the 'missing' second album
In the sleeve notes to the first CD edition of A Can of Bees, Robyn revealed fascinating information on the group's never-released "second album". To be clear on the chronology, the group's recording projects during this period were, in order,
Based on this chronology, and the fact that the Invisible Hits sessions were not strictly for a specific album release at the time, we can speculate that this missing second album was recorded over the second half of 1978. To what extent it was conceived as a cohesive set (an album in the making) is unclear, but thanks to Hitchcock's notes, we know the basic contents, even if most of the tracks are otherwise undocumented:
Of these compositions, only three seem to have ever made it to disc, with one more available on bootleg (the rest being otherwise unknown):
Hitchcock's recollections on the original recordings are reproduced below:
- The unreleased Radar album (Jul 1978)
- A Can of Bees (Aug-Sep 1978)
- The unreleased second album
- Sessions which later became Invisible Hits (Late 1978-June 1979)
Based on this chronology, and the fact that the Invisible Hits sessions were not strictly for a specific album release at the time, we can speculate that this missing second album was recorded over the second half of 1978. To what extent it was conceived as a cohesive set (an album in the making) is unclear, but thanks to Hitchcock's notes, we know the basic contents, even if most of the tracks are otherwise undocumented:
- God Of Beaks
- I Wanna Go Backwards
- Moan
- Arabian Takeaway
- Beautiful Scream
- Jerry Scud, Hoof-Lips
- Reasons For Parking
- The Great Crustaceans
- Lobsterman
- Bonde M’Teko Stomp
- So You Think You’re In Love
- The ‘D’ Song
Of these compositions, only three seem to have ever made it to disc, with one more available on bootleg (the rest being otherwise unknown):
- "I Wanna Go Backwards" was included on the outtakes compilation, While Thatcher Mauled Britain (2007) in a version made in 1990. (It also gave its name to the box set the compilation was housed in.)
- "So You Think You're In Love" is known via a remake for Perspex Island (1991), assuming it to be the same song.
- "The 'D' Song" was included on Underwater Moonlight ... and How it Got There in 2001, under the title, "Goodbye Maurice or Steve".
- "Lobsterman" seems to have been demoed for Perspex Island (alongside "So You Think You're In Love") but didn't make the cut. The demo has subsequently leaked.
Hitchcock's recollections on the original recordings are reproduced below: