Congratulations to SDE reader Sean Hewitt who has been randomly selected as the winner of the Tom Petty competition posted on SDE last month.
Sean wins the ‘Because Sound Matters’ One-Step pressing of Petty’s 1994 album Wildflowers from Warner Records.
Limited to 6,000 numbered copies, this pressing has been cut directly from the original master tapes by engineer Chris Bellman, overseen by Petty’s longtime audio engineer Ryan Ulyateandcut for a true all-analog presentation with exceptional clarity and depth. Housed inside a high quality, uniquely designed and numbered slipcase, the enclosed LP packaging will feature a double-pocket gatefold tip-on jacket.
Thanks to everyone who entered the competition and look out for another one coming soon!
The Damnedwill release a new studio album, Not Like Everybody Else, early next year. It’s a covers album, dedicated to the memory of Brian James, the band’s founding guitarist, who died in March this year.
Recorded in five days at Revolver Studio, Los Angeles, The Damned line-up for this album is: Dave Vanian on vocals, Captain Sensible on guitar, Rat Scabies on drums (back in the studio with the band for the first time in 40 years), Paul Gray on bass and keyboardist Monty Oxymoron.
Songs on the album include R. Dean Taylor’s 1974 hit ‘There’s A Ghost In My House’ (video premiering on Thursday) , Pink Floyd’s ‘See Emily Play’, The Animals’ ‘When I Was Young’ and poignantly ‘The Last Time’ by The Rolling Stones featuring Brian James which is taken from his final live performance with The Damned at Hammersmith, in 2022.
To celebrate the new record, The Damned will play a one-off covers show at Albert Hall, Manchester on 28 January 2026 performing songs from the new album, alongside fan-favourite covers that have marked their career. There’s also going to be a 50th anniversary show at Wembley on Saturday 11 April 2026,
Not Like Everybody Else will be released on 23 January 2026 via earMUSIC.
NOW Music are releasing a new series under the Yearbook banner which steps back into the 1960s, with the first volume devoted to the very early era of rock’ n’ roll, classic pop tunes, timeless ballads and the first soul explosions.
60s Vol. 1: 1960-1962 is packaged Yearbook style with 4CD sets available as deluxe hardcover book edition – with a 28-page booklet including a look back at the early ’60s and a detailed track-by-track guide – and standard card sleeve 4CD sets, as well as 3LP coloured vinyl versions. The CD sets offer 87 tracks while the vinyl delivers 54 songs.
The deluxe hardcover book edition of Now Yearbook Presents: 60s – Vol. 1: 1960-1962
This first volume examines what you might call the pre-Beatles era with songs from acts such as The Everly Brothers, Cliff Richard & The Shadows, Elvis, Frankie Valli & The Four Seasons, Chubby Checker, Helen Shapiro, Ben E. King, The Drifters, Matt Munro, Dinah Washington, Eddie Cochran, Richie Valens, Adam Faith, Lonnie Donegan, Acker Bilk, Shirley Bassey, Roy Orbison, Petula Clark and many more.
NOW Yearbook Presents The 60s – Volume 1: 1960-1962 will be released on 21 November 2025.
Frankie Goes To Hollywood/Welcome to the PleasuredomeCD, Vinyl, Box Set
Frankie Goes To Hollywood’s 1984 double album Welcome to the Pleasuredome is reissued as a 7CD+blu-ray box set and on SDE exclusive blu-ray, amongst other formats.
To mark the 35th anniversary Mike Oldfield’s 1990 album it has been remastered at half-speed by Miles Showell. Also, this 60-minute album was originally split into two halves on a single vinyl record, but here, with approval of Oldfield, the album is split into four 15 minute sections, to optimise audio fidelity.
Sheena Easton / Strut: The Complete EMI Recordings Vol II (5CD+DVD box)
This box set encompasses the latter half of Sheena Easton’s EMI tenure. All audio is remastered from the original vault tapes. Includes B-sides, 12-inch mixes and 46 previously unreleased recordings.
