Dave Edmunds: Repeat When Necessary (1979)

A good description of Dave is probably "roots rocker," or some such thing. Repeat When Necessary is a pretty good record, full of some really good cover songs, like Crawling from the Wreckage, penned by Graham Parker and Girls Talk, written by Elvis Costello. I'm not so much of a fan of Queen of Hearts because when I hear it, all I can think of is Juice Newton's version, and that is a bad thing.
I think that the record cover is a bit of a bore.

Eddie And The Cruisers: (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack) (1983)

I suppose this should really be filed under John Cafferty and The Beaver Brown Band, rather than the title of the film, but whatever. I guess I dropped the ball on that one and broke my soundtrack rule, previously described. I've never seen the film and I was surprised to learn (just recently) that a sequel was filmed.

At the time, I seem to recall that John Cafferty was heralded as the new Bruce Springsteen. It certainly seems like the band was attempting to emulate (copy) the sound of the Boss and his band. There is even a sax. In fact, a casual listener might even be convinced that this is Bruce and Co. on Tender Years, an overt and obvious, yet weak, attempt to channel Bruce. Overall, the album is not that great, but maybe if I saw the film, I would change my mind.

Back in the day, a friend of mine (and Springsteen enthusiast) told me emphatically that this record sucked. That should be the last word.

Echo and The Bunnymen: Meteorites (2014)

Suddenly, Echo and The Bunnymen have become Echo and The Bunnymen again after a few years as Echo & The Bunnymen.

I thought the Bunnymen were finished, but suddenly, Meteorites appeared and it turns out to be very good, though perhaps not as good as their 80s stuff. True, Ian McCulloch's voice is a little harsh on this record, but that doesn't seem to interfere with the music. Allmusic says this: "Teeming with giant string arrangements, widescreen vocal production, and songs that hark back to the glory days of Ocean Rain, the album is a mysterious, murky, impressively nostalgic affair." [source] I will have to agree.

Echo & The Bunnymen: BBC Radio Tapes '79 - '80 (2010)

BBC Radio Tapes '79 - '80 is an unofficial (bootleg, in other words) release with a hand silk-screened cover. It was released in 2010 on the Arkain Filloux label from Belgium. It may or may not be a limited edition.  I believe that some versions were released on coloured vinyl.

Evidently, the vinyl revival has meant a bootleg revival. So, you can expect incorrect song titles and mediocre sound quality, especially if the original copy is an MP3 from the floor of a concert or some other dubious source. Occasionally, there are great-sounding boots, and this one sounds pretty good, but it's not perfect. But, if you are a fan of the early Bunnymen, this is an essential item and you should track it down.

Echo & The Bunnymen: Enlighten Me (Extended Remix) (1990)

Echo and the Bunnymen without Ian McCullough is not really Echo and the Bunnymen. But, I have to say that Enlighten Me is a terrific track and Noel Burke puts in a solid vocal performance. Still, it would have been better with Ian. This 12" has two versions of Enlighten Me (the original and the extended), plus a track called Lady Don't Fall Backwards

Echo And The Bunnymen: The Peel Sessions (1988)

There were two pressings of this EP, one of which listed some titles incorrectly. This EP contains four tracks: Read it in Books, Stars are Stars, I Bagsy Yours, and Villiers Terrace. I believe the recordings date to 1979. 

Echo And The Bunnymen: The Pictures On My Wall (1979)

This single, originally released in 1979,  didn't get a 12" pressing until 1991, for some reason. Who knows why? It's not as though vinyl was entering a resurgent phase. The tracks are the same: The Pictures on My Wall b/w Read it in Books.

Echo & The Bunnymen: People Are Strange (1988)

This is a UK 45 RPM 12" single containing a cover of People are Strange, originally from The Doors, plus three live tracks that were recorded in Sweden in 1985. The live tracks are: Paint in Black (a cover of the Rolling Stones tune), Run, Run, Run (a cover of the Velvet Underground track, written by Lou Reed), and Friction (a cover of the Television song, written by Tom Verlaine). So, it's all cover versions.

