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An Annotated Discography:
Works by Echo and the Bunnymen, Ian McCulloch, Will Sergeant, Electrafixion and Glide
I. Albums, Singles and Eps:
1978 - 1984 1985 - 1993 1994 - 1999 2000 -
II. Participation on Works by Other Artists
III. A Few Interesting Compilations
IV. Abbreviations Used, Notes on Sources and Other Folderol
To search this page, use the "Find (on This Page)" option on your browser's Edit menu. You must be exact (no extra spaces or misspellings).
I. Albums, Singles and Eps:
1978 - 1984
WEIRD AS FISH
[Will Sergeant; ep; ca. 1978-9; cs/cd]
NOTES: The originals were hand colored by Will Sergeant, and he only made seven of them. WEIRD AS FISH had its large-scale debut paired with LE VIA LUONGE on Ochre Records in 2003.
cd: Ochre OCH033LCD
The Pictures on My Wall
[Echo and the Bunnymen; single; May 5th, 1979; 7"/cd]
1. The Pictures on My Wall [2:52]
2. Read It in Books [2:59]
NOTES: The early Bunnymen configuration of Ian McCulloch, Will Sergeant, Les Pattinson and drum machine Echo released the band's first record on McCulloch's 20th birthday. (They had previously contributed the song "Monkeys" to a local compilation album.) Human drummer Pete de Freitas joined the group in September, 1979. Ian McCulloch and Julian Cope share songwriting credits on "Read It in Books". Iconography note: the cover art features that figure of newly-minted legend and allegory, the Bunnygod.
vl: Zoo Cage 004/cd: Document DC3; Griffin Music GCD466-2 (US -- October 16th, 1995)
Rescue
[Echo and the Bunnymen; single; May 5th, 1980; 7"]
1.Rescue
2.Simple Stuff
NOTES: Ian McCulloch has said of this Bunnymen signature song: "I think 'Rescue' has a good lyric. And if anything, if any one song would fit with the lyrics I write now, it's that." [INTERVIEW cd London LIFE9; March, 1999]
vl: Korova KOW 1; Korova U18220 (Italian)
Rescue
[Echo and the Bunnymen; single; May 5th, 1980; 12"]
1. Rescue
2. Simple Stuff
3. Pride
NOTES: "Peter" and "Julie", cited in "Pride", are Ian McCulloch's brother and sister.
vl: Korova KOW 1T
CROCODILES
[Echo and the Bunnymen; album; July 18th, 1980; vl/cs/cd]
1. Going Up [3:57]
2. Stars Are Stars [2:45]
3. Pride [2:41]
4. Monkeys [2:49]
5. Crocodiles [2:38]
6. Rescue [4:26]
7. Villiers Terrace [2:44]
8. The Pictures on My Wall [2:52]
9. All That Jazz [2:46]
10. Happy Death Men [4:56]
NOTES: Brian Griffin photographed the first of four remarkable album covers. The Bunnymen's irrepressible manager Bill Drummond concocted a tale worthy of Tennyson to go with them. Each cover, he said, symbolized a stage in the quest for the perfect knowledge of the Bunnygod. This personage, according to Drummond, appears in shadow form on the cover of CROCODILES -- in the tree, apparently. The album was produced by Drummond and David Balfe (as 'The Chameleons') and Ian Broudie of The Lightning Seeds. Linguistics note: 'Bagsy', a British slang word used in "Monkeys", translates as 'I fancy that', 'I'll have that one' or 'I get first dibs on that'. A soul-wrenching scream punctuates "Happy Death Men". "That's me, getting pissed off", Will Sergeant told an interviewer. [GUITAR MAGAZINE; March, 2004] "Stars Are Stars" is the first of many Ian McCulloch lyrics to use 'star' imagery. The British edition of CROCODILES included a free 7" single (Korova SAM 128) of "Do It Clean"/"Read It in Books". The cassette edition included two extra tracks, "Read It in Books" and "The Puppet". The US and Japanese editions place tracks in a different order:
1. Going Up
2. Do It Clean
3. Stars Are Stars
4. Pride
5. Monkeys
6. Crocodiles
7. Rescue
8. Villiers Terrace
9. Read It in Books
10. Pictures on My Wall
11. All That Jazz
12. Happy Death Men
and include "Do It Clean" and "Read It in Books".
