Peter Murphy: Live In London (2019)

This release -- a deluxe limited edition on triple gatefold ruby red 180g vinyl with booklet -- celebrates the 40th anniversary of Bauhaus, and the concert includes David J on bass. 

It has an epic track list:

Double Dare
In the Flat Field
A God in an Alcove
Dive
The Spy in the Cab
Small Talk Stinks
St. Vitus Dance
Stigmata Martyr
Nerves
King Volcano
Kingdom’s Coming
Burning from the Inside
Silent Hedges
Bela Lugosi’s Dead
She’s in Parties
Adrenalin
Kick in the Eye
The Passion of Lovers
The Three Shadows Part 2
Severance
Telegram Sam
Ziggy Stardust

It has an annoying typo in the insert. Oh well. This was recorded at the Brixton Academy, London. New copies from Live Here Now are available for £45 (about $79 Canadian) plus shipping. On discos, this is going for $120 - $150, plus shipping. 

Most of the clips from that show sound awful but this better-sounding clip will video give you a idea.

Peter Murphy: Wild Birds Live Tour (2015)

I was ecstatic when I found this record languishing in a sale bin in a record store in eastern Ontario some years ago. I could not believe my luck. The price was excellent too, being as it was on sale. But, there is bad news. The sound quality is dismal, making this record sound like a really good bootleg, at best. Why this was released, I will never know. It has a really great track listing and I expected great things.

The record was recorded live at the House of Blues in Los Angeles on April 4, 2000. In the end, I am happy that I paid what I did, and not a penny more. But, I think it should never have been released. I'm not the only person to think this. Have a look at these Amazon reviews, which I read after-the-fact:

"Horrible recording, don't waste your time, it doesn't showcase what an amazing show peter can put on. makes me wonder if this was a sanctioned recording or if someone got a bootleg posted on amazon. wish i could get my money back."

And: 

"I love Peter Murphy's music, but, the quality of this recording is terrible. Please listen before you buy...I wish I had."

Sadly, they are right about this record. Still, I will keep it.

Peter Murphy: Lion (2014)

This double LP deluxe edition contains two tracks not on the standard CD release. I think this album was less favourably-received than the predecessor, but I like it very much. I think it's excellent. Hang Up, especially, is awesome.

Peter Murphy: Ninth (2011)

“The Godfather of Goth” sounds like the genre’s savior here, coming on strong with those Bowie-sized aspirations and nailing that attractive Nosferatu-meets-Art-School style. [source]

Ninth, not surprisingly, is Peter's ninth solo record, if you count the live record). I like it much better than Unshattered, though that is also a great release.

Peter Murphy: Holy Smoke (1992)

A couple of original pressings of this LP fell into my hands over the years but they were always a little bashed up, so I avoided shelling our for them and hoped for a repressing. To be honest this LP was a bit of a letdown after the incredible Deep. Although I had the CD since the day it came out, I hadn't played it for years. Playing this record for the first time bought back some memories, but I will still argue that it is no where near as good as Deep or Cascade, the record that followed. 

However, I do quite like The Sweetest Drop, The Low Room, Hit Song, and Kill the Hate.

Peter Murphy: Cuts You Up (1990)

The US version of this 12" of Cuts You Up. This one has:

Cuts You Up (edit)
Roll Call (Reprise)
Cuts You Up (LP Version)
A Strange Kind of Love (Version II)

Of course, the cover image is taken from Deep.

Peter Murphy: Cuts You Up (1990)

I have two versions of this 12" single. This is the UK version, which has three tracks:

Cuts You Up
A Strange Kind of Love (Version Two)
Roll Call (Reprise)

The first time I hear Version Two of A Strange Kind of Love, I was not impressed. I like it, but the album version has far more power, if you ask me.

Peter Murphy: The Line Between The Devil's Teeth (And That Which Cannot Be Repeat) (1989)

The Line Between The Devil's Teeth (And That Which Cannot Be Repeat) is one of my favourite tracks from Deep. This Canadian 12" single contains four tracks:

1) The Line Between The Devil's Teeth (And That Which Cannot Be Repeat) (Full Length Version)
2) Marleine (sic) Dietrich's Favourite Poem
3) The Line Between The Devil's Teeth (And That Which Cannot Be Repeat) (Album Version)
4) Blind Sublime

By the way, check out this note from Discogs about this release:

Track A2 is written as "Marleine Dietrich's Favourite Poem" on the back cover and insert, but is written as "Marleine Dietrich Favourite Poem" on the record label. However, both are typos, as the track's proper title is "Marlene Dietrich's Favourite Poem"

The record label needs a proofreader.

Peter Murphy: Deep (1989)

I'm not sure I have the words to describe how much I love this record. I love it so much that I have two copies, both Canadian, along with the CD. One I picked up not to long ago for $8! For that price, I could not pass it up. I had recently seen a copy in a shop in Toronto for $60! Another store had a copy going for $40. Talk about price gouging.

I don't think that Murphy ever equaled this record. It's simply fantastic, nearly perfect. The CD has one small advantage over the vinyl, and that is the addition of the Roll Call (Reprise). It's the perfect addition, since I never want that song to end.

