How we longed to see the
day… An official DVD release of PiL and Pistols material (etc).
But from the start lets make this clear; this is a promo video compilation,
not a rarities archive (maybe another day?).
However, that's not to say
it doesn't include rarities or even unreleased material; and I'm not
just talking about the extras. The very first video, 'Anarchy in the
UK' is the original EMI version which was previously unreleased, at
least in full. PiL's 'Covered' never really got shown either since it
was due for release just as PiL and Virgin went their separate ways
back in 1992. And a lot of this stuff like 'Sun' just wasn't shown at
the time, or even since. So there's a lot more to this compilation than
first meets the eye.
Give or take a alternative
version, virtually every single PiL video is included here. The only
thing I can think of that's missing is the live promo for 'This is Not
a Love Song' from 'Live in Tokyo', and that's not exactly a bad thing.
There aren't videos for 'Memories' or 'Flowers of Romance', or the Pistols
'Holidays in the Sun' for that matter.
Trainspotter Alert! And
for the record, the censored version of 'The Body' is pretty much the
same but doesn't show John pulling the stick from his trousers. That's
it. The non-title version of 'Don't Ask Me' is also virtually the same
but doesn't the feature the "story" captions.
The Pistols 'Pretty Vacant'
isn't included, but it's not on the CD either, and instead you get the
'Pretty Vacant Live' video from Finsbury Park. Which again was hardly
shown at the time. The usual version of 'Pretty Vacant' is the video
that's always shown on TV, I'm just about bored looking at it to be
honest. This 'Filthy Lucre' video is far more exciting.
It's funny, I'd remembered
a lot of the PiL video's as being awful, and some of them probably are;
though probably on purpose ('Bad Life' anybody!). But I have to say
the majority of them are far better than I remembered. There are some
real diamonds like 'Rise', 'Public Image' and 'Death Disco'. But I'd
forgotten how good the likes of 'Warrior' or 'Don't Aske Me' were too.
'World Destruction' and 'Open Up' are also great videos and a welcome
addition to the compilation.
The Sex Pistols live "extras"
will really leave you hungry for more. 'Silver Machine' taken from John's
own footage, and filmed on one camera from the side of the stage, might
be rough and ready but it captures the whole feel of the gig. 'Bodies'
from Phoenix is exceptional, recorded the night after the Axiom Beach
Festival fiasco it was a stunning return to form; the energy flows through
the band.
The PiL
monitor mixes of 'Albatross' and 'Death Disco' included as "audio
extras" are arguably the highlight of the disc for me. Only recently
rediscovered; these are the live unedited takes from the studio. Powerful
and stunning doesn't cover it. The full version of 'Death Disco' (reaching
near 10 minutes) says it all to me. If you aren't affected by it; then
I afraid you don't get PiL, it really is as simple as that. You'll never
hear a more honest or frightened vocal.
The first version of 'Albatross'
is pretty similar to the released album take, maybe a little more raw,
and with a few extra drum effects. However, the second version known
as the "Melodrama Mix", although keeping a similar backing
track also features Wobble on melodica. I'd never realised PiL had experimented
with melodica, but given their interest in reggae it's probably only
natural, but it was perhaps too obvious a reference and it never made
the finished version. The "Melodrama Mix" is mostly "dubby"
but still includes a vocal, well, it actually includes two. As well
as John's prominent chorus (and I use the term very loosely), you also
get Wobble messing about in the background, screaming, and shouting
("I'm a bleeding great Albatross!"). The whole track
was probably just a bit of fun in the studio that was never meant to
see the light of day, but it's not without its merit. The difference
between this light hearted take of 'Albatross' and the emotion of 'Death
Disco' are just another example of what PiL were all about.
If I was to pick fault with
anything on the DVD it would be the (far from thorough) discography,
but since it's just a throwaway extra I'm not gonna grumble too much.
If you really want a discography there's a pretty good one on this site
anyway.
The whole DVD has been completely
remastered, it looks and sounds great. I especially like the
way the title's have been put together using John's artwork and 'The
Rabbit Song', plus a mixture of the videos. The sleeve and packaging
are also worth a special mention too; given their bigger size it really
lets you see John's artwork in its full glory.
Wrap it in a packet and you
know you've gotta have it. |
