The Chills – "Heavenly Pop Hits: The Best of the Chills"

The Chills – “Heavenly Pop Hits: The Best of the Chills”
Flying Nun – 1994
Singles etc Compilation 1980 – 1992
Mp3 @ 192 / 70 MB

Purchase online from Smoke CD’s

A great collection of sublime power pop from New Zealand’s finest!

Read all about the band and its long tangled history here; wiki/The_Chills

A great resource for all things Chills can be had here: softbomb.com/index

I don’t know what’s in the water in New Zealand, but that little island produced some of the best pop bands of the 1980′s. Sure, you’ve heard the Church (Australia) and Crowded House, but the Chills may have been the best of the bunch.

“Greatest Hits” records usually tend to skip some of the best of an artist’s work, but the Chills were, up till their last album, a singles band, so this works perfectly, collecting all their singles, up through the magnificent “Soft Bomb.” Oh, and if that name sounds familiar, Justin Harwood left after the band’s breakup to join Luna.

This comp gets it all right, with thoughtful track sequencing, great liner notes, and good sound. These guys had the nerve to write a song, call it “Heavenly Pop Hit,” and get away with it. ‘Nuff said. Get this and “Soft Bomb,” and you’ve got the best of their great career.

- By LonelyMachines

Tracklisting

1: Heavenly pop hit
2: I love my leather jacket
3: Doledrums
4: Double summer
5: Oncoming day
6: Rolling moon
7: I’ll only see you alone again
8: Never never go
9: Wet blanket
10: Pink frost
11: Kaleidoscope world
12: Look for the good in others
13: House with a hundred rooms
14: Part past part fiction
15: The male monster from the id
16: This is the way

Here be Heavenly Hits!

HeavenlyPopHits

PASS: stupidd.blogspot

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The Chills – Secret Box (2001)

The Chills – Secret Box (2001)

Yap, the only things to come out of New Zealand are not sheep and boring Tolkein adaptations!

No, there are the Chills – perfect purveyors of heavenly pop! Not many hits though – all too sadly, and unbelievably.

Secret Box is a marvellous 3CD Box Set of rarities celebrating The Chills 20th anniversary.

This is absolutely essential listening for Chills fans! For any fans of great music!

Enjoy!

Below, from http://www.softbomb.com/sb1.htm , you’ll find mp3 track samples with commentary by Martin Phillipps on some tracks. Also reviews!

MP3 Audio samples

Turn to BFM Radio Jingle [Martin's intro / Track sample]

Always Time for Coca Cola [Martin's intro / Track sample]

Draft Morning [Martin's intro / Track sample]

Dream by Dream (alt lyric segment) [Martin's intro / Track sample]

Juicy Creaming Soda [Martin's intro / Track sample]

Raw Shark [Martin's intro / Track sample]

Helicopter [Martin's intro / Track sample]

The Other [Martin's intro / Track sample]

Vertigo Bird [Martin's intro / Track sample]

Christmas Chimes [Martin's intro / Track sample]

Secret Box reviews

Spread out over these three discs’ 83 selections are B-sides, outtakes, rarities, demos, radio sessions, tribute LP covers, a ’60s-revival Coke jingle, soundtracks, and most important of all, 31 live versions of songs never released in any form.

These unheard, vintage tracks span disc one and half of disc two, tripling the insight on the 1980-1987 Chills. They’re loads more aggressive (aided by the sweaty club environments) than the band’s supernatural early singles and EP collected by Kaleidoscope World.

It all comes as a bit of a barrage, since Martin Phillipps’ prolific pen was never more frenzied, spitting out one keyboard-laced, great post-punk pop track after another. His long-standing contention that the band should have released two, possible three classic LPs before 1987′s “debut” Brave Words (nine lineup changes, including the death of a key early member, hurt) is finally, fully supported by this evidence. Even some of the later shimmering tracks, such as the ghostly “House With a Hundred Rooms” and onrushing “Oncoming Day,” had their start in this harder, edgier epoch, as the original incarnation of the former as 1982′s “After They Told Me She Was Gone” and the 1985 Bucketful of Brains flexi version of the latter exhibit.

