Track Listing

Disc 1:

1. Prologue To History
2. 4 Ever Delayed
3. Sorrow 16
4. Judge Yr'self
5. Socialist Serenade
6. Donkeys
7. Comfort Comes
8. Mr Carbohydrate
9. Dead Trees And Traffic Islands
10. Horses Under Starlight
11. Sepia
12. Sculpture Of Man
13. Spectators Of Suicide
14. Democracy Coma
15. Strip It Down Live
16. Bored Out Of My Mind
17. Just A Kid
18. Close My Eyes
19. Valley Boy
20. We Her Majesty's Prisoners

Disc 2:

1. We Are All Bourgeois Now
2. Rock And Roll Music
3. It's So Easy (Live)
4. Take The Skinheads Bowling
5. Been A Son
6. Out Of Time
7. Raindrops Keep Fallin' On My Head (Warchild Version)
8. Bright Eyes (Live)
9. Train In Vain (Live)
10. Wrote For Luck
11. What's My Name (Live)
12. Velocity Girl
13. Can't Take My Eyes Off You
14. Didn't My Lord Deliver Daniel
15. Last Christmas (TFI Friday Performance)

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #26827 in Music
• Released on: 2003-07-14
• Number of discs: 2

Amazon.co.uk Review
Lipstick Traces, the Manic Street Preachers' unexpected collection of B-sides, rarities and covers, proves that in some cases you can judge a book by its cover. In this case, that cover is a gaudy leopard skin print with lipstick red titles--it surely couldn't be anybody else. It's almost a defiant (if overdue) gesture to critics and fans alike, as if attempting to compensate for the soulless hits collection that Forever Delayed brought. Here is the other side of that schizophrenic Manics beast--the urgent Bradfield delivery and razor-sharp lyrics. Here's what made everyone love them in the first place.

Lipstick Traces kicks off with the piano-driven, rocky, passionate "Prologue to History", which celebrates everything that is great about them in one song and proceeds to charge through no less than 19 other B-sides (including the previously unreleased "4 Ever Delayed"--anthemic and soaring--and the punky, edgy "Judge Yr'self"). Still, there's no "The Drowners" (The Holy Bible period once again overlooked) and a noticeable lack of "Patrick Bateman", but only the most sour-faced, die-hard fan could complain at what's on offer. The covers can be split equally into part fanboy tribute and part misguided whimsy--the Clash's "Train in Vain" (yes!), "Raindrops Keep Falling on My Head" (surely not)--but there's no escaping the fact that this is a quality package of 35 Manics tunes, most of which are pretty much essential. --Cortman Virtue

CD Description
The Manics follow 2002's greatest hits album 'Forever Delayed' with a B-sides collection. Features 20 B-sides and 14 cover versions including the previously unreleased track '4 Ever Delayed'.

Customer Reviews

A Prologue to History
This is a superb album, an excellent collection of b-sides which pretty much gives an good alternative history of Manic Street Preachers. There are some stunning tracks on the double album, the most notable for me being, Judge Yr'Self, Prologue To History and 4 Ever Delayed.

During a recent web chat Nicky Wire said he thought that Richey's favourite track might have been Donkeys - it is a beautiful song, as is Sepia which was written by Nicky about the loss he felt after Richey disappeared. Makes the hairs on the back of your neck stand up!

If you haven't already bought it and you're a Manics fan I recommend you get it NOW!! Forever Delayed was their "official" greatest hits album but this one is equally worthwhile and infinitely more entertaining.

Highly reccommended to any Manics fans
Over the last year I have become a true Manics fan, and this is a must for anyone who loves the Manics. Much better than there recent greatest hits, Forever Delayed, this Double CD has some excellent B-sides that it is suprising that they didnt end up as singles. My favourites include Prologue to History, Mr Carbohydrate and a different version of Spectators of Sucicde. The second CD is also excellent with some great cover versions from Nivarana to Guns and Roses, my favourites including Bright Eyes and Rain Drops Keep Falling on my Head. I would also recommend this to anyone with a passion for music, and anyone with an interest in the Manic Street Preachers.

The fan's compilation.
Forever Delayed was nice ofcourse, but this is wat a Manics fan really wants, now fans can throw their self burned compilations in the bin and enjoy this thorough collection of 35 unknown Manics tracks. The Manics have a vast collection of bsides and covers. The subtitle "secret history" is well deserved.

A lot of B-Sides are of A-side quality, but didn't make the album because it didn't fit musically or thematically. Songs like Prologue to history and Sepia are amongst some of their best songs and their only instrumental song "Horses under starlight" is also included (altough it contains some singing, no words are uttered)

New track "forever delayed" is a powerful rock anthem, altough a bit thin on the lyrics. It was recorded for release as a single to accompany their greatest hits album, but the powers that be released "There by the grace of god" instead.

the rare, never before released or played song "Judge Yourself" was record around '95 and is a very aggressive vile song. One of the last written by Richey and once intended for inclusion on the Judge Dredd soundtrack.

The second cd contains covers, recorded over their 15 year old carreer. Standout tracks are Train in Vain and Out Of Time.

This is a great compilation to get to know an unknown site of the Manic Street Preachers.

O, and don't judge a book by it's cover...or cd for that matter..