Loving all 3 of the ‘new’ tracks on first listen, Wicked Game cover is so good, I do love all the singles from this era though so not sure how it would have faired.

 

Disco Bunny is great, bit of a banger, I can’t imagine it on the original album, Baby When You Go would have been the best fit of the 3 I think to be on the original album.

 

Was expecting more from the electronic mix of I’ll Stand By You it’s not as different as I thought it would be, but still can’t complain!

Really looking Wicked Game. It’s great to finally be able to hear it.

Obsessed with Disco Bunny, what a chorus!

 

Wicked Game is very subtle, definitely think it would have struggled as a lead single, not that I dislike it. The production is very nice.

 

The Love Machine demo has definitely been released before as part of the singles boxset and on a Popjustice compilation. The bare bones are there but the lyrics don’t work. The final part is sonically interesting, some of those sound effects used remind me of the intro to Me Plus One by Annie, which was released the same year.

Edited March 8, 20241 yr by gooddelta

Gosh, between all the excitement of Kylie + Madonna and Ariana actually releasing a good album again I've only just got round to hearing all these! The gays have certainly been fed and watered today.

 

I’m delighted with these “new” songs :wub:

 

Baby When You Go is really, really lovely! I just wish that it had a middle 8 to flesh it out fully, it has a slight feeling of incompleteness. I’m not sure if it was them or Mania who recorded it first. Mania’s version apparently does have a middle 8. I’d take this song over History or Loving Is Easy any day. I think a fully completed version of this could have stood out in a good way had it been included on the original album.

 

Disco Bunny - it’s a banger! 💃🏻🪩🐇 It’s definitely my favourite of the three! Maybe it’s a bit rash to say this within an hour of hearing it but I already think it’s better than the B Sides we got from this era, and honestly maybe even some of the original album tracks. :o

 

It’s very surreal to hear Wicked Game, 19 years on from the tease of it being their new single. I actually really like it! Lush is a great word to describe it. The production and their vocals are very dreamy. However I do think the right call was made to not go ahead with it as a single. It is a bit one note throughout and I can’t really imagine it seeming like an exciting release from them in 2005. Although scrapping it altogether was pretty harsh :lol:! It worked out well in the end though. Girls Aloud having a mythical unreleased track that was almost a single was an interesting footnote in their career and increased the excitement to finally hear it.

 

I pretty much agree with all of this word for word! It's somewhat surreal we finally get to hear 'Wicked Game', especially as it was accepted the recording of it had been lost and nobody knew where it was!

 

Really thrown by the demo of 'Love Machine' basically being a different song entirely :/ :lol:

 

 

Wonder if any of these could do something on streaming? #JusticeForWickedGame

On the CD version, these remixes are shorter than they originally were:

 

The Show (Bang Bang Klub Vocal Mix) - 7:38 (originally 8:46)

The Show (Gravitas Club Mix) - 6:15 (originally 6:50)

 

Not sure why cuts have been made to these! The original full lengths are on the streaming/download versions of the album!

Different edits could help streams which may be the reason for this.

"Wicked Game" possesses a delicately nuanced quality, rendering it a somewhat understated choice for a lead single, though that in no way diminishes my appreciation for the track. The production exhibits an exquisite finesse and refinement.

On the CD version, these remixes are shorter than they originally were:

 

The Show (Bang Bang Klub Vocal Mix) - 7:38 (originally 8:46)

The Show (Gravitas Club Mix) - 6:15 (originally 6:50)

 

Not sure why cuts have been made to these! The original full lengths are on the streaming/download versions of the album!

 

Could it be to help them fit on to the cd?

 

I haven’t seen the running time, so this is just a guess. :)

Different edits could help streams which may be the reason for this.

Except the different edits aren't on streaming!

Billboard have written a little article about this reissue :cheeseblock: https://www.billboard.com/music/pop/girls-a...ing-1235629627/

Midweek #10! :D

I'm not going to lie I'm a bit disappointed with #10 I thought it would be higher than the new release by Bananarama which is at #6 and only just above Kylie who is at #11 with a vinyl release and no bonus tracks

No cheap CD will kill its release as I said. It will barely sell another copy rest of the week as people wont fork out 20 or 30 quid on a whim purchase.

I guess Bananarama have the edge because they're doing active promo, they've done hmv signings & TV appearances! Whereas for Girls Aloud it's essentially restricted to their social media.

 

I had hoped for a higher start than Sound of the Underground and ultimately for WWTNS to do better than it. So being a place lower in the midweeks isn't the most encouraging start for that being achieved. I guess all we can do is see what the rest of the week holds and hope that it can stay Top 40! :cry: Wish I could find out what WWTNS' sales are today but unfortunately I don't think I'll be able to. Maybe somebody might know on Popjustice if the question is asked there? :thinking:

I wondered if they had signed vinyls when they were all together last week that would easily secure few hundred more sales but get why wouldn't do it without Sarah

Edited March 11, 20241 yr by Willm

No cheap CD will kill its release as I said. It will barely sell another copy rest of the week as people wont fork out 20 or 30 quid on a whim purchase.

 

Again I do agree with this, will be interesting to see how it charts. I think SOTU could have gone top 30 even maybe top 20 if they had done the cheap CD and cassette alongside it.

Edited March 11, 20241 yr by spiceboy

Yes, most of the sales are probably already achieved apart from maybe a few late shipments and a handful of fans ordering this week.

I also agree that the price point is likely freezing out a more casual fan making a purchase. £23 on a CD and approaching £30 on a vinyl is quite a commitment!

 

It seems that Universal is completely driven by achieving purchases of highly priced items, and aren't so fussed about how that ends up being reflected in the UK chart :thinking: I mean the fact that they forged ahead with What Will the Neighbours Say? must indicate that Sound of the Underground reaching #42 with a little below 3,000 sales wasn't an offputting factor for them, to continue the Girls Aloud reissues project. So at the very least they must have been satisifed with the money that was generated!

 

It's a shame they're disregarding a cassette. Not that it would be a massive seller but even a few hundred would likely bump up the position a fair few places! 1 x CD format and 2 x Vinyl formats isn't pushing the boat out compared to some reissues.

I'm a bit disappointed as well, in the way that this re-release is far superior to the first one, and the original album itself is infinitely better than the first album. I also thought the "new" songs would make it all a lot more attractive. Get some tiktokers on board and make Wicked Game number 1 now.