Looks like the release date for It has now slipped to November 28... no mention of Freaks or Separations either...

this is an email I received today from Fire:

 

 

Good Afternoon,

 

As you have either purchased, or shown an interest to purchase one of the Pulp reissues that were announced at the start of the summer, we have some important updates to give you.

 

I want to explain the delays/postponements that have occurred. These have been due to production decisions we have had to make as we looked into producing the best possible release/s we can. This has involved going over old audio in the files to find the best possible, as well as potential bonus tracks, as some of you will have no doubt noticed a few changes to track listings along the way. The main delay was caused by our decision to re-master the audio for each release. This decision, and the delays which result, has impacted on our thoughts on how to release the titles. As a series, or individually.

 

We have decided release the titles as they come in release order, rather than as a set at the same time. This was how they were originally released of course but it also helps minimise further delays.

 

With this now explained I can confirm that It is now due for a January 2012 release, with the Freaks (2012) and Separations (2012) to follow when they are completed.

 

We understand that changing /finalising the release details and track listings to those previously announced may cause grievance if you have pre-ordered and with this in mind we fully understand if you would like a refund. If so, please let me know.

 

I want to apologise for the delays and for not keeping you as updated as we could and thank you for your understanding with us as we look to reissue these as best we can. We are really excited about these as they shape up so Im sure you will not be disappointed!

 

Do not hesitate to contact me on any of the points raised.

 

Kind regards,

 

Michael

 

Agreed. Nice of him to explain it in more than a few words. And thanks for posting, pulped.

Quite excited about it now. There seems to have been a rethink early on that instead of just putting the same thing out again with no remastering or extra material and hoping to flog some off the back of the summer reunion (they were originally due in August), serious consideration and expertise is being put into these.

A pity about having to wait longer but by the sound of things it will be worthwhile. Might be another piece in our armour when petitioning Universal on the We Love Life deluxe/outtakes.

Thanks for posting that Pulped. Shame about the delay, but as the others say hopefully it'll be worth the wait.

Only some of it is the rough mix - Input Studios had wiped some of the multitracks (eg Fairground) by the time Pulp went back to do the final mix of the album, forcing them to go with the initial versions they'd done, but others (eg Master of the Universe) survived. Apparently there is an 'original' mix of the album where some of the tracks are different from the final release - certainly Master of the Universe is one of these. There are more sound effects bridging the tracks as well. Whether Fire have a copy of this I don't know - certainly when I asked Clive Solomon about 5 years ago, he didn't think the Fire vaults had either this or any of the multitracks. Who knows though!

I didn't realise that there were missing multi-tracks of Pulp songs! How the hell were they approved to be wiped before the album was finished? Suppose that explains why the quality is a bit ropey on some tracks when compared to others. Would be really interesting to know more details of what survives in the Pulp/record company archives from the early days. I know we have the session info on the PulpWiki, but it would be cool to know more about potential alternative mixes and exactly which multi-tracks are missing and how the re-mastering is going to be dealt with... Are they going right back to the original tapes where possible?

Thanks for the info! Other than Fairground, do you know which other multitracks no longer exist? Any more details of the 'original' mix of Freaks you mentioned?

-- Edited by sbazb on Thursday 3rd of November 2011 09:01:45 PM

That's about as much as I know really. The one track that definitely exists in 'original' and 'final' mixes is Master of the Universe. The original version is a bit weedier, but has handclaps in the instrumental section!

Something else to note is that on all versions of Freaks so far (on both LP and CD), the mastering is crap - sort of muffled, like they've left the Dolby button on. The original 12" of They Suffocate at Night is the same version/mix but a different master and it's a world of difference - so much clearer and detailed. Hopefully with this new version they'll be able to go back to the original tapes and bring the quality up to something approaching this.

I've only ever heard Freaks on it's original vinyl issue and I have to confess to finding it a very difficult listening experience. A bit like listening to David Bowie's Lodger on vinyl. The songs come across as being mixed quite dry and 'hard', if that makes sense. (although I never thought that Bowie had much of a clue when it came to mixing) I don't think it helped that the quality of the pressing seemed quite poor on Freaks as well.

The mix, although the songs are no walk in the park either!

Bump.

Full details of the three reissues - (they now will be released concurrently just like their more successful little brothers were when Island put out the deluxe versions) have now been made available.Looks like we finally have a definitive date, February 13th being the day.
Freaks - the perfect Valentines gift for all you emo goths....

Unfortunately there is no further unreleased material on them than previously indicated (Sink or Swim will be the only new/old song to us). In fact, there is one disappointment in that the version included of Please Don't Worry, which was originally thought to be from the 'It' sessions, is actually from the 1981 Peel session begging the question of why it's being included at all.

I thought they might be a bit more adventurous and generous in lost-song excavating after going to a bit more effort with 'It', but the very early 80's (Spice/Rotherham sessions) and mid-80s (Sudan Gerri/Ping Pong Jerry) demos are absent, presumably owned by the band. Maybe they didn't allow their use, who knows? Where's that official release for Coy Mistress?! Even Silence remains locked in the cupboard.

Remastered versions is of course potentially great news, though on the Freaks preview they don't mention a remaster, in fact stating that it has been ''unaltered'' but I imagine that it is.




PULP REISSUES CONFIRMED FOR FEBRUARY
Posted by Fire Records on 12/12/11

IT, FREAKS AND SEPARATIONS REMASTERED AND REPACKAGED WITH BONUS TRACKS AND LINER NOTES FROM EVERETT TRUE.

Fire Records will be reissuing the first three Pulp albums in February 2012 as part of their Embers series. Constituting three very different stages in the development of the band, the albums cover a staggering sonic range from the pastoral, acoustic sounds of 'It', to the darkly romantic 'Freaks' and the disco-tinged 'Separations'. They point to Jarvis Cocker's varied sources of musical inspiration and show a band in the process of finding their own unique voice, whilst hinting at the greatness that would follow. All three come newly re-mastered and beautifully repackaged, complete with additional bonus material and brand new liner-notes by Everett True.




See more here:

http://www.firerecords.com/site/index.php?page=artists&artistid=00000000067

-- Edited by Eamonn on Monday 12th of December 2011 08:03:53 PM