Compare prices and pre-order
SHEENA EASTON
STRUT: THE COMPLETE EMI RECORDINGS VOL II 5CD/DVD CLAMSHELL BOX
Depeche Mode are releasing a new documentary film M alongside a traditional concert film (and live album), Memento Mori:Mexico City, together in two special 2CD+2blu-ray and 2CD+2DVD packages.
M is by Mexican filmmaker Fernando Frías and is described as “a cinematic journey into the heart of Mexican culture’s relationship with death, framed by riveting live performances from Depeche Mode during their Memento Mori tour”. The film blends concert footage with “interpretive interstitials” and archive material. This film is also getting a limited theatrical release.
2CD+2Blu-ray edition of M/Memento Mori: Mexico City
Memento Mori: Mexico City is a full-length concert film of over two hours (also directed by Fernando Frías) featuring the Mexico City shows in 2023 where Depeche Mode played for more than 200,000 fans.
The four disc packages feature M on the first blu-ray (or DVD), the concert film on the second blu-ray (or DVD) and then a live album across two CDs which is the soundtrack to the Mexico City concert film.
A major ‘carrot’ with this live album is that it tacks on four previously unreleased studio recordings from the Memento Mori Sessions, at the end. These songs are called ‘Survive’, ‘Life 2.0’, ‘Give Yourself To me and In The End’.
If you don’t want any of the video formats, the live album (with those four new studio tracks) is available as a standalone 2CD or as a 4LP set, the latter available on various coloured editions.
M and Memento Mori: Mexico City will be released on 5 December 2025 via Sony.
Dave Ball, one half of synth-pop duo Soft Cell, has died at the age of 66.
Soft Cell were massively influential and their 1981 debut album Non-Stop Erotic Cabaret flung Dave and Marc Almond into the spotlight thanks to three top 5 singles in the UK including the number one ‘Tainted Love’ (which was also a top 10 hit in the US). After three albums the pair amicably ended Soft Cell in 1984 although, as we know, there were plenty of reunions and two further studio albums (2002’s Cruelty Without Beauty and 2022’s *Happiness Not Included).
In the late ’80s Ball formed a few short-lived bands, but it was electronic dance group The Grid (with Richard Norris) where he found real success outside Soft Cell, with ‘Swamp Thing’, from third album Evolver hitting No 3 in the UK charts. The Grid also did lots of remix work.
Only two months ago, Soft Cell played a headline show to 20,000 fans at the Rewind Festival in Henley-on-Thames and a new album was “literally completed only a few days ago” according to Marc Almond, who in paying tribute to Dave called him “a wonderfully brilliant musical genius” adding “Thank you Dave for being an immense part of my life and for the music you gave me. I wouldn’t be where I am without you.”
Inflammable Material, the debut album of Northern Irish band Stiff Little Fingers is being reissued in November across three physical formats.
Originally released in 1979 at the height of The Troubles in Northern Ireland, the album depicted volatile life in Belfast at the time and was met with critical acclaim.
The formats for reissue are a 4CD+DVD deluxe set, a 2LP vinyl edition and a 2CD version. All offer a new remaster, with the 4CD+DVD set adding previously unreleased demos, John Peel Sessions (some never broadcast), an unreleased 1979 concert from Troon and finally a DVD which includes the Rough Trade 1979 SLF promotional film along with concert footage from Friars in Aylesbury originally broadcast on BBC’s Old Gray Whistle Test in 1980 and a rare clip of ‘Alternative Ulster’ from the 1979 film Shellshock Rock.
The book-pack presentation features 9,000 words of notes from Stuart Bailie and includes fresh interviews with original band members and manager/lyricist Gordon Ogilvie.
The 2LP vinyl and 2CD editions include the remastered original album on the first disc and add the unreleased Troon live performance on the second.
Inflammable Materials will be reissued on 27 November 2025, via Parlophone.
