Like day follows night we’ve are writing about the Ultravox mothership making moves a day after we featured John Foxx’s latest movement. Now, the “Quartet” ultrabox has been an open secret for some months on the interwebs, but there was the usual retailer leakage before Chrysalis made it official. Then by the time that happened, on May 5th, I was neck deep in the weeds and hadn’t gotten the official word. Speaking of which Ultravox might not even have an official mailing list any more in these, the end times. I guess it’s all down to FaceBoot now.
But for the three of us not paying attention, the official street date for the latest Ultravox boxed set extravaganza will be July 7th, 2023. Just five weeks out! And by now we know the drill. Remastered album, Steven Wilson 2.0 remix, singles/B-sides/remixes, rehearsals/early mixes, and that catnip for my ears, a full live show from the archives. Along with a DVD http://only with the album in a 5.1 Steven Wilson surround remix as well as the original album and b-sides in high-res 96/24 LPCM stereo.
THE CD BOX
CD1 – Original 1982 Analog Master
- Reap The Wild Wind
- Serenade
- Mine For Life
- Hymn
- Visions In Blue
- When The Scream Subsides
- We Came To Dance
- Cut And Run
- The Song (We Go)
CD2 – Steven Wilson Stereo Mix:
- Reap The Wild Wind
- Serenade
- Mine For Life
- Hymn
- Visions In Blue
- When The Scream Subsides
- We Came To Dance
- Cut And Run
- The Song (We Go)
- Hosanna (In Excelsis Deo)
- Monument
- Break My Back
- Overlook
CD3 – Singles, B-Sides & Rarities:
- Reap The Wild Wind [Extended Version]
- Hosanna (In Excelsis Deo)
- Hymn [Single Version]
- Monument
- The Thin Wall [Live]
- Visions In Blue [Single Version]
- Break Your Back
- Reap The Wild Wind [Live]
- We Came To Dance [Single Version]
- Overlook
- We Came To Dance [Extended Version]
- Serenade [Single Version]
- Serenade [Special Re-Mix]
- The Voice [Flexidisc]
CD4 – Work In Progress:
- Reap The Wild Wind [Cassette Rehearsal]
- Serenade [Cassette Rehearsal]
- Mine For Life [Cassette Rehearsal]
- Hymn [Cassette Rehearsal]
- Visions In Blue [Cassette Rehearsal]
- When The Scream Subsides [Cassette Rehearsal]
- We Came To Dance [Cassette Rehearsal]
- Cut And Run [Cassette Rehearsal]
- The Song (We Go) [Cassette Rehearsal]
- Reap The Wild Wind [Monitor Mix]
- Visions In Blue [Monitor Mix]
- Cut & Run [Monitor Mix]
- Mine For Life [Monitor Mix]
- Hymn [Monitor Mix]
- Serenade [Monitor Mix]
- We Came To Dance [Monitor Mix]
CD5 – Hammersmith 1982 [Part One]:
- Reap The Wild Wind
- When The Scream Subsides
- The Thin Wall
- New Europeans
- We Stand Alone
- I Remember (Death In The Afternoon)
- Visions In Blue
- Mr. X
- Sleepwalk
CD6 – Hammersmith 1982 [Part Two]:
- The Voice
- Vienna
- Astradyne
- All Stood Still
- Passing Strangers
- Mine For Life
- Hymn
- The Song (We Go)
DVD – 5.1 Surround + Hi-Res Recordings
- Quartet Album & B-Sides: Steven Wilson Stereo Mix & 5.1 Surround Mix
- Original 1982 Album & B-Sides [96/24 LPCM Stereo Mix]
Previously unreleased materials in red. The last time out we got some real left field surprises in the early mixes and I can hope for more of the same this time. Of course, the big pull beyond the live album, is to hear what Steven Wilson managed to do with the admittedly listless sounding “Quartet” album. While Conny Plank was all about the sound of things, he pretty much left the band to their own compositional and arranging devices. Whereas producer George Martin was an old school taskmaster: urging the band to write and re-write, and rapping their knuckles with his ruler until they had… and then it was very cleanly and professionally recorded. Removing every iota of mystery necessary for this version of Ultravox to thrive. For my ears anyway.