People are Strange was used, as one can see, in the film, The Lost Boys. Oddly, I have never seen that film. I would also add that People are Strange is the best track on the film's soundtrack.

Echo & The Bunnymen: Bedbugs And Ballyhoo (1987)

This 12" single has 5 tracks:

Bedbugs And Ballyhoo (Club Remix)
Bedbugs And Ballyhoo (LP Version)
Run, Run, Run
Paint It Black
Friction

It's good, of course.

Echo & The Bunnymen: Echo & The Bunnymen (1987)

After releasing four albums between 1980 to 1984, I thought we had seen the last of Echo & The Bunnymen. Happily, they delivered another great record, this time self-titled, for some reason. The Game is a timeless track. Other highlights are Bedbugs and Ballyhoo, Lips Like Sugar, and All in Your Mind. It's a great record. Wikipedia covers the interesting backstory about the development of the record, which is worth reading if you are a fan.

Echo & The Bunnymen: Songs To Learn & Sing (1985)

If you want an excellent introduction to Echo & The Bunnymen, this is the record to get. It's a fabulous compilation of all of the band's singles up to 1985. It contains a new single, the aforementioned Bring on the Dancing Horses. Of course, owning this record will cause you to buy more records by the band because when you hear it, you will want to hear the album tracks.

Echo & The Bunnymen: Bring On The Dancing Horses b/w Bring On The Dancing Horses (Extended Mix) & Over Your Shoulder (1985)

Bring On The Dancing Horses might be be the most recognizable song ever released by Echo and the Bunnymen. This might partly be because the song was used on the Pretty in Pink soundtrack, which is a film I actually saw in the theatre back-in-the-day. It's a pretty good film and the song is very good. It was often played at the club I frequented during my undergrad. Bizarrely, I had never seen this video before now.

Echo & The Bunnymen: Silver (Tidal Wave) (1984)

"Walked on a tidal wave
Laughed in the face of a brand new day"

Sometimes, Discogs lets you down. This is a German pressing that is not listed when last I looked. I know, I could add it...

Anyway, this 12" contains two versions of Silver (the original and the Tidal Wave version - I guess that would be called tsunami these days, but "walked on a tsunami" doesn't sound as good), and Angles and Devils. The sound is a bit wonky in this video:

Echo & The Funnymen: Seven Seas "Life At Brian's - Lean And Hungry" (1984)

As noted in the Discog's page, "This release is exactly the same as the KOW 35T 12 'penguin' Anton Corbijn cover version." In other words, I have two copies of the same release with different covers. This one is the UK version

Echo & The Bunnymen: Seven Seas (1984)

This 5 track EP was released in the heart of the 1980s. 1984 was a transitional year for me, but that's probably another story. Seven Seas is an epic Echo track, presented here with four lives tracks: All You Need is Love (the Beatles tune), The Killing Moon, Stars are Stars, and Villiers Terrace. This Canadian pressing is also known as the Anton Corbin's penguin cover.

Echo & The Bunnymen: Ocean Rain (1984)

If you are Bunnymen fan, then you know that Ocean Rain is "the greatest record ever made."

I find it difficult to choose a favourite song, even my favourite song from one band or one record. Sometimes, the song you are listening to sounds like the best song ever recorded. So, sometimes, I think the best track from Echo & The Bunnymen is The Killing Moon. Other times, I think it is My Kingdom. Certainly, The Killing Moon is grander, more emotional, and maybe just more epic. But, My Kingdom has a certain something that I rally like.