vl: Korova KODE 1; Sire SRK 6096 (US)/cs: Sire M5S 6096 (US -- 1988)/cd: Sire 6096-2 (US -- October 25th, 1990); WEA Music KK WMC5-54 (Japanese)
The re-mastered CROCODILES (November 3rd, 2003) follows the British track order, with 'bonus tracks':
11. Do It Clean [2:49]
12. Read It in Books [2:34]
13. Simple Stuff [2:38]
14. Villiers Terrace (early version) [3:08]
15. Pride (early version) [2:54]
16. Simple Stuff (early version) [2:37]
17. Crocodiles (live) [5:09]
18. Zimbo (live) [3:36]
19. All That Jazz (live) [2:53]
20. Over the Wall (live) [5:28]
The last four songs comprise the SHINE SO HARD ep (recorded live at the Pavilion Gardens, Buxton, on January 17th, 1981), and mark its cd debut. The 'early versions' were previously unreleased.
cd: Warner 2564611612 (British); Rhino Records 61161 (US -- January 27th, 2004); Warner Japan WPCR-11811 (Japanese -- 2004)
The Puppet
[Echo and the Bunnymen; single; September 14th, 1980; 7"]
1. The Puppet
2. Do It Clean
NOTES: The title track didn't make it to an album (except on a cassette edition of CROCODILES) until 1985's SONGS TO LEARN AND SING.
vl: Korova KOW 11
SHINE SO HARD: EXCERPTS FROM THE ORIGINAL SOUNDTRACK
[Echo and the Bunnymen; ep; April 10th, 1981; 12"/cs]
1. Crocodiles
2. All That Jazz
3. Zimbo
4. Over the Wall
NOTES: The Bunnymen recorded SHINE SO HARD live at the Pavilion Gardens, Buxton, on January 17th, 1981. The event held a 'mystery tour' flavor; concert-goers received maps or were driven to the site by bus. A 35-minute feature film, paired with LE VIA LUONGE (which chronicled the band's 1981 summer European tour) made the rounds of a few art houses and went to video. The New Zealand edition of this ep switches the order of tracks 2 and 3.
vl: Korova Echo 1; WEA MX 214362 (New Zealand)/cs: Korova Echo 1M
HEAVEN UP HERE
[Echo and the Bunnymen; album; May 30th, 1981; vl/cs/cd]
1. Show of Strength [4:50]
2. With a Hip [4:15]
3. Over the Wall [5:55]
4. It Was a Pleasure [3:10]
5. A Promise [4:05]
6. Heaven Up Here [3:40]
7. The Disease [2:25]
8. All My Colours [4:05]
9. No Dark Things [4:25]
10. Turquoise Days [3:50]
11. All I Want [4:05]
NOTES: Brian Griffin's cover photograph shows the band ranged along a darkening beach near Porthcawl, Wales. Songsmithing note: the talismanic "zimbo, zimbo, zimbo …." chant in "All My Colours" began life as "Jimbo ….", a reference to Jim Morrison. The song "Turquoise Days" lends its title to a 2002 Bunnymen biography by Chris Adams.
vl: Korova KODE 3; Sire SRK 3569 (US - June 24th, 1981)/cs: Sire M5S 3569 (US -- 1988)/cd: Sire 3569-2 (US -- 1988)
The re-mastered HEAVEN UP HERE (November 3rd, 2003) adds 'bonus tracks':
12. Broke My Neck (long version) [7:17]
13. Show of Strength (live) [4:39]
14. The Disease (live) [1:53]
15. All I Want (live) [3:09]
16. Zimbo (live) [3:52]
The last four are live, previously unreleased tracks from a performance at the Manley Vale Hotel in Sydney, Australia in November, 1981.
