When the record companies started reissuing old albums in expanded form in the 1990s, it seemed on the face of it, that the reissues were concerned with either classic artists (Bowie, Costello) or at least individual classic albums (say, the deluxe edition repackaging of the likes of “Disraeli Gears” or “Damn The Torpedoes”). But we are now in a position where almost everybody is seeing their entire back catalogue being revamped in expanded form. Even where some of the albums contained in that back catalogue are a bit shabby.
This means that even some less celebrated artistes are seeing their work being offered up to the public in such a way, you are led to believe that you are being offered a new version of a lost classic (or indeed, classics). This isn’t always the case, but if you happen to like one of these less celebrated artistes, well, you are in luck. You name it, almost everyone is having their back catalogue reissued in extended form - including acts you may possibly despise. I’m still not sure how The Thompson Twins albums can be deemed good enough in the first place to have been re-released in deluxe form, but that’s just my opinion.
However, I have long had a bit of a soft spot for Belinda Carlisle. I can’t remember if I discovered The Go-Go’s first, then her solo work, or the other way round, and even though she has never managed to release a stone cold, near perfect classic LP, she’s made some great singles. This year has seen her four Virgin-era albums from the late 80’s/early 90’s reissued in mega expanded form, and even though you could argue all day about which one is the best (she doesn‘t seem to have a generally agreed “classic record“), all four are getting the same “full on” treatment. If you don’t have any of these records, but you too have always had a soft spot, then this will be like manna from heaven for you.
The Go-Go’s collapsed in 1985, and although the various members went off in different solo directions, it was lead singer Carlisle who would eventually have the most high profile career. Initially, she remained on the same label that The Go-Go’s had been signed to, IRS, and released her first album, “Belinda”, in 1986. Several singles were issued in Belinda’s homeland of the USA, but in the UK, the album went generally un-noticed - it failed to chart, while the single 45 lifted from the LP, “Mad About You”, failed to dent the top 50. The album was reissued about a decade ago, featuring remixes from the period as bonus tracks, as well as being housed in a new sleeve (the same image as that found on the “Mad About You” single, at the top of this article), but this has been deleted and is not at all easy to find.
Carlisle then signed to Virgin, and suddenly, everything went stellar. The first single for her new label, “Heaven Is A Place On Earth”, hit the top spot, and more or less established her as a chart bothering popstar for the next ten years. Much has been made of the fact that the single and it’s corresponding LP, “Heaven on Earth”, were deemed by some as a backwards step, the one time punk rocker making an album of anthemic, bombastic, pop nuggets and nearly OTT power ballads, but there’s no denying the thrill of the choruses in “Heaven”, nor the sugary sweet laidback summer vibe of “Circle In The Sand”. It’s no “Like A Prayer”, granted, and there may be a bit of filler on it, but Carlisle proved that she could produce a catchy piece of music, even if it did need professional songwriters sometimes to do it - or an ex-Go Go such as Charlotte Caffey. The album was reissued in 2009, with bonus remixes and a reissue of the “Belinda Live!” video on a free DVD included in the pack, the original VHS release from 1988 having long been deleted.
There was little wheel re-inventing on 1989’s “Runaway Horses”, but again, it’s hard to deny the melodic punch of “Leave A Light On” or “We Want The Same Thing”, and Carlisle certainly proved again she knew her way around a key change or over a roaring power chord. Curiously, the album signalled the end of Carlisle as a chart star in any form in the USA, as everything she released there during the rest of the 90’s and beyond flopped, and Carlisle instead became a big star in Europe, even moving to France eventually. A VHS/Laserdisc release called “Runaway Videos”, featuring most of her promo clips to date, was issued in 1991.
Conversely, 1993’s “Real” saw her lose ground somewhat, the album seemed to be an attempt to showcase a more grown up Carlisle, the cover art shows her dressed down in scruffy jeans and plain white longsleeved top. I read somewhere that Carlisle had deliberately changed tack slightly, citing a desire to 'follow her heart creatively', rather than being motivated by commercial success - and if that’s true, she got her wish, as the label issued no more than two OK-selling singles in the UK. Last time I listened to it, it sounded not that different to the ones that had gone before, but the lack of memorable hit singles would probably suggest that of the four albums being reissued, this is the least celebrated. I will admit though, “Lay Down Your Arms” is catchy as hell.