Elton John/Captain Fantastic and the Dirt Brown CowboyCD, Vinyl, Blu-ray
Elton John’s 1975 studio album Captain Fantastic and the Brown Dirt Cowboy is reissued across a number of formats for its 50th anniversary, including as an SDE exclusive blu-ray audio with a immersive Dolby Atmos Mix. The blu-ray and the bundle with Diamonds are back in stock on the SDE shop.
Field Music release an expanded 2LP vinyl edition of their self-titled debut, in celebration of the album’s 20th anniversary. The second record will include the first ever vinyl release for the 2006 B-sides collection, Write Your Own History, as well as 3 more rare/unreleased recordings from the band’s formative years.
50th anniversary edition. Available on 2LP and CD. Six bonus tracks, some unreleased.
Neil Young’s sixth studio album, Tonight’s The Night, is to be reissued for its 50th anniversary in late November.
Released in June 1975, but recorded almost two years earlier, in August 1973 at S.I.R. studios (Studio Instrumental Rentals), the album is a raw but compelling work, laid down in the aftermath of the death of both Crazy Horse guitarist Danny Whitten (whose ‘Come On Baby Let’s Go Downtown’ is the fifth track on the album) and Young’s friend and roadie Bruce Berry (whose brother Ken Berry ran S.I.R.). Berry died of a Heroin overdose in June ’73 and Whitten died in November ’72, as a result of ingesting a combination of diazepam and alcohol, while trying to get over his own heroin addiction. Whitten died within 24 hours of Young firing him for not being able to play (“I loved Danny. I felt responsible” Young said).
The 12-track album (which starts and ends with ‘Tonight’s The Night’) has a newly expanded tracklisting and will be reissued with enhanced cover art on CD and 2LP black vinyl.
In this new anniversary edition ‘Lookout Joe’, which until now has always been a version recorded earlier at Young’s Broken Arrow Ranch (on 15 Dec, 1972) is replaced by the same song recorded at the actual Tonight’s The Night sessions at S.I.R., nine months later.
There are also six bonus tracks, – all from the S.I.R. sessions – including ‘Walk On’ (re-recorded later that year for On The Beach) and take 3 of ‘Tonight’s The Night’. These are both previously unreleased. The other bonus tracks are ‘Everybody’s Alone’, ‘Raised on Robbery’ (featuring Joni Mitchell), and ‘Speakin’ Out Jam’ are also included (released on Archives Vol II) and ‘Wonderin’ (only previously available to stream on NYA).
This new 18-track expanded Tonight’s The Night 50 is released on 28 November 2025, via Warner Records.
New Order’s albums Movement, Low-Life and Brotherhood are to be reissued on blu-ray with Dolby Atmos Mixes by Steven Wilson. All three albums, along with Power, Corruption And Lies receive straight 2CD reissues at the same time.
The blu-rays feature new mixes by Steven Wilson in Dolby Atmos, 5.1 surround sound and 96/24 PCM stereo mixes, as well as instrumental stereo versions for each of the three albums. Remastered original stereo mixes are also included.
On Brotherhood, the multi-track master tapes of ‘As It Was When It Was’ and ‘Broken Promise’ have been lost, so those two songs have been up-mixed from the album’s 2024 remaster “to create as close an approximation of the Atmos and DTS-HD 5.1 surround experience as possible,” according to a statement.
The extras on CD2 for each of the four albums are taken from their previously released Definitive Edition box sets. These were released in 2019 for Movement; 2020 for Power, Corruption And Lies; 2023 for Low-Life and 2024 for Brotherhood. The stereo remasters on the new blu-ray editions date from the release of those box sets.
The audio extras on each CD2 are a solid array of demos, writing session recordings and rehearsals. Occasional 12-inch remixes feature, notably Michael Johnson’s for ‘Blue Monday 1988’ on Low-Life and Stephen Hague’s mix of ‘Bizarre Love Triangle’ on Brotherhood. Power, Corruption And Lies features a John Peel session, while different versions of unreleased song ‘Skullcrusher’ are included on Low-Life and Brotherhood.
