Never a bad time to wade through psych-folk hero Robyn Hitchcock’s back catalogue, but Yep Roc’s making it so there’s never been a better time, releasing a box set of three of Hitchcock’s finest ’80s LPs (Black Snake Diamond Role, I Often Dream Of Trains, and Eye, alongside previously unreleased gems from the archives (which has been titled, excellently, While Thatcher Mauled Britain Part 1 & 2). Robyn’s calling the reissue I Wanna Go Backwards, which also happens to be the title of the sweet ‘n’ snotty, trebly melodic rarity from the set that we’ve got for ya below. Actually, “I Wanna Go Backwards” was never completed; just a slightly fuzzed guitar and a few harmonizing Hitchcocks. But even then, what more could you ask for?
I Wanna Go Backwards is out in CD or eight-vinyl format on 10/16 via Yep Roc. If you don’t care for the rarities and just want the enhanced versions of the ’80s albums included in Backwards, you buy ‘em separately on that day, too — but after “I Wanna Go Backwards,” can’t imagine many of you would pass up getting Mauled.
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That is fantastic news! Thanks for the heads up!
Thank you so much for posting the mp3. The song is amazing. I am definitely in for the boxed set when it appears.
Yep Roc = very cool record label.
FWIW, ‘Eye’ actually missed the 80s by a year.
For what it’s worth, Eye was released in early 1990, but was RECORDED entirely during the 80′s…
Long time reader, first-time commenter:
GREAT NEWS!!!
-t
And stay tuned in ’08 …
ALL of the Egyptians stuff will be reissued/repackaged (with outtakes too).
I call bullshit. I don’t know why Robyn is trying to pass this off as a lost, never-completed Soft Boys song circa 1978. To my ears, it sounds like it was recorded *much* more recently.
Robyn’s releasing a collection of recent outtakes and rarities on Sartorial records at the end of the year. So if this song was recorded recently, why wouldnt he put it on that?
dont be an arse.
cool song though, nice harmonies.
From Robyn:
“The recordings span 1980 – 1990. ‘I Wanna Go Backwards’ originates as a title from 1978, but I wrote the song in 1990, I believe.”
OK, well 1980 is hardly “*much* more recently”.
nice song anyway, guitar riff is good.
oh and i forgot to say thanks for clearing that up. much appreciated.
Don’t be an arse? How about “Learn how to fucking read, Laura”?
1990 is indeed much more recent than 1978. Twelve years more recent, to be exact.
*pats Laura on the head*
Ah, the beauty of message boards. An excuse to be an anonymous douche to complete strangers. Let’s all hold hands and celebrate the genius of Robyn Hitchcock, no matter what freaking year!