TRACKS:
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CD1
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01) Photograph (A Beginning) (Northern Dream album, 1971)
02) Northern Dreamer (Northern Dream album, 1971)
03) See It Through (Northern Dream album, 1971)
04) Love's A Way (Northern Dream album, 1971)
05) Be Bop Deluxe - Teenage Archangel (non-album single, 1973)
06) Be Bop Deluxe - Jets At Dawn (Teenage Archangel single b-side, later re-recorded for Axe Victim album, 1974)
07) Be Bop Deluxe - Axe Victim (Decca audition version - Previously Unreleased, 1973)
08) Be Bop Deluxe - Adventures In A Yorkshire Landscape (Axe Victim album, 1974)
09) Be Bop Deluxe - Darkness L'Immoraliste (Axe Victim album, 1974)
10) Be Bop Deluxe - Night Creatures (Axe Victim album, 1974)
11) Be Bop Deluxe - Music In Dreamland (Futurama album, 1975)
12) Be Bop Deluxe - Maid In Heaven (Futurama album, 1975)
13) Be Bop Deluxe - Jean Cocteau (Futurama album, 1975)
14) Be Bop Deluxe - Sister Seagull (Futurama album, 1975)
15) Be Bop Deluxe - Between The Worlds (Futurama album, 1975)
16) Be Bop Deluxe - Swan Song (Futurama album, 1975)
17) Be Bop Deluxe - Crystal Gazing (Sunburst Finish album, 1976)
18) Be Bop Deluxe - Heavenly Homes (Sunburst Finish album, 1976)
19) Be Bop Deluxe - Ships In The Night (Sunburst Finish album, 1976)
20) Be Bop Deluxe - Crying To The Sky (Alternate Guitar Solo - Previously Unreleased)
21) Be Bop Deluxe - Sleep That Burns (Sunburst Finish album, 1976)
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CD2
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01) Be Bop Deluxe - Modern Music (Modern Music album, 1976)
02) Be Bop Deluxe - Dancing In The Moonlight (All Alone) (Modern Music album, 1976)
03) Be Bop Deluxe - Honeymoon On Mars (Modern Music album, 1976)
04) Be Bop Deluxe - Lost In The Neon World (Modern Music album, 1976)
05) Be Bop Deluxe - Dance Of The Uncle Sam Humanoids (Modern Music album, 1976)
06) Be Bop Deluxe - Modern Music (Reprise) (Modern Music album, 1976)
07) Be Bop Deluxe - Kiss Of Light (Modern Music album, 1976)
08) Be Bop Deluxe - Forbidden Lovers (Modern Music album, 1976)
09) Be Bop Deluxe - Down On Terminal Street (Modern Music album, 1976)
10) Be Bop Deluxe - Life In The Air Age (Live! In The Air Age album, 1977)
11) Be Bop Deluxe - Piece of Mine (Live! In The Air Age album, 1977)
12) Be Bop Deluxe - Blimps (The Best Of And The Rest Of compilation album, 1978)
13) Be Bop Deluxe - Futurist Manifesto ("Japan" single b-side in 1977)
14) Be Bop Deluxe - Lovers Are Mortal (The Best Of And The Rest Of Compilation album, 1978)
15) Be Bop Deluxe - Surreal Estate (Drastic Plastic album, 1978)
16) Be Bop Deluxe - Visions Of Endless Hope (Drastic Plastic album, 1978)
17) Be Bop Deluxe - Panic In The World (Juan Les Pins Mix/Remix)
18) Bill Nelson's Red Noise - Don't Touch Me (I'm Electric) (Sound-On-Sound album,1979)
19) Bill Nelson's Red Noise - Revolt Into Style (Sound-On-Sound album in 1979)
20) Bill Nelson's Red Noise - Furniture Music (Sound-On-Sound album in 1979)
21) Bill Nelson's Red Noise - Stay Young (Live) (Revolt Into Style 12" single)
22) Bill Nelson's Red Noise - Out Of Touch (Live) (Revolt Into Style 7 & 12" singles)
23) Do You Dream In Colour? (Quit Dreaming And Get On The Beam album in 1981)
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CD3
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01) Banal (Quit Dreaming And Get On The Beam album in 1981)
​​​02) Life Runs Out Like Sand (Quit Dreaming And Get On The Beam Album in 1981)
