The Divine Comedy - A Short Album About Love [CD/DVD]

Divine Comedy Records

£13.77

Format: CD/DVD
Catalogue No.: DCRL036RCD
Release Date: 9th October 2020
Genre: Pop

 In 1990 Neil Hannon started recording and releasing under the name The Divine Comedy. Thirty years and twelve great albums later, Hannon is rightly adjudged one of the finest singer songwriters of his generation. To celebrate, Divine Comedy Records are remastering and reissuing nine of the band's classic albums.
 The nine reissued albums have been remastered from the original tapes at the legendary Abbey Road Studios by mastering engineer Frank Arkwright (Blur, The Smiths). Overseeing the audio throughout the campaign is engineer / mixer / producer Guy Massey, whose work on the Beatles Stereo Remasters won him a Grammy Award.
 ‘A Short Album About Love’ was conceived as a companion piece to the band’s previous album ‘Casanova’. It was recorded live at the Shepherd’s Bush Empire in London in 1996 with a 30-piece orchestra and was released in time for Valentine’s Day 1997, charting at 13 in the UK. NME described the show where the album was recorded as “an evening when dreams finally come true; a night of costume changes, classical kisses and - in time honoured tradition of drinking and dressing up - hugely sophisticated fun… One suspects it wouldn't be too hazardous to suggest that Neil Hannon is having by far the finest night of his entire sodding life.” Time Out, reviewing the album, said: “Seven of the most heart-stoppingly gorgeous, romantic
smoochers you have ever heard, all drenched in strings and emotion.” The single ‘Everybody Knows (Except You)’ reached 14 in the UK chart.
 The CD release consists of two discs: the original remastered 7 track album, with an additional 12 tracks of B-sides, demos and alternate versions lovingly curated by Neil Hannon, much of which has never been heard before. The CD comes with a booklet of photos, credits and extensive liner notes written by Neil covering the context and inspiration behind the album and its songs. The second disc is the DVD ‘A Short Film About A Short Album About Love’, a previously unreleased 50-minute film of the Shepherd’s Bush Empire concert at which ‘A Short Album About Love’ was recorded.
 The LP release consists of the original remastered album, cut at Abbey Road, packaged with a download code for the album and bonus tracks. The LP is heavyweight black vinyl in a gatefold sleeve accompanied with photos, credits and Neil’s liner notes.

Tracklisting:
‘A Short Album About Love’
In Pursuit Of Happiness
Everybody Knows (Except You)
Someone
If…
If I Were You (I'd Be Through With Me)
Timewatching
I'm All You Need
Bath (live)
A Short Film About Driving
Everybody Knows (Except You) (early idea)
Johnny Mathis' Feet (live)
I'm All You Need (instrumental demo)
A Short Film About Dreams
Your Daddy's Car (live)
Teach Us To Love
A Short Film About Waiting
A Short Film About Chance
If I Were You (I'd Be Through With Me) (rehearsal version)
Make It Easy On Yourself (live)
‘A Short Film About A Short Album About Love’ Bonus DVD
In Pursuit Of Happiness
Everybody Knows (Except You)
Someone
If…
If I Were You (I'd Be Through With Me)
Timewatching
I'm All You Need