THE LEGENDARY PINK DOTS

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Release date and tracklist

1983
UK 2xC90 Mirrodot Tapes no number (different cover)

1985
NL 2xC90 Terminal Kaleidoscope TKK7/0/1 (different cover)

1989
DE 2xC90 Jarmusic no number (different cover)

1990
NL 2xC90 Mirrodot Tapes no number (different cover)
NL 2xC90 Staalplaat STLPD 002

Chemical Playschool 3:

side one

1. The Light In My Little Girl’s Eyes
2. The Top
3. Neon Gladiators #1
4. Obsession
5. Hideous Strength
6. The Waiting Game
7. Ego Tripper
8. Malhazka
9. Curse – The Sequel
10. She Said

side two ‘The tower- A blueprint’

1. Film Of The Book
2. Tower 1
3. Lullaby For Charles’s Brother
4. Collapse
5. Tower 2
6. Glad He Ate Her
7. Barbed Obituary
8. Tower 3
9. Espresso Curfew
10. Surprise, Surprise
11. The Bride Wore Green

Chemical Playschool 4:

side three

1. When The Clock Strikes 13
2. Just Passing Over, Lovey…
3. Premonition 10

side four ‘The Apocalypse disco’

1. Grind
2. Choke
3. The Plasma Twins
4. Apocalypse Soon
5. Apocalypse Gone
6. Cherry Lipstick
7. It’s Raining… Again
8. The Glory, The Glory

***
1998
UK 2xCD TEKA / World Serpent TEKA 945

Chemical Playschool 3:

1. The Light In My Little Girl’s Eyes
2. The Top
3. Neon Gladiators (Version 1) / Obsession
4. Hideous Strength
5. The Waiting Game
6. Curse – The Sequel
7. She Said
8. Film Of The Book
9. Tower 1 (Version 1)
10. Lullaby For Charles’ Brother
11. Collapse
12. Tower 2
13. Glad He Ate Her
14. Barbed Obituary
15. Tower 3
16. Espresso Curfew
17. Surprise, Surprise
18. The Bride Wore Green

Chemical Playschool 4:

1. When The Clock Strikes 13
2. Just Passing Over, Lovey…
3. Premonition 10 (Stages I/II/III)
4. Grind
5. Choke
6. The Plasma Twins
7. Apocalypse Soon
8. Apocalypse Gone
9. Cherry Lipstick
10. It’s Raining… Again
11. The Glory, The Glory

***
February 06 2015
NL remastered MP3 self-released on Bandcamp

1. The Light In My Little Girl’s Eyes-version 1
2. The Top
3. Neon Gladiators Version 1
4. Obsession version 1 
5. Hideous Strength/The Waiting Game/EgoTripper/Malhazka/Curse-The Sequel/She Said
6. Film Of The Book 
7. Tower 1-version 1
8. Lullaby For Charles’ Brother/ Collapse/Tower 2- First Version 
9. Glad He Ate Her/Barbed Obituary/ Tower 3-First Version
10. Expresso Curfew/Surprise Surprise/The Bride Wore Green 
11. When The Clock Strikes 13
12. Just Passing Over, Lovey / Premonition 10 
13. Grind/Choke
14. Plasma Twins Version 1 
15. Apocalypse Soon/Apocalypse Gone/Cherry Lipstick/It’s Raining Again
16. The Glory, The Glory Version 1 

***
May 31, 2015
NL remastered 4xCDR self-released and sold through Bandcamp

Disc 1

1. The Light In My Little Girl’s Eyes-version 1
2. The Top
3. Neon Gladiators Version 1
4. Obsession version 1
5. Hideous Strength/The Waiting Game/EgoTripper/Malhazka/Curse-The Sequel/She Said

Disc 2

1. Film Of The Book 
2. Tower 1-version 1
3. Lullaby For Charles’ Brother/ Collapse/Tower 2- First Version 
4. Glad He Ate Her/Barbed Obituary/ Tower 3-First Version
5. Expresso Curfew/Surprise Surprise/The Bride Wore Green 

Disc 3

1. When The Clock Strikes 13
2. Just Passing Over, Lovey / Premonition 10 

Disc 4

1. Grind/Choke
2. Plasma Twins Version 1 
3. Apocalypse Soon/Apocalypse Gone/Cherry Lipstick/It’s Raining Again
4. The Glory, The Glory Version 1

Credits

• Edward Ka-Spel– Vocals, Keyboards, Treatments
• Phil Harmonix (Phil Knight)– Keyboards
• April Iliffe- Keyboards, Voice
• Stret Majest (Barry Gray)- Guitar
• Keith Thompson- Drums
• Roland Calloway- Bass
• Sally Graves- Flute
• Patrick Q Paganini- Violin

Notes

The original cassette edition is “officially” limited 83 numbered copies, but somewhere between 110 and 120 copies were actually produced, all with different handmade covers. Collaboration-Release between LPD’s Mirrordöt and In Phaze Tapes/Records.

Comes in a A5 size envelope with coloured hand-decoratet/hand-written (with felt pen) A4 sheet stapled to and wraped around the envelope.
No labels on cassettes.

Terminal Kaleidoscope edition: 1st re-release of this original Mirrordot double cassette. Comes in a A5 size clear plastic bag.

A cassette edition on Barooni edition was planned but never realized.

Jarmusic edition: limited to 50 numbered copies.
Some cassette editions have “Surprise, Surprise” listed as “Tower 4/Surprise…”

Staalplaat edition: “Not for sale in Germany, Austria and Switzerland.”
A5 (Hideous Strength) is not listed on the sleeve

CD edition is a slightly abridged reissue of the double cassette.
The tracks from “Film of the Book” to “The Bride Wore Green” are collectively called ‘Blueprint For The Tower.
The tracks from “Grind” to “The Glory, The Glory” are collectively called ‘The Apocalypse Disco’.
“Malhazka” is the intro to “Curse – the Sequel”, and appears as a part of that track on ‘The Legendary Pink Box’ and the 2xCD edition without being listed.

All selections recorded at Chez Dots throughout 1982/83.  Both volumes have been abridged a little to fit the music into the digital format…  The aforementioned abridging excised 30 minutes of material from the original cassette edition. There are also track index discrepancies when compared to the original cassette release. The corrections are as follows:

* 1-6 is actually “Malhazka” / “Curse (The Sequel)” and appears combined in a similar way on The Legendary Pink Box (where “Malhazka” is also not listed).
* 2-3 is a portion of the 28 minute “Premonition 10” (specifically from 1:29 to 8:07 of the original).
* 2-4 is actually the final 12:23 of “Premonition 10”.
* 2-5 is actually “Grind” and the first five minutes of “Choke”.

It’s also worth noting that “Ego Tripper” from the original cassette release was left off for this edition, though it does appear onThe Legendary Pink Box.

2015 remaster on Bandcamp: The Silverman’s flat was not the biggest…Often he would dash up into the sanctuary of his tiny attic bedroom (in fact a small square room at the top of the stairs) just to escape the throng milling around below. When the biggest part of Chemical Playschool 3/4 was recorded, that restless throng would be juxtaposing for a handy inch or two as the music room was filled with percussion (courtesy of long term Dots’ friend Clive) and a harmonium dating back to Victorian times.

