Hello, as it is the anniversary of The Seahorses only album Do It Yourself, I thought it would be appropriate timing to share some unheard tracks by the band recorded in 1998. This compilation includes 4 tracks never released anywhere (tracks 2-5) as well as the Feel demo excerpt, and what I consider to be the best live version of each new track performed live not featured on the Minus Blue bootleg. This was a difficult decision for me to make - I wasn't sure that it would be okay to release these as apparently Chris is not keen on them getting out. Regardless of this, I feel that it is unfair that someone like myself has the pleasure of hearing them ahead of others. Music is music, I am no better than any other fan of the Seahorses and do not deserve any privilege in hearing unreleased music that I did not write nor record. I had originally thought it would be cool to release these 4 tracks on my seahorses database/website I have been working on for months, but unfortunately I missed my deadline off today to get it finished - mainly because of work and my personal life. Regardless of that I will explain how I came into possession of these tracks - Stuart Fletcher sent them to another fan, who then sold the tape to me - simple, no funny business, great guys. I would love one day to sit down and speak with Stuart about the later day horses stuff - he is to me the only one who seems reasonable about it all, I have so many questions about this time.
I also want to make the point here that whilst I am posting these to share, I do not want any thanks for it - thank the band who wrote and recorded these songs. I am a fan who has spent years of my life collecting everything I can on The Seahorses and second coming era Roses - Magazines, T Shirts, Backstage Passes, Ticket Stubs, Itinerary's, Setlists and of course bootlegs. I would never dream of holding back recordings from other fans the way I have seen in regards to the horses/roses/zeppelin trading circles, I will not play that game. It is not the place of other fans to decide which things fans get to hear. This has of course resulted in me being unable to attain things that definitely exist - because I am not "trusted". Well I do not care.
I don't think my love for the seahorses can be denied - the songs they created have had an everlasting impact on my life, my relationship with music and my own attempt to pick up the electric guitar. I simply do not agree with fans hoarding recordings - it is something that gets under my skin a ridiculous amount.
Anyway - here is the details of all the tracks featured, to avoid speculation I will be as transparent as possible in regards to what is confirmed and what isn't.
00:00 1. Feel Like a God (Demo Excerpt) - This excerpt has circulated for years, unfortunately I doubt we will ever hear the full version - the person who hoards it is a sad sad man, and is incredibly unpleasant. He took the pic in the thumbnail though - so ta for that. This is the arrangement the band performed live in 1998.
01:29 2.Feel Like a God (Alternate Version - Demo) - The first track from the new tape - It caries the chorus from V1 but it's completely different in every other way.
05:34 3. Time To Kill (Demo) - This track was performed live at Warrington Parr Hall on July 9th 1998, according to an attendee who took note of the setlist. I believe him personally - It would be a bizarre coincidence for him to make that up knowing nothing about this recording existing. Other than that, the track has never been referenced anywhere as far as I know.
11:20 4. Moth (Demo) - Performed live throughout 1998, really great to finally hear a studio demo of this track.
17:28 5. Tell Me How You Feel (Demo) - This is a track which I had no idea of existing until I heard this demo. As the tape has no track listing, I am unaware of it's official title - I titled it this but it could well be something else.
The following tracks are live bootleg recordings of unreleased songs not included on the second album bootleg. I included these to paint a full picture of the bands direction at this time, instead of just the usual tracks on Minus Blue.
23:40 6. Won't Let You Fall (Live in Ashton) - This is one of 2 circulating versions of this track, the other is from Buckley 2 months later. I consider this to be the better sounding recording but the inferior arrangement.
27:36 7. Feel Like a God (Live in Buckley) - The only full recording of Feel V1, not great quality but the only one. It's so good.
31:40 8. City In The Sky (Live TITP) - This is without doubt my favourite of all the seahorses songs, I love it. I can only hope one day a studio version will become available - it seems so unlikely though, but you never know - it happened with Moth.
37:12 9. Moth (Live TITP) - A great version of Moth, I think better than the studio take.