The album sessions spanned the best part of a year and I think the band had already agreed with the record company they would release 4 or 5 singles and have lots of B-sides so mountains of material was recorded. Wages Day was originally recorded as a B-side and then Ricky liked it so much it made the album and became the second single. I think demo sessions began in spring 1988 where they tried out Palladium in Edinburgh and CaVa in Glasgow and settled on CaVa. I think lots of cassettes were made up over the year that the b-sides and album tracks were being recorded with different track lists. I think Souvenirs and Undeveloped Heart were on one early tape for example but its doubtful whether they were ever regarded as contenders for the album - they may have just been on a progress report type tape sent to the record company with a mixture of album tracks and potential b-sides. After Real Gone Kid came out I can remember reading Nicky Campbell's column in the Sunday Mail saying he had heard a sneak preview tape of songs from the next Deacon Blue album and waxed lyrical about My America and Las Vegas (which had been recorded in the summer in LA) but which weren't included on the album. Years later Ricky revealed they hadn't got on with their producer in LA, the sessions were a disaster, they hated the results and only included 1 song (Silhouettes) from the LA sessions.
Thanks. I always wondered re: Down In The Flood, whereas the original sounds very 1986, the Minimal Mix appears to have been largely rerecorded later. I think I heard somewhere that Queen Of The New Year and Wages Day were written in response to the US label hearing an early draft and wanting more upbeat songs. I often wonder why they did not include "That Country [Beneath Your Skin]" on the LP or a b-side, as they reportedly played it live prior to the album.
I think Down In The Flood was demoed at Park Lane during the sessions for Raintown. I don't think it was recorded again later but it did seem to get a few mixes - extended, minimal, & 7" mix were all released on different formats... and the Yeah fan club magazine also listed a comedy mix as well
Thank you Dougie Adam for all the info you provide Deacon Blue have given me the best memories of my life I hope they never retire can't wait to see them again soon.
![Deacon Blue, "The Hipsters" [live with BBC SSO]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/R3O31KT42uE/mqdefault.jpg)
![Deacon Blue, "The Hipsters" [live with BBC SSO]](/img/tr.png)
What a gem!! Always loved this one
One of my fave db songs from ooh las Vegas
Just beautiful... 👌🏻❤️
Do you have any info on those early tracklistings? I'm quite interested as they recorded so much at the time.
The album sessions spanned the best part of a year and I think the band had already agreed with the record company they would release 4 or 5 singles and have lots of B-sides so mountains of material was recorded. Wages Day was originally recorded as a B-side and then Ricky liked it so much it made the album and became the second single. I think demo sessions began in spring 1988 where they tried out Palladium in Edinburgh and CaVa in Glasgow and settled on CaVa. I think lots of cassettes were made up over the year that the b-sides and album tracks were being recorded with different track lists. I think Souvenirs and Undeveloped Heart were on one early tape for example but its doubtful whether they were ever regarded as contenders for the album - they may have just been on a progress report type tape sent to the record company with a mixture of album tracks and potential b-sides. After Real Gone Kid came out I can remember reading Nicky Campbell's column in the Sunday Mail saying he had heard a sneak preview tape of songs from the next Deacon Blue album and waxed lyrical about My America and Las Vegas (which had been recorded in the summer in LA) but which weren't included on the album. Years later Ricky revealed they hadn't got on with their producer in LA, the sessions were a disaster, they hated the results and only included 1 song (Silhouettes) from the LA sessions.
Thanks. I always wondered re: Down In The Flood, whereas the original sounds very 1986, the Minimal Mix appears to have been largely rerecorded later. I think I heard somewhere that Queen Of The New Year and Wages Day were written in response to the US label hearing an early draft and wanting more upbeat songs. I often wonder why they did not include "That Country [Beneath Your Skin]" on the LP or a b-side, as they reportedly played it live prior to the album.
I think Down In The Flood was demoed at Park Lane during the sessions for Raintown. I don't think it was recorded again later but it did seem to get a few mixes - extended, minimal, & 7" mix were all released on different formats... and the Yeah fan club magazine also listed a comedy mix as well
Thank you Dougie Adam for all the info you provide Deacon Blue have given me the best memories of my life I hope they never retire can't wait to see them again soon.
Deacon Blue that was beautiful 💙💙💙🎙🎹🎼🎻😍😎