Phil would be playing that beautiful old instrument while EK, Barry, April and Roland would be tapping, bashing and shaking ….often for hours. That ritualistic passage that makes up most of “Premonition 10” is but a fragment….CP 3/4 came out in 1983 and at the time was meant to represent everything The Dots were. Certainly it was the finest of all the cassette albums.
The decision was to make 83 of the the double cassette all housed in handmade collaged covers. Everybody joined in with the cutting, pasting, writing credits with felt-tip pens. It was a noble, if exhausting, exercise. Ultimately that first edition ran to 120, all sold at the price it cost to make them. Some now sadly live in Ebayland.

Since then, there have been further editions, all small runs, and even the abridged double cd edition was cursed as the label went bust shortly after it appeared and then disappeared. It remains a proud chapter in Dots history and this (admittedly flawed ) remaster took the best part of a year to put together. Perfecting the imperfect retaining all those imperfections..  -EK

Special ltd edition 4xCDR: The entire journey on 4 cdrs in a special edition of just 115 copies. Packed in a custom wallet with full colour artwork and inserts. Each will also boast a UNIQUE, signed and numbered piece of art from EK or The Silverman in the spirit of that original release back in 1983. Allow a few days for your own personalised package to be created. The cover displayed here is in fact one of the unique artworks in progress- it will be finished shortly.

To see more photos of the art work included in this release, please go to the discogs page.

Lyrics

The Light In My Little Girl’s Eyes

The street looked kind of different – harsher colours, sharper angles. Shops stacked high with stereos and rows of magazines. Smells of coffee, glossy limousines. The sun danced on the chromium. Slant eyes drowning in the light. Lights turned red as elbows jabbed, voices snarled and luck turned sour, Children screamed! Brakes were screeching! Knees were pumping, ribs were crunching. Crushing, drowning deeper. The street looked kind of different. The paving stones were playing cards, and cried out as I skipped from the red to the black. Cracked a joke about the joker, saluted all the kings, threw a ring to the blackest queen who ushered me away to the palace in the square where the air’s so cold and it gets so lonely, so lonely in the night. She whispered sleazy secrets on the couch by the TV. 3D visions of a soapflake, trumpets blared, a voice declared: “Are you feeling dirty?” Yes, but also very pleased. Heard applause, felt the claws in my back, rocking backwards, rocking forwards in the groove. The earth moved! The couch moved! We rolled on the felt, knocked the vases off the shelf… Watched ourselves in the mirror, like animals, like cannibals! And you ate my ear so I nibbled at your shoulder… Rolled your tongue up in my hands – I swallowed it whole. Flesh decreasing by the second until all that remained were the eyes, mine brown, yours black. Tilted back, we stared at the Hollywood sunset. (Hollywood…) Brighter Now… it looks so pretty tonight. The light in my little girl’s eyes…Brighter Now.

The Top

(??? three-liter ???) that’s drawn out to an epic. Fortified with pills, bellies drowning in seeds. Life at the top has reached the bottom. Synthetic manliness bought and sold. A sign, a strain: man, you’re old. Okay, from the top, let’s go. Let’s go. You have a gut and your neck has gone. Dig your own grave, we don’t want cripples here. What’s that you say, no cash? Here, I’ll buy your soul, always willing to help a friend. Drink it quick, drink it quicker, tempting fate. Life is short, if we try we can make it shorter. Yeah, it’s tough at the top. At the top, let’s go.

Neon Gladiators (version one)

Soft pile carpets wall to wall. They’re splashing in the pool. They fornicate in corners and they’re moaning in the haze. It isn’t love, it’s just the smoke. The jokes are bad, the laughs are cruel And Jenny swung a knife. The statues came to life, the stone swords crunching into heads. The carpet turning red. The neon gladiators are sparring sparring on the lawn and trampling on the roses – they make the hostess bawl. The walls are cracking. Detectives leapt from TV screens, they are screaming “freeze!”, their fingers itching. Ducking as a chandelier comes crashing down. While somewhere in another town, a finger pressed a knob, changed the channel, wiped a flannel across his face and danced. Dance divine, dance in sequins. Here come the neon gladiators!

Obsession

I had a picture of you. I sliced it up in two and half my love went in the bin, with the letters. And the purple tie you bought me for my birthday. Tell me! What’s his favorite colour? is it yellow? does he like it when you smoke in bed or burn the eggs or spend his money on those silly things which last for just a week then take their place among the garbage or with some stupid charity. His charity. My charity’s all gone, like those records that you stole when you rolled up our relationship and slipped out unannounced. Christ! you even took the cat. Now I talk to pictures, go to bed at 10 and pretend that I’m asleep, but the bags around my eyes betray me. You betrayed me… I betrayed myself. I’ll live with it, and I’ll find someone else. Don’t you worry… don’t you hurry to the phone. I’m happy on my own, playing patience on the floorboard (hell… I always lose but I don’t care).

Hideous Strength

Swamp juice drifted up the stairs, as Leo washed his hair in soap, and turned into a lion. Well, it’s what the mirror told him. Likes his burgers raw, and make-up red. He shakes his head, the hair just tumbles down. He’s in the jungle now and hungry, looking for an arm to chew on. Tarzan shouting from a poster on the wall. Here’s the rope, take the world on. So he tiptoed to the balcony, and he swung across the street, as buses dodged and shoppers watched. And though he plowed into a window, Leo’s shouting from a rooftop, “I’m King, King of all the Jungle!” But they bundled him away. Away … Now he spends his days talking to the wall of his cell. It’s padded, smells of ether, nurse is smiling sweeter than a can of jungle juice. Pats him on his mane, and he purrs, how he purrs… Meow! Meow! Meow! (How he purrs, meow!) One, two, three, four, five, six, seven: all good kittens go to heaven. (Meow!)

The Waiting Game

A drink of number eight, and I started seeing double, feel the stubble on my chin. A wobble in my knees, and a rumble in my brain, as I stumble into chairs, into tables. Lord, I’m sick of the waiting game. I’m sick of the waiting game. The cable is tight in my hand, and I pull, and the phone’s dead, I’ll bury it. Oh Lord, receive this receiver, receive this deceiver. She said that she’d call. Impatiently I waited for nothing – nothing at all. Still playing the waiting game. Oh Lord, do you think that she’s ill? Oh Lord, do you think she just don’t care? She just don’t care. I’m sick of the waiting game.

Curse (The Sequel)

Curse your daughters. Curse your sons. Blood on the altar – see it run. Slaughter with a glance, a wish. The glass is moving, it spells out Y-O-U OWE ME. Know me! You know what I can do when I’m screaming from inside. Go hide! go hide, go hide away and cringe. I’ve got your picture, I’ve got the pins. Got a picture of him! A picture of him. Effigies of my baby! Ha ha ha ha! [sample of Betty Boop song, “oh I do dream of you, the whole night through, boop boop be doop”]

She Said

She said: “No complications…been hurt too many times before. Each time gets a little harder – hurt you if you stay for more.” She said: “It was different last night. You were a tiger on the prowl. Scary, but attractive to me. You don’t attract me now.” She said: “We’re worlds apart, no common ground outside the bed. What would we say, when we’re both sober. You’d fly miles above my head.” She said: “You’re so naive. I’d cheat you when your back was turned. The way the world goes around, you really got a lot to learn.” She said: “Don’t bother phoning; I’d slam the receiver down. I just want to be alone sometimes. Don’t hang around.” Somewhere, someone’s laughing. Somewhere, someone’s laughing at me.

