Sides (album)
| Sides | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Studio album by Anthony Phillips | ||||
| Released | April 1979 | |||
| Recorded | October–November 1978 | |||
| Studio |
Essex Studios Matrix Studios | |||
| Genre | Progressive rock, pop rock | |||
| Length | 46:19 | |||
| Label | Arista | |||
| Producer | Rupert Hine | |||
| Anthony Phillips chronology | ||||
| ||||
Sides is the fourth studio album by English musician and composer Anthony Phillips, released in April 1979 by Arista Records in the United Kingdom, and in June 1979 on Passport Records in the United States. After completing Private Parts & Pieces (1978), an album of home recordings that Phillips had recorded years before but remained unreleased, Phillips returned to making a commercial record. The first 5,000 copies of Sides included Private Parts & Pieces as an accompaniment.
Production
The album was originally titled Balls, partly due to Phillips's reaction to a review of one of his earlier albums that claimed his music "hadn't got enough balls". It was changed to Sides late in the production process and after Peter Cross had finished the artwork. The album was produced by Rupert Hine and intended for a mainstream audience. On the original LP, side one showcased shorter pop songs, while side two highlighted longer, more progressive pieces. Genesis crew members Dan Owen and Dale Newman provided vocals on some tracks.
Release
| Professional ratings | |
|---|---|
| Review scores | |
| Source | Rating |
| Allmusic |   |
Reissues
The album was first released on CD in 1990 by Virgin Records. This original CD release contained two extra tracks: "Souvenir" and an instrumental version of "Magdalen".
As part of Voiceprint's re-issuing campaign of Ant's back catalogue, the album was re-issued in 2010 as an expanded 2 CD edition. The album was re-mastered from the original master tapes by Simon Heyworth and includes the non-album track "Souvenir" as an extra track on the first CD. This is in keeping with the track order of the original CD release. The second CD contains variations and alternate mixes of the songs from the album including some unique new mixes which have been made from the original multi-track masters especially for the release. The instrumental version of "Magdalen", which appeared as bonus track at the end of the original CD issue, has been moved to the second disc of this release. Also included is the edited single version of "Um & Aargh" which has not previously been available on CD. The second CD also contains two tracks originally intended for inclusion on the original album. "Catch You When You Fall" was recorded for the album but was left off because Ant was unhappy with the lyrics. A rough mix was included on Archive Collection Volume One, the version included on the bonus CD is newly mixed in instrumental form from the 24-track master. "Before The Night" was left off the album in place of "Bleak House" as it was decided to include only one piano-based ballad.
On April 22, 2016, Esoteric Recordings (a Cherry Red Records label) released a 4-disc deluxe edition of the album. Disc 1 contains a 2016 stereo remix of the album. Disc 2 contains the bonus material (as on the 2010 release). Disc 3 contains a remastered version of the original stereo mix of the album. Disc 4 contains a 2016 5.1 surround sound mix of the album on a DVD. The deluxe edition also includes a poster and a 20-page booklet with photos and extensive liner notes.
Track listing
All songs and lyrics by Anthony Phillips except where indicated.
| Side one ("First half") | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| No. | Title | Lyrics | Length |
| 1. | "Um & Aargh" | 4:50 | |
| 2. | "I Want Your Love" | 3:54 | |
| 3. | "Lucy Will" | 3:23 | |
| 4. | "Side Door" | 3:48 | |
| 5. | "Holy Deadlock" | Anthony Phillips, Martin Hall | 4:05 |
| Side two ("Second half") | ||
|---|---|---|
| No. | Title | Length |
| 1. | "Sisters of Remindum" | 4:29 |
| 2. | "Bleak House" | 6:13 |
| 3. | "Magdalen" | 7:45 |
| 4. | "Nightmare" | 7:25 |
| Sides — 1990 reissue | ||
|---|---|---|
| No. | Title | Length |
| 1. | "Um & Aargh" | 4:51 |
| 2. | "I Want Your Love" | 3:55 |
| 3. | "Lucy Will" | 3:24 |
| 4. | "Side Door" | 3:48 |
| 5. | "Holy Deadlock" | 4:05 |
| 6. | "Souvenir" | 3:45 |
| 7. | "Sisters of Remindum" | 4:29 |
| 8. | "Bleak House" | 6:14 |
| 9. | "Magdalen" | 7:39 |
| 10. | "Nightmare" | 7:24 |
| 11. | "Magdalen (Instrumental)" | 6:51 |
| Sides — 2010 and 2016 bonus tracks | ||
|---|---|---|
| No. | Title | Length |
| 1. | "Um & Aargh (Instrumental Mix)" | 6:51 |
| 2. | "I Want Your Love (Instrumental Mix)" | 3:52 |
| 3. | "Sisters of Remindum (Alternate Mix)" | 4:25 |
| 4. | "Lucy Will (Original Mix)" | 4:08 |
| 5. | "Magdalen (Instrumental Mix)" | 7:01 |
| 6. | "Side Door (Original Mix)" | 3:16 |
| 7. | "Um & Aargh (7" Single Mix)" | 3:52 |
| 8. | "Souvenir (Instrumental Mix)" | 3:46 |
| 9. | "Bleak House (Alternative Mix)" | 6:19 |
| 10. | "Magdalen (Instrumental)" | 7:30 |
| 11. | "Catch You When You Fall (Instrumental Mix)" | 3:18 |
| 12. | "Before the Night (Demo)" | 5:05 |
Personnel
Music
- Anthony Phillips (aka "The Vicar" and "Vic Stench") – guitars, keyboards, lead vocals on "Um & Aargh", "Lucy Will", and "Holy Deadlock", cellos on "Lucy Will", bass on "Bleak House"
- Michael Giles – drums
- John G. Perry – bass guitar
- Dale Newman – lead vocals on "Bleak House"
- Dan Owen – lead vocals on "Side Door" and "I Want Your Love"
- Ray Cooper – percission
- Frank Ricotti – timpani
- Morris Pert – monotroch, congas on "Lucy Will"
- Mel Collins – tenor saxophone on "Side Door"
- "Ralph Bernascone" – lead vocals on "Nightmare"
- Rupert Hine (aka "Humbert Ruse") – percussion on "Lucy Will", cor anglais on "Sisters of Remindum"
Production
- Rupert Hine – production
- Richard Austin – engineering at Essex Studios
- Andy "Poppadom" Pierce – engineering assistance at Essex Studios
- Nick Bradford – engineering at Matrix Studios
- Jess "Herbie" Sutcliffe – engineering assistance
- Steve Short – mixing at Trident Studios
- Colin Green – mixing
- John Brand – mixing
- Mick Shilton-Poole – equipment
- Peter Cross – artwork
- Robert Ellis – inside cover photography
- Hit & Run Music, Ltd. – management
- Tony Smith – management