Corduroy - Rare Stock

Acid Jazz Records have just released a Corduroy rarities album to coincide with an extensive U.K tour which the band are undertaking (the first in twenty years) to promote the groups most recent studio album, Return Of The Fabric Four.

Rare Stock is the compilation title and it is very interesting indeed, featuring previously unreleased material, 'lost' album tracks, shelved singles, demos, remixes and, incredibly, a recording of the band's very first rehearsal. ModSpeed got it's hands on a copy for review.

First off is Clockwork Man (Louder Faster Version), a heavy riffing, funk-pop radio-friendly number; part of a fourth album recording session for Acid Jazz that never saw the light of day at the time.

Man Alive is a protest song, catchy and smouldering with hints of trip-hop and virtuoso vocals.

Goober Grape, a mod jazz instrumental recorded to a reel to reel tape recorder in the bands living room during a band practise session, the groups first ever practise session, which sets the groovy template for the bands debut album DadManCat.

Summer In My Eye (Eddie Piller Remix) is a percussion heavy Latin re-tweak featuring Snowboy on all things with skins, by the Acid Jazz Record label boss; the original song features on the High Havoc album.

Finally Atlanta is another catchy and brooding song that spins a disturbing yarn about celebrity stalkers and fanatical fans. 

Mini (Ashley Beedle Remix), possibly Corduroy's most famous song, from the Out Of Here album, remixed for dance-floors.

The Mandelbrot Set is a psychedelic, nursery rhyme-esque, ditty about fractals, mathematics and creation; far out man.

Hikky Burr is a irresistibly funky version of the Quincy Jones number, again from the antiquated rehearsal tape that was played to Acid Jazz which secured the band their record deal; lo-fi and brilliant.

The Impossible Smile (Demo); a demo of a song for the bands fifth studio album Clik!, with slightly different lyrics and a lighter feel than the finished version.

Get Ron Carter is a short cool jazz influenced workout that didn't make it to an album release.

Very Yeah (Sing-Song Version); a version of the famous instrumental from High Havoc, with added vocals and scheduled to be a single; the single was subsequently shelved in favour of Motorhead.

E-Type (Demo), only on the CD version of the compilation, not on the vinyl, is the audio from the video E-Type that can be found on youtube.

All in all a very strong body of work.
Check them out live if you get the chance.