Can some Spacemen 3 fans help me out?

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They've got so many releases and so many different versions of each release, plus repeated songs across the albums, so can someone help me out and tell me exactly which releases I need to own most of their songs/recorded output?

― Jack Jones, Monday, 1 August 2005 20:54 (twenty years ago)

This would be more fun if the request were non-musical, like if you wanted them to help you fix your car.

― Rockist_Scientist (RSLaRue), Monday, 1 August 2005 20:56 (twenty years ago)

the "official" (ie, released while the band was extant) discography:

Taking Drugs to Make Music to Take Drugs To
The Perfect Prescription
Playing with Fire
Recurring

the rest ranges from great to spotty but is all pretty non-essential.

― Shakey Mo Collier, Monday, 1 August 2005 20:58 (twenty years ago)

Losing My Mind
Taking Drugs To Make Music To Take Drugs To
Perfect Perscription
Playing With Fire
Dreamweapon
Recurring

― Alex in SF (Alex in SF), Monday, 1 August 2005 20:59 (twenty years ago)

Woops I meant Sound of Confusion not Losing My Mind.

― Alex in SF (Alex in SF), Monday, 1 August 2005 21:00 (twenty years ago)

are all those out of print by the way?

― rizzx (rizzx), Monday, 1 August 2005 21:01 (twenty years ago)

Forged Prescriptions is pretty good too actually, but it's probably not essential.

In order I would buy:

1.) Playing With Fire
2.) Perfect Prescription
3.) Taking Drugs To Make Music To Take Drugs To
4.) Dreamweapon
5.) Sound of Confusion
6.) Recurring
7.) Forged Prescriptions

― Alex in SF (Alex in SF), Monday, 1 August 2005 21:03 (twenty years ago)

I think they are all or mostly all available.

― Alex in SF (Alex in SF), Monday, 1 August 2005 21:03 (twenty years ago)

I think they're all in print in a variety of formats...? some of that stuff has been reissued in so many different configurations its hopeless. Recurring is the only one that may be out of print or really hard to find, I would guess....

― Shakey Mo Collier, Monday, 1 August 2005 21:04 (twenty years ago)

Go with the following order:

Perfect Perscription
Playing With Fire
Sound of Confusion

All totally essential and in print as re-issues with bonus tracks.

"Recurring" is also good, but spotty as it's a split album released after Jason and Sonic decided they didn't like each other.

Everything else is pretty much variations on the top three mentioned. Once you've got them, I'd go with "Taking Drugs...", or the more recent "Forged Perscriptions", a 2-disc on SpaceAge Recordings. It's still in print and has some really nice variations and demos that show their range.

― jsoulja (jsoulja), Monday, 1 August 2005 21:08 (twenty years ago)

Yeah, SpaceAge pretty much has everything in print now. Elvis Telecom to thread for more info.

Oddly enough, I only just saw the Spacemen 3 bio for the first time in the UK on my trip. Has it been out for a couple of years now and I just missed it? Any good?

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Monday, 1 August 2005 21:09 (twenty years ago)

Although I should say that "Dreamweapon" is not a variation, but it's own thing entirely. Get it later- it's fantastic, but you've got to be in the mood for *The Drone*....

― jsoulja (jsoulja), Monday, 1 August 2005 21:11 (twenty years ago)

I think pretty much all of them are fairly easy to find.
Though perhaps I should try picking up the remastered ones with extra tracks that came out a few years back.

Just ask Elvis Telecom.

x-post with ned.

― Last Of The Famous International Pfunkboys (Kerr), Monday, 1 August 2005 21:11 (twenty years ago)

Oddly enough, I only just saw the Spacemen 3 bio for the first time in the UK on my trip. Has it been out for a couple of years now and I just missed it? Any good?

Funnily enough Ned I forgot to ask Elvis T about that book we saw.
If it's any good I may pick it up next time i'm in unless I find it cheaper online.

― Last Of The Famous International Pfunkboys (Kerr), Monday, 1 August 2005 21:13 (twenty years ago)

Wait- there's a bio? Ned, who published this?

Shout out to ya, too- haven't seen/spoken to you since the Dizzee show...

― jsoulja (jsoulja), Monday, 1 August 2005 21:13 (twenty years ago)

that bio is fairly new, just out a few months I think. I haven't read it and have low expectations. tho if I see it in a US shop (not fuckin likely) I'll probly buy it.

― Shakey Mo Collier, Monday, 1 August 2005 21:14 (twenty years ago)

I'm sure the book we saw was dated for something like 2003. I forget who the author was.

― Last Of The Famous International Pfunkboys (Kerr), Monday, 1 August 2005 21:15 (twenty years ago)

This is it
http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/ASIN/0711996024/qid%3D1122934582/202-5274724-8740606

And its £5 cheaper than it was in Glasgow.

― Last Of The Famous International Pfunkboys (Kerr), Monday, 1 August 2005 21:16 (twenty years ago)

Shout out to ya, too- haven't seen/spoken to you since the Dizzee show...

