Strange Again

The Chameleons (UK) - Strange Times (Double US Vinyl)

Ripped from a limited edition vinyl double album released on Geffen Records (GHS 24119) in 1986 to high resolution 24-bit lossless flac audio. Damijan has also donated a rip of the US market double vinyl pressing of Strange Times. It would be a shame to keep you all waiting for this one. Enjoy!

A1 Mad Jack
A2 Caution
A3 Tears (Original Arrangement)
A4 Soul In Isolation
B1 Swamp Thing
B2 Time / The End Of Time
B3 Seriocity
B4 In Answer
B5 Childhood
B6 I'll Remember
C1 Tears (Full Arrangement)
C2 Paradiso
C3 Inside Out
D1 Ever After
D2 John, I'm Only Dancing
D3 Tomorrow Never Knows

Singing Rule Brittania

The Chameleons ‎- Aufführung In Berlin

Ripped from a compact disc album released on Imaginary Records (ILLCD 042) in 1993 to high quality lossless flac audio. We are coming to the end of this week's flood of Chameleons, so from a choice of many live shows I have opted for this fine recording of a 1983 set recorded at The Loft in Berlin before the release of Script Of The Bridge. I hope you have all enjoyed this lengthy appreciation of such a great band whose original releases are very hard to track down these days.

1 Less Than Human
2 Paper Tigers
3 Monkeyland
4 Thursday's Child
5 Second Skin
6 Pleasure And Pain
7 Singing Rule Britannia (While The Walls Close In)
8 Perfume Garden
9 One Flesh
10 In Shreds
11 Splitting In Two

In Shreds

The Chameleons - The Fan And The Bellows

Ripped from a vinyl album released on Hybrid Records (CHAMLP 1) in 1986 to high resolution 24-bit flac audio. Before seeking relative safety on Statik Records, The Chameleons were signed to Epic/CBS Records, a deal which was torn up after one single, the classic In Shreds. The CBS sessions were produced by Steve Lillywhite and abandoned after the band fell out with the label. This album is mostly compiled from those sessions. Enjoy!

A1 The Fan And The Bellows
A2 Nostalgia
A3 Less Than Human
A4 In Shreds
A5 Prisoners Of The Sun
B1 Nostalgia (7" Version)
B2 Turn To The Vices
B3 Love Is
B4 Every Day I'm Crucified
B5 Endlessly Falling
B6 Nathan's Phase

Hear Today

The Chameleons - Here Today, Gone Tomorrow

Ripped from a vinyl album released on Imaginary Records (ILLUSION 035) in 1993 to high resolution 24-bit flac audio. With thanks to Steve, here is a great rip of the rare compilation album of the 1985 Piccadilly Radio sessions and tracks from an early session for London's Capital Radio, recorded in 1982. Many of these tracks were still in development, for instance Bobby Moore's Wine was totally re-written to eventually become Mad Jack. Enjoy!

1 String Quartet 1
2 Home Is Where The Heart Is
3 In Answer
4 Bobby Moore's Wine
5 Sally
6 In Shreds
7 Nathan's Phaze
8 Up The Down Escalator
9 On The Beach
10 Dear Dead Days
11 Things I Wish I'd Said
12 String Quartet 2

In Sessions

The Chameleons - John Peel Sessions

Ripped from a compact disc album released on Strange Fruit Records (SFRCD 114) in 1990 to high quality lossless flac audio. Beginning a short run of radio sessions and early recordings here are the three BBC Radio Sessions recorded for John Peel between 1981 and 1984.

1 The Fan And The Bellows
2 Here Today
3 Looking Inwardly
4 Things I Wish I'd Said
5 Don't Fall
6 Nostalgia
7 Second Skin
8 Perfumed Garden
9 Dust To Dust / Return Of The Roughnecks
10 One Flesh
11 Intrigue In Tangiers
12 P.S. Goodbye

The Chameleons - The Radio 1 Evening Show Sessions

Ripped from a compact disc album released on Nighttracks (CDNT 001) in 1993 to high quality lossless flac audio. The band also recorded two sessions for the Radio 1 Evening Show presented by either David Jensen or Janice Long, with Richard Skinner occasionally filling in. Thanks to Damijan for this rip.

1 Thursday's Child
2 Pleasure And Pain
3 Monkeyland
4 Singing Rule Brittania
5 On The Beach
6 View From A Hill
7 Nathan's Phase
8 Up The Down Escalator
9 Home Is Where The Heart Is
10 View From A Hill

Walking On Water

The Chameleons ‎- Tony Fletcher Walked On Water.... La La La La La - La La - La - La

Originally released as a 12" vinyl EP on Glass Pyramid Records (EMC 1) in 1990. Recreated here from a compact disc version in high quality lossless flac. In 1987, The Chameleons were preparing to record their fourth studio album, and their second for Geffen. Band manager Tony Fletcher sadly died of a heart attack just two days before these recording sessions were planned to commence, In the end only four songs were recorded, which Mark Burgess released a few years later as this tribute to Tony.

A1 Is It Any Wonder?
A2 Free For All
B1 The Healer
B2 Denims And Curls

Stranger Times

The Chameleons - Strange Times

Ripped from a vinyl album released on Geffen Records (9 24119-1) in 1986 to high resolution 24-bit flac audio. The third and final Chameleons album proper (more about that a little later) and their first for David Geffen's big league WEA subsidary, was a more polished and grown-up affair aided by Dave Allens' fine production skills. Highlights for me are the very English twelve-string folk arrangements of Tears, the opening Mad Jack and the brooding six minute monstrous Swamp Thing which was also a single. As you would expect on a major label, The Chameleons should have targeted a bigger audience, however it wasn't to happen  and perhaps the limited pressing run hints that pre-release sales were low. Likely the only album to feature a double A-side (or is that an A+side?) Enjoy!

