Wire’s first three albums need no introduction. They are the three classic
albums on which Wire’s reputation is based. Moreover, they are the recordings
that minted the post-punk form. This was adopted by other bands, but Wire were
there first. These are the definitive
re-releases. Each album is presented as an 80-page hardback book – the size
of a 7-inch, but obviously much thicker. After a special introduction by Jon
Savage, Graham Duff provides insight into each track. These texts include
recording details, brand-new interviews with band members, and lyrics. The
original album is presented on its own CD, accompanied by discs that feature
relevant extra tracks: singles; B-sides; demos; and many previously unreleased
songs. Pink Flag is a two-CD set; Chairs Missing and 154 have three CDs each.
All audio has been painstakingly remastered (or, in some cases, mastered for the
first time). This stunning set of presentations also includes a range of images
from the archive of Annette Green. Wire’s official photographer during this
period, Green also shot the covers for Pink Flag and Chairs Missing. Promotional
and informal imagery – in colour and black and white – is featured
throughout the books. Most of the photo- graphs have not been seen for
40 years – and many have never been published anywhere before. These special
editions are something every Wire fan will want to own. It has been a number of
years since these albums were readily available. The aim with these new vinyl
and CD releases is to approximate the original statements as closely as
possible, but with remastered audio. The vinyl releases have the same covers and
inners as the originals (minus the Harvest logo). The digipack CDs have
identical tracklistings to their vinyl counterparts. These versions should be
considered Wire’s classic 1970s albums, pure and undilute