Film of the Book (Instrumental)

Tower 1 (version one)

Faces at a window, fingers clutching at the bars. A fly skips from an eyebrow to an elbow, across a scar. And stars are laughing as the wind bites – doesn’t leave a mark, because the Tower stands impregnable, a beacon in the dark. And if you listen carefully, you’ll hear a baby cry. Torn screaming from her mother’s womb – the lady nearly died. But the torment never stops, it’s written right across the eyes of George, of Jeannie, Charlotte, Renie, Uncle Geoff, Cousin Julie. Sky dye on her fingers. The air was turning blue, as captain whispered, “Blindfold’s optional – you wouldn’t like the view!” She shook her head and shouted back, “I’d like to see this through.” Then joined the line of hostages – was 13th in the queue. And no-one names a crime committed, no-one blames a soul. Their cases heard so long ago – forgot about parole. And faculties are failing because they’re really very old. And sick. And tired, much too jaded. How they weep, cos how they hate it. No-one has the key to the Tower. No-one has the key to the Tower.

Lullaby for Charles’ Brother

Hated the world, despised its people, always prepared to put him down. Key politicians tried to con him, anxious to keep him flat on the ground. No giving in, they couldn’t take him, he battled back with fists held high. But he was mowed down in the stampede, piggies come rushing from their sty. (Sty.) So he linked up with demonstrations, jumped on, arrested in Whitehall. Drew out a carving knife for his course: piggies in blood across the wall. Mummy was shocked but he’s immortal, four page pull-out in the Sunset. This is the love that hated systems; just couldn’t see the system’s won. (Won.)

Collapse (Instrumental)

Tower 2

Monkey see, monkey do. Monkey’s got no point of view. Captain points and she points too. Clever monkey! Monkey’s got to know her place. No future in the ‘master race’. Monkey spat in Captain’s face – they cut her tongue out. Threw it to a doberman named Rover. He can eat a man in 20 seconds flat – prefers a cat. In the courtyard shuffled deviants with gold stars, they’re scarred with numbers, as guards raise their cards. It’s 6.2, 6.7. Book a place in heaven with a nine. Under five and in the corner for a session in the sauna. Naked, being born again – they’re sliding down the chutes. And the garden’s looking fine. There’s lots of water, lots of lime and Captain spends most of his time in the deckchair. And there’s weeping in the queue, and Lady Gwyneth’s weeping too – sickened, yet she voted blue. She knows it. And night patrols are doing rounds. There’s Tower complex, Tower Towns. Population’s going down, but we’re great again…

Glad He Ate Her

See the slaughter, hear the laughter. They were gathered on the lawn. Flags are flying, soldiers crying in their dapper uniforms. Glad he ate her. Raised to save her. All the thumbs were pointing down. Blade descending; party’s ending. They threw off their dressing gowns, and screwed for the Empire. Screwed for the Queen.

Barbed Obituary (Instrumental)

Tower 3

The echo of a thousand marching boots hammers on the air. They’re singing anthems, chanting oaths and whistle as Salome lifts her skirt because they’re ‘real’ men and they’re healthy, happy… own the place. They raise hell when they’re sober, wrestle tigers when they’re drunk. In the living room a picture of the queen nestles in between Miss August and a placard saying HOME IS WHERE THE HEART IS. (Keep it pure, keep it white. Keep it free of undesirables because freedom is so valuable and getting scarcer.). Fight! So they march. Smashing windows, splashing slogans, pushing petrol bombs through doors til a uniform appears. Gently whispers in the ear of the leader. “That’s against the law – but we’ll ignore it this time. Peace Krime’s got to be official!” Keep it clean. Keep it quiet. In a lonely moor the digger’s working, bigger holes hold more. And the villagers stay silent, no-one questions, no-one dares. And the patriots stay in as convoys rattle down the street. No-one hears the weeping, no-one listens for the cracks at dawn. The shovelling goes on and on and on. But the patriots aren’t frightened cos they heard it on T.V. that a Golden Age lies ’round the corner. Any Day Now…

Espresso Curfew (Instrumental, with one unintelligible line)

Surprise, Surprise

Red with pretty ribbons, with a multi-coloured stamp. Postmark blurred, but sealed with a big red kiss. She didn’t hear the tick-a-tick-a-tick. She wasn’t listening. Busy shaking cocktails, laying out the table – all the big names coming for the party. Marks the start of the Golden Age: resistance finished, bouquets line the hall. Telephone forever ringing, singing in the streets: hooray, hooray! The guests rolled up in limousines, flags flying on the bonnets. Medals gleaming ’round the table. Captain took his cap off, with the golden braid … it rolled away. The maid was told to wheel in all the flowers and the gifts. Glasses lifted, cards were sifted. Captain made a silent wish as he blew out all the candles on the cake. (It was a master bake.) The sweetest parcel rested on the table. Captain cut the purple ribbon, leader chose the yellow, and she peeled the paper back … and something snapped – a sour smell, it blew them all to he(ll)!

The Bride Wore Green (Instrumental)

When the Clock Strikes 13

We’ll make a secret rendezvous with a view, like a bridge at nighttime. We’ll stare across the water, we’ll share a cigarette. Stroll down the embankment, never say a word, like a film, like a story you heard. Lovers holding hands in silence. No one understands – a secret in a hostile world. Defiant stand, they’re making plans, a studio in Paris. I could write a novel, get turned down. You’ll sympathize: you’ll write a poem, all for me, all for me. And each time we make love always seems like the first time. No novelty romance, cos what we have is meant to last, it’s in the script, and though it’s looking like a storm is brewing and the news is getting bleaker all the time – we’ve got each other. And all is going to be fine. When the clock chimes thirteen times, that’s our time. That’s our time.

Just Passing Over, Lovey …

He’s here with you now – in this room. See the haze. And my, how he’s changed, yet he’s really the same. Deep inside. Say, remember that tie you bought, a month before he died: how he’d hide it away in a drawer. You’re convinced: yes it’s him, and he’s fine. It’s another way of life. No, no-one really dies, they just pass over. Hover over us constantly. Just passing over. Is anybody there? Is anybody there?

Premonition 10 (stages i/ii/iii) (Instrumental)

Grind (Instrumental)

Choke

A trace of ash, grey stain on the carpet. I didn’t know you smoked – what brand? It wrecks your health, it burns your wealth, it’s written on the packet. How doctors never smoked, and how it costs much more than money. Sunny days in hospital, they’re having fun outside, while you’re coughing in your iron lung – no fun, no laughs, no ha-ha-ha. And low-tar diet, acupuncture cure. Monkey suffers just for you in cold laboratories. Sorry looks, tied by wires, dreaming of a (nut?) that’s in the jungle. Jungle (punk?). Choke!

The Plasma Twins

Give me plasma, make it soon, your love is not enough. I’ve got you in my heart, but I want you in my veins. And I’ll meet you at the blood bank, they could pump you into me – it’s only fair cos you know I like pumping into you. Give me plasma, be my plasma doll, my plasma lady fair. It’s nice to know we’re always sharing, a love like ours is rare. Yeah, I’ll show you my muscles, if you give me your corpuscles. I’ll have your blood, and you’ll have my seed. We’ll grow together, the plasma twins. The plasma twins. You won’t feel a thing – the plasma twins. The plasma twins – that’s us.

