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VIVE LE ROCK REMASTERED REVIEW

This page is a preview of the 2005 CD made before its release.
If you're looking for general information on the Vive Le Rock album, then you should visit the main Vive Le Rock 2005 Album Page in the Antmusic section

VIVE LE ROCK (click to see larger image)

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Release date: April 4th 2005

Running Order:

01. Vive Le Rock
02. Miss Thing
03. Razor Keen
04. Rip Down
05. Scorpio Rising
06. Apollo 9
07. Hell's Eight Acres
08. Mohair Lockeroom Pin-up Boys
09. No Zap
10. P.O.E.
11. Apollo 9 (Accapella Reprise)

Bonus Tracks:

12. Human Bondage Den (original album version)

It's been 20 years since this track has appeared on a Vive Le Rock album, and then, back in 1985, it was only on the CD and cassette copies. It then surfaced on the B-Side Babies CD in 1994 with an alternative version being chosen for AntBox in 2000. It's good to this back where it belongs. Ant Lady's lyrics

13. Vive Le Rock (unreleased 12" mix)

It's the Crystal's "And Then He Kissed Me"! No it's not, it's a storming unreleased remix of Vive Le Rock! Presumably this would have been the 2nd 12" remix has there been such a record? It would be very biased of me not to be negative about this as I cream over 12" versions. It's not hugely different from the song itself, but has some very tasty drum sections and guitar effects.

14. Apollo 9 (different 7" mix by Francois Kevorkian)

I always thought the original version of Apollo 9 was over produced. This mix knocks spots off it. It's cleaner, not as busy, and much easier on the ear. There's nothing to add accept that I take my remixing hat off to Mr. Kevorkian.

15. Doggy Style (early demo of Manners & Physique)

This is very similar to the demo featured on AntBox, but with harder guitars. It not as rock-a-billy sounding, and the verses are in different orders. Ant Lady's lyrics

16. Night They Vietcong (demo)

My least favourite of all the bonus tracks, but if I have to say something positive about it, it's the rhythm guitar at the intro that sounds like the drums to Apollo 9. "And another thing", it's starting to grow. (Lyrics soon)

17. Big Big Man (demo)

A very slow smoooooth demo using the verses and some of the chorus of Razor Keen. Razor Keen is my favourite track on Vive Le Rock, but I prefer this version. That aside, nothing beats the guitars on the album version. It's really two different songs. Ant Lady's Lyrics

18. Rip Down (demo)

Now this is an interesting demo. The absence of the Burundi drums is the first thing noticed, and Adam coming in a little early with "a rip" made me smile. Ant Lady's Lyrics

19. Apollo 9 (Splashdown Remix by Francois Kevorkian)

Hearing this in remastered quality has left me pining for the other Apollo 9 remixes! Beautiful is one word that comes to mind. The sound is superb in every way. Perfect.

20. Vive Le Rock (US 7" mix - unreleased)

A different intro, and much, much better than the standard 7" mix. Just as the Francois Kevorkian 7" mix of Apollo 9 was crisper and cleaner, so is this. A very impress end to the CD.

Carty pre-release notes:

The original 1985 cassette release featured Human Bondage Den as a bonus track. That has been included here (as expected) - a perfect compliment to the alternative version that appeared on AntBox.

Apollo 9 makes it onto CD in its 12" Splashdown remix for the first time, but the 12" Orbit remix fails to make an appearance. The inclusion of a 7" remix is curious though. It is a new recording from the vaults as the original 7" version was the same as the album one (which is track 06 here).

The title track, Vive Le Rock gets 2 additional showings. Firstly as an unreleased 12" mix, never before released. The US 7" mix of the track is much more clearly informing us of a never before heard mix.

Three new demos accompany the 6th remastered album. Namely Doggy Style (an earlier demo of Manners & Physique), Night They Vietcong and Big Big Man (which is a demo of Razor Keen).

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