Spacemen 3 - Live at The Black Lion Pub, Northampton, 03/08/85

 

Live Recording 1985

01 Intro

02 2.35

03 These Things Have Got to Be

04 Little Doll

05 Things'll Never Be The Same

Very early recording of Spacemen 3 now. It was very well documented, with plenty of photographs and tales of the evening reproduced online. Great early snapshot of the band already sounding huge.

Spacemen 3 - Live at Reading Festival 1989

 

01 Rollercoaster

02 Transparent Radiation

03 Things'll Never Be the Same

04 Take Me to the Other Side

05 Mary-Anne

06 Starship

07 Revolution

Another S3 boot, this time, it's the final gig from the 1989 Reading Festival.

Thanks to stef.j.c. for the original cassette.

Spacemen 3 - Live at The Twisted Wheel, Carlisle 26-06-89

 

Bootleg 1989

01 Rollercoaster

02 Lord Can You Hear Me

03 Things'll Never be the Same

04 Take Me to the Other Side

05 Transparant Radiation

06 Starship

07 Revolution

08 Che

09 Suicide

10 Revolution

Digging in to my S3 boots now and a show from my (near) hometown of Carlisle. I was too young to attend (and too young to be a fan yet). It doesn't sound like all of the audience were ready for this kind of sonic assault!

Thanks to BTKA for the original cassette.

Spacemen 3 - Vol 1.2 - Northampton Demos & Rehearsals 1986

 

Self made compilation 2021.

01 2.35 (Version 1)

02 Mary Anne [1986 Northampton Demo]

03 The Sound Of Confusion [1986 Northampton Demo]

04 Losing Touch With My Mind [1986 Northampton Demo]

05 Amen [1986 Northampton Demo]

06 That's Just Fine (Vocal Version) [1986 Northampton Demo]

07 Come Down Easy [1986 Northampton Demo]

08 2.35 (Feedback Version) [1986 Northampton Demo]

09 Hey Man [Alternate take from 'Sound Of Confusion']

10 Little Doll [1986 rehearsal version]

11 Mary-Anne (Tremelo Version) [1986 rehearsal version]

12 Rollercoaster [1986 rehearsal version]

13 Ode To Street Hassle [1986 rehearsal version]

14 Things'll Never Be The Same [Live at The Mean Fiddler, August 1986]

15 Spacemen Jam [1986 rehearsal]

Throughout the second half of 2020, I was compiling information on Spacemen 3 records and releases via a request on an S3 fan group / forum. Their discography is such a nightmare and the list was exhausting to make. Now it's done, it has informed a set of compilations; essentially, tracks that do not appear on the original four albums or the original run of singles and E.P.'s, assembled chronologically.

This includes all tracks that appeared on miscellaneous releases and various artist compilations during their lifetime, as well as tracks that have appeared on the many posthumous albums.

I'll be posting these volume compilations as I complete them.

Tracks 1-8 recorded at Studio Morocco, January 1986. Released on 'Taking Drugs To Make Music To Take Drugs To' (Father Yod 1990).

Track 9 recorded at Bob Lamb's studio, Rugby, Spring 1986. Released on 'Taking Drugs To Make Music To Take Drugs To' (Bomp Records 1994).

Tracks 10-13 released on 'How The Blues Should've Turned Out' (Sonic Boom self released 2005).

Track 14 recorded live at The Mean Fiddler, August 1986. Released on 'How The Blues Should've Turned Out' (Sonic Boom self released 2005).

Track 15 rehearsal recording, 1986. Released on 'Dreamweapon' (Sympathy for the Record Industry 1995).

Vol 1.1 - 1984-1985

Vol 1.2 - Northampton Demos & Rehearsals 1986

Vol 1.3 - Sound Of Confusion

Vol 1.4 - Walkin' With Jesus

Spacemen 3 - Vol 1.1 1984-1985

 

Self made compilation 2021

01 T.V. Eye [1984 Rehearsal]

02 Blow My Top/Funhouse [1984 Rehearsal]

03 By The River [1984 Rehearsal]

04 Things'll Never Be The Same [1984 Demo]

05 2.35 [1984 Demo]

