

The new 2016 reissues are curated by Associates bass player Michael Dempsey. These are remastered (from original tapes) with bonus discs full of rarities and some unreleased tracks. The booklets also feature new notes and rare photos. Only Sulk is seeing a vinyl reissue at this stage, and that’s album only without any of the bonus tracks.

Even if you’re buying the individual reissues, you should not discount the companion anthology Associates – The Very Best Of. This 26-track, two-CD set is issued on BMG’s Metro Select label, and features three previously unreleased tracks, along with their biggest hits and celebrated cover versions, including David Bowie’s Boys Keep Swinging.

The two-CD deluxe editions are due on 6 May, preceded by The Very Best Of, which is issued a month earlier on 8 April 2016.

The Affectionate Punch 2CD

• • UK Pre-order: The Affectionate Punch 2CD
• • USA Pre-order: The Affectionate Punch 2CD
• • CANADA Pre-order: The Affection Punch 2CD
• • GERMANY Pre-order: The Affectionate Punch 2CD
• • ITALY Pre-order: The Affectionate Punch 2CD

• • JPC.de Pre-order: The Affectionate Punch

Fourth Drawer Down 2CD deluxe

• • UK Pre-order: Fourth Drawer Down 2CD
• • USA Pre-order: Fourth Drawer Down 2CD
• • CANADA Pre-order: Fourth Drawer Down 2CD
• • GERMANY Pre-order: Fourth Drawer Down 2CD
• • ITALY Pre-order: Fourth Drawer Down 2CD

Sulk 2CD deluxe

• • UK Pre-order: Sulk 2CD
• • USA Pre-order: Sulk 2CD
• • CANADA Pre-order: Sulk 2CD
• • GERMANY Pre-order: Sulk 2CD
• • ITALY Pre-order: Sulk 2CD

Sulk vinyl reissue

• • UK Pre-order: Sulk vinyl reissue
• • USA Pre-order: Sulk vinyl reissue
• • CANADA Pre-order: Sulk vinyl reissue
• • GERMANY Pre-order: Sulk vinyl reissue
• • ITALY Pre-order: Sulk vinyl reissue

• • JPC.de Sulk vinyl reissue

Associates – Very Best Of (2CD)

• • UK Pre-order: Associates – Very Best Of
• • USA Pre-order: Associates – Very Best Of
• • CANADA Pre-order: Associates – Very Best Of
• • GERMANY Pre-order: Associates – Very Best Of

• • JPC.de Associates – Very Best Of

The Affectionate Punch 2CD Deluxe

CD1
1/ The Affectionate Punch
2/ Amused As Always
3/ Logan Time
4/ Paper House
5/ Transport To Central
6/ A Matter Of Gender
7/ Even Dogs In The Wild
8/ Would I…Bounce Back
9/ Deeply Concerned
10/ A
All tracks produced by The Associates, Mike Hedges & Chris Parry

CD2
1/ Boys Keep Swinging
2/ Mona Property Girl `
3/ Schmoltz*
4/ Green For Grief
5/ Geese
6/ Saline Drips
7/ Galaxy Of Memories
8/ Double Hipness
9/ Big Waltz (aka Paper House)
10/ Janice (aka Deeply Concerned)
11/ You Were Young
12/ Bounce Back – Remix
13/ A – Remix
14/ Amused As Always – Remix
15/ The Affectionate Punch – Remix
16/ The End

Tracks 1 & 2 produced by The Associates
Tracks 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11 & 16 produced by The Associates, Mike Hedges & Chris Parry
Tracks 12 & 13 produced by Associates and Mike Hedges
Tracks 14 & 15 produced by Associates/Mark Arthurworrey
*Previously unreleased

Fourth Drawer Down 2CD Deluxe Edition

CD 1
1/ White Car In Germany
2/ A Girl Named Property
3/ Kitchen Person
4/ Q Quarters
5/ Tell Me Easter’s On Friday
6/ The Associate
7/ Message Oblique Speech
8/ An Even Whiter Car

Tracks 1, 2, 3, 6, 7 & 8 produced by Associates/Mike Hedges
Tracks 4 and 5 produced by Associates/Flood

CD 2
1/ Straw Towels
2/ Kissed
3/ Fearless (It Takes A Full Moon)
4/ Point Si
5/ Blue Soap
6/ The Tree That Never Sang
7/ Straw Towels (Demo)
8/ Q Quarters (Demo)

Tracks 1 & 2 produced by Associates/Flood
Track 5 produced by Associates/Mike Hedges
Tracks 3, 4, 6, 7 & 8 produced by Associates

Sulk 2CD Deluxe

CD1 (and vinyl track listing)
1/ Arrogance
2/ No
3/ Bap De La Bap
4/ Gloomy Sunday
5/ Nude Spoons
6/ Skipping
7/ It’s Better This Way
8/ Party Fears Two
9/ Club Country
10/ nothinginsomethingparticular

CD2
1/ 18 Carat Love Affair
2/ Love Hangover
3/ Club Country 12”
4/ Party Fears Two (Instrumental)*
5/ It’s Better This Way (Alt Version)
6/ And Then I Read A Book*
7/ Ulcragyceptimol
8/ Skipping (Alt Version)*
9/ Australia*
10/ Me, Myself And The Tragic Story*
11/ I Never Will (demo)
12/ Club Country (Demo)
13/ Grecian 2000

* Previously unreleased
Tracks 1, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 & 13 produced by Associates

Associates – The Very Best of (2CD set)

CD1
1. Boys Keep Swinging
2. The Affectionate Punch
3. Tell Me Easter’s On Friday
4. Q Quarters
5. Kitchen Person
6. A
7. Message Oblique Speech
8. White Car In Germany
9. Kites
10. Party Fears Two
11. Club Country
12. 18 Carat Love Affair
13. Love Hangover

CD2
1. Eloise*
2. Jukebox Bucharest*
3. Window Shopping (inst)
4. Double Hipness*
5. The Affectionate Punch (demo)
6. The Room We Sat In Before
7. Galaxy Of Memories
8. Gloomy Sunday (Live – ICA 1980)
9. Waiting for The Loveboat (inst)
10. Stephen, You’re Really Something
11. Fear Is My Bride
12. International Loner
13. Edge Of The World
*Previously unreleased