Richard Hell & The Voidoids: Blank Generation Deluxe Edition (2CD & 2LP)

RSD '17 Special Release: Richard Hell & The Voidoids - Blank Generation (40th Anniversary Deluxe Edition)


Consistently heralded as one of the most influential punk albums of all time, Richard Hell & The Voidoid's Blank Generation celebrates its 40th anniversary this year with a 2CD and 2LP deluxe release for Record Store Day's Black Friday. Along with the Ramones, Television, Blondie and Talking Heads, Richard Hell and his band (Robert Quine - later of Television - Ivan Julian and Marc "Marky Ramone" Bell ) came to define the early New York "first wave" punk scene. The song "Blank Generation" became a slogan and an anthem and later was appropriated by the Sex Pistols for their track, "Pretty Vacant." Both groundbreakingly literate and criminally neglected by most critics when it first came out, the music sounds as fresh and abrasive today as when it was first released. With participation from Richard Hell, this anniversary reissue willl be remastered and packaged as it was originally released in 1977 (unlike subsequent reissues) with a second disc of previously unreleased tracks including alternate studio versions, out of print singles and rare bootleg live tracks from their first appearance at CBGBs. The booklet contains additional photos (the iconic cover was shot by Richard's ex-girlfriend, CBGB's "house" photographer Roberta Bayley) with memorabilia and liners from Richard.

 

I suspect the language "rare bootleg live tracks" implies sonically challenged recordings. But I'll take it.

 

Is there a track listing out there yet?

 

The article above mentions the Sex Pistols. But my favorite Richard Hell namecheck from a U.K. punker must be:

 

Dear God, I hope I can score a copy of this!
I always hoped Rhino would do a deluxe edition of this back in the day.
He recorded the album twice and the LP was a mostly from the second sessions but had some from the first.
When they put it on CD, it featured an alternate "Down at the Rock n Roll Club".
"You Gotta Lose" made it out on a Sire compilation LP but didn't make the LP.
Ditto an alternate take of "Love Comes in Spurts".
My fantasy track listing back in the day was the original LP on CD and on the second CD,
alternate takes of the LP from the opposite session of the ones that made the LP.

 

RICHARD HELL AND THE VOIDOIDS
CELEBRATE 40TH ANNIVERSARY OF BLANK GENERATION

40th Anniversary Deluxe Edition Of The Influential Punk Album
Includes A Remastered Version Of The Original,
Plus Rare And Unreleased Studio And Live Recordings

Available On Limited Edition CD And Vinyl On November 24

LOS ANGELES –Richard Hell and the Voidoids’ Blank Generation is an iconic album that has influenced countless rock bands with its image, its attitude, and its blistering performances. Released in 1977 on Sire Records, the album was received ecstatically by critics such as Lester Bangs and the New York Times’ Robert Palmer (who called it one of the ten best albums of the decade), but as was the case with most original “punk” albums, it wouldn’t get mainstream recognition for decades. Now its place in music history is secure as one of punk’s most significant records. Recently, Rolling Stone magazine lauded Blank Generation as one of the “40 Greatest Punk Albums of All Time,” giving the innovative and literate band its well deserved credit on the cusp of its 40th anniversary.

This seminal album is being recognized on its 40th anniversary this year with limited edition double-CD and double-LP deluxe editions to be released on Record Store Day’s Black Friday. BLANK GENERATION: 40th ANNIVERSARY DELUXE EDITION will be available at independent music retailers worldwide November 24 on CD for $19.98 and vinyl for $31.98.

Produced for release by Richard Hell, the album has been expertly remastered—by Greg Calbi of Sterling Sound, who mastered the original LP—as well as restored to its original 1977 track listing and sleeve imagery. BLANK GENERATION: 40th ANNIVERSARY DELUXE EDITION includes a second disc, with previously unreleased, alternate studio versions, out-of-print singles, and rare bootleg live tracks from the band’s first appearance in 1976 at CBGB. The booklet also contains many previously unpublished photos of the band by Roberta Bayley (the renowned CBGB photographer who shot the LP’s original cover), a revealing essay by Hell along with compelling images from his notebooks and private papers, and an extensive new interview with Ivan Julian by Hell.

After establishing his reputation as founder of legendary bands the Heartbreakers and Television, Hell went onto to lead the Voidoids which included Robert Quine (who later played in Lou Reed’s Blue Mask band, as well as for Tom Waits, John Zorn, and many others), Ivan Julian (who would record for Matthew Sweet and numerous other artists) and Marc Bell (“Marky Ramone”). Along with the Ramones, Television, Blondie and Talking Heads, Hell and his band helped to define the early New York “first wave” punk scene. The song “Blank Generation” became a slogan and an anthem and later was emulated by the Sex Pistols for their track, “Pretty Vacant.”

Such songs as “Love Comes In Spurts” and “Blank Generation” were originally recorded at Electric Lady Studios, but were re-recorded prior to release at Plaza Sound during Sire Records’ transition to Warner Bros. Records in 1977. At Plaza Hell reworked the album, leaving behind alternate versions and outtakes from Electric Lady that now appear on the second discs of these deluxe editions. The music sounds as fresh and abrasive today as when it was first released.