My fav song from the record is probably Cuts You Up, but it's really hard to choose. If you plan on buying a Peter Murphy record, this is the one to get. It is his masterpiece.

Peter Murphy: Blilnd Sublime (1988)

This US promotional 12" single contains Blind Sublime (7" Edit-Remix) and Blind Sublime (Dance Remix).

Peter Murphy: Indigo Eyes (1988)

This is a promotional 12" single for Indigo Eyes. The same mix of Indigo Eyes is on both sides, and both sides are labelled as Side A. Tour dates, with The Church, are listed on the back cover.

Peter Murphy: Love Hysteria (1988)

OK, I will admit that I hate one song on this LP, and that song is Fun Time, a tune written by David Bowie and Iggy Pop, and first recorded by Iggy for The Idiot. That version is much much better. The two best songs on Love Hysteria are Indigo Eyes and All Night Long, though there was a time when I thought Socrates The Python was the best thing I had ever heard.

Peter Murphy: Should the World Fail to Fall Apart (1987)

Oddly, this 12" has the same cover as the Canadian pressing of the Blue Heart 12". The only thing changed is the name of the track. I wonder why they reused this image. Anyway, this 12" has Should The World Fail To Fall Apart (Version), Confessions (Remix), and Jemal (Version Two).

Peter Murphy: All Night Long (1988)

Now come hold my hand
No bad vibe hearts
Hold my hand you know
This journey could be long

 I have a copy of this 12" (or EP) on CD as well. There are four tracks: All Night Long, Confession (Live), Blind Sublime, and God Sends (Live). The notes say this:

Tracks A1 & B1 recorded at Jacobs and Abbey Road Studios. Mixed at Abbey Road.
Tracks A2 & B2 recorded live at "The Phantasy Club" Toronto, by CFNY-FM Radio.

That was back in the day when CFNY was the absolute best radio station in the world. That is no longer true.

All Night Long is a fabulous track.

Peter Murphy: Tale Of The Tongue (1986)

On the UK 12" pressing of Tale Of The Tongue you will find the title track and a different version of Should The World Fail To Fall Apart.

Peter Murphy: Blue Heart (1986)

The Canadian release for Blue Heart is really an EP. It contains five tracks:

Blue Heart (Extended Remix Version)
The Light Pours Out Of Me
Blue Heart (7" Version)
Canvas Beauty (Romance Version)
Should The World Fail To Fall Apart (Extended Remix Version)

Peter Murphy: Blue Heart (1986)

This is the original UK 12" pressing of Blue Heart, which has three tracks. They are:

Blue Heart
Blue Heart (Seven Inch Version)
Canvas Beauty (Up Version)

Discogs notes the following, which I had never noticed before: "The B side label incorrectly lists the track order. Blue Heart (7" Mix) is the first track, Canvas Beauty is the second track. The cover lists the correct sequence." TIL.

Peter Murphy: Should the World Fail to Fall Apart (1986)

This is the Canadian Pressing. As I said in the previous post:

"The original UK version is different from the Canadian pressing. I really hate that. The difference, apart of track ordering, is that Canvas Beauty was removed from the Canadian version is preference to Tale of the Tongue. That has never made any sense to me because Canvas Beauty is a much better track"

As you will see, the cover image is the same one used for the UK pressing of Tale of the Tongue.

Peter Murphy: Should the World Fail to Fall Apart (1986)

Peter Murphy's first solo LP, after the collapse of Bauhaus and Dalis Car, contains two cover versions. These are the aforementioned Final Solution and a cover of Magazine's The Light Pours out of Me. Once again, I like Peter's version of the Magazine tune, but the original is so freaking fantastic, it's probably impossible to top it. I don't think anyone could record a better version. It's simply awe-inspiring on so many levels.

Clearly, this record sheds some of the goth feel, or should that read stereotype? This is a solid record, lighter than any Bauhaus outing, but it's really enjoyable. It may not be Bauhaus, but I really like it.

Once again, the record company effed with the track listings. The original UK version is different from the Canadian pressing. I really hate that. The difference, apart of track ordering, is that Canvas Beauty was removed from the Canadian version is preference to Tale of the Tongue. That has never made any sense to me because Canvas Beauty is a much better track. This version is the UK pressing.

Peter Murphy: The Final Solution EP (1985)

For Peter Murphy's first solo single, released in advance of his first solo record -- Should the World Fail to Fall Apart -- he opted to cover a Pere Ubu track. That's tough work, but he managed to do a respectable job. I'm just going to add that it must be difficult to make a cover version your own. As much as I admire Peter's version, the Pere Ubu orignal is better, in my humble opinion.

Any artist who strikes out on a solo career is going to be compared to the band from which they came. As the vocalist for Bauhaus, there were probably some -- perhaps unfair -- expectations. But, I'd say that this first outing is solid.

The Canadian version of this 12" single contains four tracks:

Final Solution (Club Mix)
The Answer is Clear (Version)
Canvas Beauty (The Fast Mix)
Final Solution (Third & Final Mix)