The demos and radio sessions are as much fun, while only the consummate Chills head will have all the later B-sides and compilation tracks. True, this is specifically for fans, as the merely curious are better off starting with a comprehensive best-of like 1994′s Flying Nun double-CD Heavenly Pop Hits.

There one encounters the more silvery-burnished, better-recorded, more stable Chills of 1987-1992. But even those who buy Secret Box will discover a greater energy than normally associated with the Chills name, who betray more of their ’60s garage and psychedelia and ’70s original punk roots here than at any time in the future.

[Jack Rabid, The Big Takeover]

Tracklisting

Disc One:

‘Sonic Bygones’ – Live Unreleased Songs (Early to mid 80s) [72:34]

‘Lost In Space’ [3:27] Phase 4. Reverb Room, Auckland. 22/5/82.

‘Learn To Try Again’ [2:33] Phase 9. Gluepot, Auckland. 15/2/85.

‘Slime” [1:46] Phase 9. Cricketers Arms, Wellington. 17/10/85.

‘Juicy Creaming Soda’ [4:10] Phase 9. Sounds CafÈ, Dunedin. 21/4/85.

‘After They Told Me She Was Gone’ [3:26] Phase 4. Rumba Bar, Auckland. 25/5/82.

‘Jellyhead’ [4:23] Phase 4. Rumba Bar, Auckland. 15/5/82.

‘Snuggle’ [2:18] Phase 8. Captain Cook, Dunedin. 5/5/84.

‘Steinlager’ [3:40] Phase 3. Gladstone Tavern, Christchurch. 16/12/81.

‘Turn Around’ [3:39] Phase 2. Otago University, Dunedin. 1/5/81.

‘(Don’t Melt Your) Sparkling Eyes’ (Terry Moore/Martin Phillipps) [4:25]Phase 3. Gladstone Tavern, Christchurch. 16/12/81.

‘Dolphins’ [3:43] Phase 4. Rumba Bar, Auckland. 15/5/82.

‘Watching Old Home Movies’ [3:14] Phase 4. Reverb Room, Auckland. 22/5/82.

‘Balancing’ (Terry Moore/Martin Phillipps) [7:04] Phase 3. Captain Cook, Dunedin. 19/12/81.

‘I Saw Your Silhouette’ [4:48] Phase 9. Windsor Castle, Auckland. 24/1/85.

‘Endless Sleep’ (Jody Reynolds/Jack Nance) [1:57] Phase 1. Coronation Hall, Dunedin. 14/12/80.

‘Such Self Pity’ [1:35] Phase 8. Windsor Castle, Auckland. 16/3/84.

‘Special Time’ [1:42] Phase 9. Cricketers Arms, Wellington. 17/10/85.

‘And When You’re There’ [1:47] Phase 8. Captain Cook, Dunedin. 1984.

‘Bad Eggs’ [2:45] Phase 8. Captain Cook, Dunedin. 5/5/84.

‘Shake Your Shoes for Scorpions’ [3:06] Phase 9. Cricketers Arms, Wellington. 17/10/85.

‘Smile From a Dead Dead Face’ [2:41] Phase 9. Windsor Castle, Auckland. 24/1/85.

‘Badger’ [3:53] Phase 9. Cricketers Arms, Wellington. 17/10/85.

‘Always Time For Coca-Cola’ [0:32] Phase 15. Produced by Martin Phillipps, engineered by Andy Morton at York Street Studio B, Auckland. Jan/Feb 1996.

Disc Two:

‘Salvaged Bullion’ – More live unreleased songs (mid 80s) [73:50]

‘The Other’ [2:59] Phase 8. Captain Cook, Dunedin. 5/5/84.

