NME: CLEAN SWEEP - LIVE AT THE LONDON ASTORIA (1998)

Note: All these tracks were, as the title suggests, recorded Live At The London Astoria between the 18th and 25th January 1998 on the NME/Miller Genuine Draft London Shows. These versions are all exclusive to this release.

1. Bad Behaviour - Super Furry Animals

SFA once said that they deliberately didn't release certain tracks as singles because they'd become too big a hit and overshadow the group. This stomper, from their 1996 debut album Fuzzy Logic, would surely have been one of those they had in mind... This version speeds up the song even further - it's a riot.

2. Traffic - Stereophonics

Stereophonics' first Top 20 hit - and from their debut 'Word Gets Around'.

3. Good Feeling - Travis

Title track from Travis' more upbeat Top 10 debut album.

4. Down Down Down - Warm Jets

Short-lived indie band whose lead singer Louis Jones became a brief tabloid fixture due to his dalliance with Zoe Ball. Their one and only album Future Signs hit #40 and contained two Top 40 hits. This was featured on their Move Away EP.

5. Radars - Dawn Of The Replicants

What were East West thinking signing Dawn Of The Replicants? Whatever they were on, I'll have some, please. One of the most inventive bands of their time, DOTR's wonky psych-rock was laden with hooks and a complete joy to behold. They were never going to hit the heights East West predicted and they retreated to indies after album number two. This was from their debut album One Head Two Arms Two Legs and originally the lead track on the Rhino Rays EP. In a parallel universe, they're probably huge.

6. You Just Have To Be Who You Are - Idlewild

Before Idlewild made it big with expansive and melodic rock inspired by REM amongst others, they were loud and fast with Roddy Woomble prone to screaming and rolling about on the stage in a rather worrying manner. This is clearly one of those moments. The track appeared on their debut mini-album Captain.

7. Ex Cowboy - Mogwai

Then unreleased track from post rock legends Mogwai, so this was a real incentive for fans to get a copy of this CD. The studio version didn't appear until a year later, on their album Come On Die Young.

8. One Man's Fear - Lo Fidelity Allstars

It's full title is actually One Man's Fear Another Man's High and appeared on their debut single Kool Rok Bass. Lumped in with the Big Beat crowd, Lo Fidelity Allstars were a much more complex beast taking in influences from funk, Northern Soul, electronica and early 90s indie. Their second single Disco Machine Gun famously got them into trouble after The Breeders complained that a sample from their Cannonball hadn't been cleared...all copies of the single had to be withdrawn with immediate effect and the sample was taken out, and the song renamed, for inclusion on their album. The original studio cut of One Man's Fear also included a sample that isn't present on this live version....of Jack and Vera Duckworth!

9. Come Taste My Mind - Earl Brutus

Knowingly chaotic indie rock band consisting of ex-World of Twist members Gordon King and the late Nick Sanderson and also Jamie (Martin's brother) Fry. This appeared on their album Tonight You Are The Special One, and, at about the same time as the release of this free CD, as a single in its own right where it became their biggest hit - charting at #88.

1o. My Own Summer (Shove It) - The Deftones

It wasn't just about British Indie music...the Deftones' US allternative metal also made an appearance on this NME tour. This was featured on their breakthrough album Around The Fur and appeared as a single in March 1998 hitting #29.

11. Assassin - Asian Dub Foundation

ADF's potent and politically charged mix of punk rock, ragga, dub and dancehall won many admirers and they became an incendiary live unit. This was featured on their Top 20 album Rafi's Revenge.

12. Running On The Spot - Bentley Rhythm Ace

Mistitled - this is Run On The Spot from BRA's eponymous debut album.

13. I Never Have Been Done - Theaudience

Every year, a band always emerged who were touted as the New Smiths. In '97 it was the turn of Theaudience. Only this time, this was the Smiths with a female at the front....none other than 18 year old Sophie Ellis Bextor. Whereas Theaudience called it a day after poor sales of their debut album, SEB fared slightly better.... To all fans of SEB expecting this to be a completely unreleased track - beware! Although this live version is exclusive, the track itself appeared on their album as 'You Get What You Deserve'.

14. Tightrope Walker - Therapy?

A track from Therapy?'s final major label album Semi-Detached. Soon after this, Therapy? retreated from the mainstream and have spent the last decade as a much rawer, exclusive concern.

15. Rocket USA - Spiritualized with Suicide

Saving the best till last, Spiritualized, fresh from the across-the-board acclaim given to their masterpiece Ladies And Gentlemen We Are Floating In Space were joined on stage by hugely influential electronic punk band Suicide - Alan Vega and Martin Rev. This 10 minute live reworking of a track from Suicide's eponymous debut helped seal both band's status as past and present musical mavericks. Essential.