But 1996’s “A Woman And A Man” was a real turnaround in fortunes. Her first (and last) album for new label Chrysalis, it seemed as though the 1995 Go-Go’s reunion and the emergence of Britpop seemed to energise Carlisle, and this was an album that veered between peerless power ballad (“In Too Deep”) and hi-energy ultra pop (“Always Breaking My Heart”). Although some will claim that the album is a mostly relaxed, un Go-Go’s like outing, and all the better for it, don’t go thinking this is an album of sound alike ballads - “California” sounds like she’s trying to audition for The Beach Boys, whilst “Love In The Key Of C” struts along on a shuffling rhythm before some glorious guitar signals a killer key change in the choruses. This record is arguably Carlisle’s best, but being on Chrysalis, and not Virgin, means it is not being reissued.
In the UK, EMI ultimately took over Chrysalis - they also “acquired” Virgin, which possibly explains why Carlisle shifted back to the Virgin imprint for a 1999 best of called “A Place On Earth”. It was not her first compilation (that would be 1992’s strangely titled “The Best Of Belinda Volume 1” - “Volume 2” does not exist), but it was arguably a better overview of her career, although trying to condense all the hits onto a single CD just wasn’t possible - a situation partly caused by the inclusion of new songs, and the desire to include all four singles from the “A Woman And A Man” release, other albums were not afforded this luxury. Initial copies included a free bonus CD of old remixes, and although the recent reissues include remixes on the second disc of each release, space constraints have prevented all the mixes from getting a second lease of life, and - apart from the original single releases - the 2-disc “A Place On Earth” is thus still the only way to get some of these items.
Since then, Carlisle - as a solo performer - has been rather quiet. Another Go-Go’s reunion in the early noughties spawned their first studio album for some fifteen plus years, and although there were plans for a farewell tour, this hasn’t really happened, and the group have continued to tour in one form or another ever since. A French language album of covers, “Voila”, turned up in 2007, and she is one of a number of ‘Eighties Acts’ (I use that term through gritted teeth) who have recently released a live CD + DVD combo called “Live From Metropolis Studios”, taped earlier this year. She has also recorded a new song, “Sun”, which has been included on a new collection called “Icon” - I have mentioned elsewhere on this site how a number of comps using this title have been issued for a wide range of artists, but this one is unusual in that it includes this new song exclusively.
Discography
Some notes, as ever. Originally, most of Belinda’s singles featured something exclusive on the B-side of the “extended play” 45’s, or the CD edition. But quite a few of these have been hoovered up by the reissues of all her pre-”A Woman And A Man” albums and the double disc “A Place On Earth“ set. So this list is based on what you need if you have the expanded reissues of all the LP’s, and that 2-CD best of, which because these releases have been quite comprehensive, means that more or less every format is thus shown. Try before you buy, etc. Basically, if you opt to just hunt down the vinyl copies of Belinda’s LP’s, then you will really need to be buying the 12" or CD editions of all the singles shown below.
As regards those recent album reissues - well, you get the main LP, then various 7”/Radio Edits on disc 1, and B-sides/Remixes from the period (usually) on disc 2. Disc 3 is a DVD featuring the relevant promo clips from the period, along with a Belinda interview. A nice touch, but given that promo clips - of course - exist for singles released both before and after this period, well, it’s simply not the full monty, but that’s not the fault of the record company, it’s just the fact that these reissues are only covering that 1987-1994 period. A proper promo clips best of would be welcome, if anyone is listening.
“Heaven On Earth”, again, also includes the “Belinda Live!” film, but for some reason, no attempt has been made to include Belinda’s other live VHS, “Runaway Live”, on the third disc of the “Runaway Horses” reissue. For clarity’s sake, I have listed both the original LP releases (on their original “standard” format), and also the 2013 reissues, although it is worth noting, that all of the reissues seem to include some previously unreleased remixes, so if you are a newbie, they are probably the easiest place to start.
