The Chameleons / Live!

The Chameleons (UK)

Best post-punk band? Maybe... it's definitely up for argument. The Chameleons were one of those rare bands that were able to make an enormous impact on music on only three albums. The number of posthumous releases of The Chameleons is unheard of... somewhere in the region of fifteen different live, peel sessions, rarities, etc. And it's all good (well... mostly). Here are a few live and rare recordings to whet your appetite to discover (or rediscover) this amazing band.



The Chameleons / Tripping Dogs
Released 1990 / Recorded 1985

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"Tripping Dogs" is a rehearsal from 1985.

Singing Rule Britannia (While The Walls Close In)
A Person Isn't Safe Anywhere These Days
Here Today
Pleasure And Pain
Bobby Moore's Wine
Less Than Human
Thursday's Child
In Answer
Return Of The Roughnecks
Second Skin
One Flesh
Home Is Where The Heart Is

The Chameleons / Peel Sessions
Recorded 1981-1984 / Released 1992

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he Fan & The Bellows
Here Today
Looking Inwardly
Things I wish I'd Said
Don't Fall
Nostalgia
Second Skin
Dust To Dust
Return Of The Roughnecks
One Flesh
Intrigue In Tangiers
P.S. GoodbyeThe Chameleons / Aufführung In Berlin
Recorded 1983 / Released 1993

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"Splitting In Two" is an Alternative TV cover which with they traditionally ended shows. "Live In Toronto" was recorded in 1987 during their last tour, while "Live In Berlin" is from 1983, shortly before "Script of the Bridge" came out. As such, they are good bookends to their early career, and present different pictures of the band. "One Flesh" on "Live In Berlin" has completely different lyrics. "Singing Rule Brittania" is incorrectly listed on the label as "Singing BLUE Britannia

Less Than Human
Paper Tigers
Monkeyland
Thursday's Child
Second Skin
Pleasure And Pain
Singing Rule Britannia (While The Walls Close In)
Perfume Garden
One Flesh
In Shreds
Splitting In Two

The Chameleons / Dali's Picture
Released 1993

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Dali's Picture is the original demo album the band cut and sent out to various labels. "Dreams In Celluloid" is an early version of "Second Skin". Most of the material is lyrically different than later versions.

The Chameleons / Live Shreds
Released 1996

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It's recorded at the notorious downtown-Manchester dance club (and later "Acid House" palace) The Hacienda. Co-owned by Factory Records boss Tony Wilson and his label's marketplace heavyweight champions New Order, then as now one of the biggest (and hippest) bands in Britain. The place had a big buzz for kick-starting careers. For example, another obscure, unsigned Manchester area band also yet to make their first LP had the sense to gig there in 1983, namely The Smiths!

In such an obviously apropos atmosphere, this short concert predates the recording of Script of the Bridge in 1983; one can tell because "A Person Isn't Safe Anywhere These Days" is introduced as "Men of Steel," from the repeated words of the chorus. Likewise "Thursday's Child" appears here as "Years Ago," with some small differences in the original verses' lyrics. But even if one is not a rabid, frothing Chameleons fanatic/historian, likely to be roused by such ephemera, there can be no question that the little bits of boisterous brilliance are already slotted into place, the cornerstone of the formula that was to inspire endless worship.

Paper Tigers
Pleasure And Pain
Men Of Steel
Years Ago
In Shreds
Don't Fall
Second Skin
Up The Down Escalator
Monkeyland
As High As You Can Go
The Chameleons / Live at The Gallery Club Manchester
Recorded 1982 / Released 1996

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An early and rare recording of THE CHAMELEONS playing a gig at The Gallery Club, in their home town of Manchester on 18th December 1982. Includes performances of previously unavailable material.

Paper Tigers
Nathan's Phase
Don't Fall
Pleasure And Pain
Here Today
In Shreds
Up The Down Escalator
Second Skin
Monkeyland
As High As You Can Go
Things I Wish I'd Said
View from A Hill