Drag Me Down and Lucky were remixed for the US (along with Rain), so the album that has been released is the UK version.  Personally I think they are better than the US versions.

I don't know where Dave the album version come from.  On the UK vinyl LP, it was the single version. And the UK 12" was the single version.  And so was the embedded ticket single.  The first time I heard this version was on the Best of last year.

There are a lot of different mixes of tracks post-Mondo Bongo around, and there are also the Wainman produced tracks for Surfacing that never saw the light of day (how complete they were I don't know).  However I have yet to hear a new mix that improves anything from the original releases!

I've heard them all far more recent than that thanks to MP3s.

I have all the b-sides bar Lazun Gemmun on the computer, and I'm too lazy to rig up the hifi to the PC to put them on.  One day.....

quote:

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Originally posted by: ArrGee
"Drag Me Down and Lucky were remixed for the US (along with Rain), so the album that has been released is the UK version.  Personally I think they are better than the US versions.

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Merely replacing Dave with Rain would have been ropey, but it is a bit of a lyrical mish-mash.

Dragging Me Down is even worse! 

Rain is weird,even the video is the same as Dave.It was on youtube once.I have always liked the American version of Lucky but Drag Me Down is not so good.

Haven't heard the American version of Lucky or Drag Me Down- As a Rats completist and then some  I should be interested but haven't gone down the ebay route just yet.

Changing Dave to Rain was a bit stupid. The lyrics, apart from nobody actually fully knowing what they are confuse what should be a straightforward song  about a friend looking out for another friend and trying to steer his life away from the destruction of drugs. I read somewhere that the American record companies didn't want the song misconstrued as a gay love song. Why   did Geldof who earlier had slated the American music scene give in and agree to change the lyrics?

Hopefully most real American fans of the band will know both versions of the song and appreciate it as a very good song.

I don't have a particular favourite Rats album because each album has always meant so much, when they were originally released and then later over the years.

I can take or leave various remixes of the songs- I agree with the person who said that generally people prefer the versions that the were first exposed to. Once a remix doesn't ruin a cherished version I usually agree to call it interesting.

Might be rambling a bit but I always thought the single version of Elephant's Graveyard should have contained the last verse as on the album- it seemed to be cut without reaching a proper musical climax. Commercial radio stations are prone to play shorter songs so they can get in their ad breaks every five minutes.

noelindublin wrote:

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 I always thought the single version of Elephant's Graveyard should have contained the last verse as on the album- it seemed to be cut without reaching a proper musical climax. Commercial radio stations are prone to play shorter songs so they can get in their ad breaks every five minutes.

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There was always a bit of messing around with the single mixes.  Some were superior (Banana Republic, I Don't Like Mondays and House On Fire), some strangely abridged (Clockwork, Someone's Looking and Guilty) and some with the lyrics changed (Rat Trap).  

The daft thing with the best of and compilations is that they rarely have the original single mix, which for me is the whole point.  Banana Republic on the compilations is neither the single nor the album mix.  Likewise Dave.

ArrGee wrote:

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After 25 years, I am finally getting a copy of the US version of In The Long Grass; $5 + $12 postage.  The wonders of eBay.   Now I'm looking for 7" House on Fire  and the flexi Silent Night.  It never ends.

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 Wonders of ebay indeed. I recently actively sought out (and found ) the Mulligan Like Clockwork just to get vinyl version of Dun Laoghaire on the flipside. Had the flexipop version, and got it on CD reissue, but always wanted that elusive 7" from back in the day. Even asked my newsagent (Irish wife) to seek it out on a visit to his in-laws in about 1980. He failed, but bought me Someone's Looking at You on Mulligan as a consolation present. Top bloke.

I'm now inclined to seek out Go Man Go on single, or is my memory playing tricks? Sure that was released in the Republic. 

suss wrote:

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Loosely connected, and I think there's some reference to this elsewhere on forum but too lazy to search, the She's So Modern version that suddenly popped up on Drag Me Down 12" special edition B side has always intrigued me as to when it was recorded. 

I first encountered it when  I bought Modern Rockers (new wave-ish) compilation a couple of years earlier, but that was first time I'd ever heard that version, or any alternative of the song. Still remember the shock first time I played it. 

