Prehistoric Pixies
Last updated: 10/10/2006 - 16:34
At last your chance to own a piece of history with the first official release of the legendary Pixies 'Purple Tape'.
The Pixies 'Purple Tape' by The Pixies
Prior to their first British tour supporting label mates Throwing Muses, Boston’s now legendary Pixies recorded seventeen songs at Fort Apache Studios in their hometown. This was March 1987, and the world was yet to hear the astonishing debut album from Black Francis, Joey Santiago, David Lovering and Mrs. John Murphy (AKA Breeders front-woman, Kim Deal).
Eight songs were chosen from the sessions to comprise the Pixies' first album, Come on Pilgrim, but the remaining tracks have until now only been heard as scratchy bootlegs. For the first time the remaining nine tracks - which have subsequently come to be known amongst die hard Pixies' fans as The Purple Tape - are being made available to the record-buying masses, simply entitled Pixies.
Featuring the original recording of Here Comes Your Man, this collection also boasts such Pixies favourites as Rock A My Soul and the David Lynch penned In Heaven. This last track was previously only heard as a live version on the reverse of the single Gigantic. This is the only known studio recording of the track made by the band and it displays – like many of the others on this album – the raw sound of the band at their leanest and most promising.
Career-Spanning
Curiously the songs represent earlier versions of tracks that would make it onto records throughout the band’s recording career. These nine songs represent the early beginnings of a truly ground breaking act, displaying the trademark off-kilter themes and turbulent sounds which reverberated throughout the band's abbreviated career and through the work of the various members in the their solo outings. The release of this recording is a major coup for Cooking Vinyl, making a fine compliment to the Pixies at the BBC CD for fans of the early days of the band.
The full track listing looks like this:
1. Broken Face - subsequently re-recorded for Surfa Rosa.
2. Build High - subsequently re-recorded as a B-side for the single release of Planet of Sound.
3. Rock A My Soul – live favourite and previously unreleased in the US.
4. Down to the Well – The original version of the song subsequently re-recorded for the Bossa Nova album.
5. Break My Body - subsequently re-recorded for Surfa Rosa.
6. I'm Amazed - subsequently re-recorded for Surfa Rosa.
7. Here Comes Your Man - subsequently re-recorded for Doolittle.
8. Subbacultcha - subsequently re-recorded for Trompe Le Monde.
9. In Heaven - The only studio version recorded by the band of film director David Lynch’s haunting melody.
Former Pixies front man, Black Francis, under his post-Pixies persona of Frank Black, has released a series of albums – high points include: Dog in the Sand, Frank Black, The Cult Of Ray and Teenager of the Year. Two brand new recordings are set for simultaneous release at the end of August. These are: Black Letter Days and Devil's Workshop, under the name Frank Black & The Catholics.
The Pixies entire back catalogue: Come On Pilgrim (1987), Surfer Rosa (1988), Doolittle (1989), Bossanova (1990), Trompe Le Monde (1991), the retrospective Death To The Pixies (1997), At The BBC (1998), and The Complete B-Sides (2001) is available, all on 4AD.
See also on Lifestyle:
For more information on Frank Black/Black Francis, visit his home on the web - which features, among other things, some excellent podcast to download: www.frankblack.net
For more information on the Pixies visit I Love Pixies - the official website, with audio and video streams, news, tour dates, photos and more - at:
www.ilovepixies.com
Pixies - 'The Purple Tape' is available on CD and vinyl album from Cooking Vinyl.
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