cd: Warner 2564611622; Rhino Records 61162 (US); Warner Japan WPCR-11812 (Japanese)
A Promise
[Echo and the Bunnymen; single; July 10th, 1981; 7"]
1. A Promise
2. Broke My Neck (live)
NOTES: "A Promise" weaves together the often-used McCulloch imagery of water, light and motion.
vl: Korova KOW 15
A Promise
[Echo and the Bunnymen; single; July 10th, 1981; 12"]
1. A Promise
2. Broke My Neck (extended version)
NOTES: "We always used to listen to the backing tracks of "A Promise" whenever we had a spare five minutes", Ian McCulloch told MELODY MAKER magazine; "And one time we stuck it on, and I was sitting here and I was just really sad, and I was nearly crying. I dunno why. I was maybe thinking about something that I shouldn't have been. And I said, 'I want to do it now', and I legged in." [quoted in Fletcher, NEVER STOP, pg. 47]
vl: Korova KOW 15T
Over the Wall
[Echo and the Bunnymen; single (Australian); 1981; 7"]
1. Over the Wall
2. Crocodiles
NOTES: There is no picture sleeve.
vl: WEA 100174
THEMES FOR GRIND
[Will Sergeant; album; March, 1982; vl/cd]
1. Scene I [1:58]
2. Scene II [3:57]
3. Scene III [3:32]
4. Scene IV [3:49]
5. Scene V [4:48]
6. Scene VI [4:10]
7. Scene VII [5:43]
8. Scene VIII [5:14]
9. Scene IX [5:10]
10. Scene X [4:43]
NOTES: This came on Will Sergeant's own 92 Happy Customers label. Released on cd in a limited run in 1997, it then included the single "Favourite Branches".
vl: 92 Happy Customers HAPSLP001/cd: 92 Happy Customers HAPSCD001
Favourite Branches
[Will Sergeant; single; June, 1982; 7"]
1. Favourite Branches
2. Himalaya (by Shankar and Bill Loveday)
NOTES: WEA K19238 09
The Back of Love
[Echo and the Bunnymen; single; May 21st, 1982; 7"]
1. The Back of Love
2. The Subject
NOTES: Ian Broudie, under the nom de guerre 'Kingbird', produced this -- the Bunnymen's first Top Twenty single.
vl: Korova KOW 24; WEA 100212
The Back of Love
[Echo and the Bunnymen; single May 21st, 1982; 12"]
1. The Back of Love
2. The Subject
3. Fuel
NOTES: The cover art is a painting titled The Promise, by British artist Henry Scott Tuke (1858-1929). Tuke is best known for his depictions of nude boys on beaches. The Promise is in the Walker Art Gallery in Liverpool
vl: Korova KOW 24T
INTERVIEW PICTURE DISCS
[Echo and the Bunnymen; interview; 1983; 7" (2)]
NOTES: This set of two 7" records features pictures of the band in an outdoor setting, with rocks and trees and such. It was recorded in January, 1983. Each disc contains half the interview, and is the same on both sides. 'McCulloch' is misspelled 'McCullough'.
vl: ECHO 1
THE ORIGINAL JOHN PEEL SESSION FEATURING ECHO, AUGUST, 1979
[Echo and the Bunnymen; cassette single; January 14th, 1983; cs]
1. The Cutter
2. Villiers Terrace
3. Ashes to Ashes (Stars Are Stars)
4. Monkeys
5. Read it in Books
NOTES: Influential dj John Peel (1939 -2004) showcased quality bands on his BBC Radio 1 show for over three decades, from 1967 until his death, in October, 2004. This 'cassingle' came free with the 7" The Cutter release. ("The Cutter" is a new song, not one of the 1979 ones.) Echo the drum machine took part in these Peel sessions.
cs: Korova KOW 26C
The Cutter
[Echo and the Bunnymen; single; January 14th, 1983; 7"]
1. The Cutter
2. Way Out and Up We Go
NOTES: "The Cutter" gave the Bunnymen their first Top Ten single. Some copies came with a free cassette of the John Peel Session of August, 1979 (Korova KOW 26C).
vl: Korova KOW 26
The Cutter
[Echo and the Bunnymen; single; January 14th, 1983; 12"]
1. The Cutter
2. Way Out and Up We Go
3. Zimbo
NOTES: "Zimbo" was recorded live with the Royal Burundi Drummers at the WOMAD Festival, July 17th, 1982. This record includes a free poster.
vl: Korova KOW 26T; Sire 29664 (US - March 23rd, 1983)
Heads Will Roll
[Echo and the Bunnymen; unreleased single; summer, 1983; 7” ]
1. Heads Will Roll
2. It Was a Pleasure
3. Villiers Terrace (remake)
NOTES: This was never released (the Bunnymen insisted upon a non-album single), but an apparent test pressing has turned up on Ebay.