Given that Steven Wilson managed to clarify and refine “Rage In Eden” without gutting it’s vibe [a near miracle, that!], he won over a lot of ears that were prepared to die on the hill of Conny Plank! I’m hoping he can seriously transform the Ultravox album that has been crying out for someone to reshape its form for the last forty years. At the very least I hope he can fatten up the emaciated early digital synths that were all over the album. So we know that I will be buying the CD/DVD format, which is currently on pre-order in the Official Ultravox webstore for $82/£64/€74.
LP VARIANTS
But there are the other formats to choose from. There’s a 2x 180g half-speed mastered LP [black vinyl, for a change] but for those with an investor’s eye, the 4x clear LP edition with the original LP, the B-sides/remixes, and the Hammersmith live show will prove of great interest. The “Vienna” clear vinyl boxes are rare birds already commanding a hefty three figures in the aftermarket. While the “Rage In Eden” clear boxes are still available at cost, they are under a year old. The prices for these are the same as the CD edition.
And like last time, the official store has an exclusive picture disc edition that uses a still from the “Reap The Wild Wind” video shoot for a far more interesting looking picture disc than the one that came out forty years ago. Possibly the dullest looking picture disc in my Record Cell. That one will set one back $32/£25/€29. Plus the shipping from the UK should be figured into each of these. I will probably be pre-ordering my box from a US dealer to save on shipping. Though the last time I had to wait two months for the cargo ships to deliver the goods on this side of the Atlantic. With my ultratight budget, I really have to be content to wait. But don’t let my issues stop you from ordering! As ever, D.J. hit that button!
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![Want List: Visage DLX RM […finally!]](https://i0.wp.com/postpunkmonk.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/visage-dlxrmuscda.jpeg?resize=200%2C200&ssl=1)
Post-Punk Monk 
I jumped right on the Ultimate Bundle the second Townsend told me it was up. Back when “Vienna” got the “40th” treatment, I was too slow and missed out on the coveted clear 4LP box. No way I’m paying $500+ for that now.
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I have never actually owned this album.
Six discs is too much for my needs and as much as I would like the vinyl set,again its not within my budget for such a thing.
I have little interest in the live recordings,just the unreleased demos/versions really.
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Gavin – What can I say? I’m a live recording guy. If all I had were live versions to listen to I could exist happily. That would cut out a LOT of music but would I care? Maybe not. I am a Rock Music type of fan at the end of the day.
Besides, come Black Friday this year or RSD 2024, we can assume there will be 2xCD of the Wilson remix plus Wilson instrumental mix at the right price. Given the lifeless production by George Martin, this is the Wilson 2.0 remix that I am most eager to hear in the Ultravox canon! And Wilson acquitted himself marvelously on “Rage In Eden” which I had no issues with!
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Amazon has been selling these as mp3s ala carte (i.e. you don’t have to buy the whole album), I am sure iTunes does the same so that may be an avenue to explore, Gavin.
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I know you’re not a fan but this means Lament is next (steeples fingers in anticipatory delight).
For the love of Darwin can some label please give the Eurythmics catalog the same SDE lurve?
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Here’s an indirect (to this post) question regarding Midge Ure (since you’re on Ultravox) for the PPM or anyone else. To my ears, it sure sounds like Midge sings lead on Visage’s song “Again We Love” from The Anvil. I have been unable to find any info regarding this. Not only does the voice sound like him to me, the way the song is sung sounds like Midge Ure. Any thoughts?
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On Again We Love It’s definitely Steve Strange singing, with the backing singers Perry & Lorraine, no actual Midge Ure singing. But, according to Midges autobiography he wrote this song including the lyrics and melody line. Also remember he produced this album and recorded the vocals one line at a time, something that annoyed Strange but made sure that Midge got the best vocal performance from him. So basically Strange would be following a vocal track note for note recorded by Midge, which might be why he sounds like him. Midge recorded a lot of backing vocals on the first Visage album and on side 1 of The Anvil, but side 2 was after his nervous breakdown so he didn’t record any backing vocals for it. The only lead vocals Midge ever did record for Visage was for the demo track and subsequent remix In The Year 2525 where it was a kind of duet with Strange (eg the vocoder vocals are Midge). It’d weird then that Strange tried to release it as a solo single when he didn’t sing all the lead vocals. Might be why it got shelved.