03) Living In My Limousine (Quit Dreaming And Get On The Beam album in 1981)
04) Mr. Magnetism Himself (Banal 7 & 12" singles)
05) Sleep (Sounding The Ritual Echo album, 1981)
06) Opium (Sounding The Ritual Echo album, 1981)
07) Near East (Sounding The Ritual Echo album, 1981)
08) The Funeral (Das Kabinett album, 1981)
09) The Sonambulist And The Children (Das Kabinett album, 1981)
10) The Dream Dance Of Jane And The Sonambulist (Das Kabinett album, 1981)
11) Beauty And The Beast (La Belle Et La Bete album, 1982)
12) The Enchanted Glove (La Belle Et La Bete album, 1982)
13) Eros Arriving (The Love That Whirls album in 1982)
14) Hope For The Heartbeat (The Love That Whirls album, 1982)
15) A Private View (The Love That Whirls album, 1982)
16) The October Man (The Love That Whirls album, 1982)
17) The Passion (Flaming Desire 7 & 12" singles)
18) Echo in Her Eyes (The Lamps of Oblivion) (The Love That Whirls album, 1982)
19) Glow World (Chimera mini-album, 1983)
20) The Real Adventure (Chimera mini-album, 1983)
21) Acceleration (Short Version) (Acceleration 12" single, 1984)
22) Happily Addicted To You (A Catalogue Of Obsessions album, part of the Trial By Intimacy set, 1985)
23) The Last Summer For Dancing (A Catalogue Of Obsessions album, part of the Trial By Intimacy set, 1985)
24) Les Amoureux (Pavillions Of The Heart And Soul album, part of the Trial By Intimacy set, 1985)
25) Another Kiss For Your Slender Neck (Pavillions Of The Heart And Soul album, Trial By Intimacy set, 1985)
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CD4
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01) The Eternal Female (Pavillions Of The Heart And Soul album, part of the Trial By Intimacy set, 1985)
02) Sleeplessness (Chamber Of Dreams album, part of the Trial By Intimacy set, 1985)
03) The Golden Bough (Chamber Of Dreams album, part of the Trial By Intimacy set, 1985)
04) Tomorrowland (The Threshold Of 1947) (Chamber Of Dreams album, Trial By Intimacy set, 1985)
05) Sacrament (The Summer Of God's Piano album, part of the Trial By Intimacy set, 1985)
06) Over Ocean (The Summer Of God's Piano album, part of the Trial By Intimacy set, 1985)
07) Perfido Incanto (The Summer Of God's Piano album, part of the Trial By Intimacy set, 1985)
08) City One (Chameleon album, 1986)
09) Blue Sky (Chameleon album, 1986)
10) To The Sea In Ships (Chameleon album, 1986)
11) Suvasini (Getting The Holy Ghost Across album, 1986)
12) Contemplation (Getting The Holy Ghost Across album, 1986)
13) Wildest Dreams (Getting The Holy Ghost Across album, 1986)
14) The Hidden Flame (Getting The Holy Ghost Across album, 1986)
15) Illusions Of You (Living For The Spangled Moment mini-album, 1986)
16) Orchestra Arcana - Search And Listen (Iconography album, 1986)
17) Orchestra Arcana - Right, Then Left (Iconography album, 1986)
18) Orchestra Arcana - Iconography (Iconography album, 1986)
19) Orchestra Arcana - Clock Conscious (Iconography album, 1986)
20) At The Gates Of The Singing Garden (Map Of Dreams album, 1987)
21) Water Of Life (Transfiguration) (Map Of Dreams album, 1987)
22) Spinning Creatures (Map Of Dreams album, 1987)
23) The Angel At The Western Window (Chance Encounters In The Garden Of Lights album, 1987)
24) Day Of Eternity (Chance Encounters In The Garden Of Lights album, 1987)
25) Night Tides (Chance Encounters In The Garden Of Lights album, 1987)
26) Finis Gloria Mundi (Chance Encounters In The Garden Of Lights album, 1987)
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CD5
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​01) Calling Heaven, Calling Heaven (Chance Encounters In The Garden Of Lights album, 1987)