A1 Mad Jack
A2 Caution
A3 Tears (Original Arrangement)
A4 Soul In Isolation
A+1 Swamp Thing
A+2 Time / The End Of Time
A+3 Seriocity
A+4 In Answer
A+5 Childhood
A+6 I'll Remember

Roughnecks? Basically

The Chameleons - What Does Anything Mean? Basically

Ripped from a compact disc album released on Statik Records (CDST 22) in 1985 to high quality lossless flac audio. The Chams rock things up a bit more for their second long player. I have referred again to the original cd, as like with the debut, the reissues have been a bit over-cooked at the mastering stage. Oh look...another proggy sleeve, thankfully the contents are anything but. Enjoy.

1 Silence, Sea And Sky
2 Perfume Garden
3 Intrigue In Tangiers
4 Return Of The Roughnecks
5 Singing Rule Britannia (While The Walls Close In)
6 On The Beach
7 Looking Inwardly
8 One Flesh
9 Home Is Where The Heart Is
10 P.S. Goodbye
11 In Shreds
12 Nostalgia

There is Nothing Wrong Boys

The Chameleons -  A Person Isn't Safe Anywhere These Days

Ripped from a 12" vinyl single released on Statik Records (TAK 6 12) in 1983 to high resolution 24-bit flac audio.

A1 A Person Isn't Safe Anywhere These Days
B1 Thursday's Child
B2 Prisoners Of The Sun

The Chameleons - Up The Down Escalator

Ripped from a 12" vinyl single released on Statik Records (TAK 11 12) in 1983 to high resolution 24-bit flac audio.

A1 Up The Down Escalator

B1 Monkeyland

B2 Prisoners Of The Sun

The Chameleons ‎– As High As You Can Go

Ripped from a 12" vinyl single released on Statik Records (STAT 3012) in 1983 to high resolution 24-bit flac audio.

A1 As High As You Can Go
B1 Pleasure And Pain
B2 Paper Tigers

The Chameleons - In Shreds / Nostalgia / Less Than Human

Ripped from a 12" vinyl single released on Statik Records (TAK 29 12) in 1985 to high resolution 24-bit flac audio.

A1  Nostalgia
AA1 In Shreds
AA2 Less Than Human

The Chameleons - Singing Rule Britannia (While The Walls Close In)

Ripped from a 12" vinyl single released on Statik Records (TAK 35 12) in 1985 to high resolution 24-bit flac audio.

A1 Singing Rule Britannia (While The Walls Close In)
B1 Singing Rule Britannia (While The Walls Close In)
B2 Pleasure And Pain

 The Chameleons - Swamp Thing

Ripped from a 7" vinyl single released on Geffen Records (GEF 10) in 1985 to high resolution 24-bit flac audio.

A1 Swamp Thing
B1 John, I'm Only Dancing

The Chameleons ‎– The Wait Until Dark E.P.

Ripped from a bootleg 7" vinyl bootleg single released on Lady Records (LAD 2) in 1986 to high resolution 24-bit flac audio.

A1 Thursday Child
A2 Don't Fall
B1 Perfumed Garden
B2 In Shreds

To start the much anticipated Chameleons Week, here is a swathe of original vinyl singles cut to 24-bit flac. I'll try to get at least one post a day up from these Mancunian giants before the week is out. Thanks to Steve and penguinflight for the rips and inspirations. Enjoy.

Tears Are Never Enough

The Chameleons - Script Of The Bridge

Originally a vinyl album released on Statik Records (STAT LP 17) in 1983. Ripped here from a 1985 compact disc reissue. I haven't checked all versions of Script Of The Bridge on cd, but it does appear most of the the reissues were a little over cooked at the remastering stage. Thankfully the early Statik Records compact disc releases weren't. Incredibly I have never owned a copy of the vinyl version, perhaps it was the proggy sleeve and album title which put me off. Don't let that put anybody off now, this album is an often overlooked classic. I do now feel the urge for a Chameleons vinyl mega-post .....maybe in the new year? ;-)

A1 Don't Fall
A2 Here Today
A3 Monkeyland
A4 Second Skin
A5 Up The Down Escalator
A6 Less Than Human
B1 Pleasure And Pain
B2 Thursday's Child
B3 As High As You Can Go
B4 A Person Isn't Safe Anywhere These Days
B5 Paper Tigers
B6 View From A Hill

Celluloid Dreams

The Chameleons - Dali's Picture

Originally a selection of demo recordings made in 1981 and 1982. Ripped here from a compact disc album on Imaginary Records (ILLCD 041) in 1993 to high quality lossless flac audio. During an off page discussion with a blog follower after the recent Comsat Angels rip, The Chameleons were mentioned. I only have their albums on compact disc these days, as I guess many have as well. In the end, I thought a rip of these reissued 1982 demos from compact disc would make a great post. So, here you are!

1 Everyday And Crucified
2 Monkeyland
3 Dreams In Celluloid
4 Love Is
5 The Fan, The Bellows
6 Looking Inwardly
7 Dali's Picture
8 Nostalgia
9 Less Than Human
10 Things I Wish I'd Said