06 Walkin' With Jesus [1984 Demo]

07 Fixin' To Die  [1984 Demo]

08 T.V. Catastrophe [1984 Demo]

09 Things'll Never Be The Same [1984 Demo - Alternate Mix]

10 Walkin' With Jesus [1984 Demo - Alternate Mix]

11 These Things Have Got To Be [Rehearsal 02-08-85]

12 Mary-Anne [Rehearsal 02-08-85]

13 Things'll Never Be The Same [Rehearsal 02-08-85]

14 Hey Man [Live at the Mercia Park Leisure Center, Coventry, 11/85]

15 Things'll Never Be The Same [Live at the Mercia Park Leisure Center, Coventry, 11/85]

Throughout the second half of 2020, I was compiling information on Spacemen 3 records and releases via a request on an S3 fan group / forum. Their discography is such a nightmare and the list was exhausting to make. Now it's done, it has informed a set of compilations; essentially, tracks that do not appear on the original four albums or the original run of singles and E.P.'s, assembled chronologically.

This includes all tracks that appeared on miscellaneous releases and various artist compilations during their lifetime, as well as tracks that have appeared on the many posthumous albums.

I'll be posting these volume compilations as I complete them.

If you're a fan, you'll enjoy.

Tracks 1-3, 14-15 released on 'How The Blues Should've Turned Out' (Sonic Boom self released 2005).

Tracks 4-10 self made 1984 demo tape. Later released as 'For All The Fucked Up Children In The World We Give You Spacemen 3' (Sympathy for the Record Industry 1995).

Tracks 11-13 released on the bootleg 'Out of it Sessions'.

SPACEMEN 3 - RE-RECURRING

Fan made compilation. 2017.

01. Big City (Remix)
02. Why Couldn't I See?
03. Just to See You Smile (Instrumental)
04. The World is Dying
05. I Love You (Remix)
06. Just to See You Smile (Honey, Pt. 2)
07. Big City (Waves of Joy)
08. When Tomorrow Hits
09. Drive
10. Feelin' Just Fine (Alternate Mix)
11. Drive (Demo)
12. Drive (Remix)
13. Drive/Feel So Sad


If you haven't had quite enough Spacemen 3, here's my own round up of b-sides and rarities from the 'Recurring' era.

'Just to See You Smile (Honey, Pt. 2)' and 'The World is Dying' are from the 'Hypnotized' single.

'Drive', 'Big City (Waves of Joy)' and 'Drive (Demo)' from the 'Big City/Drive' single.

'Big City (Remix)' and Drive '(Remix)' are from a limited remix 12".

'I Love You (Remix)' is from a mis-press of that release.

'When Tomorrow Hits' was an unreleased Mudhoney cover, intended for a split 7". On the other side, Mudhoney were to cover 'Revolution'.

'Why Couldn't I See?', 'Just to See You Smile (Instrumental)', 'Feelin' Just Fine (Alternate Mix)' and 'Drive/Feel So Sad' are from the European compact disc version of 'Recurring'.

Spacemen 3 fans need not despair; from this month I will be posting the first single and E.P. releases from Sonic Boom/Spectrum and Spiritualized.

SPACEMEN 3 - BIG CITY/DRIVE (REMIXES)

Fire Records 1990

1. Big City (Remix)
2. Drive (Remix)

Released shortly after the original 'Big City/Drive' single, this was the last Spacemen 3 release during their lifetime.

SPACEMEN 3 - BIG CITY/DRIVE

Fire Records 1991.

01. Big City (Everybody I Know Can Be Found Here)
02. Drive
03. Big City (Waves of Joy Demo)
04. Drive (Demo)

'Big City'/'Drive' was released ahead of the final Spacemen 3 album 'Recurring'. Sporadically recorded and mixed throughout 1990, relations between Kember and Pierce had completely broken down during the sessions. The result was that each composer had a side of the record each for their own compositions.

The music didn't suffer however; 'Big City' was a ten minute acid house pulse and 'Drive' was acid bluesy and hymnal, pointing toward each artists future solo career.

SPACEMEN 3 - HYPNOTIZED

Fire Records 1989

01. Hypnotized
02. Just To See You Smile (Honey Pt. 2)
03. The World Is Dying

The first single from what was to be the final Spacemen 3 album; "Recurring". Both 'Hypnotized' and 'Just To See You Smile' appear on that album, but as alternate mixes. 'The World Is Dying' is exclusive to this single.

