So, thought this needs a dedicated thread.
Tracklisting for the box set released by Finnish site Record Shop X. Wow! Full St Albans gig and other goodies.
https://www.recordshopx.com/artist/ultravox/vienna/#696774

Release date Sept 25. Seems a 2 LP version will be released also.

According to the Record Shop X website, the track-listing for the 40th Anniversary Deluxe Edition (5cd + dvd) of the Vienna album is as follows...

**

Disc 1
01. Astradyne
02. New Europeans
03. Private Lives
04. Passing Strangers
05. Sleepwalk
06. Mr. X
07. Western Promise
08. Vienna
09. All Stood Still

Disc 2
01. Astradyne (Steven Wilson Stereo Mix)
02. New Europeans (Steven Wilson Stereo Mix)
03. Private Lives (Steven Wilson Stereo Mix)
04. Passing Strangers (Steven Wilson Stereo Mix)
05. Sleepwalk (Steve Wilson Stereo Mix)
06. Mr. X (Steven Wilson Stereo Mix)
07. Western Promise (Steven Wilson Stereo Mix)
08. Vienna (Steven Wilson Stereo Mix)
09. All Stood Still (Steven Wilson Stereo Mix)
10. Waiting (Steven Wilson Stereo Mix)
11. Passionate Reply (Steven Wilson Stereo Mix)
12. Alles Klar (Steven Wilson Stereo Mix)
13. Herr X (Steven Wilson Stereo Mix)

Disc 3
01. Sleepwalk (Early Version)
02. Waiting
03. Face To Face (Live At St Albans - 16/08/80)
04. King’s Lead Hat (Live At The Lyceum - 17/08/80)
05. Vienna (Single Version)
06. Passionate Reply
07. Herr X
08. All Stood Still (Single Version)
09. Alles Klar
10. Keep Talking (Cassette Recording During Rehearsals)
11. All Stood Still (12” Version)
12. Sleepwalk (Recorded Live In Rehearsals At The Lyceum - 17/08/80)
13. All Stood Still (Recorded Live In Rehearsals At The Lyceum - 17/08/80)
14. Vienna (Live Video Version, St Albans City Hall - 16/08/80)
15. Sleepwalk (Live Video Version, St Albans City Hall - 16/08/80)

Disc 4
01. Astradyne (Cassette Rehearsal)
02. New Europeans (Instrumental - Cassette Rehearsal)
03. Private Lives (Instrumental - Cassette Rehearsal)
04. Passing Strangers (Instrumental 1 - Cassette Rehearsal)
05. Sleepwalk (Version 1 - Cassette Rehearsal)
06. Mr. X (Cassette Rehearsal)
07. Western Promise (Cassette Rehearsal)
08. Vienna (Cassette Rehearsal)
09. All Stood Still (Instrumental 1 - Cassette Rehearsal)
10. Sound On Sound (Cassette Rehearsal)
11. Animal (Cassette Rehearsal)
12. Sleepwalk (Version 2 - Cassette Rehearsal)
13. Sound On Sound (Instrumental - Cassette Rehearsal)
14. Passing Strangers (Instrumental 2 - Cassette Rehearsal)
15. All Stood Still (Instrumental 2 - Cassette Rehearsal)

Disc 5
01. Astradyne (Live In St Albans - 16/08/1980)
02. New Europeans (Live In St Albans - 16/08/1980)
03. Passing Strangers (Live In St Albans - 16/08/1980)
04. Quiet Men (Live In St Albans - 16/08/1980)
05. Face To Face (Live In St Albans - 16/08/1980)
06. Mr. X (Live In St Albans - 16/08/1980)
07. Western Promise (Live In St Albans - 16/08/1980)
08. Vienna (Live In St Albans - 16/08/1980)
09. Slow Motion (Live In St Albans - 16/08/1980)
10. Hiroshima Mon Amour (Live In St Albans - 16/08/1980)
11. All Stood Still (Live In St Albans - 16/08/1980)
12. Sleepwalk (Live In St Albans - 16/08/1980)
13. Private Lives (Live In St Albans - 16/08/1980)
14. King’s Lead Hat (Live In St Albans - 16/08/1980