While audio extras are included, the visual components from the Definitive Edition box sets’ blu-ray discs haven’t been added to the new audio-only blu-rays which feature Steven Wilson’s mixes. These extras included two New York shows plus TV concerts at Hammersmith Riverside and Manchester Granada Studios for Movement; Tokyo Koseinenken Hall, Rotterdam Arena, Leuven Manhattan Club and Toronto International Centre gigs for Low-Life; and Brixton Academy and Manchester G-Mex concerts for Brotherhood, as well as assorted TV appearances around each album.
The Definitive Edition box sets were each 2CD+LP+2blu-ray releases. While the vinyl components are now missing, all four albums were reissued in September as standalone LPs.
New Order’s most recent album was Music Complete in 2015, with 2020’s standalone single ‘Be A Rebel’ based on a song from its sessions. They have continued to play live regularly since, but haven’t performed since finishing a US tour in May.
Movement, Low-Life and Brotherhood are released on blu-ray on 5 December 2025. 2CD deluxe editions of Movement, Low-Life, Brotherhood and Power, Corruption And Lies are issued on the same day.
Pre-order the (region-free) blu-rays from the SDE shop using this link or the buttons below.
Movement – 2024 Steven Wilson Dolby Atmos Mix (48/24), 2024 Steven Wilson dedicated 5.1 Mix (96/24), 2024 Steven Wilson Stereo Mix (96/24), 2024 Steven Wilson Instrumental Stereo Mix (96/24), 2019 remaster of the original 1981 Stereo Mix (96/24)
Dreams Never End
Truth
Senses
Chosen Time
ICB
The Him
Doubts Even Here
Denial
Tracklisting
Low-LifeNew Order/Blu-ray Audio
Low-Life – 2024 Steven Wilson Dolby Atmos Mix (48/24), 2024 Steven Wilson dedicated 5.1 Mix (96/24), 2024 Steven Wilson Stereo Mix (96/24), 2024 Steven Wilson Instrumental Stereo Mix (96/24), 2023 remaster of the original 1985 Stereo Mix (96/24)
Love Vigilantes
The Perfect Kiss
This Time Of Night
Sunrise
Elegia
Sooner Than You Think
Sub-Culture
Face Up
Tracklisting
BrotherhoodNew Order/Blu-ray Audio
Brotherhood – 2024 Steven Wilson Dolby Atmos Mix (48/24), 2024 Steven Wilson dedicated 5.1 Mix (96/24), 2024 Steven Wilson Stereo Mix (96/24), 2024 Steven Wilson Instrumental Stereo Mix (96/24), 2024 remaster of the original 1986 Stereo Mix (96/24)
Paradise
Weirdo
As It Is When It Was*
Broken Promise*
Way of Life
Bizarre Love Triangle
All Day Long
Angel Dust
Every Little Counts
Bonus track
State of the Nation
*Upmixes in Atmos & 5.1
Tracklisting
Movement New Order/2CD
CD 1: Original Album, 2019 Remaster
Dreams Never End
Truth
Senses
Chosen Time
ICB
The Him
Doubts Even Here
Denial
CD 2: Movement: Extras
Dreams Never End (Western Works Demo – Take 2)
Homage (Western Works Demo)
Ceremony (Western Works Demo)
Truth (Western Works Demo)
Are You Ready For This? (Western Works Demo)
The Him (Cargo Demo)
Senses (Cargo Demo)
Truth (Cargo Demo)
Dreams Never End (Cargo Demo)
Mesh (Cargo Demo)
ICB (Cargo Demo)
Procession (Cargo Demo)
Cries And Whispers (Cargo Demo)
Doubts Even Here (Instrumental) (Cargo Demo)
Ceremony (1st Mix – Ceremony Sessions)
Temptation (Alternative 7” Mix #2)
Procession (Rehearsal Recording)
Chosen Time (Rehearsal Recording)
Tracklisting
Power, Corruption & Lies New Order/2CD
CD 1: Original Album, 2020 Remaster
Age of Consent
We All Stand
The Village
5 8 6
Your Silent Face
Ultraviolence
Ecstacy
Leave Me Alone
CD 2: Power, Corruption & Lies: Extras
Age Of Consent (Writing Session Recording)