Korova KOW 27 [Korova catalog listings show this number as unused]
Rescue
[Echo and the Bunnymen; promotional-only single; January, 1983; 7"]
1. Rescue
2. Never Stop
3. The Cutter
NOTES: vl: Korova SAM271
PORCUPINE
[Echo and the Bunnymen; album; February 4th, 1983; vl/cs/cd]
1. The Cutter [3:50]
2. The Back of Love [3:13]
3. My White Devil [4:32]
4. Clay [4:07]
5. Porcupine [5:55]
6. Heads Will Roll [3:29]
7. Ripeness [4:50]
8. Higher Hell [4:59]
9. Gods Will be Gods [5:18]
10. In Bluer Skies [4.26]
NOTES: The Bunnymen tread single file along the ledge of a frozen Icelandic waterfall in Brian Griffin's downright dangerous-looking cover shot. Ian McCulloch has described PORCUPINE as "needlework". In contrast with its two predecessors, the writing and recording moved with glacial slowness. Name-check note: the 'Shankar' credited with playing strings here is Lakshmi Narayana Shankar, not Ravi Shankar of Beatles fame. Initial copies of PORCUPINE came with a free cassette of the John Peel sessions of August, 1979 (Korova KOW 26C).
vl: Korova KODE 6; Sire 1-23770 (US -- February 23rd, 1983); Warner P-11288 (Japanese)/cs: Sire 23770-4/cd: WEA 2292-40027-2 (German)
The re-mastered PORCUPINE (November 3rd, 2003) adds 'bonus tracks':
11. Fuel [4:05]
12. The Cutter (alternate version) [4:08]
13. My White Devil (alternate version) [5:03]
14. Porcupine (alternate version) [4:04]
15. Ripeness (alternate version) [4:42]
16. Gods Will be Gods (alternate version) [5:31]
17. Never Stop (Discotheque) [4:45]
cd: Warner 2564611632;Rhino Records 61163 (US -- January 27th, 2004); Warner Japan WPCR-11813 (Japanese - 2004)
Never Stop
[Echo and the Bunnymen; single; July 8th, 1983; 7"]
1. Never Stop
2. Heads Will Roll
NOTES: Tony Fletcher's excellent 1987 biography of Echo and the Bunnymen takes its title from "Never Stop".
vl: Korova KOW 28
Never Stop
[Echo and the Bunnymen; single; July 8th, 1983; 12"]
1. Never Stop (Discotheque)
2. Heads Will Roll (Summer version)
3. The Original Cutter - A Drop in the Ocean
NOTES: There is also a Japanese 7" (P-1807), which backs the title track with "The Original Cutter - A Drop in the Ocean".
vl: Korova KOW 28T; Sire 20148 (US); Korova MS249711-0 (Spanish)
The Killing Moon
[Echo and the Bunnymen; single; January 20th, 1984; 7"]
1. The Killing Moon [5:45
2. Do It Clean [2:44]
NOTES: In a fine demonstration of the creative power of the subconscious, Ian McCulloch woke up one day with the chorus of "The Killing Moon" running through his head. [] Brian Griffin directed "The Killing Moon" video.
vl: Korova KOW 32; WEA 24 95367 (Canadian and German); Korova 249536-7 (Italian)
The Killing Moon
[Echo and the Bunnymen; single; January 20th, 1984; 12"]
1. The Killing Moon (All Night version) [9:12]
2. The Killing Moon [5:46]
3. Do It Clean (live) [6:38]
NOTES: "Do It Clean" was recorded live at the Royal Albert Hall, London, on July 18th, 1983.