‘Red Sky Morning’ (Terry Moore) [3:18] Phase 5. Rumba Bar, Auckland. 25/5/82.

‘Declaration’ [1:37] Phase 8. Captain Cook, Dunedin. 5/5/84.

‘Edible Light’ [2:54] Phase 5 with Rachel Phillipps guest keys. The Pitz, Dunedin. 19/8/82.

‘Frozen Fountain’ [2:44] Phase 8. Captain Cook, Dunedin. 5/5/84.

‘Donald Duck in Chicago’ [1:18] Phase 5. Rumba Bar, Auckland. 25/5/82.

‘If This World Was Made For Me’ [2:29] Phase 5. Rumba Bar, Auckland. 25/5/82.

‘Jetty’ [3:06] Phase 5. Rumba Bar, Auckland. 25/5/82.

Radio Sessions: Tracks 9 – 12 were recorded 12/12/85 by Phase 9 Tracks 13 – 16 were recorded 5/4/87 by Phase 10 Tracks 17 – 20 were recorded 18/12/88 by Phase 11

‘Night Of Chill Blue’ [3:06]

‘Brave Words’ [1:38]

‘Wet Blanket’ [2:36]

‘Rolling Moon’ [3:31]

‘Dan Destiny And The Silver Dawn’ [2:07]

‘Living in A Jungle’ [1:22]

‘Moonlight On Flesh’ [3:51]

‘Rain’ [3:17]

‘Part Past Part Fiction’ [2:40]

‘Dead Web’ [2:21]

‘Christmas Chimes’ [2:54]

‘Effloresce And Deliquesce’ [2:32]

Studio Out-takes and Demos:

‘Oncoming Day # 2′ [2:45] Phase 9. Produced/recorded by Phil Yule and Doug Hood at Mascot Studios, Auckland. 25-26/3/85.

‘Martyn’s Doctor Said’ [0:44] Performed by Martin Phillipps, engineered by Roland Killeen at Mandrill Studios, Auckland. 23/6/86.

‘Dream By Dream (Original Martin Kean vocal)’ (Martin Phillipps/Martin Kean) [1:01] Phase 8. Recorded by Phil Yule and Doug Hood at Mascot Studios, Auckland. 11/9/84.

‘Dream By Dream (2-Track Practice Room Demo)’ [3:06] Phase 8. Recorded by Martin Phillipps at the Vogel House practice rooms, Dunedin. 7/7/84.

‘Glass-Clock Doubletime’ [1:19] Phase 10. Engineered by Terry King at Progressive Studios, Auckland. 16/12/86.

‘Vertigo Bird’ [2:19] Phase 11 with Martin Phillipps on sequenced keys. Produced by Martin Phillipps and engineered by Terry Moore at The Lab Studios, Auckland, July-September 1991.

‘Raw Shark’ [3:46] Phase 15. Produced by Martin Phillipps and recorded by Dale Cotton at Deandale Farm, Auckland. 28-29/7/95.

‘Jungle Law’ [3:37] Performed by Martin Phillipps and the Cook Island Cultural Group log drummers. Produced by Martin Phillipps, engineered by Brendan Hoffman at Volt Studios, Dunedin. 16-17/5/95.

‘I Love My Leather Jacket (Funny Mix)’ [2:53] Phase 9. Engineered by Danny Hyde and Terry Moore at Point Studios, London. December 1985.

Disc Three:

Singular Booty – B-sides/Tribute Tracks/Soundtracks/Jingles. [73:50]

‘There’s Only One Station’ [0:15] Performed and produced by Martin Phillipps. Co-produced/engineered by Doug Hood at Radio BFM Studios, Auckland. 26/3/85.

‘I’ll Only See You Alone Again’ [3:36] Phase 9. Produced by Martin Phillipps. Co-produced/engineered by Terry Moore at The Lab Studios, Auckland. 25/6 – 3/7/86. Initially recorded live by Doug Hood and Bill Latimer at the Windsor Castle, Auckland. October 1985.

