“Blur Present The Special Collectors Edition” will be released on vinyl for the first time ever. Originally released in 1994, as a Japan-only CD, The Special Collectors Edition is a 2LP set pressed on colored vinyl, featuring a collection of B-sides from singles across the band’s first three studio albums – “Leisure”, “Modern Life Is Rubbish“, and “Parklife“.
This b-sides collection was originally only available on CD in Japan ca. 1994 and, much like the remix comp “Bustin’ + Dronin’ that was reissued on wax last year, it was ripe for a wider release for RSD. And much like the Pogues record discussed in this column, this set unlocks the secret greatness of Blur that was hidden away on their many singles.
Plenty of material on this double LP set, like “Inertia,” “Hanging Over,” “Got Yer” and “Luminous” could have easily made the cut of the albums that the quartet were making at the time. I also have to commend Parlophone for how they presented this re-release. They lovingly recreate the silly booklet offering up very British collectibles like a porcelain Henry VII figurine and pressed the music on gorgeous translucent blue vinyl — a colour worthy of the sky or Walter White’s meth.
One of Blur’s choicest rarities, “Blur Present The Special Collectors Edition” was originally released on CD in Japan only, in 1994. Consisting of the B-sides from the Britpop heroes’ singles , it features fan favourites such as “Badgeman Brown and When The Cows Come Home”, and concludes with an a cappella version of “Bank Holiday“, performed in tribute by the band’s fans at Narita Airport in Tokyo. It finally makes its vinyl debut for Record Store Day 2023, in a two-disc edition on blue wax.
The Fat Angel Sings 