ALBUMS
Belinda (1986, LP, IRS MIRF 1012)
Belinda (2003 reissue, CD, IRS 539 9332)
Heaven On Earth (1987, LP, Virgin V 2496)
Heaven On Earth (2013 reissue, 2xCD+DVD, Edsel EDSG 8025)
Runaway Horses (1989, LP, Virgin V 2599)
Runaway Horses (2013 reissue, 2xCD+DVD, Edsel EDSG 8026)
Live Your Life Be Free (1991, CD, Virgin CDV 2680)
Live Your Live Be Free (2013 reissue, 2xCD+DVD, Edsel EDSG 8027)
The Best Of Belinda Volume 1 (1992, CD, Virgin BELCD 1)
Real (1993, CD, Virgin CDV 2725)
Real (2013 reissue, 2xCD+DVD, Edsel EDSG 8028)
A Woman And A Man (1996, CD, Chrysalis CDCHR 6115)
A Place On Earth (1999, 2xCD, Virgin CDVX 2901)
The Collection (2002, CD, Virgin CDV 2955, later reissued in 2009 using image from “Always Breaking My Heart” 45)
The Essential (2003, CD, Virgin 07243 582102 2, similar image to that on “The Collection“, same track listing as “Best Of Volume 1“)
Voila (2007, 2xCD, Rykodisc RCD 10883)
Essential (2012, CD, EMI Gold 50999 644 01829)
Icon (2013, CD, Geffen B0017945-02, US only import)
Live From Metropolis Studios (2013, CD+DVD, Edsel EDMTDVD 001, some copies released as signed, deluxe, editions)
NOTE: there seemed to be a period, in the early 00’s, where Belinda’s back catalogue went into some form of disinterested limbo, and the Dutch reissue label Disky issued a 2-in-1 boxset called “Original Gold”, which included reissues of the “Live Your Life” and “Real” albums. Although it did that tacky thing of listing “the hits” on the front, suggesting it was a compilation, it features both these albums in their original sleeves, in separate cases, inside (HR 857772).
SINGLES
Mad About You (7” Mix)/I Never Wanted A Rich Man (7”, IRS IRM 118)
Mad About You (Extended Mix)/(7” Mix)/I Never Wanted A Rich Man (12”, IRS IRMT 118)
Mad About You (7” Mix)/I Never Wanted A Rich Man/Mad About You (Extended Mix) (CD, IRS DIRM 118)
Heaven Is A Place On Earth/We Can Change (7”, Virgin VS 1036)
Heaven Is A Place On Earth (Heavenly Version)/(LP Mix)/We Can Change (12”, Virgin VST 1036)
Heaven Is A Place On Earth/We Can Change/Heaven Is A Place On Earth (Heavenly Version)/(Acapella Version) (CD, Virgin VSCD 1036)
I Get Weak (7” Version)/Should I Let You In? (7”, Virgin VS 1046, some in poster sleeve [VSP 1046])
I Get Weak (12” Version)/(7” Version)/Should I Let You In? (Cassette, Virgin VSTC 1046)
I Get Weak (12” Version)/(7” Version)/Should I Let You In? (12” + poster, Virgin VST 1046)
I Get Weak (7” Version)/Should I Let You In?/I Get Weak (12” Version) (Picture CD in clear case, Virgin VSCD 1046)
Circle In The Sand (7” Version)/(Beach Party Mix) (7”, Virgin VS 1074)
Circle In The Sand (7” Version)/(Sandblast Multimix)/Heaven Is A Place On Earth (Cassette, Virgin VSTC 1074)
Circle In The Sand (Beach Party Mix)/(Edit)/(Seaside Mood Groove Mix) (12”, Virgin VST 1074, also on 12“ picture disc in clear sleeve [VSTY 1074])
Circle In The Sand (7” Version)/(Seaside Mood Groove Mix)/(Sandblast Multimix)/(Beach Party Mix) (CD, Virgin VSCD 1074)
World Without You (7” Remix)/Nobody Owns Me (7”, Virgin VS 1114, limited edition copies exist with 2 postcards and lyric sheet [VSX 1114])
World Without You (Extended Worldwide Mix)/(7” Remix)/Nobody Owns Me (12”, Virgin VST 1114, some in poster bag [VSTX 1114])
World Without You (Extended Worldwide Mix)/(7” Remix)/(Panavision Mix) (CD, Virgin VSCD 1114)
Love Never Dies (Edit)/Heaven Is A Place On Earth (Live, Philadelphia Tower Theater May 1988) (7” in unique sleeve design, Virgin VS 1150, some in gatefold sleeve [VSG 1150], b-side from “Belinda Live!” VHS)
Love Never Dies/I Feel Free (Live, Philadelphia Tower Theater May 1988)/Heaven Is A Place On Earth (Live, Philadelphia Tower Theater May 1988) (12” with free advent calendar, Virgin VST 1150, b-sides from “Belinda Live!” VHS)