The Village (Writing Session Recording)
5 8 6 (Writing Session Recording)
Your Silent Face (Writing Session Recording)
Ecstacy (Writing Session Recording)
Leave Me Alone (Writing Session Recording)
Turn The Heater On (John Peel Session)
We All Stand (John Peel Session)
Too Late (John Peel Session)
5 8 6 (John Peel Session)
Too Late (Instrumental Rough Mix, John Peel Session Outtake)
Thieves Like Us (New York demo #1) *
Thieves Like Us (Writing Session Recording)
Murder (Writing Session Recording)
Blue Monday (Writing Session Recording)
Blue Monday (1982 Writing Session Recording)
Blue Monday (Instrumental Outtake, Album Session Recording)
Tracklisting
Low-LifeNew Order/2CD
CD 1: Original Album, 2023 Remaster
Love Vigilantes
The Perfect Kiss
This Time Of Night
Sunrise
Elegia
Sooner Than You Think
Sub-Culture
Face Up
CD 2: Low-Life : Extras
Love Vigilantes – TV Pitch Instrumental Edit (mono)
The Perfect Kiss – Writing Session Recording
Untitled no. 1 – Writing Session Recording
Sunrise – Instrumental Rough Mix
Elegia – Full Length Version
Sooner Than You Think – Album Session Unedited Version
Sub-Culture – Album Session Early Instrumental Version
Haircut One Hundred are to release Boxing The Compass, a brand new studio album.
Massively successful for a very short period of time in the early 1980s, the Nick Heyward-fronted band enjoyed four UK Top 10 hits: ‘Love Plus One’, ‘Fantastic Day’, ‘Favourite Shirts (Boys Meets Girl)’ and ‘Nobody’s Fool’ and a hit album, in 1982’s Pelican West.
Nick departed and the band issued one more album without him (1984’s Paint and Paint) and that was it. Until now…
Haircut One Hundred are back with their first new music in over 40 years
Haircut One Hundred are back, releasing their first new music in 40 years. The 10-track album won’t be out until next year (bah!) but it’s now up for pre-order on the band’s official shop with signed black vinyl and CD formats available. Pre-ordering also gives you early access to tickets for an as yet unannounced tour.
Boxing The Compass will be released on 19 June 2026 (was 29 May 2026 and before that was 20 March).
Summer Time: The Singles Collection 1974-2010 is a new 40CD Donna Summer box set that includes 72 singles from a 36-year period.
In total, this CD singles box set houses 319 tracks, including 41 singles that charted in the UK. If features seven-inch single versions, 12-inch single versions, remixes, B-sides and non-album tracks. Scroll down for full tracklisting.
The 40-disc Summer Time box set (click image to enlarge)
The playing time is more than 28 hours (!) and this comes with a 64-page booklet with a new 20,000 word essay. The CD wallets that contain each disc are double-sided, featuring various UK and international picture sleeves used at the time.
Summer Time: The Singles Collection 1974-2010 is released on 30 January 2026 (was 12 December 2025 and before that 28 November), via Edsel.
Bryan Ferry’s 1987 album Bête Noire will be reissued next month, alongside a release of his 2007 album Dylanesque.
Bête Noire was the follow up to 1985’s Boys and Girls and was co-produced with Patrick Leonard (who had worked with Madonna on her True Blue album and would later co-produce 1989’s Like A Prayer). Johnny Marr was amongst the contributors to Bête Noire, whose singles were ‘The Right Stuff’, ‘Kiss and Tell’ and ‘Limbo’. Only ‘The Right Stuff’ troubled the UK top 40, peaking at No 37.