SPACEMEN 3 - REVOLUTION

Fire Records 1988

01. Revolution
02. Che
03. May the Circle be Unbroken


First and only single to be taken from the album "Playing With Fire" and the first release on Fire records.

'Che' is a Suicide cover and 'May the Circle be Unbroken' is traditional, arranged by Pierce and Kember.

SPACEMEN 3 - TAKE ME TO THE OTHER SIDE

Glass Records 1988

01. Take Me to the Other Side
02. Soul 1
03. That's Just Fine


The third single release from and Spacemen 3 and the final single release for Glass Records.

Both b-sides are from 'The Perfect Prescription' sessions.

SPACEMEN 3 - TRANSPARENT RADIATION

Glass Records 1987

01. Transparent Radiation
02. Ecstasy Symphony
03. Transparent Radiation (Flashback)
04. Things'll Never be the Same
05. Starship


The second 'single' release by Spacemen 3 was a forty minute E.P., a companion to the album 'The Perfect Prescription' and their most ambitious project yet.

Recorded between January and July 1987 at VHF Studios in Rugby. The versions of 'Transparent Radiation' and 'Ecstasy Symphony' are exclusive to this release.

SPACEMEN 3 - WALKIN' WITH JESUS

Glass Records 1986

01. Walkin' with Jesus (Sound of Confusion)
02. Rollercoaster
03. Feel So Good


Okay, so the tracks here aren't rare. However, it's been a long time since the contemporaneous output of Spacemen 3 was presented in it's original form.

This is the debut single, released a few months after the first album.

'Walkin' with Jesus (Sound of Confusion)' was recorded for the debut album, but went unreleased. This is actually a remix of a demo recorded in Northampton the previous year. Other songs from that session make up the posthumous release 'Taking Drugs to Make Music to Take Drugs To'.

The two b-sides were recorded in that same studio, shortly after the recording of 'Sound of Confusion'. 'Rollercoaster' is a re-recording of that album track, with less overdubs but an extended length of over seventeen minutes. 'Feel So Good' was a new track, which would be re-recorded for 'The Perfect Prescription' the next year.

SPACEMEN 3 - SOUNDS LIKE ECSTASY

Self made compilation 1987/2015


01. Take Me to the Other Side
02. Walkin' with Jesus
03. Ode to Street Hassle
04. Things'll Never Be the Same
05. Ecstasy Symphony
06. Transparent Radiation
07. Starship
08. Soul 1
09. Come Down Easy
10. Feel So Good
11. Call the Doctor
12. I Want You Right Now


Purists be still! First of all, I love Spacemen 3. I bought my first album (Recurring) at the age of 12, and I've been listening to them ever since,

I love that their recorded output is so messy. Only four original studio albums, but many more re-issues, live albums, demos...not to mention the non album singles, B-Sides and E.P.'s.

I wanted to re-imagine 'Perfect Prescription', and fashion an alternate second album from 1987.

So it goes like this:

01. Take Me to the Other Side - Single version.

02. Walkin' with Jesus
03. Ode to Street Hassle - 'Perfect Prescription' album versions.

04. Things'll Never Be the Same - Alternate version from 'Forged Prescriptions'.

05. Ecstasy Symphony
06. Transparent Radiation - It has to be the extended E.P. versions.

07. Starship - A live staple not included on 'Perfect Prescription', this demo beats the                          'Transparent Radiation' version.

08. Soul 1 - B-Side from 'Take Me to the Other Side' single.

09. Come Down Easy - Demo version from 'Forged Prescriptions'.

10. Feel So Good - B-Side from 'Take Me to the Other Side' single.

11. Call the Doctor - 'Perfect Prescription' album version.

12. I Want You Right Now - This instrumental jam comes from 'Forged Prescriptions'.

So, if you're familiar, you already know it's good. If you're not, give it a go, it could change your life.

SPACEMEN 3 - THREEBIE 3

Fire Records 1989

01. Starship
02. Revolution
03. Suicide
04. Repeater
05. Live Intro Theme (Xtacy)

Originally available as a mail order only 12", using a voucher with vinyl copies of "Playing With Fire". Recorded live at the Melkweg, Amsterdam 2nd of June 1988, these tracks are from the same show as the "Performance" L.P.

Spacemen 3 in full feedback drenched assault.