Too Late To Stop Now

At last the compilation we’ve been threatening for some time now; 40 tracks from the beginning to the present and future. From the beginnings in the Kampus Arcadia Cork with the live recordings of Nun Attax, Micro Disney, Mean Features and Urban Blitz, through the early years with The Blades, Aslan, Big Self and others and through the noughties with The Radio, Saville, Paul Cleary, David Hopkins, Perry Blake, Sweet Jane, and more, - its been a long and winding road as the song goes. If it had been down to sales we should have stopped a long time ago, and now with the changed and changing landscape of the music business who knows where Reekus will be heading. We are currently in the studio recording Sweet Jane’s second album with which we have very high hopes and there are a few other projects in the works. Just maybe ........

The double album includes 20 tracks from the early years available on cd for the first time including some unreleased Blades and Micro Disney tracks and 20 tracks from the more recent years.

Here are some much appreciated words from Niall Stokes who started Hot Press at much the same time as we started the Downtown Kampus in Cork.

Independent record labels are crucial to any music scene – and in many respects Reekus Records has been the outstanding independent label in Ireland over the past 3o years. It is extraordinary to look back at the roll-call of great artists that the label has incubated and supported at different times – including The Blades, Big Self, Nun Attax, Micro Disney, Aslan, The Moondogs, Perry Blake, Saville & David Hopkins, among them, as well as recent contenders like Saccade and Sweet Jane, among others.

Running an independent label is a labour of love – and in that respect no one has shown a more genuine and enduring love for the music than the label founder, driving force and inspiration, Elvera Butler. Irish music owes her a huge debt of gratitude – and the release of this 2 CD ‘Best Of’ celebrating 3o years on the road for Reekus is as good a time as any to repay it.

Here’s to another 3o years!

The double album will be available for purchase from the 12th December at €15.99 from the website and from record shops on the 16th December

Track Listings

CD1

Downmarket – The Blades 1983 Windmill Lane Produced by Bill Whelan
Stand By Me Now – Paul Cleary 1985 Windmill Lane B side to Those Were The Days
Sadlands – The Blades 1985 B side to Last Man In Europe
Truth Don’t Hurt – The Blades 1986 B side rereleased Downmarket
Building A Wasteland – Paul Cleary 1983 Unreleased
Stumble Into Love – Paul Cleary 1983 Unreleased
Surprise Surprise – Big Self 1981
Don’t Turn Around – Big Self 1982 Windmill Lane Produced by Paul Thomas
Reason Smiles – Big Self 1984 Windmill Lane Produced by Richard Mainwaring/John Porter
This Is – Aslan 1986 The Lab Produced by Chris O’Brien
Please Don’t Stop – Aslan B side
Been So Long – Aslan B side 12”
D’You Read My Letter – Some Kind Of Wonderful 1982 Windmill Lane Produced by Steve Lillywhite
Victory – Micro Disney 1981 Windmill Lane
12 Novembers – Micro Disney 1981 Windmill Lane
Eyeballs – Nun Attax 1980 Live recording Downtown Kampus Cork
Human Voices – The Camino Organisation 1982
African Flower – Nigel Rolfe 1986 Windmill Lane Produced by Frances Usmar & Nigel Rolfe
Who Will Stop The Rain – Montage 1987 Windmill Lane Produced by Pat Donne
Dancing Without You – Barry Warner 1986 Windmill Lane Produced by Pat Donne

CD2

The Queen of Indecision – Paul Cleary 2002 From the album Crooked Town. Produced by Paul Cleary
Remember Me Remember You – The Radio 2004 From the album Kindness. Produced by Liam Mulvaney/Stephen Murray
Close Your Eyes – Sweet Jane 2010 Sugar For My Soul. Produced by Liam Mulvaney
Whatever Gets You Through Today – The Radio 2004 From the album Kindness. Produced by Liam Mulvaney/Stephen Murray
See How They Fly – Saccade 2011 From the album Force Of Habit. Produced by Steo Farrell/Saccade
No Job No Money – Deetrich Produced by Leo Pearson
Gemini – Perry Blake 2007 From the album Canyon Songs. Produced by Perry Blake/Toby Pitman
You Love Silent Films – Keith Moss Produced by Marc Aubele
Happy – Mocrac feat. Cathy Davey 2007 From the album Mocrac. Produced by Liam Mulvaney
Easy As It Flows – Carosel 2008 From the album Kaleidoscope. Produced by Ken McHugh
What’s On My Mind – Saville 2003 From the album Somnambular Ballads. Produced by Saville/Andy Colbert
So Beautiful – The Moondogs 2003 From the album Red Fish. Produced by Gerry McCandless
Blue Sunday – The Vandebilts
A Day Like Today – Sundrive 2007 From the album Still Here. Produced by Mick McDonnell and Steve Cranley
I Can’t Speak Your Name – David Hopkins 2005 From the album Amber & Green. Produced by Damien Rasmussen/David Hopkins
Blinding Lights – Eva Queen 2008.
Plan B – Myp Et Jeep 2009 From the album Blood Is Not Enough. Produced by Leo Pearson
Helicopters – SuperJimenez 2006 Produced by Liam Mulvaney/SuperJimenez
When The Sun Hits Your Eyes – The Rumours 2008 Produced by The Rumours/Liam Mulvaney
Sometimes – Reemo 2009 From the album Colours. Mastered by Fergal Davis