vl: Korova KOW 32T; Sire 0-20203 (US)
ECHO AND THE BUNNYMEN
[Echo and the Bunnymen; ep; February, 1984; 12"]
1. Never Stop [4:44]
2. Rescue [4:30]
3.The Cutter [3:55]
4. The Back of Love [3:12]
5. Do It Clean (live) [5:36]
NOTES: "Do It Clean" was recorded live at the Royal Albert Hall, London, July 18th, 1983. Sentimental note: this was the first Bunnymen record bought by the compiler of this discography, and as such holds an honored place.
vl: Sire 1-23987(US); Korova 9239871 (Canadian); WEA P-6195 (Japanese)
Silver
[Echo and the Bunnymen; single; April 13th, 1984; 7"]
1. Silver
2. Angels and Devils
NOTES: Ian McCulloch has spoken of "Angels and Devils" as his favorite b-side.
vl: Korova KOW 34
Silver
[Echo and the Bunnymen; single; April 13th, 1984; 12"]
1. Silver (Tidal Wave)
2. Silver
3. Angels and Devils
NOTES: The 'tidal wave' is a long and lively orchestral introduction.
vl: Korova KOW 34T
OCEAN RAIN
[Echo and the Bunnymen; album; May 4th, 1984; vl/cs/cd]
1. Silver [3.18]
2. Nocturnal Me [4:56]
3. Crystal Days [2:24]
4. The Yo-Yo Man [3:09]
5. Thorn of Crowns [4:50]
6. The Killing Moon [5;45]
7. Seven Seas [3;18]
8. My Kingdom [4:03]
9. Ocean Rain [5:10]
NOTES: In search of sympathetic 'vibes', the Bunnymen headed for Paris and the venerable Les Studio des Dames to record OCEAN RAIN. Bucking the trends of their times, they insisted upon live orchestral accompaniment. "In the '80s," Ian McCulloch explained later, "we didn't want to use loads of synths that we knew would date very quickly. We went to Paris to do strings with a proper orchestra. That was what we had always felt was best." [Interview with Paul Zach; October 24th, 1997] Legend holds that McCulloch convinced record company executives that he could sing better in Paris. This thesis remains, alas, unproven. The band ran out of time and returned to Britain to record the vocals. They ventured onto an underground Cornish lake for Brian Griffin's haunting cover photograph. Truth-in-packaging note: Warner advertised OCEAN RAIN as "the greatest album ever made".
vl: Korova KODE 8; Sire 1-25084 (US -- May 14th, 1984); WEA P-11480 (Japanese)/cs: Sire 25084-4 (US)/cd: Sire 25084-2 (US); WEA Korova 240388-2 (German)
The re-mastered OCEAN RAIN (November 3rd, 2003) adds 'bonus tracks':
10. Angels and Devils [4:24]
11. All You Need is Love [6:45]
12. The Killing Moon (alternate version) [3:27]
13. Stars Are Stars (alternate version) [3:05]
14. Villiers Terrace (alternate version) [6:00]
15. Silver (alternate version) [3:25]
16. My Kingdom (live) [3:58]
17. Ocean Rain (live) [5:18]
"All You Need is Love", "The Killing Moon", "Stars Are Stars" and "Villiers Terrace" comprise the LIFE AT BRIAN'S material discussed below, and here make their cd debut. "Silver", another remnant of "Life at Brian's", has not been previously released in any format. Neither have these recordings of "My Kingdom" and "Ocean Rain", live tracks from the May 12th, 1984 'Crystal Day' concert at King George Hall, Liverpool. (A product of Bill Drummond's fertile mind, the Crystal Day celebrated life in Liverpool and things Bunny. Participants began with a mandatory breakfast at Brian's diner. Events included a bicycle tour with the route laid out in the shape of the Bunnygod; a ferry ride; a banana fight; and a choir recital at the Cathedral. The Bunnymen took to the stage in the evening.)