‘Green-Eyed Owl’ [5:31]

‘We’re Here And We’ll Stay’ [0:15]

‘Dan Destiny And The Silver Dawn (Unplugged)’ [2:26] Performed and produced by Martin Phillipps and Terry Moore. Engineered by Roland Killeen at Mandrill Studios, Auckland. 23/6/86.

‘Turn To BFM’ [0:23]

‘House With A Hundred Rooms’ [3:15] Phase 10. Produced by Jonny Milton and The Chills, assisted by Paul Apted at Point Studios, London. May 1987.

‘Party In My Heart’ [3:12] (Same information as ‘House With A Hundred Rooms’.)

‘Living In A Jungle’ [1:22] (Same information as ‘House With a Hundred Rooms’.)

‘I Think I’d Thought I’d Nothing Else To Think About’ [2:01] Phase 10. Produced by Mayo Thompson, and engineered by Danny Hyde at Point Studios, London. May-July 1987.

‘Drug Magicians’ [2:59] Phase 11. Produced by Gary Smith and engineered by Steve Haigler with second engineer Paul Apted at Jacobs Studios, Surrey, England. August-October 1989.

‘Wave-Watching’ [2:11]

‘Whole Lot Of Non Going On’ [2:19]

‘Water Wolves’ [3:39]

‘Halo Fading (Demo)’ [2:58] Phase 11 with Martin Phillipps on sequenced keys.

‘Sanctuary (Demo)’ [2:22]

‘Seven Years Old’ [0:47] Performed by Martin Phillipps, Terry Moore and James Stephenson. Produced by Martin Phillipps and co-produced/engineered by Terry Moore at The Lab Studios, Auckland. 1991.

‘I Wish I Could Do Without You’ [2:14] Performed by the ‘Soft Bomb’ album band. Produced and engineered by Gavin Mackillop, assisted by Mat Packuko at Master Control Studios, Burbank, California. 1991-92.

‘Big Dark Day’ (Martin Phillipps/Peter Holsapple) [3:41] (Same information as ‘I Wish I Could Do Without You’.)

‘Here We Go’ [0:43] (Same information as ‘Seven Years Old’.)

‘How Much This Place Has Changed’ [2:24] Phase 15. Produced by Martin Phillipps and engineered by Nick Abbott at York Street Studio B, Auckland. 11-16/11/95.

‘Lies, Lies, Lies’ [2:13]

‘The Streets Of Forgotten Cool’ [3:52]

‘Helicopter’ [0:59]

‘Friends Again’ [2:48]

‘Stupid Way To Go’ [2:42]

‘Yabba Dabba Doo’ [2:45]

‘Draft Morning’ (David Crosby) [2:38] Phase 11. Produced by Martin Phillipps. Co-produced/engineered by Terry Moore at The Lab Studios, Auckland. 16-17/1/89.

‘A Message To Pretty’ (Arthur Lee) [2:59] Performed and produced by Martin Phillipps and David Kilgour, engineered by Stephen Kilroy at Fish Street Studios, Dunedin. 21/12/92.

‘Tropical Loveland’ (Benny Andersson/Bj(rn Ulvaeus/S. Anderson) [2:32] Performed by Martin and the Moon-Lagoons (Stephen Stedman, Allan Starrett, Demarnia Lloyd and Alan Haig). Produced by Martin Phillipps, engineered by Stephen Stedman at Student Radio One Studios, Dunedin. 1995.

‘Autumn Testament # 20′ (Words by James K. Baxter, Music by Martin Phillipps) [1:49] Performed and produced by Martin Phillipps. Recorded/mixed by AndrÈ Upston at National Radio Helen Young Studio, Auckland. 2000.

Here be heavenly pop;

Disc 1: Sonic Bygones

Disc 2: Salvaged Bullion

Disc 3: Singular Booty

Big thanks to our pal Ariel at thedoledrums

Mail us: stupidand@gmail.com

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