Apocalypse Soon

Our hero shimmers in the corner, nags, “A saccarini in my tea, my teeny queen” in a green bikini. Ate all night, and it shows as she gropes for a pill, and she groans that she’s ill, and she grumbles to Bill, “Get your bloody tea yourself!” Cos my health’s not as good as it seems. And the TV screen screams, scene’s getting worse. But our leader’s calm, she reads out a verse from the Bible. She pleads how the cause that we die for is blessed by the angels with rifles and skies full of bombs. It’s an eye for an eye and the trifles are high aiming right for the eyes of the enemies of freedom. A comfort. Triumphant! What more do we need as we bleed from the bowels, til the towel stinks, the smells sticks. The stale sick is caked on the lino we lie on, we’ll die on. Well, if I have to go that way, I’d rather melt with you. Just we two, I’ll melt with you. Coming soon. I’ll melt with you. (Only you can make my dreams come true.) I’d rather melt with you.

Apocalypse Gone (Instrumental)

Cherry Lipstick

Tried to run, but still you caught me. Tried to hide, but still you found me. Tried to smile, you wiped it from my face. A trace of madness in your eyes. I lied, I know I’m wrong. The game’s been going on too long. The soap was in the kitchen all the time. And I hid it, cos I like you with your make-up on. I like you with your make-up on. Come on babe, we’ll paint the town together. (Cha-cha?) Together. Yes, I like you with your make-up on. Come on babe, paint your face cos we’re going out tonight.

It’s Raining … Again (Instrumental)

The Glory, the Glory

Marble halls and city walls. He lined them all with figures tall who called to passers-by and cast their eyes with scorn on forms imperfect – spread across the lawns, and born to wonder why they coughed and cursed and died, cos statues – they never die. They keep their beauty, hardly worn, though storms have tried to break them. And bombs dropped at their feet. Still standing, naked, but they’re warm. Waiting for their turn to rule a world where nothing speaks, and nothing’s small – nothing’s ever worshipped. Where they’re gods themselves. A ‘perfect’ world. A world of silence, a world of stone. On their own, alone.

Transcribed by Nancy Thuleen

THE LEGENDARY PINK DOTS

<< back to the Combined Discography

Release date and tracklist

1983
UK LP In Phaze PHA2

1986 and/or 1988
NL LP/CD Terminal Kaleidoscope/Play It Again Sam TK002

1996
US CD Soleilmoon SOL40 (different cover)
PL CS Big Blue TK02-4

2002
PL CD Big Blue L-0112 (different cover)

side a

1. Love Puppets – [MP3]
2. Wall Purges Night – [MP3]
3. Lisa’s Party – [MP3]
4. Arzhklahh Olgevezh! – [MP3]
5. Pruumptje Kurss – [MP3]

side b

1. Waving At The Aeroplanes – [MP3]
2. Hiding – [MP3]
3. Dolls’ House – [MP3]
4. The Palace Of Love – [MP3]
5. Stoned Obituary – [MP3]

***

03 June 2012
NL Remastered MP3 self-released on Bandcamp

1. Love Puppets
2. Wall Purges Night
3. Lisa’s Party
4. Arzhklahh Olgevezh! / Pruumptje Kurss*
5. Waving At The Aeroplanes
6. Hiding
7. Dolls’ House / The Palace Of Love*
8. Stoned Obituary

* songs have been combined into one track to preserve the cross-fade.

***

30 July 2021
US Remastered MP3/CD/2xLP Metropolis Records / LPD’s Bandcamp

1. Love Puppets
2. Wall Purges Night
3. Lisa”s Party
4. Arzhklahh Olgevezh / Pruumptje Kurss
5. Waving At The Aeroplanes
6. Hiding
7. Dolls’ House / The Palace of Love
8. Stoned Obituary
9. A Day At The Dreamies (version 1)
10. Ideal Home (version)
11. Even Now / Eventide
12. Curse- The  Sequel / An Accursed Jam
13. Premonition 5

Credits

• Aradia – keyboards, occ. vocal, glox
• Stret Majest – guitars, prazhada
• D’Archangel – vocals, electronics, glox
• The Silver Man- synthesizers, malvezh percussion
• Pruumptje Juste – bass, suste glox
• Keith Thompson – drums, vocal
• Sally Graves – flute, voice
• Pazhklah Zzappp – extra percussion

engineered by Pat Bermingham

Notes

The first initial release by “In Phaze” is limited to 2500 copies. Vinyl etching: Side A – PROZHTET MILITAT / Side B – KLAZH

1988 Terminal Kaleidoscope/PIAS CD:
“Sing while you may”  The Terminal Kaleidoscope manufactured and distributed by Play It Again Sam
Made in Austria.

Terminal Kaleidoscope/PIAS CD version has the following tracking problems: “Dolls’ House” and “Palace of Love” are together on track 8 and “Stoned Obituary” is split into tracks 9 and 10

1996 Solielmoon CD:
This was the first issue of the album on CD in the U.S. and features different artwork from the European versions as well as printed lyrics. This edition was initially available as part of the Lullabies For The New Dark Ages box set.

This edition maintains the same track index problems that plagued the original European version.
“Doll’s House” and “The Palace Of Love” appear together on track 8. Actual track times: 4:54 & 2:56.
“Stoned Obituary” is split amongst tracks 9 and 10. Actual track time: 11:49.

Catalog number is listed as “SOL 40 CD” on spine but “sol 40 cd” on disc.

The booklet credits Sally Graves for lyrics on “Purity,” which does not appear on this release. The track was originally planned to be one of several bonus tracks for the reissue, but was instead released on Prayer For Aradia in 1996.

Big Blue cassette:
A cassette remix of this album called Curse: The Sequel was planned but never released

Big Blue CD:
With 12 page booklet of lyrics in English and Polish.  SPV edition has “Stoned Obituary” mistitled “Stone Puppets”.

From Bandcamp:
From 1983, this was meant to be the first LPDs vinyl album, but it was delayed owing to the NER label’s desire to release “Brighter Now” in this format. In the interim, certain tracks were left out (“Powdercrowd”, “Purity” and “The Light in my little girl’s eyes”)

2021 Remaster:
CD has 11 tracks, LP has 13
2xLP edition of 500
Bandcamp- “Curse” was intended as the Pink Dots’ first official album, but a surprise request from a label to release the cassette album “ Brighter Now” on vinyl meant the proposed debut was delayed for a year.
In the interim, many new songs were recorded, the line-up of the band changed and the entire complexion of the album changed drastically.
It remains a strong favourite within the Dots’ community to this day.

Metropolis Records- 1983’s Curse marks an intersection of styles and influences that form the Legendary Pink Dots sound: a deft balance between pop arrangements and sonic experiments, ornamented imagery, somber double-entendres, Gothic yet witty arrangements, experimentalism, and  psychedelics. Curse rises as an artistically successful turning point to the beginnings of the era of the Dots’ best ’80s releases

Printing error notice from Edward- I just heard from Metropolis about the issues with “Curse” and “Island Of Jewels” cds. Somehow all the vinyl/ web only bonus tracks are listed on the tray card of the cd editions. In fact, even if we’d wanted to include those pieces, the capacity of a cd doesn’t allow for this. It’s a serious bummer, but essentially a printing error. I do apologise to all who have bought the cd editions and expected more, but that is technically impossible, alas.