For the 2025 reissue Bête Noire is released as a 2CD deluxe edition and on purple vinyl. The second disc of the 2CD set offers remixes and edits from the original singles. This appears to be mostly comprehensive, with the exception of a small number of ‘Limbo’ versions, and extra points go to BMG for putting together a ‘listenable’ running order (not grouping remixes of the same track together).
Dylanesque was of course Ferry’s tribute to the songwriting genius of Bob Dylan. Released in 2007, it’s now reissued on red vinyl and CD (no bonus tracks).
Bête Noire and Dylanesque are reissued on 14 November 2025. The CDs are packaging in Japan-style mini-LP replicas.
In other Bryan Ferry news, the pre-order window for the Boys and Girls blu-ray closes today (15 October). Secure your copy only via the SDE shop.
Chrissie Hynde delivers this new album consists of duets. Collaborators, include k.d.lang, the late Mark Lanegan, Dave Gahan, Cat Power, Brandon Flowers, Debbie Harry, Shirley Manson and more.
Queen’s 1975 album A Night At The Opera is newly pressed on 180g clear vinyl with gold labels for National Album Day. This features the ‘Bohemian Rhapsody’, ‘Love of My Life’ and ‘You’re My Best Friend’. For SDE’s guide to National Album Day visit this post.
NOW Music continue their ‘era’ series with NOW That’s What I Call An Era – Disco: 1973-1980 available as a 4CD set or on 3LP coloured vinyl.
As the name suggestions, this is a celebration of the golden age of disco over an eight-year period and the 4CD versions (available in deluxe hardcover book or standard card sleeve) offers 88 tracks, while the 3LP coloured vinyl version delivers 48.
Deluxe hardcover book 4CD set
Tracks include Sister Sledge’s ‘We Are Family’, Gloria Gaynor’s ‘I Will Survive’, The Village People’s ‘YMCA’, Chaka Khan’s ‘I’m Every Woman’, Blondie’s ‘Heart of Glass’, Diana Ross’ ‘Upside Down’, The Trammps’ ‘Disco Inferno’, Kool & The Gang’s ‘Ladies Night’, Baccara’s ‘Yes Sir, I Can Boogie’, Amii Stewart’s version of ‘Knock On Wood’, The Hues Corporation’s ‘Rock The Boat’, The Isley Brothers’ ‘That Lady, Pt 1’, The O’Jays’ ‘I Love Music’, Thelma Houston’s ‘Don’t Leave Me This Way’, Tavares’ ‘Heaven Must Be Missing An Angel (Part 1)’, LaBelle’s ‘Lady Marmalade’, Yvonne Elliman’s ‘If I Can’t Have You’ and many more. Full tracklisting is below.
NOW That’s What I Call An Era – Disco: 1973-1980 will be released on 7 November 2025.
The SDE exclusive blu-ray features a new Dolby Atmos Mix of Dare, created by John Barrett at Abbey Road Studios. Additionally, the disc includes a 5.1 Surround Sound Mix of the album and instrumental mixes in both Atmos and 5.1. Alongside this content sits the original 1981 stereo mix and bonus A-sides, B-sides, remixes and instrumentals from the original singles, in stereo (see tracklisting below for full details).
Pre-orders have been despatched and the last remaining contingency/cancellation stock is now available.
Ultravox’s classic 1984 compilation The Collection has been massively expanded and will be released in December as a 4CD + 2 x Blu-ray deluxe edition.
The Collection featured the 14 singles Ultravox released between 1980 and 1984 and sold over two million copies worldwide, going triple platinum in the UK. It includes hits such as ‘Vienna’, ‘All Stood Still’, ‘The Voice, ‘Dancing With Tears In My Eyes’ and what at the time was a brand new single ‘Love’s Great Adventure ‘ (recorded specifically for The Collection).
