Agreed - 'A Song for Departure' always struck me as the obvious single that never came from Lifeblood.

Since SATT, I've resented the single choices ( as made by the band or record company or both). They essentially want to seesay "Look this band is still making songs like EMG and DFL, and you liked those didn't you!" rather than opting for songs that might widen the band's fan base. If you never listen to the albums, you'd just assume that the band are putting out the same record time and time again. I don't believe they do, but when you see singles like "It's not war", "International Blue" and "Indian Summer", I'd forgive someone for not giving the band the benefit of the doubt. I wish the third single would be reserved for some of the more heavy or experimental tracks which showcase either the band's creative edge or musicianship rather than repeating the same message with diminishing returns.

"It's not War" is probably their worst ever single, never mind it being the lead single! Another DFL rehash. They really did miss a big song for PFAYM. But even a fantastic lead single wouldn't have saved it. Their worst ever album surely?

Wasn't Patrick Bateman supposed to be both on the album AND a single?

This may be a false memory, but I'm sure I read this somewhere (Simon Price's "Everything", think).

Yup, first track debuted during the ass end of the GT tour (same night as the Freddie Mercury rant). It may have been planned as a standalone single but not sure.

It might undo everything but I love International Blue. Yeah... I'd like to dig myself further by saying they've finally got a set opener with it that can stare down and lead into Motorcycle Emptiness.
Agree with the rest of your post. The follow up singles have been lesser compared to the deep cuts untouched.

This thread reminded me that I made some single covers back when JFPL came out, so I thought that I’d share them with you all again:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v3...tt/8marlon.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v3...t/3hawking.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v3...kett/14bag.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v3...tt/2jackie.jpg

Those are still great covers Richey. The Stephen Hawking one seems extra-poignant now...

Cheers buddy. Always thought those 4 songs would’ve been perfect singles.

Yeah... I agree they would have been great singles, along with the extra tracks as B-Sides (Alien Orders/Invisible Armies, Primitive Painters, maybe Vision Blurred and some of the remixes....).

But I understand why they didn't do the full commercial onslaught, I think it was classier that way, even if a tad frustrating for fans in some ways.

Yes is the big one for me
1985 would have been great too.
30 Year war could have been a cool political statement.

I may be in a minority but I really like Broken Algorithms, I think it could have worked as a single and added a bit of variety to the RIF singles run.

Much as I love the big anthemic tunes like International Blue and Indian Summer, I'd love it if they came back with a lead single like Found That Soul or Faster next time. I don't know if they ever will go in that direction again, but I'm definitely in the mood for a rougher edged Manics next time.

1. 1985
2. 4Ever Delayed
3. Golden Platitudes
4. Yes
5. Prologue To History
6. Enola/Alone
7. This Is Yesterday
8. Peeled Apples
9. Solitude Sometimes Is
10. Marlon JD

Second great Depression,
A song for Departure,
Die in the Summertime,
Condemned to Rock 'n' Roll
No Surface All feeling
Rewind the film
Dreaming a city
Bag Lady
Sequels of forgotten wars

and Valley Boy