cd: Warner 2564611652; Rhino Records 61165 (US -- January 27th, 2004); Warner Japan WPCR-11814 (Japanese - 2004)
Seven Seas
[Echo and the Bunnymen; single; July 6th, 1984; 7"]
1. Seven Seas [3:18]
2. All You Need is Love [6:34]
NOTES: Will Sergeant plays the sitar on "All You Need is Love", a Lennon/McCartney cover recorded live in Liverpool Cathedral for the Play at Home tv show's "Life at Brian's" documentary. Penguins grace the record sleeve. Anton Corbijn's "Seven Seas" video casts Will as a fish, Les as a penguin and Ian as a French 'lady of easy virtue'.
vl: Korova KOW 35; Sire 29288 (US - August 8th, 1984); WEA 7-249321 (Australian); WEA P-1896 (Japanese)
Seven Seas
[Echo and the Bunnymen; single; July 6th, 1984; 12"]
1. Seven Seas [3:17]
2. All You Need is Love [6:38]
3. The Killing Moon [3:18]
4. Stars Are Stars [3:05]
5. Villiers Terrace [6:52]
NOTES: The last four tracks were recorded live in Liverpool for the Play at Home tv show's "Life at Brian's" documentary. There is also a US promotional-only 12" (Sire PRO-A-2164) backing "Seven Seas" with "Silver".
vl: Korova KOW 35T; Korova 24 93200 (Canadian)
LIFE AT BRIAN'S -- LEAN AND HUNGRY
[Echo and the Bunnymen; single set; July 6th, 1984; 7" (2)]
1. Seven Seas
2. All You Need is Love
3. The Killing Moon
4. Stars Are Stars
5. Villiers Terrace
NOTES: This is a numbered, limited edition double pack of the title track plus songs recorded live for the Play at Home tv show. Brian was the owner of a Liverpool diner frequented by the Bunnymen, and the show chronicles a day in his life, with musical interludes by the Bunnymen. Lyrics note: "The Killing Moon" features some different, apparently adlibbed lines, and "Villiers Terrace" has a few Liverpool football references thrown in.
vl: Korova 35F
September Song
[Ian McCulloch; single; December 7th, 1984; 7"]
1. September Song
2. Cockles and Mussels
NOTES: Yes, "Cockles and Mussels" is the traditional song with 'Molly Malone', 'alive alive-o' and all the rest of it. "September Song" is a cover of the Frank Sinatra hit (written by Maxwell Anderson and Kurt Weill). "Me mum really likes it, and me dad really liked it. You know - please the older people." - Ian McCulloch [interview with Jack Rabid] 1989
vl: Korova KOW 40
September Song
[Ian McCulloch; single; December 7th, 1984; 10"]
1. September Song (78 rpm version)
2. September Song (long version)
3. Cockles and Mussels
NOTES: This has no picture sleeve. But the 'A' side plays at 78 rpm!
vl: Korova KOW 40L
September Song
[Ian McCulloch; single; December 7th, 1984; 12"]
1. September Song (long version)
2. September Song (short version)
3. Cockles and Mussels
NOTES: This does have a picture sleeve. It also includes a poster version of the picture which is on the cover of the 7". "Help by Hart", listed on the back, is not a song; just a technical credit.
vl: Korova KOW 40T
1978 - 1984 1985 - 1993 1994 - 1999 2000 - Participation on Works by Other Artists A Few Interesting Compilations Abbreviations Used, Notes on Sources and Other Folderol
Additions, corrections and emendations warmly received and greatly appreciated:
Kristin F. Smith
blinfool@wyomail.com
October 11th, 2004
This page last updated July 24th, 2006
Echo and the Bunnymen, Ian McCulloch and Electrafixion: Album Reviews (off-site link)
The Bunnymen Concert Log: A comprehensive, annotated listing of concert dates, venues and set lists for Echo and the Bunnymen, Ian McCulloch and Electrafixion (off-site link)
The Songwriter As Poet: Ian McCulloch and the Pre-Raphaelite Tradition (off-site link)
Bunnymen.info - The (Unofficial) News Source (off-site link, run by Charles Pham)
Aldems' Political Quotations: Apt and Otherwise
Dilettantes-At-Large
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