Hey yeah, that's right. Y'all need to come to FAPs.

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Monday, 1 August 2005 21:18 (twenty years ago)

I'd get Perfect Prescription first. Then--if you like the more claustrophobic stuff, like "Things'll Never Be The Same" best--Playing With Fire. Then Sound of Confusion.

If you prefer the more limpid stuff--"Transparent Radiation"--then I'd get Recurring (which is f'ing great, unfairly maligned) BEFORE PWF and Sound of Confusion. But you're gonna want 'em all, if you want any.

If you really like Perfect Prescription, you should also get Forged Prescriptions (the outtakes set from that, best of the posthumous/not-so-official stuff.) And if you like "Repeater," off Playing With Fire, then you should certainly get Dreamweapon, since it's essentially 45 minutes of "Repeater" without vocals.

― dark Horse, Monday, 1 August 2005 21:20 (twenty years ago)

just finished that bio and it's good, very detailed and gives a lot of insight on their struggles on personal levels. with a lot of comments from everyone involved. really nice read

― rizzx (rizzx), Monday, 1 August 2005 21:22 (twenty years ago)

I can't remember which other Spacemen 3 thread I've posted on, so I'll just link to them...

Spacemen 3...Do i need to have some of their music??
A Spacemen 3 re-evaluation
Spacemen 3 - classic or unutterably shite?
Spacemen 3 - Recurring C/D
Where to start on Spacemen 3
Spacemen 3 -- "Forged Prescriptions" -- worth it?
Spacemen 3 "NANCY REAGAN MAINLINE" bootleg

― Elvis Telecom (Chris Barrus), Tuesday, 2 August 2005 00:30 (twenty years ago)

The bio is coming out in the US in September.

― Jeff Wright (JeffW1858), Tuesday, 2 August 2005 00:34 (twenty years ago)

There are a couple of missing items in the short-hand discography above. There's the 3 12" singles on Glass which have been compiled together on the "Translucent Flashbacks" CD.

There are two live albums: "Performance" from 1988 (the Taang version of this has the complete show) and then "Live In Europe: 1989" (which Bomp released as "Spacemen Are Go!"). Get the Space Age Recordings version of "Live In Europe" and you're good to go there.

Basically the rule of thumb is to get the Space Age Recordings version of anything. For "Sound Of Confusion," "Perfect Prescription," and "Translucent Flashbacks" get the Fire versions. And if you want "Performance," get the Taang version.

― Elvis Telecom (Chris Barrus), Tuesday, 2 August 2005 00:44 (twenty years ago)

Get Playing With Fire, but then get a Loop album and see which you prefer.

― Sasha (sgh), Tuesday, 2 August 2005 00:59 (twenty years ago)

The Taang versions are indeed horrible, but they are the easiest ones to get. The Taang version of Perfect Prescription is the worst, with it's gap between Ecstasy Symphony and Transparent Radiation. I returned this about 4 times before I gave up, realizing that Taang just plain sucks. Forged Prescriptsions might be my favorite of the extra releases.

Sonic is releasing a 2 CD-R set called "How The Blues Shoulda Turned Out." Only 100 are being made, sold only through Space Age for forty pounds plush s&h. Forty pounds for two CD-R's!!!! Ack. He says it will help fund the recording of the new Spectrum album.... Here's more info from Sonic hisself:

Hey folks
here's the trax for the 2 cd's. they're both around an hour + long. there are also sleevenotes for each track that'll come with the cd's.

I hope its interesting to folk. I had forgotten some of the things we used to do & it was quite a trip back going thru all this stuff.
I went thru about 100 trax to narrow it down to a slightly more reasonable number which Mark helped me get down to this.

the cd's are pretty chronological, so the best quality stuff is on cd 2, which is pretty high quality sound throughout now, though only 1 live tape was used -all the rest were from rehearsals & are better quality. No yabber yabber going on thru-out etc. I tweaked all the stuff in a studio, removing hiss & improving the balance on a few.

later on a couple of the songs (these blues & what you needed me to be) were from Jason & my own pre-studio demos done on our little 4-track machines.

I'm running a little overtime on the thing, though its literally days away from being ready to send. I've had to prioritise a remix for the rather excellent Magnetophone (4 AD) which is needed for the 1st of August .

OK - so, here you go.
pk

cd 1
T.V. Eye '84
Blow My Top '84
Funhouse '84
By The River '84
Hey Man '85
Things'll Never Be The Same '85
Ode To Street Hassle '86
Little Doll '86
Mary-Anne '86
2.35 '87
Rollercoaster '86

cd 2
Walkin' With Jesus '87
Transparent Radiation '87
Starship '87
O.D. Catastrophe '87
Modulated 2 Tone '87
Song No 5 '87
What U Needed Me To Be '88
Tremelo Experiment w/ Drum Machine '87
These Blues '89
Song No 7 '89
Transparent Radiation '87

― Joseph Cowart (Joseph Cowart), Tuesday, 2 August 2005 01:07 (twenty years ago)

everyone is wrong by placing recurring so far down the priority list as it's the best record by spacemen 3 or maybe just my favorite but sonic has never been better than on here. playing with fire is way overpraised but the three jason songs will amke you cry. perfect prescription is the second best album but i think after recurring you should get the singles compilation and then perfect prescription. i've never heard the first sonic solo record with the liquid cover, will it ever be reissued?