This newly remastered compilation includes a remastered version of the original compilation and adds The Collection II with a further 14 singles, alternative and unreleased versions from 1986 to 2024; The Remixes which features newly created 80s-style extended mixes by the likes of Midge Ure, Steven Wilson, Blank & Jones; and a disc of B-sidescollected together for the first time.
4CD + 2 x blu-ray deluxe of The Collection (click image to enlarge)
The two blu-rays are packed, offering over four hours of footage between them, including 27 promo videos, Top of the Pops appearances, live performances and more.
The Collection Deluxe Edition is limited to 5,000 units worldwide and comes in a large format 12-inch box with rigid-board slipcase and two 20-page booklets, with lyrics and photos.
Other formats include a 4LP deluxe pressed on clear vinyl which features audio from the first two CDs in the box set over eight sides of vinyl. It is housed in a die-cut sleeve with interchangeable images within a four-page insert. There’s also a 2LP half-speed edition on black vinyl (original 14 tracks) and a single CD version with 19 tracks.
The Ultravox Official Store has exclusives bundles and The Collection reissue is out on 5 December 2025, via Chrysalis.
Nine months after Madonna let slip that her 1994 album Bedtime Stories was going to be reissued, the details have finally officially been announced, but as the saying goes, you might want to curb your enthusiasm…
The reissue consists of just three formats
2CD set with the original album on CD 1 and eight bonus remixes, five of which are unreleased, on CD 2
A black vinyl EP with the 8 remixes on CD 2 of the 2CD set
The original album reissued on silver-coloured vinyl
And that’s all folks! For the EP of remixes Madonna worked with Stuart Price, “editing and mixing versions into a cohesive new chapter”.
I think we always knew it was going to be this way when Warners proudly announced their “multi-year catalog series” and told us that Madonna would “personally curate” the album reissues. That announcement was over four years ago and Bedtime Stories is the first studio album to be reissued since that time (August 2021).
The 2CD set is a 6-panel matt laminated ‘soft pack’ with 24 page booklet. The vinyl records are both 180g pressings.
Bedtime Stories (The Untold Chapter) will be released on 28 November 2025, via Warner Records. What do you think of this reissue? Leave a comment below and
Simply Red celebrate four decades of music with Recollections, a new compilation that features entirely re-recorded versions of 40 tracks.
Available as a 3CD set and a 4LP vinyl package, Recollections steps through the various eras and includes all the big hits, such as ‘Money’s Too Tight To Mention’, ‘Holding Back The Years’, ‘Stars’, ‘Fairground’ and more. It has been produced by Andy Wright who has had a hand in producing every Simply Red album since 1998’s Blue. It is also available as a 20-track double vinyl.
Mick Hucknall explains: “As a way of celebrating 40 years of Simply Red, we thought it apt to release these takes. Andy Wright set about capturing the atmosphere and sonics of the originals and has done a magnificent job. This has enabled us to come full circle and celebrate our 40 years with you.”
The re-recorded version of ‘Money’s Too Tight (To Mention)’
It’s not unusual for artists to re-record their old hits (they own the master recordings when they do this, rather than the original label – kerching!) but it is unusual to record quite so many. Mick Hucknall has ‘previous’ in this regard as well. 2013’s Song Book 4CD compilation already included some re-recorded hits on its fourth disc and before that, 2005’s Simplified album offered ‘stripped down’ reinterpretations. It has now been 17 years since Simply Red’s classic run of early albums on East West were reissued.
Recollections will be released on 21 November 2025 and can be pre-ordered from the Simply Red shop.
The pre-order window for theTears For FearsSongs From The Big Chair SDE-exclusive blu-ray is about to close.
The blu-ray audio – #52 in the ongoing SDE Suround Series – features a tremendous Steven Wilson Dolby Atmos Mix of album as well as revised 5.1 and Stereo Mixes. These are therefore different to the mixes in the box set back in 2014.