02) Orchestra Arcana - Deva Dance (Optimism album, 1988)
03) Orchestra Arcana - Um, Ah Good Evening (UK CD of Optimism album, 1988)
04) Orchestra Arcana - Short Wave (UK CD of Optimism album, 1988)
05) Aqua Magica (Simplex album, 1990)
06) Heros De Lumiere (Simplex album, 1990)
07) Kiss Goodbye (Chimes And Rings album, part of the Demonstrations Of Affection set, 1989)
08) Dreams Of Yesterday (Chimes And Rings album, part of the Demonstrations Of Affection set, 1989)
09) Playing Jesus To Her Judas (Chimes And Rings album, part of the Demonstrations Of Affection set, 1989)
10) Still Waiting (Nudity album, part of the Demonstrations Of Affection set, 1989)
11) Feels Like Up To Me (Nudity album, part of the Demonstrations Of Affection set, 1989)
12) Only Love Can Tell (Nudity album, part of the Demonstrations Of Affection set, 1989)
13) Broken (Heartbreakland album, part of the Demonstrations Of Affection set, 1989)
14) Heartbreak Thru The Telephone (Heartbreakland album, part of the Demonstrations Of Affection set, 1989)
15) Love's Immortal Shining Angel (Heartbreakland album, part of the Demonstrations Of Affection set, 1989)
16) Man On Fire (Details album, part of the Demonstrations Of Affection set, 1989)
17) Aeroplane Wings (Details album, part of the Demonstrations Of Affection set, 1989)
18) Stay With Me (Details album, part of the Demonstrations Of Affection set, 1989)
19) A Luminous Kind Of Guy (Luminous album, 1991)
20) Is This Alchemy (Luminous album, 1991)
21) Wait For Tomorrow (Luminous album, 1991)
22) God Man Slain (Blue Moons & Laughing Guitars album, 1992)
23) Boat To Forever (Blue Moons & Laughing Guitars album, 1992)
24) The Invisible Man And The Unforgettable Girl (Blue Moons & Laughing Guitars album, 1992)
25) Dream Ships Set Sail (Blue Moons & Laughing Guitars album, 1992)
26) Crimsworth Part One (Excerpt) (Crimsworth album, 1995)
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CD6
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01) Big Noise In Twang Town (Practically Wired album, 1995)
02) Pink Buddah Blues (Practically Wired album, 1995)
03) Her Presence In Flowers (Practically Wired album, 1995)
04) Big River (Buddha Head album, part of the My Secret Studio set, 1995)
05) The Big Illumination (Buddha Head album, part of the My Secret Studio set, 1995)
06) Buddah Head (Buddha Head album, part of the My Secret Studio set, 1995)
07) Begin To Burn (Electricity Made Us Angels album, part of the My Secret Studio set, 1995)
08) Heaven's Happy Hemisphere (Electricity Made Us Angels album, part of the My Secret Studio set, 1995)
09) It's All True (Deep Dream Decoder album, part of the My Secret Studio set, 1995)
10) Year 44 (The Birthday Song) (Deep Dream Decoder album, part of the My Secret Studio set, 1995)
11) Dreamnoise And Angel (Deep Dream Decoder album, part of the My Secret Studio set, 1995)
12) No Fool For You (Juke Box For Jet Boy album, part of the My Secret Studio set, 1995)
13) On A Train I Never Boarded (Juke Box For Jet Boy album, part of the My Secret Studio set, 1995)
14) Hold On To Your Heart (Juke Box For Jet Boy album, part of the My Secret Studio set, 1995)
15) Deeply Dazzled (After The Satellite Sings album, 1996)
16) Memory Babe (After The Satellite Sings album, 1996)
17) Zoom Sequence (After The Satellite Sings album, 1996)
18) Quarter Moons And Stars (Weird Critters album, part of the Confessions Of A Hyperdreamer set, 1997)
19) Candyland (Weird Critters album, part of the Confessions Of A Hyperdreamer set, 1997)
