Play Dead 'The Collection' CD digipak anthology; 16 tracks

Play Dead – The Collection  digipak CD

Play Dead release a career-spanning anthology on March 3 2023.  The digipak CD features sixteen of their most essential tracks.  (A limited-edition blue vinyl LP fits in a concise ten tracks.)  Between 1980-1985 they grew into one of the UK’s leading post-punk bands with regular indie chart hits and a dedicated live following.

The band formed in Banbury, Oxfordshire in 1980 with vocalist Robert Hickson, guitarist Re Vox (aka Barry Turnbull), bassist Peter Waddleton and Mark Smith (aka ‘Wiff’) on drums. After a couple of 1981 singles on Fresh Records the band toured with UK Decay and were invited for the first of three John Peel Sessions in early 1982. By then Steve Green had replaced Re on guitar with their line-up remaining stable thereafter. They released their ‘Single of the Week’ Propaganda on Jungle Records.

Fusing rock, funk, alt-metal and various new music influences, they were embraced into the fledgling post-punk tribal scene, joining Sex Gang Children for a lengthy tour, swiftly followed by another tour supporting Killing Joke, promoting the release of their debut album 'The First Flower' for Jungle in 1983. By then they had earned a loyal following and became a regular fixture on the live circuit.

A Beggars Banquet/Situation 2 one-off single Shine followed swiftly, before they switched labels again to the Staffordshire-based Clay Records for a series of four singles – Break, Isobel, Conspiracy and Sacrosanct, along with an album From the Promised Land plus a live album and video Into the Fire. These releases were all indie UK chart hits and backed by a busy touring schedule. At the end of 1984 they performed live on The Tube, then the UK’s top music TV show – their fans came along in good numbers for the live show.

Next they surprised many by persuading German krautrock producer Conny Plank to record their album Company of Justice, released on their own label Tanz in 1985. It became their highest indie-chart entry at number 3, and marked further progression with electronic enhancements. They toured frequently that year throughout the UK, as well as regular trips to Europe. However, in early 1986 they announced they had decided to split. Their final, single Burning Down from the Conny Plank sessions, was issued posthumously; The Collection opens with the 7” version of that track, the first time it’s been available since then.

The digipak comes has unseen photos and notes by Adi Vines.

CD tracks: Burning Down, Isabel, Sin of Sins, Sacrosanct, Time, Chains, Propaganda, Pale Fire, Gaze, This Side of Heaven, Shine, Witnesses, Conspiracy, Company of Justice, Break, The Tenant.