Through The Years
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This is a three record box bootleg that features the complete recordings of two concerts of the Sisters of Mercy.
The first concert was performed in 1983 during the Trans-Europe Excess Tour when Ben Gunn still played the second guitar in the band. The other gig is from the Tune In - Turn On - Burn Out Tour in 1985 when Wayne Hussey had already joined the band on guitar, replacing the before mentioned Ben Gunn. It was also the last time Gary Marx performed on tour with The Sisters of Mercy. One day later, on April 2nd, he was still present, when The Sisters of Mercy performed two songs during the Old Grey Whistle Test on BBC TV, but left the band afterwards for good.
This change of personnel through the years has obviously changed the sound and the modalities of the songs, too, and is well reflected on this bootleg. Some songs are repeatedly featured on the different sides of the records, and they sound amazingly varied because they were recorded at concerts from different eras.
Further, another thing that has been improved (not only changed) through the years was Doktor Avalanche. At the time of the Trans-Europe Excess Tour they used their Boss Dr.Rhythm drum machine, while in 1985 during the Tune In - Turn On - Burn Out Tour it was the more sofisticated Oberheim DMX.
Release Notes
- Label: unknown
- Catalogue#: SM 8385
- Run-out Matrix: SM8385-A to SM8385-F
- Format: 3 x 12" vinyl LP box
- Released: 1986
Sources
- The first record features the full concert at Loft, Berlin, Germany on 30 August 1983.
- The second and third record contain the whole concert at Top Rank, Brighton, England on 01 April 1985.
Remarks
- The box is made of resistant cardboard with a black snakeskin surface. An adhesive, printed plastik layer is glued
- to the cardboard in such way that it links the lid to the left side of the box, so that it can be opened as a folder.
- The cover front shows a group shot of the band taken in 1984.
- The backcover notes:
- 1983/85 A MERCIFUL RELEASE
- and in smaller print: A 3 RECORD SET
- Spelling mistakes
- B1 - Temple Of Love is called "Tunnel Of Love".
- B3 - Adrenochrome is misspelled "Adrenachrome".
- C1 - First And Last And Always is written "First & Last & Always".
- C2 - Body And Soul is written "Body & Soul".
- C4 - Marian is listed as "Marianne".
- D1 - A Rock And A Hard Place is written "A Rock & A Hard Place".
Varieties
This bootleg exist in basically three editions with different vinyl colours and different labels.
- The first edition is relatively common and comes with three similar clear lightblue/black splattered vinyls
- with plain black labels. This edition has allegedly also been seen with plain white labels.
- The most common edition seems to be the second one that comes with one lightgreen marbled vinyl (record one),
- one blue marbled vinyl (record 2) and one black vinyl (record 3).
- This edition has black Merciful Release labels with alphabetic numbering.
- It does also exist with the first record on darkgreen instead of lightgreen marbled vinyl.
- Here, record three is sometimes made of an extremely dark green vinyl, easily appearing as black.
- On the back of these issues, a large Merciful Release logo sticker in orange on black
- (same colour as the front cover picture) is glued to the box.
- The third edition comes with one green, one turquoise and one darkgreen vinly,
- also with Merciful Release labels.
- So far, it is not 100% clear which record of this version is pressed in which colour.
- An edition with three similar dark purple (also described as red blue brown splattered) marbled vinyls.
- does exist as well. The labels show a picture of a dog's head leaning on a table and are alphabetically numbered.
- Allegedly, one of these edition was limited to 25 copies only.
For recent price developments see sistersbootlegs/Through The Years or popsike/through the years.
Track List
Record One
| A1 Burn | B1 Temple Of Love |
| A2 Valentine | B2 Floorshow |
| A3 Anaconda | B3 Adrenochrome |
| A4 Heartland | B4 Gimme Shelter |
| A5 Alice | B5 Kiss The Carpet |
| A6 Emma | B6 Body Electric |
Record Two
| C1 First And Last And Always | D1 Possession |
| C2 Body And Soul | D2 Walk Away |
| C3 Train | D3 Burn |
| C4 Marian | D4 Emma |
| C5 No Time To Cry | D5 Amphetamine Logic |
Record Three
| E1 A Rock And A Hard Place | F1 Knockin' On Heaven's Door |
| E2 Floorshow | F2 Sister Ray |
| E3 Alice | F3 Ghost Rider |
| E4 Body Electric | F4 Louie Louie |
| E5 Gimme Shelter |
Additional Pictures
