2013 September 23 - Ian McNabb - TRUTH AND BEAUTY - Expanded Edition - UK 2CD - Cherry Red Records CDBRED 582

Ian McNabb

TRUTH AND BEAUTY

Expanded Edition [2CD]

23 September 2013 - Cherry Red Records CDBRED 582

· Robert Ian McNabb is an acclaimed English singer-songwriter and musician from Liverpool, England. He is known both for his work as leader and songwriter-in-chief of The Icicle Works in the 1980's, and his critically acclaimed solo career throughout from the early 1990's to date. He has also played with musicians as diverse as Ringo Starr, Crazy Horse, Mike Scott (of The Waterboys), and Danny Thompson of folk legends Pentangle.

Around the time of the split of the Icicle Works in 1990, McNabb spent some time as a de facto member of The Wild Swans, playing guitar and singing background vocals. The Wild Swans dissolved in late 1990, and McNabb then issued two solo singles in 1991 to little notice.

· He then resurfaced in 1993 with a collection of demos which would form the basis of his first solo album, Truth and Beauty. Recorded on a shoestring, it won him a record deal with Andrew Lauder's new 'This Way Up' Label.

· The album's first proper single ‘If Love Was Like Guitars’ became a minor UK hit in 1993. Following this, the 1991 single ‘Great Dreams of Heaven’ was re-released, but failed to gain much airplay, possibly due to lyrical references such as "babies being born H.I.V."

· This expanded version has been re-mastered by Ian himself and is a testament to the great album it was, enhanced with upgraded packaging and a bonus disc of the B-sides that came with the assorted singles this is a great addition to the canon of Ian’s work.

Disc 1

1. (I Go) My Own Way

2. These Are The Days

3. Great Dreams Of Heaven

4. Truth And Beauty

5. I'm Game

6. If Love Was Like Guitars

7. Story Of My Life

8. That's Why I Believe

9. Trip With Me

10. Make Love To You

11. Presence Of The One

Disc 2

1. (I Go) My Own Way (John Leckie Version)

2. Trams In Amsterdam
3. Great Dreams Of Heaven (Acoustic)

Additional Tracks from THESE ARE THE DAYS

4. Unknown Legend

5. I'm Game

6. Caroline No

Additional Tracks from GREAT DREAMS OF HEAVEN Reissue

7. A Pirate Looks At Forty

8. What's It All About

9. I'm Game (Radio Edit)

Additional Tracks from I'M GAME

10. Play The Hand They Deal You

11. If Daddy Could See Me Now

12. For You, Angel

Additional Tracks from (I GO) MY OWN WAY

2013 January 28 - UK Reissue 2CD - Ian McNabb - HEAD LIKE A ROCK - Cherry Red Records CDBRED 552

Ian McNabb

HEAD LIKE A ROCK

28 January 2013 - UK 2CD - Cherry Red Records CDBRED 552

Icicle Works fans, be forewarned: Ian McNabb's solo album, Head Like a Rock, barely resembles the anthemic new wave pop of his former band. Indie purists may scoff, but Head Like a Rock is a heartfelt, invigorating rock album. Collaborating with members of Neil Young's Crazy Horse, McNabb sounds rejuvenated. On "Fire Inside My Soul," McNabb cuts loose both musically and emotionally. While his passionate, robust vocals ride atop screeching guitars, McNabb sings autobiographical lyrics about leaving the past behind, including the death of his father. Clocking in at over eight minutes, the song sets the tone for the LP; it is uplifting, energetic music. The ferocious rhythm section of Crazy Horse blends smoothly with McNabb's deep, booming voice. The crunchy guitar riffs in "Fire Inside My Soul" and "You Must Be Prepared to Dream" may turn off Icicle Works devotees, however, the hooks are sharp enough to slice away any hesitancy. McNabb and his cohorts slow the tempo on "Child Inside a Father" and "Still Got the Fever," but the feelings of restlessness still linger. On Head Like a Rock, McNabb takes inventory of his life and discovers that, despite a few setbacks, everything is fine. It's a realization that bursts like firecrackers. 

Track Listing

Disc 1: HEAD LIKE A ROCK

Fire Inside My Soul (8:34)

You Must Be Prepared To Dream (6:57)

Child Inside A Father (9:01)

Still Got The Fever (7:28)

Potency (4:37)

Go Into The Light (4:06)

As A Life Goes By (4:43)

Sad Strange Solitary Catholic Mystic (4:46)

This Time Is Forever (7:29) [7:35]

May You Always (8:47)

Disc 2: BONUS TRACKS

That's Why the Darkness Exists (3:22)

Sometimes I Think About You (4:20)

Woo Yer (3:20)

Love Is a Wonderful Colour (4:15)

When It All Comes Down (4:22)

Time You Were In Love (4:25)

Go Into The Light (Celestial Dub Mix) (7:20)

Rock (3:00)

I Stood Before St Peter (3:45)

Credits

Release Co-ordinator: Steve Hammonds

Layout: Hugh Gilmour

Mastering: Andy Pearce

Notes

Re-release of 1994 album

Images

The Icicle Works - BLIND - UK 3CD Expanded Edition [Cherry Red Records CDTRED 501]

The Icicle Works

BLIND

3xCD REISSUE, REMASTERED from the ORIGINAL ANALOGUE SOURCE TAPES

Cherry Red Records CDTRED 501

NOTES

As early as the Icicle Works' second album, it became obvious that singer/songwriter Ian McNabb had little interest in further pursuing his career as a new wave tunesmith in the manner of his only U.K. hit, Love Is a Wonderful Colour . Still, stylistic nods to Neil Young, Van Morrison, and Motown on post-1984 recordings could have hardly prepared the casual Icicle Works fan for the all-over-the-map musical journey that represented the original line up's fourth and final album, Blind.