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Richard Anvil – Midge Ure’s nervous breakdown? Did I miss this part in his book? And for my money, the most prominent Midge Ure backing vocal in any Visage song occurs on “The Horseman.” Definitely a side two track on “The Anvil.” Midge Ure’s penchant for editing a vocal performance from dozens of takes in production always struck me as an overly laborious technique that sapped a song of the sense of continuity that should come naturally from a performance. I’d rather have a vocal performance with warts and all than something so clinical.
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Maybe nervous breakdown is too strong a description but he definitely suffered from severe exhaustion brought on by overwork and too much Jack Daniels. If you read his autobiography on recording The Anvil he says he put huge amounts of work into side 1 but after suffering from exhaustion he pulled back, which is why side 2 sounds so very different (and many fans say better, but that’s a matter of opinion).
As for Midge singing on The Horseman, possibly, but it’s not as clear as it is on The Anvil, Move Up, Mind of a Toy, We Move, Visa-Age and Malpaso Man.
As for Mike’s breaking down the vocal recordings other vocalists he’s worked with have made comments of how difficult and irritating it was, but in Steve Strong’s case I’m sure the results speak for themselves, just compare them to his first vocals Not produced by Midge on Pleasure Boys.
As an additional aside had you spotted that on Night Train the first and fourth lines of the verses are sung by Perry and Lorraine, the second and fifth by Steve and the third and sixth by Rusty Egan?
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Correction, as for Midge’s breaking down the vocal recordings (blasted predictive text!)
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>Midge Ure’s penchant for editing a vocal performance from dozens of takes in production….
…is how almost all records have been made since the late 1960s or so.
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JT – Really? Dropping in one line at a time? How sad. No wonder Pop Music music got more and more unfeeling over the last 50 years. I would have thought that constructing music like that before computers would have been tedious in the extreme.
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Thanks Richard Anvil! Despite my ears deceiving me, I’m thrilled to finally know. Thank you.
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Of course the single version of Serenade has been released before as a clear vinyl 7” in 2015 vinyl reissue. My assumption is that it is a modern edit not an original one from 1982.
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Richard Anvil – The only modern Ultravox pressings I ever bought was the clear “Sleepwalk” RSD 12” on the principle of it! And I have the “Herr X” clear 7” from Electronic Sound. So I missed the early years of Ultravox bubble-era waxploitstion! I missed that one [and most of the others] because there was no way I was going to put out that much money for fresh copies of albums I’d had [in multiple pressings already] for decades at a fraction of the cost. But since there was a very contemporary 12” remix [as appeared on the bonus remix LP with “The Collection,” I don’t doubt that a 7” would have been edited back in the day.
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Monk I agree with your take on the ‘Serenade’ single version. I read elsewhere a long time ago that ‘Serenade’ was planned as a single back in ’82/83. Hence a single edit and a 12” inch remix was made at the time. Why it wasn’t released we can only guess. perhaps it was felt that five singles off one album was too much or perhaps it was dropped for one of the other singles instead.
When Ultravox reformed in 2009 and a decision was made to release a compilation, originally Cerise and Rob from the ‘Extreme Voice’ website were originally asked to compile the tracks. They were going to include the ‘Serenade’ single version on the compilation. However for some unknown reason the job of compiling the collection was passed to somebody else. Unfortunately that person or persons chose not to include it. Much to my frustration at the time.