Lyrics

Love Puppets

You offered me a cigarette, I pirouette… with sihlouettes of statuettes. We’re ice behind a window. Would you be my widow? Would you even be my wife? Life’s not long enough for questions of sessions over cakes and coffees. Therapy, I’ve had enough of – I want to change things overnight, because I’ve been alone too long.. too long.. too long…

And you say you understand me when I hardly know myself. So much talk so many theories – it’s really such a bore for me. The story stays the same – it goes on and on… What gives you the right to analyze? You paralyze me with your probing. In the end I just agree… Maybe we’re just puppets after all. Love puppets. (not glove puppets! Hearts of gold, souls on string. My soul’s on a string… Love Puppets! My heart’s a shiny gold.)

Why the tricks? Why the teasers? Can’t I even please you for an hour? Won’t you simply listen? I’ve got a lot to say about us and plans and things that we could do… (I need you NOW don’t leave me…)

Wall Purges Night

Right hand raised. The left plants stickers – picking out the deviant. A choice of colours, inclinations, factions that see only red. He wants them dead. He kills them in his mirror when it’s dark… And when he thinks that no-one is looking he spreads the spraypaint and leaves his mark. Swastikas shout out from walls, they’re tattooed on a million fists. Clenched together, safe in numbers… waving from the precipice. Fodder! Plod on down your icy path… A cannon is waiting for the fodder. Enlightenment comes with a blast. A bang. A bangabangabang…

Another place. A different story. Fingers play with stale cigars. Business creeks, the warehouse leaks, the chairman sold his daughter’s car. He’s reading charts and sharpening knives for cutting when the time seems right – for him alone. No pause for mercy if the victim’s out of sight.

Equality is a word for cranks to shout out as the batons swing. It’s beautiful in theory… he knows it’s not for him. He’s got his fodder!

In higher places, clocks chime for the meeting of the lords. They stay discreet as guilty secrets cause no shame behind closed doors. A portion for the megabomb. A portion for the queen… can’t forget the army or the law ‘cos they have to keep the cities clean. And sure they know they’ll get their way as protests echo from the streets. (The blood is thicker from the streets) His hired guns and sheets of armor gives them shelter through the heat! The fodder…

But there are other bullets, other walls, where justice cries in shiny red. Where reason dies and passion burns persuasion’s just a hole in the head. Purges after midnight… There’s no discretion in the mass. A volley. A silence as they cover up the mess.

Don’t kid yourself. You’re civilized – it could happen anywhere. In choking cities, steaming jungles… maybe even here.

Lisa’s party

The retinue wore togas, toked on opium and drank each’s other’s wine. They nibbled peanuts, spoke of heinous and premeditated crimes between the politics and the poems. Conversation stayed refined at Lisa’s party. having a real good time.

A legendary film star smashed a glass when a man guessed at her age. The ceiling opened and revealed the naked lady in a cage. A fireater scorched his chin and departed in a rage from Lisa’s party. Isn’t it jolly fun?

An artist bit a chicken’s head off and laughed as he passed the rest around. Pieces quivered their coctail sticks but were swallowed without a sound. A trampolinist jumped too high came crashing to the ground at Lisa’s party. Isn’t it a whizz!

Now Lisa was the perfect hostess… She planned a big surprise. She spread the cyanide in layers across her delicate mince pies and told her guests “A hint of almond makes the dullest cake seem nice.” And they all died.

Arzhklahh Olgevezh!

@ Just for fun, I decided to do this so we can “sing as we may” @ This is just my guess of how to phonetically spell whatever the hell @ Edward is singing. — $aint @ndrew — (saint_andrew@anl.gov)

@ [Edward]: @ rumje olgesh domnuboye havastom delaveeta rumnabeshkavol ola vromdiga oma @ olzhdela ola olgevezhnida istabul doine mollabas ozhnaveeda bruumcher @ olhevest oiee-oiee-oi roshnaveeda rohmnevesta robesta indegera stun

@The below is another version done by sdoljack@wopr.gsm.uci.edu (Jackaal)

pruumptje auge staunde boi, leva stahn dela veenum bronenbezhtebahh. ala fundegahh, ama arzhklahh, ala olgevezh neda ist gedau doin. smolebas, pruzhnaveeda pruumptje alabes oi, oi, oi! pruzhnaveeda rohm nebestahh. robesta indegedan stahn.

@ [April?]: No one understood him No one understood him at all (I understood him) (I … ????)

@ [Edward]: inna keesta binhol stan istanna boshne bollabista bohlla inna bolstamist brumistavaston olgesty boshtenbolest estinna lostinmist motsnivolsha ozhgalah

@ [April?]: No one comprehended No one comprehended at all (the second two is just her singing “ahhh”…)

@ [Edward]: brrrnigaiy moshdebazne bohldepebahdne voshnemahdne inmahnne bohzhdul mohnezhdevozht mohneshdepulcher ohbdestulul oshdne blol oshgala ohgevai olgevezh olgevezh

@ [April]: No one understood him No one understood him at all Veeshtehne krauden de vazh (?) <—— is this German?!?!? Veeshtehn lauden de taut (?) <–/ (someone who knows german, listen to this part…)

@ [Edward]: hib blauud (und) mistdowht jumgaider destaht

Bistragavohhnt … (he’s shouting)… (Ed repeats the first part?)… (then he shouts again, Ozhnaveeda? something…

Waving at the aeroplanes

Waving at the aeroplanes… See my hand swing left swing right. Milk white in the dawn sky, dives to the brown earth. Bound to an arc that only I can see. See me crouch on the grass, on the concrete; eyes slit tight, fist clenched and bleeding. Faith moves mountains headfirst into seas. Waving at the aeroplanes… make them crash crash crash on the runway, crash on the motorway. I’ll show them how it pays to just wave back… Wave back to me to me… They crack in the dawn, get wrapped in the cloud shroud. It’s raining limbs, white wings and aspirins. Pitter patter scatter brains and burn… Fly me!!!

Hiding (transcribed)

Simple expressions hide my ignorance. How can you tell how you feel, when the words just don’t exist? The pain and the anguish, the slaughtered dreams, the harvest of ill-conceived, wretchedly-worded emotion. Look at me, touch me; I’m human and awkward, longing to be found, incapable of exposing myself.

Dolls’ House

The kitchen smells of parafin, the stairways turning black and teddy’s looking tired cause he’s lying on his back. Crackling curtains dance in ribbons, flames are waltzing down the hall – a beetle turns a summersault in a matchbox by the wall. He’s getting restless with his lettuce. Frying tonight in the Dolls House! Mummy’s smiling with a match, blows softly through the doorway and draws patterns in the ash. Crackle Crackle Flash Flash!

Golly’s leaning out of the window. He gives a little wave and as only gollys can but he can’t come out to play. Sparks creep up his trouser leg but he doesnt care cause he’s busy watching mummy comb her curly hair. Very pretty on the setee… Playing tonight in the dolls house. Mummys smiling with a match, blows softly thru the doorway and draws patterns in the ash. Fizzle Fizzle Zap Zap!

Up on the second floor little Wendy takes a bath; her skin is melting slowly but she manages to laugh. She knows a dozen words or more; she’s always so polite – pull her string out slowly and she’ll sing all thru the night, sing forever – really clever!