NME: RADIO 1 SOUND CITY (1998)

1. Carrot Cake & Wine (Live) - Stereophonics

The only place to find the official audio of this, a live version of the track which originally appeared on the A Thousand Trees single. You can view the performance on the video/DVD Cwmaman Feel The Noize.

2. Kalifornia (Simon's Edit) - Fatboy Slim

Simon being presumably engineer and mixer Simon Thornton, this is an exclusive edit of the 'You've Come A Long Way Baby' album track, chopping off about a minute and a half.

3. Lipstick - Rocket From The Crypt

RFTC went from cult concern to Top 20 chart stars with the infectious On A Rope. Despite releasing the follow up When In Rome (Do The Jerk) as a limited edition picture disc to prove they hadn't fully sold out, they attempted the big time yet again with this pop punk blast. However, the single stalled at #64 and they became cult figures once again. This is an exclusive BBC session recorded for Radio 1's Evening Session on 16th August 1998.

4. Get A Real Tattoo - Six By Seven

Typically sprawling but magnificent 7 minute opus from Nottingham's criminally under-rated space rock group Six By Seven. The fact that this was merely a B side to their For You single shows how good their debut The Things We Make was, and is.

5. Root Cage - Tiger

Tiger's mullets and fuzzy indie sound were strange sight in 1996 but they secured an early following with John Peel and the music press with their debut single Shining In The Wood. Such was the love for them, their second EP Race even made the Top 40. But as soon as they came, they went, their album We Are Puppets thought by the majority as a disappointment. This was taken from their much delayed second album Rosaria which was finally released long after this compilation in May 1999. The band folded soon after.

6. Pull Yourself Together (Didjeridu Mix) - Hefner

A far cry from the Playboy Mansion, Hefner were a indie folk band from East London championed by John Peel. Never a friend of the charts, Pull Yourself Together was one of the band's more well known singles. This remix did the rounds on free CDs - this and another in Germany - and was finally released on Hefner product on their Best Of in 2006.

7. Hush The Warmth - Gorky's Zygotic Mynci

Where fellow countrymen Super Furry Animals became arguably, not just Wales', but the UK's most successful cult band of the 90s and beyond, Gorky's could never escape the trappings of cultdom. But, my God they tried. Seemingly, all their singles hovered around the 41-75 mark without breaking the magic #40 barrier. This is from their album Gorky 5, a #67 smash.

8. Kimberly - Clinic

This was taken from Clinic's single Cement Mixer and later appeared on their self titled rarities compilation before they signed to Mercury and sold about 58 more records...

9. Guacamole - Super Furry Animals

This uptempo blast of a tune was featured on SFA's B side compilation Out Spaced having appeared as an extra track on the If You Don't Want Me To Destroy You single. Not only is it ridiculous that songs of such quality festered as B sides but this was a last minute replacement for The Man Don't Give A Fuck when the infamous Steely Dan sample initilly failed clearance. Madness.

10. Spanner In The Works - Terrorvision

From the album Shaving Peaches which was a huge disappointment sales-wise for the Bradford rockers. They were down and out but were given a temporary and unexpected reprieve by the Mint Royale remix madness that was Tequila. When such an unstoppable juggernaut of a hit couldn't save the album, the writing was on the wall....

11. Harsh Shark - Campag Velocet

We heard from this lot earlier...this was recorded Live At Reading in 98. I actually saw this performance live - which isn't very interesting but probably the most interesting thing about it. The original turned up on the Bon Chic Bon Genre album a year later.

12. I Don't Know What To Say - Mogwai

Completely then-exclusive studio track from post rock masters Mogwai, a big deal at the time. This eventually reappeared on the 2008 reissue of their Young Team album

13. Are Friends Electrik (NME Edit) - Plastikman

Originally a twelve and a half minute techno track on the album Artefakts, and with no edit already existing, NME saw fit to edit it themselves to 7 and a half minutes. Odd, but exclusive and now rare. Nothing to do with Gary Numan, by the way.

14. Circles, Squares And Lines - Symposium

Everybody was on Symposium's side when they appeared in 1996 with a succession of pop punk indie hits. When they beefed up their sound and started to get serious, no-one seemed to care anymore. This is taken from their first album proper On The Outside. Funnily enough, it's their opening mini album One Day At A Time that contains the hits.

15. Be Myself - 3 Colours Red

Alan McGee said that 3 Colours Red were the most exciting band since the Sex Pistols. Anyone who might want to trace the downfall of Creation Records might want to start right there. This was an exclusive trailer for a track which ended up on their 1999 album Revolt.