― keith m (keithmcl), Tuesday, 2 August 2005 01:10 (twenty years ago)

Here's a repost of my handy:

2xCD80 'portable' Spacemen go!

disc1 (79:32)

Take Me To the Other Side
Walking With Jesus
Ode to Street Hassle
Ecstasy Symphony/Transparent Radiation
Feel So Good
Things'll Never Be the Same
Call the Doctor
Roller Coaster (17:38 vers.)
Come Together (from Performance)
So Hot (Wash Away All of My Tears)
Revolution
Lord Can You Hear Me
Hypnotised

disc2 (78:07)

Losing Touch With My Mind
Come Down Easy
That's Just Fine
Mary-Anne (from Performance)
Walking With Jesus (from Performance)
Honey
Come Down Softly to My Soul
Suicide
Big City
Just to See You Smile (instrumental)
When Tomorrow Hits
Feel So Sad (reprise)
Feelin' Just Fine (alternative mix)
Anyway that You Want Me

(each disc itself is vaguely chronological. There are two discs because their songs are so damn long. Most of 'Perfect Prescription' is here. Tracks are from the regular studio albums except where noted. Also it leans a bit towards Jason's stuff and includes that last track...)

― Spencer Chow (spencermfi), Tuesday, 2 August 2005 01:20 (twenty years ago)

i've never heard the first sonic solo record with the liquid cover, will it ever be reissued?

None of the three Silvertone albums (Sonic's "Spectrum" album, and the two Spectrum albums) are going to be reissued anytime soon. Silvertone still has the rights to them.

― Elvis Telecom (Chris Barrus), Tuesday, 2 August 2005 02:39 (twenty years ago)

1.) Perfect Prescription
2.) Playing With Fire

I'd start with these two, their finest recordings for my money, and enough to give you a good introduction to their music. Give them a *thorough* listen, take your time. These are exceptionally beautiful records that repay repeated listening. Then, and only then, would I suggest trying:

3.) Recurring
4.) Sound of Confusion
5.) Taking Drugs To Make Music To Take Drugs To
6.) Forged Prescriptions

― stevo (stevo), Tuesday, 2 August 2005 03:58 (twenty years ago)

Just buy some Hawkwind, they wrote songs

― zdsgiuhbsdoifgbsaduivfbgsadufvsd, Tuesday, 2 August 2005 06:01 (twenty years ago)

I'm no good at fixing cars. Fixing broken amps and tremolo pedals, yes, but cars no.

― Masonic Boom (kate), Tuesday, 2 August 2005 07:14 (twenty years ago)

My perfect prescription's knackered, i'll need to get hold of a new one. I've already got 'playing with fire'on vinyl and cd.

― leigh (leigh), Tuesday, 2 August 2005 15:00 (twenty years ago)

three years pass...

Sonic is releasing a 2 CD-R set called "How The Blues Shoulda Turned Out."

I stumbled upon this on the 'net, I had no idea this existed until today. Disc 1 is pretty solid, particularly the brutally raw (in a good way) "Hey Man/Things'll Never Be the Same". Haven't heard Disc 2 yet ...

― NoTimeBeforeTime, Sunday, 19 April 2009 23:31 (sixteen years ago)

there's a kinda nice jason demo of these blues (but not as good as the really fuzzy one on the recurring boot). i couldn't really give that comp a chance because it was such a sketchy hustle by sonic: forty pounds for two cd-rs. mmmmm.

― corps of discovery (schlump), Monday, 20 April 2009 01:21 (sixteen years ago)

earworm/great pop supplement are doing a double vinyl of it which will most likely be quite a bit cheaper

― pale spector (electricsound), Monday, 20 April 2009 01:22 (sixteen years ago)

actually sorry that's a separate album - "dj tones"

― pale spector (electricsound), Monday, 20 April 2009 01:24 (sixteen years ago)

Young Moss Tongues blog has the 2CDR for download at the moment. Since it was ultra-limited edition anyway, I don't feel too guilty.

― dlp9001, Monday, 20 April 2009 01:27 (sixteen years ago)

I also found the mp3s on a blog ... but if there really were only 100 copies made, then that's a nice collector's item to have, even if the price is steep for the amount of music you're getting.

― NoTimeBeforeTime, Monday, 20 April 2009 12:33 (sixteen years ago)

Even if the sound quality is brutal is places, I'm a lot more interested in hearing early S3 rehearsals/demos than latter-day drone/ambient jam #8492A. Sonic became a lot better with that stuff later on with EAR.

― NoTimeBeforeTime, Monday, 20 April 2009 12:37 (sixteen years ago)

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