Love Never Dies/I Feel Free (Live, Philadelphia Tower Theater May 1988)/Circle In The Sand (Live, Philadelphia Tower Theater May 1988)/Heaven Is A Place On Earth (Live, Philadelphia Tower Theater May 1988) (CD, some/all include 3 photo-prints, Virgin VSCD 115, b-sides from “Belinda Live!” VHS)
Leave A Light On (7” Version)/Shades Of Michelangelo (7”, Virgin VS 1210, some copies in fold out poster sleeve [VSP 1210])
Leave A Light On (7” Version)/Shades Of Michelangelo (Cassette, Virgin VSC 1210)
Leave A Light On (Extended Mix)/(7” Version)/Shades Of Michelangelo (12”, Virgin VST 1210)
Leave A Light On (7” Version)/Shades Of Michaelangelo/Leave A Light On (Extended Mix) (CD, Virgin VSCDT 1210)
La Luna/Whatever It Takes (7”, Virgin VS 1230)
La Luna/Leave A Light On (Kamikazee Mix) (Limited 7” in unique p/s, Virgin VSX 1230)
La Luna/Whatever It Takes (Cassette, Virgin VSC 1230)
La Luna (Extended Dance Mix)/(LP Version)/Whatever It Takes (12”, Virgin VST 1230, initial copies in fold out sleeve [VSTP 1230])
La Luna (LP Version)/(Extended Dance Mix)/(12” Dub Mix) (CD, Virgin VSCD 1230)
Runaway Horses/Heaven Is A Place On Earth (Live, Philadelphia Tower Theater May 1988) (7”, Virgin VS 1244)
Runaway Horses/Heaven Is A Place On Earth (Live, Philadelphia Tower Theater May 1988) (Cassette, Virgin VSMC 1244)
Runaway Horses/Heaven Is A Place On Earth (Live, Philadelphia Tower Theater May 1988)/Circle In The Sand (Beach Party Mix) (12“, Virgin VST 1244, some copies in fold out poster bag [VSTP 1244])
Runaway Horses/Heaven Is A Place On Earth (Live, Philadelphia Tower Theater May 1988)/Circle In The Sand (Beach Party Mix) (CD, Virgin VSCDT 1244)
Vision Of You (7” Mix)/Leave A Light On (Kamikazee Mix) (7”, Virgin VS 1264)
Vision Of You (7” Mix)/Leave A Light On (Kamikazee Mix) (Cassette, Virgin VSC 1264, unique sleeve design)
Vision Of You (7” Mix)/Leave A Light On (Kamikazee Mix)/I Feel Free (12” Extended Mix) (12”, Virgin VST 1264, some copies pressed as picture disc in die cut sleeve [VSY 1264])
Vision Of You (Remix 91)/Heaven Is A Place On Earth (Live, Philadelphia Tower Theater May 1988) (Clear Vinyl 12” in see through bag, Virgin VSTX 1264)
Vision Of You (7” Mix)/Leave A Light On (Kamikazee Mix)/I Feel Free (12” Extended Mix) (CD, Virgin VSCDT 1264)
Summer Rain (7” Edit)/Leave A Light On (Kamikazee Mix) (7”, Virgin VS 1323)
Summer Rain (7” Edit)/Leave A Light On (Kamikazee Mix) (Cassette, Virgin VSC 1323)
Summer Rain (LP Version)/(Justin Strauss Mix) (12”, Virgin VST 1323)
Summer Rain (7” Edit)/(Justin Strauss Mix)/Leave A Light On (Kamikazee Mix) (CD, Virgin VSCDT 1323, limited edition copies available in box with postcards, housed in unique p/s [VSCXD 1323])
We Want The Same Thing (Summer Remix)/Shades Of Michelangelo (7”, Virgin VS 1291)
We Want The Same Thing (Summer Remix)/Shades Of Michelangelo (Cassette, Virgin VSC 1291, cut down p/s)
We Want The Same Thing (Extended Summer Remix)/Circle In The Sand (Sandblast Multimix) (12”, Virgin VST 1291, some come in purple boxset with stickers inside)
We Want The Same Thing (Summer Remix)/Circle In The Sand (Sandblast Multimix)/Shades Of Michelangelo (CD, Virgin VSCDP 1291)
Live Your Life Be Free (Edit)/Loneliness Game (7”, Virgin VS 1370)
Live Your Life Be Free (Edit)/Loneliness Game (Cassette, Virgin VSC 1370)
Live Your Life Be Free (Club Mix)/(Edit)/Loneliness Game (12”, Virgin VST 1370, picture disc copies also pressed housed in die cut sleeve [VSTY 1370])
Live Your Life Be Free/Loneliness Game/Live Your Life Be Free (Club Mix) (CD, Virgin VSCDG 1370, digipack sleeve, some in standard case [VSCDT 1370])
Do You Feel Like I Feel?/World Of Love/Do You Feel Like I Feel? (Dance Mix)/Live Your Life Be Free (Dance Instrumental Mix) (CD, Virgin VSCDG 1383, digipack sleeve, some in standard case [VSCDT 1383])
(Note: none of the other formats have the final track on these releases, and I don’t believe it is available anywhere else - hence the listing of just these versions of this 45.)