Frying tonight in the dolls house but mommys getting bored; she tore up all her comics ‘cos she’s not a kiddie anymore. Nor is Daddy.

The palace of Love

“Don’t mind me…” she whispered. “Go ahead and do just what you want to do. Go rob a bank or go smash a window. I’ll be waiting here with your slippers and your tea. If they haul you off to jail, I’ll visit every Tuesday. I’ll keep the chainlock on the door and buy everything mail-order. I’ll plant those photographs of you on every wall, in every corner. I’ll have you staring from the ceiling, I’ll stay loyal even when I’m dreaming. I’ll see no-one else at all. You’re my universe, my guide, my reason for existence. I’ll do anything you ask me – anything at all I belong to you. BELONG! You own me, made me, have the power to destroy me… Go ahead I’m yours. I’m yours. I’m on all fours, just do the hell what you like! I’m yours! You have my soul. Sell it if you want to. I’m yours. I’m yours. I’m yours. Go ahead, sell my soul. I’m yours…”

Stoned Obituary

lightning cracked a crooked cross across the sky above the cross where he’d been hanging for a day (he was stoned again!) The breeze grew ice threw knives blew halos hallowed cinders flew together made a cushion for his feet. There were spikes in his sandals, spikes in his ankles… A spike split the wood, syringed his vertabrae. Spikes in his shins in his chin in his fingers… Amused apparitions hummed the Marsollaise. We had to look away, he seemed so fragile. We tried to offer him a cigarette but it was futile… no way through. The guards screamed “Front!”, drew guns, splashed acid.. so we retreated to the shadows squated low and said a prayer Cameras clicked out of sight there are fights, there were fanfares. Fireworks flashed across the cenotaph. Kiddies played in the pits, spitting crisps, licking icecreams. A spiv threw an auction for his autograph. I never thought it would finish quite this way. No resistance not a word to say but maybe we’ll meet in heaven. We can talk about those good old days. I believe (at least I WANT to believe)

The angels landed cleared their throats and chorused “Crown Him!” They poured a potion on his hair it nearly drowned him. Then they called a minute’s silence. They called the clowns in and a cripple touched his foot and did a cartwheel down the hill… turning once for his wisdom, twice for the pearl moon. A third as the thief cried “It’s judgement day.” He rolled his eyes, ripped his shirt rolled insane in the dirt. Applause ripped the heavens and blew the clouds away. The laughter died as schoolgirls passed around the tissues. Pretty patterns while a message said “We’ll miss you. Bless you. Bless your eyes.” And the bell rang twice and we fell as his lips moved. We stared in stoney silence as the news guy scribbled furiously down his final words: “I made mistakes. I’ve been a fool. I tried hard byt never thought that what started so well could end in misery. But my motives were good. I thought you all understood… Just don’t be hard when this day is cloaked in history. You mistrusted me? …,” And he died with his eyes on… ash for ashes dust for dust a lust for dust a must for dust die with your eyes on…

Nomini magnus spiritus sancti filia

THE LEGENDARY PINK DOTS

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Release date and tracklist

1984
UK LP In Phaze PHA3

1985
NL LP/CD Terminal Kaleidoscope/Play It Again Sam TK003 (different cover)

1996
US CD Soleilmoon SOL41 (different cover)

1998
US LP Soleilmoon SOL41 (picture disc)

2006
PL CD Big Blue 8483412 (different cover)

2011
NL LP Terminal Kaleidoscope (different cover and back)

10 July 2012
NL Remastered MP3 self-released on Bandcamp*

side a

1. Black Zone – [MP3]
2. Break Day – [MP3]
3. Tower One – [MP3]
4. Vigil-Anti – [MP3]
5. A Lust For Powder – [MP3]
6. Poppy Day – [MP3]

side b

1. Tower Two – [MP3]
2. Astrid – [MP3]
3. Rope And Glory – [MP3]
4. Tower Three – [MP3]
5. Tower Four – [MP3]
6. Tower Five – [MP3]

*Astrid / Rope & Glory are combined as track 8 and Tower 4/ Tower 5 are combined as track 10.

Credits

• Sybil Strange-Cargo – keyboards, occasional vocals
• Che Banana – voice, keyboards, electronics
• Stret Majest Alarme – guitars
• Phil Harmonix – keyboards, electronics, percussion
• Patrick Paganini Q – keyboards, violin
• Roland Calloway – bass
• Lilly Ak – guest voice on “Astrid”
• Armin Bliss – guest

Produced & engineered by Pat Bermingham

Notes

In Phaze edition of 2500 copies.

PIAS LP version:
includes a lyric sheet. The CD version has the following tracking problems: “Tower Two” is split into track numbers 7 & 8; “Astrid” and “Rope and Glory” are together on track 9; “Tower Three” is split into track numbers 10 & 11; “Tower Four” and “Tower Five” are together on track 12.
Artwork by Stephan Barbery

1998 Soleilmoon edition was initially available as part of Lullabies for the New Dark Ages
Vinyl etching (on PHA 3): Side 1 – GRAEME
The picture disc comes in a generic plastic sleeve. It includes a promo card for the Lullabies For The New Dark Ages box set, released in 1998, which included picture discs of the band’s first four LPs. This picture disc was left over from the original run of 512 numbered box sets.

2006 Big Blue edition:
Artwork – Zdzisław Beksiński

2011 Terminal Kaleidoscope LP:
Limited to ~12 copies.
Part of the Teka hand-made series : ‘Brighter Now’ , ‘Faces In The Fire’ and ‘The Tower’.
A picture disc with a handmade cover by The Silverman and New Orleans artist Alan Jaeger.
The picture disc was left over from the run made for the Lullabies For The New Dark Ages boxset released in 1998, and rediscovered in 2010.

KLENEHHZ LEEBRAKIZH
Dedicated to the deviant… we still stick together, yes?

from Bandcamp:
1984 (how fitting….)
It was probably the sight of Margaret Thatcher talking on the television about her “good friend Mr. Pinochet…” that sparked the idea for The Tower.
At that instant you kind of sensed what this monster really wanted to do with the rioters, anarchists, welfare seekers, travellers, punks…..ah, no need to go on.  Some long to play in stadiums, some prefer to fill them in darker ways.
A lot of us actually longed for a female premier before Thatcher came along. It was a wish for a gentler Britain, a place that only seemed to exist on old radio programmes .You’re right….a green and pleasant land.
Thatcher sent out the message that it was somehow ok to be greedy, and look how the idea caught on….. It pervades and perverts to this very day.  It has brought continents to their knees and still there are those
who profit from the situation.
“The Tower” refers to the famous monument in London where many were locked up and many lost their heads over the centuries.  It is now a popular tourist attraction.

Several editions of “The Tower” have emerged over the years with four different covers. We chose Stephan Barbery’s fabulous art for the second edition as it’s our favourite and fits the music so well.

Lyrics

Black Zone

They ripped up all the grass and they cut down all the trees, built a fence – little sign says ‘Keep away, if you please…’ And it was difficult to argue with the trenches and the guns. 50,000 volts, the wires buzzing – touch it and you’re D.O.A. (d.c.) Deceased! Your secret’s safe with us. The trucks roll in at midnight – skull and crossbones on the headlights. They carry poison, carry fission for the Black Zone… Hear the test-tubes bubble with disease for enemies (I hope there’s not a breeze!) And the villigers line up outside with placards, sing ‘Abide with me’. The guards just laugh – smoke rises in the distance… Because the Black Zone’s here to stay and it’s here to protect us, ’til that black and bitter day when test-tube spills and blows us all away.