There's not even a hint of new wave on this record; beginning with a full-on Led Zeppelin-style rave up ( Shit Creek ), Blind then proceeds to careen wildly through several anthemic folk-rockers ( Here Comes Trouble , Starry Blue Eyed Wonder ), a Caribbean-style pop tune ( What Do You Want Me to Do ), a Prince-meets-INXS lite-funk workout ( The KissOff ), a raunchy blues-metal parody that even Zodiac Mindwarp might have found too over the top ( Two Two Three ), Blind contains some of the Icicle Works' best individual tracks, including the singles High Time and Little Girl Lost . 

This 3-CD reissue-set contains 2 discs of rare and unreleased material in addition to the original album and also features updated booklets and notes by Classic Rocks Jerry Ewing.

This re-issue is presented with the US Cover, as opposed to the original UK cover. 

The tracks are however, the UK versions, and NOT the radically remastered US versions, which still remain elusive other than on the original US release.

Track Listing

Disc 1

1 Intro [0:32] (Ian McNabb)

2 Shit Creek [4:01] (Ian McNabb)

3 High Time [3:35] (Ian McNabb)

4 Little Girl Lost [4:39] (Ian McNabb)

5 Starry Blue Eyed Wonder [4:13] (Ian McNabb)

6 One True Love [1:51] (Ian McNabb)

7 Blind [5:35] (Ian McNabb)

8 Two Two Three [2:23] (Ian McNabb)

9 What Do You Want Me To Do? [3:13] (Ian McNabb)

10 Stood Before Saint Peter [5:25] (Ian McNabb)

11 The Kiss Off [4:21] (Ian McNabb)

12 Here Comes Trouble [4:02] (Ian McNabb)

13 Walk A While With Me [4:25] (Ian McNabb)

Disc 2 B Sides and Rarities

1 Firepower (Alternative Version) [3:44] (Ian McNabb)

2 Solid Ground (Alternative Version) [3:21] (Ian McNabb)

3 Like Weather (Alternative Version) [5:42] (Ian McNabb)

B-Side of "The Kiss Off"
4 Broken Hearted Fool [3:43] (Ian McNabb)

5 The Kiss Off [12" Mix] [4:16] (Ian McNabb)

B-Side of "Numb" EP
6 Sure Thing [4:59] 

7 High Time [Acoustic Version] [3:37] (Ian McNabb)

8 Whipping Boy [4:36] (Ian McNabb)

B-Side of "Little Girl Lost"
9 Tin Can [3:21] (Ian McNabb)

10 Hot Profit Gospel [3:46] (Ian McNabb)

11 One Time [6:25] (Ian McNabb)

12 Triad, Chestnut Mare The Byrds [4:52]

13 Acid Hell Nightmare Ian McNabb [4:09]

14 The Kiss Off [Extended Remix] Ian McNabb [5:59]

15 The Kiss Off [Instrumental Dub] Ian McNabb [4:51]

Disc 3 B Sides and Rarities

1 When It All Comes Down ['92 Version] Ian McNabb 5:48 Taken from "Best of The Icicle Works"

2 Little Girl Lost [Demo] Ian McNabb 5:09 Previously Unreleased

3 Starry Blue Eyed Wonder [Demo] Ian McNabb 4:45 Previously Unreleased

4 Here Comes Trouble [Demo] Ian McNabb 4:08 Previously Unreleased

5 Slipping Into Darkness [Shit Creek Demo] Ian McNabb 4:22 Previously Unreleased

6 Light In The Window Ian McNabb 3:33 Previously Unreleased

7 One True Love [Doggy Mix] Ian McNabb 2:44 Previously Unreleased

8 Private Revolution [Live] Karl Wallinger 4:23 B-Side "High Time"

9 Travelling Chest [Live] Ian McNabb 4:01 B-Side "High Time"

10 Starry Blue Eyed Wonder [Live] Ian McNabb 4:31 B-Side "Here Comes Trouble"

11 For What It's Worth - Medley [Live] Neil Young 6:03 B-Side "Here Comes Trouble"

Includes ...

You Can't Always Get What You Want (The Rolling Stones)

Walk On The Wild Side (Lou Reed)

Soul Kitchen (The Doors)

12 Rock and Roll [Live] Robert Plant, Jimmy Page 4:03 B-Side "Here Comes Trouble"