Shop Assistants - Will Anything Happen (Expanded Edition) (CD)

Shop Assistants formed in Edinburgh in 1984 and quickly gained a cult following, playing with kindred spirits the Pastels and the Jesus & Mary Chain and gaining positive coverage in fanzines and the music press. Their Shopping Parade EP and Safety Net single both hit the top of the indie charts and charmed listeners with their unique melodic blend of punk rock and 60s pop.The band signed to Geoff Travis' new Chrysalis Records imprint, Blue Guitar, in 1986 for the release of their debut album 'Will Anything Happen'. The album has since become a cult classic and is an essential listen for fans of indie, dream-pop, and shoe gaze. Stand-out songs include the lead single 'I Don't Wanna Be Friends With You', 'All Day Long', and 'Somewhere In China'. This newly expanded edition has been remastered from the original master tapes and compiled in collaboration with David Keegan and Laura McPhail from the band. CD 1 features the newly remastered version of 'Will Anything Happen' accompanied by B-sides from the era, plus previously unreleased instrumental demos from 1986. CD 2 contains a further 18 previously unreleased tracks including recently unearthed alternate versions and rough mixes from the making of the album, live recordings from London and Deinze, and a John Peel session featuring a cover version of Motörhead's 'Ace Of Spades'. The discs are housed in a 6-panel digisleeve with a 12-page booklet featuring lyrics and photographs. Also available on 140g black vinyl.

Track List:

Disc: 1

1. CD 1 – WILL ANYTHING HAPPEN (2024 REMASTER):
2. 1. I Don’t Wanna Be Friends With You
3. 2. All Day Long
4. 3. Before I Wake
5. 4. Caledonian Road
6. 5. All That Ever Mattered
7. 6. Fixed Grin
8. 7. Somewhere In China
9. 8. Train From Kansas City
10. 9. Home Again
11. 10. Seems To Be
12. 11. After Dark
13. 12. All Of The Time
14. 13. What A Way To Die
15. 14. Nature Lover B-SIDES:
16. 15. Looking Back
17. 16. All Day Long (Slow Version) INSTRUMENTAL DEMOS:
18. 17. I Don’t Wanna Be Friends With You
19. 18. After Dark
20. 19. A Million Miles From Home
21. CD 2 – STUDIO OUTTAKES:
22. 1. Looking Back [Rough Mix]
23. 2. Caledonian Road [Rough Mix]
24. 3. What A Way To Die [Rough Mix]
25. 4. Fixed Grin [Roundhouse Version]
26. 5. Train From Kansas City [Roundhouse Version]
27. 6. Before I Wake [Roundhouse Version]
28. 7. All That Ever Mattered [Rough Mix] LIVE IN LONDON 03/10/1986:
29. 8. Seems To Be [Live]
30. 9. Nature Lover [Live]
31. 10. Something To Do [Live]
32. 11. Switzerland [Live] LIVE IN DEINZE 05/10/1986:
33. 12. Home Again [Live]
34. 13. It’s Up To You [Live]
35. 14. Safety Net [Live] JOHN PEEL SESSION 11/11/1986:
36. 15. Fixed Grin [Live]
37. 16. I Don’t Wanna Be Friends With You [Live]
38. 17. Ace Of Spades [Live]
39. 18. Before I Wake [Live]--previously unreleased