Breakday

The slogans turned to secrets. The symbols turned to stains. The face of an ‘enemy’ was imprinted on our brains. Made us spectres at the shutters, faces covered, taking aim, faking blame. Breakday (The breaks failed – we all broke down together) Drains were painted scarlet. Scars were opened wide. Kids saluted in the basements, whistled hymns and homicide. And though we wanted to change things, the fact remains, we never tried. Breakday (The breaks failed – breaking down together). But YOU had a chance. You had the brains, you had the money – could have bought an aeroplane and skipped this hole for somewhere sunny. You recognised the symptoms, smelt the hatred in the air. But you stayed… You better pray. A nurse hid and shivered as an army axed her door. Linking arms, drinking orders, unrinating on the floor. Spilt the milk, split a hymen – took her wicked, made her sore… Told her it was Breakday.

Tower One

Faces at a window, fingers clutching at the bars. A fly skips from an eyebrow to an elbow, across a scar. And stars are laughing as the wind bites – doesn’t leave a mark… because the Tower stands impregnable – a beacon in the dark. And no-one names a crime committed, no-one blames a soul. Their cases heard so long ago – forget about parole. And faculties are failing because they’re really rather old. And sick. And tired, much too jaded. How they weep, cos how they hate it. Sky dye on her fingers. The air was turning blue, as captain whispered, ‘Blindfold’s optional – you wouldn’t like the view! She shook her head and shouted back, “I’d like to see this through.” Then joined the line of hostages – was 13th in the queue. Rusty chains and armoured pillows stuffed with silver pins. Collecting lives like butterflies, keep them all locked in. Tattoo with a star, write a number on the chin… It’s not for turning. Slowly learning. Stomach churns, the fire’s burning… No-one has the key to the Tower. And if you listen carefully, you’ll hear a baby cry. Torn screaming from her mother’s womb – the lady nearly died. But the torment never stops, it’s written right across the eyes of George and Jeannie, Charlotte, Renie, Uncle Geoff, Cousin Julie, Audrey, Johnny, Andy, Mandy, Algernon. And Barbarella, Shelly, Napoleon. Winston, April, Philip, Roland, Barry, Sally, Patrick, Me! Me! Mimi…

Vigil-Anti

George had the role of the spokesman. Script prepared – took a week to write… how their house was an eyesore, kid was an outlaw, wife was a whore who bored the neighbours. Fists were raised, pledges made over ten grenades and tins of petrol. George would strike the first match if they put up a fight or pulled down the shutters. Soldiers blue. Shoulders sunburned – see the light dance on their hair, the fair and healthy skin, the shins of metal. Men of mental discipline (their favourite word). It’s heard in cries, it’s heard in whispers, in the candlelight of ceremonies clandestine where songs are empty, words are anti-this and anti-that. The vigilantes tilt their hats to cleaner sheets, greener valleys. Marble queens sing Halleluiah – spewing out the trash in the name of the Lord.

A Lust For Powder

Astrid. Astrid, do you think they know? Spy behind the curtains – see me now! I’m certain that they’ve seen it all. All the ammunition… watched you planting posters on the wall. They hear us on the phone you know. We’re not alone. We’re not alone. We can give them all a show when we make love. The tape is running, guns are trained – I wonder when they’ll fire? I’m losing hope, I’m feeling scared. You feel it too? I’m sure you do! Let’s ignore them – powder our noses. Powder our throats. Today I’ve got a lust for powder – a TOWER of powder. (If they shoot me now, I couldn’t give a fuck…)

Poppy Day

We’ll remember when that wreath is just a crown of thorns to drape around your helmet – hide out anywhere at all. We’ll remember when you’re no more than a poem on a grave – a sideline for the guy who writes the birthday cards but never signs his name. He’s got your number, feels your pain… though you’re smiling from the mantel-piece and you’ve got your rifle trained. It’s pointing at the T.V. Shall we tell you when to fire? There’s a programme we all hate… it’s not a late show so you won’t be tired. We remember how you loved the war films, and hid behind the sofa throwing balls of silver paper. We remember. We remember. We’ve got our poppies on. We hear the clock chime out eleven. We remember, we remember it’s Poppy Day. (You shall not grow old!)

Tower Two

Mokey see. Monkey do. Monkey’s got no point of view. Captain points and he points too. Clever monkey! Monkey’s got to know his place. No future in the ‘master race’. Monkey spat in captain’s face – they cut his tongue out. Threw it to a doberman named Rover. He can eat a man in 20 seconds flat – prefers a cat. In the courtyard shuffled deviants with gold stars, they’re scarred with numbers, as guards raise their cards. It’s 6.2, 6.7… Under five and in the corner for a session in the sauna. Naked, being born again – they’re sliding down the chute. And the garden’s looking fine. There’s lots of water, lots of lime and captain spends most of his time in the deckchair. And there’s weeping in the queue, and Lady Gwyneth’s weeping too – sickened, yet she voted blue. She knows it. And night patrols are doing rounds. Now there’s Tower complex, Tower Town. Population’s going down, but we’re great again…

Astrid

Forgetting all the lies you told about me when my back was turned. Forgetting all the cards I sent that you simply burned. Forgetting all those times you said you’d phone. Forgetting all the others when you said I was the only one. Forgetting all those nights i spent alone… Forgetting you is hard… do you forget so easily?

Rope & Glory

Flags are flying in the wind and all the world can hear us. We can take it on the chin and fight another day. The tower’s shining in the sun. Outside the kids are having fun. Soldier lets them stroke his gun and leads the grand parade!

Tower Three

The echo of a thousand marching boots hammers on the air. They’re singing anthems, chanting oaths and whistle as Salome lifts her skirt because they’re ‘real’ men and they’re healthy, happy… own the place. They raise hell when they’re sober, wrestle tigers when they’re drunk. In their living rooms a picture of the queen nestles in between Miss August and a placard saying HOME IS WHERE THE HEART IS. (Keep it pure, keep it white. Keep it free of undesirables because freedom is so valuable and getting scarcer.). Fight! So they march. Smashing windows, splashing slogans, pushing petrol bombs through doors ’til a uniform appears. Gently whisper in the ear of the leader. “That’s against the law but we’ll ignore it this time. Peace Krime’s got to be official!” Keep it clean. Keep it quiet. In a lonely moor the digger’s working, bigger holes hold more… And the patriots stay in as convoys rattle down the street. No-one hears the weeping, no-one listens for the cracks at dawn. The shovelling goes on and on and on. But the patriots aren’t frightened cos they heard it on T.V. that a Golden Age lies ’round the corner. And day now…

Tower Four

The night was warm, the gelignite was hot. The plot was thick. And Jenny’s being sick in the bathroom. She’s six months gone and will it have a chance or simply wither in the womb… The room was thick with smoke. Photographs of martyrs across the wall. There’s brother John shot down at the cenotaph (yes, we’ll remember!) Sister Astrid, now corrected – never says a word. The list goes on and on. The bombs, the blood… For every guilty death there’s 20 more. The limbs go flying across the floor, and no-one’s crying anymore. Just caught up in the crossfire – and Jenny wants her child.

