Floorshow EP
From SistersWiki.org - The Sisters Of Mercy Fan Wiki
7" single with studio outtakes recorded in spring 1981 between the releases of "The Damage Done" and "Body Electric" singles.
These demos were circulated by The Sisters of Mercy in order to aquire support slots. On the other hand, they seem to have been done in first instance for an official Floorshow EP release which never came to see the light of day. Anyway, this bootleg is now commonly known and listed in several discographies and reviews as Floorshow EP while the title derives here from the "Floor Show" print appearing on the labels of the re-issues. The labels of the first edition were marked by a Merciful Release print in large letters. High quality recording.
Basically, four different releases exist:
Release Notes
| Original Edition | First Reissue | Second Reissue | ICM-Issue | |
| Label: | Merciful Release | KROL | KROL | ICM |
| Catalogue#: | MR1, RH1, BMcN2 | 3213 | 3213 | CM 803 |
| Format: | 7" Vinyl Single - 45 rpm | 7" Vinyl EP - 33 rpm | 7" Vinyl EP - 33 rpm | 7" Vinyl EP - 33 rpm |
| Place and Time of Release: | unknown | unknown | 1986 | 1986 (Spain) |
Limited Editions
- Original Edition - limited to 500 copies,
- B/W coloured thin paper covers, hand-numbered with either blue or black ink
- Re-issues appear in limited, i.e. numbered, and unnumbered variations of various colours
- First Reissue - limited to 1.000 copies in total
- Cover colours of this reissue vary among b/w, blue, orange (some call it yellow or beige) and red
- Silver versions are also rumoured to exist.
- B/w, blue and orange (beige/yellow) covers are stamp-numbered and laminated glossy.
- The red ones are far more rare than the other colours.
- Their covers are made of semi-matt paper without lamination and without numbering.
- A few orange (beige/yellow) copies like this do obviously exist as well.
- Second Reissue - these are additional pressings, numbered beyond 1.000/1.000.
- We have no idea, how may of these exist or whether they were a limited edition.
- Sleeves are b/w like the original editions, but the numbering on the back is stamped not hand-written.
- Vinyl labels like all other re-releases without Merciful Release Logo.
- The ICM-Issue is not numbered. The picture on the cover is not b/w but toned black, rather.
Cover And Label Variations
- All editions have the same picture on the cover front.
- Back Covers vary with regard to the numbering.
- Cover notes on ICM-Reissue: "Special Limited Edition produced for Luxor Company Madrid - Spain"
- Some ICM-Reissues are allegedly gatefold. No picture (evidence) of that has been found as yet ...
- Labels of the original edition - label colour: black.
- Head-And-Star-Logo on Side A, "Merciful Release" in large letters and track titles on Side B
- Labels of Reissues - "Promotional copy. Not for resale." and "KROL 3213" on black background.
- Labels of ICM-Reissue are darkblue instead of black, with the same text as the former reissues, though. See pictures below.
Further Existing Test Pressings For Covers
Several test prints for covers were made and not released. Some were however preserved. These are
- b/w test proofs for the original edition
- test proofs with blue print on a normal paper cover for the first re-issue,
designed to be numbered, i.e. with the according space on the back of the cover - the same in orange (beige/yellow) but already laminated
- a test proof with green print on raw cardboard material, no numbering
- extremely rare - test proofs for an intended limited and numbered gatefold edition
with b/w cover art and silver background inside
Tracks
| A1 Floorshow | 3:20 | B1 Teachers / Adrenochrome | 7:35 * |
| A2 Lights | 5:30 |
Remarks
- * Teachers and Adrenochrome segue seamlessly in the way The Sisters used to play these songs live.
- The whole of this 7" is most probably taken from a copy of the so-called Gary Marx Demo Tape.
- In this regard see also Glasperlenspiel, The Sisters of Mercy - A brief(ish) history, April 1999:
The Sisters performed a haphazard series of shows in 1981 and early 82. A four track demo was recorded at this time to tempt promoters. Featuring Floorshow, Lights, Adrenochrome and Teachers, this gave the first indication that the Sisters were developing into an above average band. The recordings were still roughly recorded, but the new songs were highly promising and showed that Adams and Avalanche could harness the band's energy. Floorshow in particular showcased blistering Avalanche drumming and stunning Eldritch vocals...