16. Olympian - Gene

Forever compared to The Smiths, Gene's lush sound wasn't typical of the Britpop crowd of the mid to late 90s. They eventually burnt out and this, the title track of their debut album, remained their signature tune as its appearance here 3 years after its initial release testifies. This is an exclusive version recorded live at the Royal Albert Hall.

SOUNDS/WEA CHRISTMAS CRACKER (1985)

1. Twin Cadillac Valenine - Screaming Blue Messiahs

This was released as SBM's debut single in 1985 and released on their Gun Shy album in 1986.

2. Fatherised- Sudden Sway

Nice alternative electronic dance pop not disimilar to something from the mid-80s Factory stable. Sudden Sway recorded 3 albums and a couple of Peel Sessions before disbanding in the early 90s. This is an exclusive track to this EP.

3. Breakfast (Live At Ronnie Scotts) - The Associates

Featuring the unique vocal talents of the late Billy Mackenzie, this is an exclusive live version of The Associates' Top 50 hit from 1984. The track in its studio form also appeared on the 1985 album 'Perhaps'.

4. Subtle Manoeuvres - Brilliant

Exclusive track not included on Brilliant's 1986 first and only album'Kiss The Lips Of Life', which, like its singles failed to set the charts alight or please the critics. Where did it all go wrong? Brilliant were formed by ex-Killing Joke bassist and future much sought after producer and remixer Youth, and included in their ranks Jimmy Cauty who went on to be one half of the KLF. The other half of the KLF, Bill Drummond, was Brilliant's A&R manager and their manager was former Teardrop Explodes keyboardist Dave Balfe. On top of that, Brilliant were one of the first artists to be produced by Stock, Aitken & Waterman, before their trademark Hit Factory days. Perhaps somewhat ahead of their time, if Brilliant had emerged a couple of years later they could have been massive. Not that it mattered....For SAW and KLF completists, however, this EP is absolutely essential.

SOUNDS: SHOWCASE 3 (1987)

1. Serpents Kiss (Remix) - The Mission

Exclusive remix of Leeds Gothic-rock band's first single. Formed from the ashes of Sisters Of Mercy, instant success was assured; Serpents Kiss reached No. 70 in 1986.

2. This Can't Be Love - Gangway

Gangway were an indie synth-pop band from Denmark that released 7 studio albums during the 80s and 90s. This is taken from their second, 'Sitting In The Park', which dates from 1986. As this is billed as an exclusive track on this 1987 EP I can only assume that the album was belatedly released in the UK in 1987...

3. Jesus Came Driving Along (Live) - Leather Nun

Swedish industrial goth and Peel favourites that gained some indie notoriety

in the late 70s and 80s. This is an exclusive live track recorded in Stockholm; the original appeared on their 1986 mini-LP 'Lust Games'.

NME: Annual Probe Volume 1 (1999)

1. This Is Yesterday (Live) - Manic Street Preachers

Completely exclusive live version of this 'Holy Bible' track recorded at the Cardiff International Arena on December 20th 1998. This CD is the only place you'll find this recording legitimately making this freebie an immediate collector's item. It's interesting to note that, especually as this CD was a round-up of 1998, that the compilers went with this track instead of one from their massive 'This Is My Truth...' album. Perhaps it was to boost sales of the Manics back catalogue, which is no bad thing...

2. Mezzannine - Massive Attack

Title track from Massive Attack's third album, and masterpiece.

3. Burger Queen - Placebo

Closing track from their second album 'Without You I'm Nothing'. This was released a single in France complete with the lyrics sung in full in French and titled Burger Queen Francais.

4. T Shirt Suntan (Live) - Sterephonics

This proved to be one of the first tasters of Stereophonics' soon to be evrywhere album 'Performance And Cocktails'. Recorded live at Cardiff Castle, this version predated the album release and studio version by a couple of months. It's still exclusive to this release.

5. Special/Blown It (Delete As Appropriate) - Mansun

Excerpt from Mansun's immense and ball-tripping second album 'Six'.

6. 78 Stone Wobble (Live) - Gomez

Another exclusive live track. The studio version had already been released as Gomez' debut single, just missing the Top 40, when this CD was given away. However, it predated the release of their debut album 'Brng It On' which eventually won the Mercury Music Prize in 1999. Although this is still remains an exclusive audio track, the performance at Temple Bar Music Centre in Dublin can be found on their compilation DVD 'Five Men In A Hut'.

7. Celestial Annihilation - UNKLE

UNKLE's first album ' Psyence Fiction' saw James Lavelle hook up with pioneer DJ Shadow. Although the album featured Mike D, Thom Yorke, Richard Ashcroft, Kool G Rap and Badly Drawn Boy, this is a Shadow instrumental.

