November 4, 2015

video still – Limbo

1987 brought the Bryan Ferry album “Bête Noir” and at the time, I was somewhat distanced by the Patrick Leonard writing credits on most of the tracks. That meant that half of the album had the unsavory whiff of Madonna from her “Las Isla Bonita” period with Latin drum programming predominating. It sounded like something a lesser artist than Ferry would have done. The third single from the album was in fact, my favorite track. “Limbo” was a song pregnant with lush tropical mystery and whose humid sweep of guitar atmospherics, made it stand out from the album. Being of the CD persuasion at the time, I bought my first copy of the single at a record show.

Reprise Records | USP | CD5 | 1988 | PRO-CD-2910

Bryan Ferry: Limbo USP CD5 [1988]

1. Limbo [Latin Version] 4:28
2. Limbo [Brooklyn Version] 3:56
3. Limbo [LP Version] 5:00
4. Limbo [Latin Mix] 6:35

The Latin mixes were by Emilio Pasquez [Bomb The Bass] and Pacsal Gabriel with the Brooklyn mixes coming from Alan Meyerson. I next came upon the US 7″ with a different edit on the B-side.

Reprise Records ‎| US | 7″ | 1988 | 9 28116-7

Bryan Ferry: Limbo US 7″ [1988]

1. Limbo [Latin Version] 3:59
2. Limbo [Brooklyn Version] 3:56

The only difference here was that 30 seconds had been trimmed from the Latin Version. It was some years later, when researching on Discogs that I discovered an anomaly on the US 12″ single.

Reprise Records ‎| US | 12″ | 1988 | 0-20846

Bryan Ferry: Limbo US 12″ [1988]

1. Limbo [Latin Mix] 6:35
2. Bête Noir [Instrumental] 5:00
3. Limbo [Brooklyn Mix] 8:38

While I was aware of the UK CD single [and usually bought these immediately] I saw the US promo CD5 first and having had that, skipped the UK CD5 [in DLX packaging] of “Limbo.” I can’t believe it now, but at the time, I felt that the instrumental version of the album’s title track was not worth buying a $10 import CD single for. Oh, we were young and foolish then! Years later I saw that the same instrumental track was on the US 12″, to be had for a few coins. So I bought one, and was shocked by the revelation that the US vinyl 12″ has a Brooklyn mix that was 8:38! The Brooklyn version I had on other formats was less than half that length. So this is what sits in the Record Cell currently. It’s hardly complete, though. I still need the UK 12″ as well.

Virgin | UK | 12″ | 1988 | VST 1066

Bryan Ferry: Limbo UK 12″ [1988]

1. Limbo [Latin Mix] 6:36
2. Bête Noir [Instrumental] 5:00
3. Limbo [Brooklyn Dub Mix] 8:18

As we see, the UK 12″ has a dub mix of the Brooklyn Mix. One of these will do to wrap up the “Limbo” saga for this Monk. But before we leave, let’s have a look at the UK CD5 format, which had some unique packaging.

Virgin ‎| UK | CD5 | 1988 | VSCD 1066

Bryan Ferry: Limbo UK DLX CD5 [1988]

1. Limbo [Latin Mix] 6:41
2. Bête Noir [Instrumental] 5:00
3. Limbo [Brooklyn Dub Mix] 8:18

This was the same as the 12″ vinyl in the UK, but the CD5 had a significant Achilles heel: It was a late 80s PDO pressing, which means that it was probably afflicted with the oxidation issue [bronzing] that befell almost everything pressed at that UK plant from 1988-1992 or so. Still, the CD5 was packaged in a slim jewel case that sat inside of a screen printed corrugated cardboard box as show above. Posh! But what else would you expect from Mr. Ferry?

Special Tory Edition of “Avonmore”

Speaking of posh and Bryan Ferry, I was recently saddened to see that in advance of the xmas ’15 season, Team Ferry was attempting to goose sales of his last album “Avonmore,” which is over a year old, by releasing the CEBS↑ version of the album for a scant £100.00 [$153.75]. 1500 numbered copies. 100 signed. 2xLP. 3xCD. DVD. Hardcover book…blah…blah…blah. Haven’t we gotten past this dreary trend yet? Currently on pre-sale here. Buy it if you must. I shan’t be joining you. I’m very disappointed to see this happening. At the time of “Avonmore’s” release I praised Ferry for not doing this. Premature, methinks.

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↑ Criminally Expensive Boxed Set