The Teardrop Explodes – Peel Sessions Plus (2007)

I suspect this was a Christmas present a few years ago, which hasn't seen much action since it was received. That's a pity because while I might have most of the songs elsewhere, they're different enough on the Peel Sessions to make things interesting.

The first session from October 1979 has the band as a four piece, with early versions of Ha Ha I'm Drowning, a thumping bass taking the attention rather than the more familiar brass, Went Crazy, and Brave Boys Keep Their Promises sounding pretty much as expected, and as they would appear on Kilimanjaro a year later., and the ordinary, but cheerful Chance.

There's an October 1980 piano heavy version of Reward, (the band's only UK top ten hit) enhanced by trumpet and an early 1980 session (Dave Balfe now on board) with three more tracks later to appear on Kilimanjaro, Thief Of Baghdad, When I Dream and The Poppies Are In The Field, all sounding as good as they would when released.

Later (1981/82) sessions feel more polished and confident, as you'd expect. There's a couple of sessions with the five piece band doing songs from the band's second album, Wilder; of these, Like Leila Khaled Said is the most interesting.

But there's a little treat hidden towards the end, with a fine version of Wah! Heat's first single Better Scream.

By the June 1982 session, things were falling apart, the band being down to a three piece relying on backing tapes, with Dave Balfe and Julian Cope wanting to pull the band in different directions, and only a much slowed down (compared with the later single) You Disappear From View stands out.

It's always good to hear the slight differences bands make for Peel sessions of their loved songs, and also to hear some that never quite made it to the records on this  'warts and all' taste of the Teardrops from start to end

Link to album tracks

3* - an interesting snapshot, well worth a listen, but won't replace listening to any of the individual albums.