8. Simultaneous - Chef

South Park's Chef remains one of the UK's most bizarre one hit wonders with 'Chocolate Salty Balls', nobody seeing fit to release any of his other contributions to the 'Chef Aid' album as singles, including this one. Chef of course, was voiced by the late, great Isaac Hayes.

9. Kelly Watch The Stars (Edit) - Air

This was included on the French Duo's album 'Moon Safari' and soundtracking just about every apartment with a stylish coffee table in 1998. This particular edit was available on the single which reached the Top 20 in the same year.

10. All My Time Is Gone - Fun Lovin' Criminals

Before Huey Morgan presented programmes about comedy dogs with Jimmy Tarbuck's daughter, FLC's blend of rock, hip hop, jazz, blues and funk was taken quite seriously. This is taken from their second album '100% Colombian'. Check out Youtube for Huey's interview with Jamie Theakston on the O Zone where he lies through his nose on kids TV about where that album title came from...

11. Numbskull - Ash

From Ash's second album proper 'Nu-Clear Sounds'. This track was released as non-chart eligible EP shortly after inclusion here, presumably to avoid a poor chart placing after a massive decline in sales. The track's video was also one of the most sexually explicit videos ever released by a mainstream band.

12. The Good Will Out (Live) - Embrace

Exclusive Radio 1 Evening Session version of the the title track to Embrace's No 1 debut album - again, you'll only find it on this CD. The original version was released as the final single from the album as a 12" only.

13. Soul Surfing - Fatboy Slim

From Norman Cook's ubiquitous second album as Fatboy Slim, 'You've Come A Long Way Baby'

MELODY MAKER: READING '98

1. Hammering In My Head - Garbage

Taken from their No. 1 second album 'Version 2.0'

2. A Life Less Ordinary (Tim Simenon Mix) - Ash

Rare and then-exclusive remix of Ash's Top 10 hit and theme song to Danny Boyle's film of the same name. This eventually got released by Ash on the deluxe edition of their first album proper '1977'.

3. Hey, Johnny Park - Foo Fighters

Track from second album 'The Colour & The Shape'

4. Commuter Love - The Divine Comedy

From the album 'Fin De Siecle'

5. Run Me Over - Kenickie

Kenickie's debut 'At The Club' promised big things for these indie-pop-punk Mackems. However, their second album 'Get In' , containing this track, spent one week in the Top 40 before falling off the radar completely. They soon disbanded, singer Lauren Laverne becoming a successful music presenter and 6 Music institution.

6. Cheapskate - Supergrass

From the recently departed Supergrass' superlative second album 'In It For The Money'. This was actually released as a promo single in the USA complete with video, oddly airbrushed from history after being omitted from their video compilation Supergrass Is 10.

7. Five In The Morning - A

From Leeds' alt-rock band's first album 'How Ace Are Buildings'. This was first released as their debut 7" in 1996.

8. Jessica - Llama Farmers

B-side to briefly touted Greenwich four-piece's debut single 'Always Echoes' on Fierce Panda. It also turned up on their debut album 'Dead Letter Chorus' in 1999.

9. Download (Llwybr Llaethog Mix) - Super Furry Animals

Still the main incentive to own this CD. This is a completely exclusive remix of the 'Radiator' track which has not been released anywhere else to this day. Welsh experimental electronic duo Llwybr Llaethog (Welsh for Milky Way) also remixed SFA's 'The Undefeated' on their remix album 'Phantom Phorce' in 2004.

10. Drencrom (Velocet Synthemesc) - Campag Velocet

Debut release on Fierce Panda's spin-off label Rabid Badger in 1997 and re-released as a split single with Regular Fries a year later, Drencrom...fused lo-fi baggy beats with Clockwork Orange Nadsat speak to critical acclaim but, ultimately, commercial obscurity. This was also available on their debut album 'Bon Chic Bon Genre'.

11. She Left Me On Friday - Shed Seven

One of the most successful Indie groups of the 90s, Shed Seven scored fifteen Top 40 singles. Despite this hitting no. 11 on release as the lead single from third long player 'Let It Ride', the album undersold and marked the beginning of the band's slide.

12. Medication - Spiritualized

8 and a half minute masterpiece from J Spaceman's 1995 album 'Pure Phase'. Included here most likely as a taster of the band's pre Ladies And Gentlemen... material for new converts.

13. Jayou (Clean Version) - Jurassic 5

Jayou is taken from the American alternative hip-hop crew's eponymous debut album. This clean edit was included on the single release.

14. The End - Symposium

London pop-punk band Symposium scored three Top 40 hits during their brief stay in the indie limelight. By the time their second album 'On The Outside' had been released, which included this track, sales were already on the wane and they soon split.