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The compilation album (which ultimately morphed into “The Very Best Of Ultravox” [CHRTV 20091] double-disc set) was already part of the work – along with the Definitive Editions of “Vienna”, “Rage In Eden”, “Quartet”, “Monument”, “Lament”, “U-VOX”, “The Gift” and “Answers To Nothing” – which “Extreme Voice” (Cerise Reed and myself, with Paul Hitchcock) had been engaged to do by EMI. The single edits were deliberately omitted from the associated core Ultravox albums so that they could all be brought together for what was (at the time) called “The Complete Collection”. It was originally due to include all of the tracks from the 1985 compilation album “The Collection” [UTV1] together with “Same Old Story”, “All Fall Down” and “All In One Day” (all re-sequenced chronologically) – the single edit of “Serenade” was going to be added as a ‘previously unreleased’ bonus track at the end.
EMI decided to change the ‘focus’ of that compilation after the success of the Definitive Editions of “Vienna” and “Rage In Eden”, and after the band had decided to reform for a tour in 2009. The album was taken back ‘in-house’, and retitled “The Very Best Of Ultravox” (presumably to give it a broader appeal) despite the track-listing remaining almost identical to what we had originally proposed – the few notable exceptions being that “White China” was added, the single edit of “Serenade” was removed and the single edit of “All Stood Still” was replaced with the album version. When we found out that the single edit of “Serenade” wouldn’t be included we asked if it could instead be added onto the Definitive Edition of “Quartet” – but unfortunately it was too late as that album had already gone into production. The single edit of “Serenade” would remain unreleased until 2015 when it became the a-side of the 7 inch single which accompanied the Vinyl180 re-issue of “Quartet” [VIN180LP088].
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Rob Harris – thanks for that fascinating “insider” look at what became “The Very Best of Ultravox,” which as we know was mandatory for the complete selection of music videos on the accompanying DVD. Mandatory viewing for the live St. Albans clips! I’d seen video of the “Sleepwalk” clip via Canada’s MuchMusic back in the day from a 2nd generation tape from a friend with a satellite dish. But the “Vienna” clip from the same show was new to these eyes. As was the TOTP of “All Stood Still” and the “Same Old Story” clip. “All Fall Down” being previously seen on the VHS of “IF I Was: The Very Best of Ultravox and Midge Ure.” Which I bought back in my multistandard videophile days! Alas, my Hitachi multistandard VHS was a total lemon and spent more time in the shop than in my home.
Considering that the reformation of Ultravox in 2009 was happening, how the story played out for the compilation made a lot of sense. Given its appearance in 2009 on the heels of the Definitive Edition campaign, I assumed that it was all related – which you confirm. But swapping the 7″ of “Serenade for “White China” would have been a tiny bit more interesting, yes? A pity for the timing of the “Quartet” DLX RM. I saw that it was on the colored LP set but I did not get on that bus. A lifetime of buying Ultravox LPs for under $20 has made me immune to chasing the modern records at a far higher price point.
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Hi Rob. Thanks for going into great deal to explain that for us. I’m glad that the single edit will finally appear on CD on the new boxset.
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Thanks Rob for that inside information. Great forum for this type of discussion. My order is in for the Quartet boxset. Like Monk, I’m purchasing this box for the live set. I saw the Quartet tour and I finally get the complete concert. The Thin Wall from this tour is my favourite version of this track packaged as the B side to Hymn 12” .Think it was Hammersmith as well.
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The live recording of ‘The Thin Wall’ on the Hymn 12” b side is a Hammersmith Odeon recording but from the previous years Rage In Eden tour. I’d thought for years it was from the Monument tour but found out recently that it wasn’t.
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Wait til you hear the live Version of Astradyne, a true WTF moment.
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hi mr monk,
saw that the 2xcd, 2xlp clear records for the steve wilson versions,
and instrumentals are coming for record store day friday 2023.
so we have those to look forward to.
later
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ne gative 1
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negative1ne – Expecting those like clockwork! Thanks for confirming.
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I believe the the 7″ of Serenade on the Vinyl 180 release and the Quartet box set are different mixes/edits. So, technically both are unreleased.
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Tom – Welcome to the comments! Wow. This is the first I’ve heard that the white vinyl LP/7″ had a different edit of “Serenade” from the one in the “Quartet” ultrabox. Maybe AloneWithStrangers, who’s in deep on the Ultravox catalog reissues can verify? Since I didn’t buy any modern Ultravox records issued in the 21st century.
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