Half The World/Only A Dream/Live Your Life Be Free (Original Intro Version) (CD1, Virgin VSCDG 1388)
Half The World/Vision Of You (Remix 91)/Circle In The Sand/Love Never Dies (CD2 in die cut p/s, Virgin VSCDX 1388)
(Note: again, mix of “LYLBF” unavailable anywhere else)
Little Black Book/Only A Dream (7”, Virgin VS 1428)
Little Black Book/The Air That You Breathe (Cassette, Virgin VSC 1428)
Little Black Book/Only A Dream/The Air That You Breathe (CD1, Virgin VSCDT 1428)
Little Black Book (Little Black Mix Version)/(Belinda’s In The House Mix)/(Album Version)/The Air That You Breathe (CD2 in “black book” p/s, Virgin VSCDG 1428)
Big Scary Animal/Windows Of The World (7”, Virgin VS 1472)
Big Scary Animal/Windows Of The World (Cassette, Virgin VSC 1472)
Big Scary Animal/Windows Of The World/Change (8 Track Demo) (CD1, Virgin VSCDT 1472)
Big Scary Animal/Windows Of The World/Change (8 Track Demo)/Too Much Water (8 Track Demo) (CD2, Virgin VSCDX 1472, same p/s as other formats, but in “poster pack” digipack packaging)
Lay Down Your Arms/Tell Me (7”, Virgin VS 1476)
Lay Down Your Arms/Tell Me (Cassette, Virgin VSC 1476)
Lay Down Your Arms/Tell Me/Wrap My Arms (8 Track Demo)/Here Comes My Baby (8 Track Demo) (CD, Virgin VSCDT 1476, digipack copies exist with track 4 missing [VSCDG 1476])
Lay Down Your Arms/Tell Me/Wrap My Arms (8 Track Demo)/Here Comes My Baby (8 Track Demo) (Limited CD in unique “Belinda” sleeve, with 3 cards, Virgin VSCDX 1476)
In Too Deep/I See No Ships/Jealous Guy/We Want The Same Thing (CD, Chrysalis CDCHS 5033)
Always Breaking My Heart (Single Version)/Love Walks in/The Ballad Of Lucy Jordan (CD1 + 3 postcards, Chrysalis CDCHSS 5037)
Always Breaking My Heart (Single Version)/Heaven Is A Place On Earth/Circle In The Sand/I Get Weak (CD2 in “zoomed in” p/s, Chrysalis CHCHS 5037)
Love In The Key Of C/Kneel At Your Feet/In Too Deep (VH1 Acoustic Session)/Circle In The Sand (VH1 Acoustic Session) (CD1 + 4 calendar prints, Chrysalis CDCHSS 5044)
Love In The Key Of C/Too Much Water (8 Track Demo)/Watcha Doin’ To Me (8 Track Demo)/Don’t Cry (8 Track Demo) (CD2 in diff p/s, Chrysalis CDCHS 5044)
California/Big Scary Animal (Live)/I Get Weak (Live)/In Too Deep (Live) (CD1, Chrysalis CDCHS 5047)
California/Leave A Light On (Live)/Live Your Life Be Free (Live)/Heaven Is A Place On Earth (Live) (CD2 in diff p/s, Chrysalis CHCHSS 5047)
All God’s Children/Runaway Horses/Only A Dream (Cassette, Virgin VSC 1756)
All God’s Children/Runaway Horses/Only A Dream (CD, Virgin VSCDT 1756)
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