20) Sun At Six Windows (Magnificent Dream People album, part of the Confessions Of A Hyperdreamer set, 1997)
21) Queer Weather (Magnificent Dream People album, part of the Confessions Of A Hyperdreamer set, 1997)
22) The Girl I Never Forgot (Magnificent Dream People album, Confessions Of A Hyperdreamer set, 1997)
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CD7
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01) Pointing at the Moon (Atom Shop album, 1998)
02) Dreamland Avenue (Whistling While the World Turns album, 2000)
03) Humming In The Void/Girl With The Thousand Watt Smile (Old Man Future Blows The Blues album, part of the Noise Candy set, 2002)
04) Big Yellow Moon (Stargazing With Ranger Bill album, part of the Noise Candy set, 2002)
05) Planet of Guitars (King Frankenstein album, part of the Noise Candy set, 2002)
06) Wonderful Weather In Woodgates Lane (Console album, part of the Noise Candy set, 2002)
07) The Ceremonial Arrival Of The Great Golden Cloud (The Alchemical Adventures Of Sailor Bill album, 2005)
08) Moments Catch Fire On The Crests Of Waves (The Alchemical Adventures Of Sailor Bill album, 2005)
09) Cascade (Improvisation For Three Harp Guitars) (Rosewood Volume One album, 2005)
10) Superserene (Theatre Of Falling Leaves album, 2009)
11) Young Dreams Whirled Away (Silvertone Fountains album, 2008)
12) Fearless Beauty (Kisses And Cream) (Return To Jazz Of Lights album, 2006)
13) The Golden Days Of Radio (Compact Mix) (Fancy Planets album, 2009)
14) The Trace We Left When All Was Gone (Mazda Kaleidoscope album, 2008)
15) Once I Had A Time Machine (Golden Melodies Of Tomorrow album, 2008)
16) Music Spins My Globe (Picture Post album, 2010)
17) Moon Gold Palladium (Fables And Dreamsongs album, 2010)
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CD8
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John Peel Session, 2nd June 1981
01) Rooms With Brittle Views
02) Stay Young
03) Sleep Cycle
04) Jazz
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David "Kid" Jenson Session, 13th Jan 1983
05) Dancing On A Knife's Edge
06) Time Tracking
07) Contemplation
08) Indiscretion​
NOTES:
The Practice of Everyday Life is an 8-CD boxed set issued by Esoteric/Cherry Red through their specially created Cocteau Discs imprint. From Smile Records to Sonoluxe, this box set samples 45 different albums from Nelson's impressively vast and varied back catalogue. For the serious collectors among Nelson's fan base, there are a total of 8 previously unreleased tracks and 3 others that are appearing on CD for the first time.
The Practice of Everyday Life was the first release on Cocteau Discs that prefaced a 22 album licensing deal which successfully managed to bring much of Nelson's back catalogue back in print. The 22 albums were intended for reissue over a seven year period, and at the time of writing (March 2016) 11 Nelson albums have been reissued including Getting the Holy Ghost Across, which was licensed under a separate deal with Sony. Therefore, a further 12 Nelson related titles can be expected over the next three years, with the prospect of Esoteric striking further deals with Universal for reissues of Red Noise and Be Bop Deluxe material. It has to be said that Esoteric have done a remarkable job with the reissue campaign, and no Bill Nelson fan, new or old, should be without a copy of The Practice of Everyday Life.
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CURRENT AVAILABILITY:
This boxed set is currently out of print, although still available as a download from major online retailers.