Anyone know history of that recording? Must be 1982 or earlier.

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 I haven't heard that version of She's So Modern, but wonder why the recording date and venue was not listen on the record or cd. Surely any proper fan would wish to know this information. Perhaps Gary or Simon might know.

As I haven't heard it is it radically different in what sense? Faster, slower, different lyrics or completely unrecognisable? Just curious.

Re Mulligan Records This was originally an Irish folk label, probably more oriented towards experimental, music. The weird leprechaun (imp) on the label was always a bit freaky! A lot of the copies I got were UK prints on Ensign,  which I always thought aesthetically more pleasing.

I cannot remember Go Man Go being played on Irish radio as a single, but it is rather a good song, certainly single material, but from Mondo Bongo there were two singles released, Banana Republic and Elephant's Graveyard. Was there not a third Uk single released from Mondo Bongo? Most albums see three singles released, and sometimes bands stretch their luck and go for a fourth!

There are loads of good live versions of She's So Modern so the version of the Drag Me Down 12 inch I'll take your word for, and not be too upset on missing. Geldof actually wasn't too  keen on She's So Modern, a song he sort of disowned, seeing it as too contrived. However most fans like it.

Fall Down is a strange case. Geldof being vulnerable and letting his insecurities be known to the listening public. I've always thought it might end up in some movie  soundtrack at some stage. It certainly is a song that could be covered well by many artists and hopefully might bring the Rats back into the limelight, however briefly.

Our old mate Mr Visconti played the recorder on it. After Elephants Graveyard it would have been some change of style, but the Rats always had a versitility and unpredictability. The song is too at odds with the Rats punk/new wave image probably to have been a single, but it is one of pops hidden gems and I'm convinced if it was played on late night radio without any hype by some knowing dj it would make people curious about who wrote it and equally who the singer is. Simon Crowe? Never 'eard of 'im!

ArrGee wrote:

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http://www.cyberspace7.btinternet.co.uk/pagee.htm

According to the above, Go Man Go was released in Ireland, but I don't know the label nor the catalog number.  I have never seen it for sale on eBay. And there is no mention of it on Discogs.

 

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 Thanks for pointing me back to that page and for confirmation I hadn't just imagined it all these years. I've always assumed it was on Mulligan, but possibly not it seems. Even have memories of it being listed in NME and/or Sounds, maybe via Adrian's. Wish I'd snapped it up now as it looks like it might be hard to find.

One single not showing via link above (not that I could readily see anyway) is the French release of Like Clockwork with Eva Braun as B side. I've got that one so I know that's not one I imagined . 

I'm sure there are numerous oddities out there not listed. 

I'm also tempted to get the US ITLG now just to hear these variations mentioned. And to think I decided enough was enough a few years back....

suss wrote:

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 And to think I decided enough was enough a few years back....

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With the internet is that you become aware of things that passed you by at the time.  Back in 1986 I never knew In The Long Grass nor A tonic For The Troops was different in the US nor about the alternative She's So Modern.

I'd be happy if I just get the 7" House on Fire and a copy of Rock Goes To College on DVD.  I can't think of anything else.

noelindublin wrote:

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PS One guy selling a copy of Surfacingdescribes the album as (sic) ' Bob Geldorf before he got famous'. Should we laugh or cry?

http://www.musicstack.com/album/boomtown+rats/she's+so+modern

-- Edited by noelindublin on Thursday 8th of September 2011 01:32:49 PM

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 I suggest beating him up!

suss wrote:

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I'm also tempted to get the US ITLG now just to hear these variations mentioned. And to think I decided enough was enough a few years back....

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Enjoy

 http://www.megaupload.com/?d=FN5VOK38

ArrGee wrote:

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After 25 years, I am finally getting a copy of the US version of In The Long Grass... 

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Having listened to this again, even with the US versions, this is a splendid album.   It is what The Rats should sound like, and the stripped down production in comparison to Surfacing means you can hear the songs.

There are at least four bonafide hit singles, which had they been released in 1979 would have all gone top ten, and there isn't a bad track on it. 

However there was one downer.  The record jumped on Up or Down .  I don't think I can bring it back to the US for a refund. 

On the upside, US LPs are far superior to the UK editions.  My UK version was  like a flexi disc in comparison.