Track Listing

Disc 1:

1. Pure
2. Jigsaw Feeling
3. Overground
4. Carcass
5. Helter Skelter
6. Mirage
7. Metal Postcard
8. Nicotine Stain
9. Suburban Relapse
10. Switch

Disc 2:

1. Make Up To Break Up (Riverside Session)
2. Love In A Void (Peel Session 1)
3. Mirage (Peel Session 1)
4. Metal (Peel Session 1)
5. Suburban Relapse (Peel Session 1)
6. Hong Kong Garden Peel Session 2)
7. Overground (Peel Session 2)
8. Carcass (Peel Session 2)
9. Helter Skelter (Peel Session 2)
10. Metal Postcard (Pathway Session)
11. Suburban Relapse (Pathway Session)
12. Staircase Mystery (Pathway Session)
13. Mirage (Pathway Session)
14. Nicotine Stain (Pathway Session)
15. Hong Kong Garden (7" Single Version)
16. Staircase Mystery (7" Single Version)

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #12140 in Music
• Released on: 2005-10-03
• Number of discs: 2
• Formats: Box set, Extra tracks, Original recording remastered
• Dimensions: .36 pounds
• Running time: 91 minutes

CD Description
Despite evolving from a group of Sex Pistols fans, SiouxsieAnd The Banshees eschewed the cliches of punk, offering instead an austere and bleak music. Bassist Steve Severin and drummer Kenny Morris provide simple, Teutonic-style patterns over which Siouxsie Sioux wails in the manner of former Velvet Underground chanteuse Nico. Unremitting original songs are joined by a version of the Beatles' 'Helter Skelter', which the Banshees interpret with the full knowledge of its inspiration for murderer Charles Manson. The Scream is an apt title for such desolate music.

Customer Reviews

Siouxsie Remastered
For those of us Siouxsie-philes eager for remastered Banshees albums the wait is over with the release of this splendid deluxe edition of the classic debut album. The sound certainly brings out the magnificent rhythmn section of the original band, especially the drums which was an important element in the Banshees early recordings; just listen to "Mittageisen", "Switch" and "Jigsaw Feeling". The bonus disc is the one which Banshees fans have been waiting for and it doesn't disappoint as it includes early live favourite and previously unreleased "Make Up To Break Up", and the Peel Session(and better) version of "Love In A Void" It's great to hear the early versions of Banshees songs which have an edge which the official versions lack. Included here are two John Peel sessions which are absolutely indispensable. Hong Kong Garden is particularly worthwhile since it is a restrained and rougher version compared to the official release. Also included are four early demos of The Scream album recorded at Pathway studios. These aren't as good as the Peel sessions, the sound is too muddy, but what is of interest is an early version of the single "The Staircase Mystery" which, sound apart, is certainly a rockier take than the lacklustre single release. The bonus disc is really a must have for any Banshees afficianado and fills in the gap between early contract-less Banshees and what was to become their first album proper. Also included are the original singles versions of "Hong Kong Garden" and "The Staircase Mystery." As for the main album itself, it still sounds exceptional and "Mirage" remains one of the great Siouxsie songs, and one in which the bridge between punk and pop was crossed. The Scream still has punk credentials in tracks like "Carcass" and "Nicotine Stain" but it's also clear that the Banshees had tired of the formula and were keen to explore other musical landscapes. Listen to the six minutes of "Switch" which has more in common with the Velvets than the Pistols, and "Suburban Relapse" a response and natural successor to Roxy's "In Every Dream home A Heartache." This album is a perfect soundtrack to J.G.Ballard novels and to a late 70s Britain in the grip of an economic recession and a huge cultural shift. Post Punk and Industrial music began with The Scream; it's an important album.

Still magnificent, but an opportunity missed ?
Aah...this conjures up the great night when John Peel played "The Scream" in its entirely, and shocked those of us who had only just heard the "Hong Kong Garden" with a mighty "What was THAT !!!". However by the time virtually all of "The Scream" appeared in that year's Festive Fifty we had been bent forever to Siouxsie's iron will. This album was the first of many to teach me that sometimes you may not like or understand an album first time, but that sometimes it is you that must change.

I bought the single disc version just there, not knowing about this 2-CD set was on the way. Does the "The Scream" still cut it ? Oh yes...surprisingly fresh and young-sounding and it can still roar. Not everything works, but its best things. "Jigsaw Feeling", "Mirage" and the Banshees take on "Helter Skelter" are still the dogs'.

However, this "Deluxe" edition has missed the odd trick.
It is great to have the Peel Sessions out there again, reminding us of when The Banshees were the most famous unsigned band in the UK way into 1978. But where is the German version of "Mittageisen", even fiercer than the English version, and "Voices", the flip of "Hong Kong Garden", fondly remembered by me for completely baffling my friends, let alone my parents, and much beloved of pub landlords who would keep it on their jukeboxes for years afterwards in order to drive out the punters at closing time. Though they made some great things in later years, especially the singles, they never matched the power of this.

Will I be rushing to buy this set, despite this? Just try and stop me.. Hopefully the liner notes will tell us what became of John McKay and Kenny Morris, who walked out the band after a fight in Aberdeen, never to be seen again...

Fantastic.....
When I reviewed the original album I said it was 'perfect' and thankfully they hadn't added anything cos how can you improve on perfection? Well the great thing about this is they HAVEN'T messed around with the original, just added a disc with the superb Peel sessions. Genius! :o) Im a very happy man! I agree with the reviewer above though, 'Voices' would have made this complete....... shame.