Album

Various Failures 1988-1992

Swans

1999 · Rock

Rare pressing on Gatefold

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Various Failures 1988-1992 by Swans

Various Failures 1988-1992 is an Alt/Indie album by Swans, originally released in 1999. On Gatefold: 6 pressings tracked.

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Tracklist

  1. Yellow CD75:52
  2. 1-1Miracle Of Love6:25
  3. 1-2Black Eyed Dog3:59
  4. 1-3The Golden Boy That Was Swallowed By The Sea5:09
  5. 1-4Untitled2:07
  6. 1-5I Remember Who You Are4:24
  7. 1-6Her5:23
  8. 1-7No Cruel Angel4:28
  9. 1-8When She Breathes4:31
  10. 1-9Why Are We Alive?6:05
  11. 1-10The Child's Right3:35
  12. 1-11Untitled1:03
  13. 1-12The Other Side Of The World4:29
  14. 1-13Song For Dead Time (M. Gira Version)4:34
  15. 1-14Love Will Save You6:05
  16. 1-15Blind4:31
  17. 1-16Unfortunate Lie (Instrumental Version)2:20
  18. 1-17Was He Ever Alive?6:25
  19. Red CD78:02
  20. 2-1Failure6:19
  21. 2-2Identity5:35
  22. 2-3Can't Find My Way Home4:48
  23. 2-4Trust Me4:19
  24. 2-5Better Than You5:58
  25. 2-6Love Will Tear Us Apart (Jarboe Version)3:44
  26. 2-7Will We Survive?5:56
  27. 2-8Drink To Me Only With Thine Eyes1:17
  28. 2-9God Damn The Sun4:21
  29. 2-10Eyes Of Nature4:40
  30. 2-11You Know Everything4:26
  31. 2-12Song For Dead Time (Jarboe Version)4:59
  32. 2-13Picture Of Maryanne4:22
  33. 2-14Amnesia3:42
  34. 2-15Dream Dream5:32
  35. 2-16Please Remember Me4:48
  36. 2-17New Mind (Acoustic)3:26

Sound DNA

  • Alt/Indie
  • Post-Rock
  • dense
  • brooding
  • occult

Album notes

Discogs page for these notes (opens in a new tab)

A compilation featuring excerpts from White Light From The Mouth Of Infinity, Love Of Life, The Burning World, and the Ten Songs For Another World album by the Swans related entity Skin. In addition, it contains B-sides, rarities, and previously unreleased tracks from the period.
The versions of "The Golden Boy That Was Swallowed by the Sea" and "Identity" on this release are extended to include the untitled track that originally followed them on the Love Of Life album. The two untitled songs listed on this compilation (tracks 4 and 11 on the Yellow CD) are tracks 5 and 16 respectively from that album.
Prior to this release "New Mind (acoustic version)" and "Love Will Tear Us Apart (Jarboe version)" - both taken from versions of Love Will Tear Us Apart (and otherwise known as "purple version" and "black version" respectively) - had not been made available on CD.
Besides some songs having been faded in/out, the only actually previously unreleased versions included on this comp. are:
- "Drink To Me Only With Thine Eyes" missing the prayer ending.
- "Unfortunate Lie" (originally released as "The Most Unfortunate Lie" on White Light From The Mouth Of Infinity) presented here in a version missing most of Gira's vocal parts.
- A longer version of "Why Are We Alive".
- A demo version of "When She Breathes", in rather poor recording quality.
Narration (uncredited) on "You Know Everything" (an alternate version of "You Know Nothing" from White Light From The Mouth Of Infinity, previously released on Celebrity Lifestyle · Mother / Father), is by 5-year-old Jarboe (source: Michael Gira in interview with lastsigh.com online magazine, 1997).
The double CD was re-released in 2000 with some slight changes to the track listings. Specifically the later version dropped the two cover songs "Can't Find My Way Home" originally by Blind Faith/Steve Winwood and "Love Will Tear Us Apart" originally by Joy Division, as well as the acoustic version of "New Mind". These are replaced by "Saved" and "The Sound Of Freedom" from the bands own back catalogue.

Credits

The people behind it.

Performers

  • Aiyb Dieng
  • Algis A. KizysBASS BASS GUITAR
  • Anton FierDRUMS
  • Clinton SteeleELECTRIC GUITAR, ACOUSTIC GUITAR GUITAR, ACOUSTIC GUITAR
  • Fred Frith
  • Hahn Rowe
  • JarboeVOCALS, KEYBOARDS VOCALS, KEYBOARDS, ARRANGED BY VOCALS
  • Jenny WadeBASS BASS GUITAR
  • Kristof HahnELECTRIC GUITAR, ACOUSTIC GUITAR GUITAR, ACOUSTIC GUITAR
  • Lary SevenGUITAR GUITAR, OTHER
  • Michael GiraVOCALS, GUITAR, SOUNDS, KEYBOARDS, ARRANGED BY VOCALS, GUITAR, SOUNDS, KEYBOARDS, ARRANGED BY, LYRICS BY VOCALS
  • Nicky SkopelitisBAGLAMA, BOUZOUKI, BANJO, ACOUSTIC GUITAR STRINGS , BOUZOUKI, BANJO, ACOUSTIC GUITAR
  • Norman WestbergELECTRIC GUITAR, ACOUSTIC GUITAR GUITAR, ACOUSTIC GUITAR
  • Shankar
  • Steve Burgh
  • Ted ParsonsDRUMS
  • Tony Maimone
  • Trilok Gurtu

Rare pressing on Gatefold · 6 pressings tracked on Gatefold

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