Echo & The Bunnymen Crystal Days: 1979-1999 CD

The 4-CD box CRYSTAL DAYS includes singles, B-sides, rare live tracks, alternate versions and a 64-page companion book with complete recording notes and historical photos.

Additional personnel includes: Mike Mooney (guitar); Adam Peters (cello, piano); Nick Bernard (violin); London Metropolitan Orchestra (strings, woodwinds, brass); Shankar (strings); Luvan Kiem (clarinet); Ed Shearmur (piano); Alan Perman (harpsichord); Jake Brockman, Ray Manzarek, Henry Priestman, Julian Cope, David Balfe, Mark Taylor (keyboards); Guy Pratt (bass); David Palmer, Stephen Morris, Michael Lee, Jeremy Stacy (drums); Harry Morgan, Royal Burundi Drummers, Tim Whittaker (percussion); Paul Williams (background vocals).

Recorded between 1979 & 1999. Includes liner notes by Andy Zax, Mick Houghton, Ian McCulloch, Wayne Coyne and Will Sergeant.

Digitally remastered by Dan Hersch and Bill Inglot (Digiprep).

This is the box set of Echo & the Bunnymen fans' dreams. Four discs that amply cover the high points of the band's albums as well as a hefty batch of rarit

Echo & The Bunnymen - Crystal Days 1979-1999 collects 72 tracks, including 14 previously unreleased tracks and 23 cuts never before available on CD. This Rhino Records box set spans the whole of the Bunnymen's career, from their very first recording ('Monkeys') through selections from 1999's What Are You Going To Do With Your Life? The first three discs include all the classic singles and album tracks, as well as rare B-sides, outtakes, unreleased songs intended for a scrapped 1986 album and a pair of lost tunes rescued from the vaults of the BBC. Disc Four kicks off with a few more rarities and alternate takes before plunging into a 50-minute demonstration of the Bunnymen in peak live form, covering Bob Dylan, the Rolling Stones, Jonathan Richman, Television, The Doors and the Velvet Underground in addition to searing versions of their own songs. 4 CD's in 5.5 x 10 inch box. A Rhino Records

Echo & The Bunnymen: Ian McCulloch (vocals); Will Sergeant (guitar, sitar); Les Pattinson (bass); Pete De Freitas (drums).

Producers include: Echo & The Bunnymen, Gil Norton, Ian Broudie, Laurie Latham, Alan Douglas.

Compilation producer: Andy Zax.

Engineers include: Michael Bergek, Chris Nagle, Gil Norton.

Personnel: Ian McCulloch (vocals, guitar); Will Sergeant (guitar, sitar, harpsichord); Mike Mooney (guitar); Adam Peters (cello, piano, keyboards); London Metropolitan Orchestra (strings, woodwinds, brass); Shankar (strings); Leslie Penny (woodwinds); David Balfe (piano, keyboards); Edward Shearmur (piano); Alan Perman (harpsichord); Henry Priestman, Jake Brockman, Julian Cope, Mark Taylor , Ray Manzarek (keyboards); David Palmer , Michael K. Lee, Jeremy Stacey, Pete de Freitas, Stephen Morris (drums); Tim Whittaker, Harry Morgan (percussion); Paul "Tubbs" Williams , Liam Gallagher (background vocals).

Audio Mixers: Clif Norrell; Echo & the Bunnymen; Don Rodenbach; Gil Norton; Alex Haas; Mark "Spike" Stent; Richard Woodcraft; Bill Inglot; Brian Kehew; Bruce Lampcov.

Audio Remasterers: Dan Hersch; Bill Inglot.

Recording information: Abbey Road Studio 2, London, England (03/??/1979-03/15/1999); Amazon Studios, Liverpool (03/??/1979-03/15/1999); August Studio, Liverpool (03/??/1979-03/15/1999); BBC Studios, Maida Vale, London, England (03/??/1979-03/15/1999); Cargo Studios, Rochdale (03/??/1979-03/15/1999); Conny's Studio, Cologne, Germany (03/??/1979-03/15/1999); Crescent Studios, Bath, Somerset, England (03/??/1979-03/15/1999); CTS Studios, Wembley, North London (03/??/1979-03/15/1999); Doghouse Studio, Henley on Thames (03/??/1979-03/15/1999); Eden Studios, Chiswick, London, England (03/??/1979-03/15/1999); ICP Studio, Brussels, Belgium (03/??/1979-03/15/1999); Karen, Gottenburg, Sweden (03/??/1979-03/15/1999); Les Studio Des Dames, Paris, France (03/??/1979-03/15/1999); Liverpool Cathedral, Liverpool (03/??/1979-03/15/1999); Marcus Music, London, England (03/??/1979-03/15/1999); ORolling Stone (9/13/01, pp.108,111) - 4 stars out of 5 - "...A completist's compilation...featuring lost of unreleased songs...suggesting that Echo's songwriting produced some contemporary standards....Echo's crystal days haven't shattered yet..."
Q (Summer/01, pp.122-3) - 4 stars out of 5 - "...Conjures McCulloch's insolent good looks and the band's more willful inclinations....giving a chance to view their music in relief free of grand, heroically absurdist gestures..."
Uncut (8/01, p.98) - 4 stars out of 5 - "...Very fine indeed.....What's startling about spinning back to the band's beginnings at the dawn of the Eighties is how strong they became in how short a time..."
Mojo (Publisher) (1/02, p.70) - Ranked #4 in Mojo's "Best [10] Box Sets & Compilations of 2001".