All three Steven Wilson audio streams (Atmos, 5.1 & Stereo) are also available in instrumental form on the SDE exclusive blu-ray. Below is a summary of the audio streams on the SDE exclusive blu-ray:
2025 Steven Wilson Atmos Mix (48/24)
2025 Steven Wilson 5.1 Mix (96/24)
2025 Steven Wilson Hi-Res Stereo Mix (96/24)
2025 Steven Wilson Dolby Atmos Mix – Instrumental (48/24)
2025 Steven Wilson 5.1 Mix – Instrumental (96/24)
2025 Steven Wilson Hi-Res Stereo Mix – Instrumental(96/24)
1985 Original Hi-Res Stereo Mix – non-limited Miles Showell remaster(96/24)
Bonus Remixes in Stereo (48/24)
Additionally, this Songs From The Big Chair blu-ray features 12 bonus tracks (stereo only) comprised of all the extended remixes issued in the UK of the various singles, including original and remix 12-inches for many singles, as well as the Extended Mix of non-album single ‘The Way You Are’.
The booklet in the blu-ray features track-by-track annotation from Roland Orzabal, Curt Smith, producer Chris Hughes and A&R man Dave Bates, taken from my interviews in 2014 as well as a note from Steven Wilson on his approach to remixing the album in Dolby Atmos.
The pre-order window closes TOMORROW, Tuesday 7 October 2025 and is the last point you can guarantee a copy of this release.
Songs From The Big Chair will be released on 14 November 2025, via UMR.
Songs From The Big ChairTears For Fears/SDE Exclusive blu-ray
SONGS FROM THE BIG CHAIR
– 2025 Steven Wilson Atmos Mix (48/24)
– 2025 Steven Wilson 5.1 Mix (96/24)
– 2025 Steven Wilson Hi-Res Stereo Mix (96/24)
– 2025 Steven Wilson Dolby Atmos Mix – Instrumental (48/24)
– 2025 Steven Wilson 5.1 Mix – Instrumental (96/24)
– 2025 Steven Wilson Hi-Res Stereo Mix – Instrumental (96/24)
– 1985 Original Hi-Res Stereo Mix (96/24)
Shout 6:32
The Working Hour 6:31
Everybody Wants To Rule The World 4:11
Mothers Talk 5:06
I Believe 4:55
Broken 2:38
Head Over Heels 5:02
Listen 6:53
BONUS 12 MIXES (STEREO 48/24 ONLY)
The Way You Are (Extended Version) 7.42
Mothers Talk (Extended Version) 6.18
Shout (Extended Remix Version) 7.42
Everybody Wants To Rule The World (Extended Version) 5.39
Broken / Head Over Heels / Broken (Preacher Mix) 8.01
Mothers Talk (Beat Of The Drum Mix) 8.56
Shout (US Remix) 8.01
Everybody Wants To Rule The World (Urban Mix) 6.01
Mothers Talk (US Remix) 4.12
Shout (Dub) 6.49
Everybody Wants To Rule The World (Instrumental) 4.21
Shout (Acapella) 5.02
55 Bryan Ferry / Boys and Girls (still available)
4 Thin Lizzy / Nightlife (still available)
53 Fine Young Cannibals (FYC) / The Raw & The Cooked (still available)
52 Tears For Fears / Songs From The Big Chair
51 Propaganda / A Secret Wish
50 Frankie Goes To Hollywood / Welcome to the Pleasuredome
49 Elton John / Captain Fantastic and the Brown Dirt Cowboy
48 The Who / Who Are You
47 The Human League / Dare
46 Split Enz / ENZyclopedia Volumes 1 & 2
45 Mark Knopfler / Sailing to Philadelphia
44 Matt Deighton / Today Become Forever
43 De La Soul / 3 Feet High and Rising
42 Steve Harley & Cockney Rebel / The Best Years of Our Lives
