Equal But Different: BBC Sessions 79-81

RELEASE
1994
LABEL
RPM
GENRES
Pop/Rock, Alternative/Indie Rock, Post-Punk

Album Review

Twenty tracks recorded for the BBC between 1979-1981, representing most of what the group performed on British radio. (Four other tracks from a 1983 session appear as bonus cuts on RPM's CD reissue of the Sense & Sensuality album.) It leans most heavily on the first LP and singles (in fact, versions of every single one of the debut album's tracks are here), though there are also a half-dozen songs from Sense & Sensuality. No big surprises, with the exception of a couple of otherwise unavailable items, "Ideal Woman" and "Monogamy." The latter tune is the set's clear highlight, as it represents the band's only foray (and quite a good one) into all-out, straightforward, guitar-heavy punk rock. Much of the rest is too monochromatic for the unconverted, but fans should like this. It's a better representation of their live prime than the Live in Berlin album, and with 79 minutes running time and meticulous liner notes, it offers terrific value.
Richie Unterberger, Rovi

Track Listing

  1. Monogamy [#]
  2. Pretty Boys [#]
  3. Come Again [#]
  4. Ideal Woman [#]
  5. Dear John [#]
  6. The Love Song [#]
  7. It's Obvious [#]
  8. Repetition [#]
  9. Unfinished Business [#]
  10. Diet [#]
  11. We're So Cool [#]
  12. Armagh [#]
  13. The Set-Up [#]
  14. Headache for Michelle [#]
  15. Intact [#]
  16. Shakedown [#]
  17. Instant Touch [#]
  18. America [#]
  19. America [#]
  20. Steppin' Out of Line [#]