Hell retired from music in 1984, refocusing on writing as his vocation. He’s the author of two novels and several books of nonfiction including his acclaimed autobiography, I Dreamed I Was a Very Clean Tramp.

BLANK GENERATION: 40th ANNIVERSARY DELUXE EDITION
CD Track Listing:

Disc One: Original Album Remastered

1. “Love Comes In Spurts”
2. “Liars Beware”
3. “New Pleasure”
4. “Betrayal Takes Two”
5. “Down At The Rock And Roll Club”
6. “Who Says?”
7. “Blank Generation”
8. “Walking On The Water”
9. “The Plan”
10. “Another World”

Disc Two: Bonus Album

1. “Love Comes In Spurts” – Electric Lady Studios Alternate Version
2. “Blank Generation” – Electric Lady Studios Alternate Version
3. “You Gotta Lose” – Electric Lady Studios Outtake Version
4. “Who Says?” – Plaza Sound Studios Alternate Version
5. “Love Comes In Spurts” – Live at CBGB, November 19, 1976
6. “Blank Generation” – Live at CBGB, November 19, 1976
7. “Liars Beware” – Live at CBGB, April 14, 1977
8. “New Pleasure” – Live at CBGB, April 14, 1977
9. “Walking On The Water” – Live at CBGB, April 14, 1977
10. “Another World” – Ork Records Version
11. “Oh” – Original 2000 Release
12. 1977 Sire Records Radio Commercial

LP Track Listing

Side One

1. “Love Comes In Spurts”
2. “Liars Beware”
3. “New Pleasure”
4. “Betrayal Takes Two”
5. “Down At The Rock And Roll Club”
6. “Who Says?”

Side Two

1. “Blank Generation”
2. “Walking On The Water”
3. “The Plan”
4. “Another World”

Side Three

1. Love Comes In Spurts – Electric Lady Studios Alternate Version
2. “Blank Generation” – Electric Lady Studios Alternate Version
3. “You Gotta Lose” – Electric Lady Studios Outtake Version
4. “Who Says?” – Plaza Sound Studios Alternate Version
5. “Love Comes In Spurts” – Live at CBGB, November 19, 1976
6. “Blank Generation” – Live at CBGB, November 19, 1976

Side Four

1. “Liars Beware” – Live at CBGB, April 14, 1977
2. “New Pleasure” – Live at CBGB, April 14, 1977
3. “Walking On The Water” – Live at CBGB, April 14, 1977
4. “Another World” – Ork Records Version
5. “Oh” – Original 2001 Release
6. 1977 Sire Records Radio Commercial

 

This looks interesting. The CBGB stuff could be cool if it doesn't sound like it is from a sonic dumpster.

I wonder if Quine had tapes?

 

Quine had tapes of everything. Whether they're the ones being used is the question.

 

No alternate "Down At The Rock And Roll Club?" (I'm assuming the CD version isn't included, based on the text of the announcement). "Oh?" This is odd.

 

A little underwhelming but I'll take it!

 

I have an original pressing of Blank Generation, but would love to get my hands on this! Obviously a fan (see my signature).
Always wondered how things would have turned out if Verlaine and Richard H. could've kept it together.

 

I would have liked to see the full Ork single here. But at least all of the tracks are in very good sound on the recent Ork box (though probably needle-drops).

 

If you're talking about the "Spurts" best of CD, the only live recording was Blank Generation which was from a Television show from 74...

 

Yes. My assumption was clearly wrong. I didn't really think that out. Deleted.

 

"I'm Your Man" and "All The Way" also seem to be stranded on the original CD.

 

This may not be as comprehensive as one would have hoped, but that's all right. The fact that it's happening at all is something of a dream come true. This is one of the greatest rock and roll albums of all time, and it's nice to have it acknowledged with such a release.

 

Which are the "out of print singles" they mention in the write up?

 

I believe they are referring to the Ork version of "Another World."

 

Mystifying since there is no shortage of space here.

 

I'm in.

 

Can't wait. One of my favourites from the 70s.

" Robert Quine - later of Television "

Not true.

 

Not to be confused with comic book super-villain 'The Villainous Voidoid'...

 

Looking forward to the alternate tracks. The live tapes circulating from those gigs cited sound pretty good. If they have better sources, they should be worthwhile.

 

That surprised me too. I wonder if the first disc/LP includes the alternate (like the 1990 CD reissue) or they are restoring the original version?

 

It's odd that "All the Way" and the Blank Generation-era "I'm Your Man" have been omitted, as well as the alternate "Down at the Rock n Roll Club". Hold on to your 1990 Rhino CDs, everyone.

That said, I'm thrilled to finally get a digital release of "You Gotta Lose". The Ork version might be slightly tigher, but this one is as good as anything that made it to the LP.

Random story: I met Robert Quine c. 2000 and talked to him about these sessions. He described the "You Gotta Lose" outtake as a "mess", saying the rhythm was all wrong. As for the outtakes on the 1990 Rhino CD, I believe he said the masters were AWOL, and that those bonuses had come from a cassette he had in his possession. Makes me wonder now where the rest of these outtakes will have been sourced from.