"I chop and I change and the mystery thickens
There's blood on my hands and you want me to listen
To brawn and to brain when the truth's in the middle
Born of the grain like all good riddles

B-b-burn the skin off and climb the roof top
Thy will be done
B-b-bite the nose off and make it the most of
Your king- kingdom kingdom kingdom

You kill when you talk and the enemy weakens
Your words start to walk when you're not even speaking
If my heart is a war its soldiers are bleeding
If my heart is a war its soldiers are dead

B-b-b-burn the skin off and climb the roof top
Thy will be done
B-b-bite the nose off and make it the most of
Your king- kingdom kingdom kingdom


I've lost and I've gained and while I was thinking
You cut off my hands when I wanted to twist
If you know how to dance to Boney Maroney
He's doing the ballet on both of his wrists

B-b-b-burn the skin off and climb the roof top
Thy will be done
B-b-bite the nose off and make it the most of
Your k-k- k- k- k- kingdom, king-k- k- k- k-

B-b-b-burn the skin off and climb the roof top
And I will be done
B-b-bite the nose off and make the most of
Your king- kingdom, kingdom, kingdom

(You're a bitter malignous person)
(And the death is well overdue)
(You suck the blood that kills you)
(You kiss the hand that hates you)

(You're a bitter malignous person)
(And your death is well overdue)
(Your sucking bitter pain)"
 

Ocean Rain contains a bevy of great songs, like the two aforementioned tracks, plus Silver, Seven Seas, Nocturnal Me. I like the album cover.

Echo & The Bunnymen: The Killing Moon b/w The Killing Moon & Do It Clean (All Night Version) (1983)

The Killing Moon is a fantastic song, and a staple of any good night club, oh so many years ago. I have never had any idea of what the song is about, but let's have Ian clear that up for us. In an interview with The Guardian earlier this year. He said:

"I’ve always said that The Killing Moon is the greatest song ever written. I’m sure Paul Simon would be entitled say the same about Bridge Over Troubled Water, but for me The Killing Moon is more than just a song. It’s a psalm, almost hymnal. It’s about everything, from birth to death to eternity and God – whatever that is – and the eternal battle between fate and the human will. It contains the answer to the meaning of life. It’s my 'To be or not to be …'" [source]  

I still don't know what the song means. Sadly, in the same interview, he said: "You don’t dream things like that and remember them. That’s why I’ve always half credited the lyric to God." Yikes, now there's a case of delusion thinking.

Under blue moon I saw you
So soon you'll take me
Up in your arms
Too late to beg you or cancel it
Though I know it must be the killing time
Unwillingly mine

Fate
Up against your will
Through the thick and thin
He will wait until
You give yourself to him

In starlit nights I saw you
So cruelly you kissed me
Your lips a magic world
Your sky all hung with jewels
The killing moon
Will come too soon

Fate
Up against your will
Through the thick and thin
He will wait until
You give yourself to him

Under blue moon I saw you
So soon you'll take me
Up in your arms
Too late to beg you or cancel it
Though I know it must be the killing time
Unwillingly mine

Fate
Up against your will
Through the thick and thin
He will wait until
You give yourself to him

Fate
Up against your will
Through the thick and thin
He will wait until
You give yourself to him
You give yourself to him

La la la la la

Fate
Up against your will
Through the thick and thin
He will wait until 

You give yourself to him

La la la la la

Fate
Up against your will
Through the thick and thin
He will wait until
You give yourself to him

Fate
Up against your will
Through the thick and thin
He will wait until
You give yourself to him

La la la la la

This is a US pressing

Echo And The Bunnymen: Echo And The Bunnymen (1983)

In 1983, the band released this self-titled 5 track EP or mini album of some essential Bunnymen tunes:

Never Stop
Rescue
The Cutter
Back Of Love
Do It Clean (Live)

It's almost like a mini best-of compilation up to that point.

Echo & The Bunnymen: The Cutter (1983)

This is a UK 12" single that contains three tracks: The Cutter, Way Out And Up We Go, and
Zimbo (Live), which was recorded live at the W.O.M.A.D. Festival in July 1982.

Echo & The Bunnymen: Porcupine (1983)

Curiously, the band altered their name by using an ampersand rather than an and. Perhaps this was a graphic design issue. In any case, it didn't affect the music. The third album is more genius. I guess the two most well-known tracks are The Cutter and Back of Love, but the album has lots of great tunes, like Gods Will be Gods, Porcupine, and Ripeness, etc. I have a Canadian pressing.