It could be the original version and the strings were added for the FD compilation. If the songs were meant to have two or three takes and that's IT. Then I can't see a string section (I always respect and thank the string quartets at Weddings. And they don't even acknowledge me looking all "I'm trying to play me sodding part!" And they're still together) being added to the track as it was originally intended.

Are we certain that the Rosebud vocal is definitely from 2000 or 2001? It is, isn’t it? It does sound like old Jimbo.

Has this been linked to somewhere?

Any reason for the exclusion of Little Trolls? Realise it was about a newspaper article writer.

No that's on. It's one of the b-sides. I think it's the last track
*Looks
Oh wait! No it isn't! Ok...

It's listed on the MP3 versions of the boxset so I guess it was a timing issue.
Door to the River is one of the ones I'm most looking forward to hearing. One of JDB's beat vocals for me ('resurrected and feeling blue') and will be good to hear it stripped back.

It appears on the Japanese CD versions and isn't listed as a JP bonus track so I'm still thinking it's going to be a hidden track for some reason.

Definitely. There's something a little muddy about the track in its Forever Delayed version. The strings are gorgeous, but they're not the main thing about it. It's the chord changes, the acoustic guitar and the incredibly pretty vocal takes.

Really been looking forward to hearing this new version ever since I heard of it. Though, however nice Disc 1 looks, the Solidarity tracklist looks like an absolute monster of a rock album. I love melancholy sixties beach Manics, but I reckon its Solidarity that will gain most from this transformation. It'll probably be their hardest rocking album overall.

Think Door to the River will be a bit let down by the So Why So Sad remix. I'm sure it sounds interesting in the list, but I wish they did an actual new mix. The KYE mix is pretty terrible. I get that they wanted it to sound sixties and all, but they went too far and slightly compromised what is otherwise one of my favs from them. Kinda sad they missed the opportunity to clean up the mix.

The album So Why So Sad is a mono mix. There's the instrument bit around 2:45 which is stereo but the rest is mono.

There are odd choices in the original album mix. Often wondered if they intended a 5.1 mix as Sony were ramping up SACD and SFA had released their DVD surround mix albums at the time.

I kinda like the mix, certainly unique and distinctive.

I wonder if that was a nod - deliberate or otherwise - to the Phil Spector/Brian Wilson-type production that's all over that particular song

https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/c...to-Mono-WB.jpg

Not the first time they'd done a Phil Spector-influenced song either - James has gone on record as saying that Everything Must Go was inspired by Be My Baby. And in the drums, you can really hear it. Funnily enough, Brian Wilson said that was his favourite song ever, too (BMB, not EMG)

Oh my god dude? It is! It's a straight up mono mix except that part. Weird I didn't notice it. Well okay, that is very cool, releasing a mono single in 2001. (Still wish there was a stereo mix too :D).

SACD mixes are interesting curios. Would love one of Lifeblood.

Dave Eringa recently said they'd changed some of the odd mixing decisions he and the band made back in the day - maybe that was considered one of them

So Why So Sad Super Expanded? I never noticed mono either. Good spot!

Ps - for the first time, I can’t order the signed bundle. UK only it says. What the hell?

Guessing you can thank Kontraband for that!? 🤔 Or Brexit?? Or maybe both???
All being well I’ll have 3 signed inserts. Would be happy to send you one 👍🏻