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BILL'S THOUGHTS:
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"For as long as I can remember, music has played a central part in my life. My father was a semi-professional saxophonist who was actually performing with his band the night I was born in December 1948. His musical tastes, mainly big band swing and jazz, provided the soundtrack to my infancy and childhood years, but, like so many of my generation, rock n' roll came along with it the romance of electric guitars and the magic multi-track recording. Music, tape machines and guitars opened the door to a wide-screen world, a world which I continue to explore to this day.
My first album, Northern Dream, was released in 1971, (though recorded in 1970.)
Now, exactly 40 years after the release of Northern Dream, comes this chronologically ordered, career-spanning compilation, The Practice Of Everyday Life.
For me, those 40 years have flown by, every day propelled by the power of music. The tracks presented across the 8 discs of this compilation, whilst not presenting the entire picture, nevertheless provide the widest view of my recorded work ever released in one package.
I'm grateful to Mark Powell of Esoteric Recordings, (who initiated the idea of this compilation), for his enthusiasm and dedication to the project. I hope that listeners will enjoy the colourful journey that The Practice Of Everyday Life documents."
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"It's a Zen Buddhist phrase which implies that enlightenment can be found in everyday, ordinary activities, rather than in some exotic, mysterious discipline or other.
But it is appropriate to the celebration of 40 years of my recording career on more than one level. First of all, my everyday life is filled with the act of creating music in one form or another. As you know, I've always treat this as a natural activity, it's simply what I do and what I am. The creative act itself is meditational and educational...Music is the mirror I hold up to myself to see what is reflected there.
But there's also an ironic element: What feels to me like a normal, everyday activity could, to someone not engaged in such an occupation, seem quite unusual or exotic. In fact, not 'everyday' at all. This duality and irony is reflected in the box set's cover image. When you finally get to see it, you'll understand what I'm getting at. The set's title and the cover image are amusingly, (and surreally), at odds. It implies that 'everyday life', for me, is a very strange and dreamlike thing indeed!
But the word 'practice' is meaningful too...I'm still practicing, or learning, both as a human being and as an artist. I haven't begun to close the gap between myself and 'the goal'. It's this sense of being a perpetual novice that drives me forward. It's why I'll always look to the next album for the answer to my personal questions...and why I'll never be in a position to say that the work is done."
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"The package design is not a 'Real Men with Rayguns' project, but is by Esoteric/Cherry Red designer Phil Smee. However, two of the key images, (the front cover and the cover of the booklet contained within the package), use themed, theatrical, surreal photographs taken by ace lensman Martin Bostock based on a specially devised concept created and art-directed by myself."
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"The cover photo for The Practice Of Everyday Life wasn't actually taken at a live performance in Leeds, but it was taken at the Leeds University Clothworkers Hall, where I have performed in the past. (It's part of the University's Faculty of Music.) The photo' session was arranged independently of any live performance.
I wanted to contrast the album's title theme, (of 'everyday' life), with something as far from everyday as possible. I've used that rabbit head mask in my video work for a few years now and thought that it might make a surreal image for TPOEL's cover shot, especially when combined with the weird guitar I'm holding, (which is actually an old fairground ride prop that I bought at an antique fair). I also wanted to include a selection of my guitars in the shot, plus a piano as keyboards often feature in my music too.
My 'everyday life' is filled with music making and the concept of the rabbit and the guitars was to suggest a constantly creative, virile, productive energy."
FAN THOUGHTS:
tunancheese:
"It is this compilation that has expanded my horizons. My Lord, Pink Floyd has nothing on Mr. Nelson when it comes to reaching out to the heavens (real or imagined). I'm on my fifth go around with this set and light years behind what you on this website have already experienced. I found Sound On Sound & have already purchased The Joy of Amplification and ordered the vinyl version of Northern Dreams. I know I'm swimming in waters way over my head - but, I'm digging the hell out of it!! Thank you, Mr. Nelson. Wonderful stuff."
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