Tower Five

You wanted easy answers. You want a tidy end. Don’t you know you’ve got a lot to answer for? You wanted shining heroes. You wanted sparkling knights. BUT THEY’RE GONE. You chose your grave. Lie there.

THE LEGENDARY PINK DOTS

<< back to the Combined Discography

Release date and tracklist

1984
UK EP Play It Again Sam BIAS1

08 Jan 2011
NL LP Terminal Kaleidoscope (different cover and back)

June 26, 2023
UK EP Play It Again Sam reissue

side a

1. Blasto
2. Love In A Plain Brown Envelope
3. Sleeso

side b

1. Neon Gladiators
2. Kitto
3. Eight Minutes To Live

***

1996
PL CS Big Blue TK02-4

Play It Again Sam 40th Anniversary LP reissue:
A beautiful new edition of this long out-of-print album to celebrate the Play It Again Sam label’s 40th Anniversary. In fact the original was the label’s first ever release ( catalogue no. BIAS1 !).  Edition of 500

THE LEGENDARY PINK DOTS / ATTRITION

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Release date and tracklist

THE LEGENDARY PINK DOTS

<< back to the Combined Discography

Release date and tracklist

1985
BE/NE 2xLP Play It Again Sam BIAS12

1987
GR LP Penguin Records 30002

side a

1. Echo Police – [MP3]
2. Gorgon Zola’s Baby – [MP3]
3. Fifteen Flies In The Marmalade – [MP3]
4. Femme Mirage – [MP3]
5. The Hill – [MP3]

side b

1. Demonism
2. Prisoner
3. So Gallantly Screaming – [MP3]

side c

1. I’m The Way, The Truth, The Light – [MP3]
2. Agape – [MP3]
3. Golden Dawn – [MP3]

side d

1. The Last Straw – [MP3]
2. A Message From Our Sponsor – [MP3]
3. Go Ask Alice – [MP3]
4. This Could Be The End – [MP3]

***

1988
BE CD BIAS12CD

2002
US CD Cacciocavallo CAD14
PL CD Big Blue SPV-L 0082  (different cover)

27 August 2014
CA CD Jnana-001

1. Echo Police
2. Gorgon Zola’s Baby
3. Fifteen Flies In The Marmalade
4. Femme Mirage
5. The Hill
6. Demonism
7. Prisoner
8. So Gallantly Screaming
9. I’m The Way, The Truth, The Light
10. Agape
11. Golden Dawn
12. The Last Straw
13. A Message From Our Sponsor
14. Go Ask Alice
15. This Could Be The End
16. My Baby Likes to Hurt Me*

* Jnana reissue only

***

08 June 2012
NL MP3 self-released on Bandcamp

1. Echo Police
2. Gorgon Zola’s Baby / Fifteen Flies In The Marmalade*
3. Femme Mirage
4. The Hill
5. Demonism / Prisoner*
6. So Gallantly Screaming
7. I’m The Way, The Truth, The Light
8. Agape
9. Golden Dawn
10. The Last Straw
11. A Message From Our Sponsor
12. Go Ask Alice
13. This Could Be The End

* These 2 songs grouped together to preserve the link on the actual album.

Credits

• Patrick Q Paganini – violin, keyboards, vocals
• Poison Barbarella – bass, keyboards, vocals
• The Silverman – keyboards
• Stret Majest – guitar
• Adantacathar – keyboards
• The Prophet Qa’Spel – voice, keyboards
• Steven Stapleton – tape editing (uncredited)

Notes

Some vinyl copies include a lyric sheet.  GRALNEZH KHAZH

“A place to escape to, a place to escape from”. We recorded this in the tiny bedroom of violin player Patrick who was the only Pink Dot to own an 8-track tape recorder and a “real” mixing desk back in 1985. I’d moved to The Netherlands in December 1984 and it had all gone terribly wrong. My first home was with a couple who ran the first label that released “The Lovers”, who were effectively dissolving yet simultaneously syphoning off the crumbs that were thrown our way. Ultimately I fled to a friend’s floor in Amsterdam on the train with a synthesizer under one arm and a bag of clothes over the other shoulder. The bizarre events which occurred in the next weeks belong with the story of the “The Lovers” so i’ll pass them and go on to the sessions where a 5 piece band slowly turned into a 3-piece via a 6-piece as the pressure all became too much. Graham Whitehead actually joined the Dots during the long protracted sessions as he was the second decent keyboard player in a band that was now used to 2 ivory tinklers for some time, and he was also Patrick’s flatmate. Steve Stapleton (Nurse with Wound) gave a little assistance with a couple of tracks as we waded through the mountain of recordings. Still mostly it was a time of people disappearing. Julie, who joined the Dots from Attrition dropped out from the recordings quite early and then Barry disappeared without answering the phone or the doorbell for maybe 10 days. Ultimately I completed the album with Patrick and Phil, and strangely the result turned out to be a small pearl in our history. Better still, EVERYBODY turned up again when it was finished for the first listen to the album in it’s entirety…. No murmurs of discontent, just the occasional (approving ) tear. Julie threw a Tarot at the end of the session (we were using a special pack ,the name of which is now lost in my memory) and the top card was “Asylum”. A perfect fit and inevitably the title for this album. – Edward Ka-Spel

From Bandcamp:
1985. The band limped back from the Netherlands, destitute and emotionally crippled after a series of events that could have finished them. The decision to record once more in Patrick’s bedroom studio after the experience in the high class radio outfit in Holland was a conscious one. This remaster is pretty dramatic, but listen closely and the odd buzzes and clicks are still there- they were simply part of it.
Asylum: A place to escape to, a place to escape from….

Press Release

Jnana Records is proud to reissue the The Legendary Pink Dots’ Asylum, originally released as a double-LP in 1985. The CD comes in a gatefold card sleeve with an eight-page booklet featuring new liner notes by Edward Ka-Spel as well as the only two photos of the group’s first lineup. Asylum was remastered in 2014 by Ka-Spel and features a rare bonus track making its debut on CD.  “We recorded this in the tiny bedroom of violin player Patrick [Wright] who was the only Pink Dot to own an 8-track tape recorder and a ‘real’ mixing desk back in 1985. I’d moved to The Netherlands in December 1984 and it had all gone terribly wrong…. Ultimately I fled to a friend’s floor in Amsterdam on the train with a synthesizer under one arm and a bag of clothes over the other shoulder…. Graham Whitehead actually joined the Dots during the long-protracted sessions as he was the second decent keyboard player in a band that was now used to two ivory tinklers for some time, and he was also Patrick’s flatmate. “Steve Stapleton (Nurse with Wound) gave a little assistance with a couple of tracks as we waded through the mountain of recordings. Still mostly it was a time of people disappearing. Julie [Niblock Waller], who joined the Dots from Attrition, dropped out from the recordings quite early….  “Ultimately I completed the album with Patrick and Phil [Knight], and strangely the result turned out to be a small pearl in our history. Better still, everybody turned up again when it was finished for the first listen to the album in its entirety…. No murmurs of discontent, just the occasional (approving) tear. Julie threw a Tarot at the end of the session (we were using a special pack, the name of which is now lost in my memory) and the top card was Asylum. A perfect fit and inevitably the title for this album.” —Edward Ka-Spel

Lyrics