Songs like 'I Can't Stand Up For Falling Down', 'New Amsterdam' and 'Black And White World' sounds much more sincere in the alternatives versions than in their original cut!
In fact, all Get Happy songs sounds much better in the Bonus CD than in the original one!
Over produced and Over Performed one might call...
Even Riot Act is better when played in a dry and roughest way...
--- guess not many will agree with me on this one ---
I don't think "Riot Act" or "Love For Tender" sound good at all on the bonus disc.
"Black And White World" is funny, but the fast version has a better arrangement.
I think "B Movie" is much better on the bonus disc, and "Human Touch"(it doesnt sound like filler anymore!).
"New Amsterdam" is exactly the same, only one has him counting. I prefer the album version.
I definitly agree with "I Cant Stand Up For Falling Down". On the record he just sounds so far away and inhuman... this may be because of their use of a strings-room for Vocal booth. But, I don't like the outcome.
I always liked Human Touch. Elvis's only ska number? Or ska-influenced, at least. I remember very well the NME review of the LP, that made me salivate with excitement about getting it, talking about it being an affectionate tribute to the recently emerging bands on the UK ska scene, most notably The Specials, and a plea for warm, human music over inhuman, electronic stuff. An overly simplistic reading of it, but I liked the idea.
There's more to life than books, you know, but not much more
The Specials .
I never noticed the ska influence... but, I never notice anything until somebody tells me. I've listened to the alternate version a lot more than the real version.
The alternate "I Stand Accused" has a ska arrangement.
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