Disc 6 [DVD]
01. Astradyne (5.1 Surround Mix)
02. New Europeans (5.1 Surround Mix)
03. Private Lives (5.1 Surround Mix)
04. Passing Strangers (5.1 Surround Mix)
05. Sleepwalk (5.1 Surround Mix)
06. Mr. X (5.1 Surround Mix)
07. Western Promise (5.1 Surround Mix)
08. Vienna (5.1 Surround Mix)
09. All Stood Still (5.1 Surround Mix)
10. Waiting (5.1 Surround Mix)
11. Passionate Reply (5.1 Surround Mix)
12. Herr X (5.1 Surround Mix)
13. Astradyne (Steven Wilson Stereo Mix)
14. New Europeans (Steven Wilson Stereo Mix)
15. Private Lives (Steven Wilson Stereo Mix)
16. Passing Strangers (Steven Wilson Stereo Mix)
17. Mr. X (Steven Wilson Stereo Mix)
18. Western Promise (Steven Wilson Stereo Mix)
19. Vienna (Steven Wilson Stereo Mix)
20. All Stood Still (Steven Wilson Stereo Mix)
21. Waiting (Steve Wilson Stereo Mix)
22. Passionate Reply (Steven Wilson Stereo Mix)
23. Herr X (Steven Wilson Stereo Mix)
24. Alles Klar (Steven Wilson Stereo Mix)

**

Rob

That'll do nicely, I hope the packaging isnt CDs forced into card slips though, please give us nice plastic inlays so the CDs don't get scratched each time they are taken out.

Very, very happy to see some rehearsal versions and a full live gig too.

Most record companies are trying to minimise the amount of plastic in their physical releases for obvious reasons - my own label being an example whereby we don't use plastic cases, trays, plastic wraps and source recycled elements for the packaging & distribution.

So far, it's not completely possible to avoid plastic in the case of the record or CD itself but jewel trays & cases are slowly becoming less common and, overall, I think that is for the better.

I absolutely hate when discs are shoved into cuts made in card/books.

My ideal for the best of both worlds would be like the Moments in eden set where there was a spindel the CD(s) could be put on so the disc wasn't directly touching the card, nice and easy to remove the disc without scratching it up.

90 songs!!!! WOW!!!! The boys are spoiling us!!!! I'm so excited!!! I cannot wait. I'm sure the box set is going to be organized nicely.

Personally don't need a 5.1 mix, since I don't have the equipment. But no complaints here. Of course, video of a full gig would have been nice, but as it doesn't seem to exist, not much to do about it.
A treat, really.

And it's official I guess:). Exclusive 4 LP version at Ultravox store. Phew....
https://ultravox.tmstor.es

Ordered the CD boxset from Amazon, very much looking forward to those extras.

Shame for me that the CD version omits the Vienna US edit version as thats a vinyl exclusive track. Also a shame for me again that Townsend aren't offering an exclusive art print on the CD box set as I would have bought from them otherwise (its exclusive to the vinyl boxset).

I will get the CD set of course. Now, as a vinyl guy I am tempted by the 4 LP set as well, but my wallet is crying already. I will definitely get the 2 LP set though.
My only small gripe is that I would have wanted the Wilson remix on vinyl also. Oh well, maybe for RSD 2021....

When Steven Wilson remixed/remastered "Nonsuch" by XTC, numerous cross fades were removed and the songs were all separate tracks. I am wondering if this is going to be the case with his mix of "Vienna".

Really looking forward to this, especially the live set.

It was the cause of much debate in Chrysalis HQ....only two months until you find out!

It's been bugging me so I thought I'd correct the DVD listing earlier in this thread: the Finnish website in their obvious desperation to break the terms of pre-announcement agreements didn't include all the info on the disc. For the purists amongst us every track is available in uncompressed 24/96 PCM. Which is nice.


Disc 6 [DVD]
01. Astradyne (5.1 Surround Mix) - 24bit/96khz PCM/DTS 96/24 5.1/DOLBY AC3 5.1
02. New Europeans (5.1 Surround Mix) - 24bit/96khz PCM/DTS 96/24 5.1/DOLBY AC3 5.1
03. Private Lives (5.1 Surround Mix) - 24bit/96khz PCM/DTS 96/24 5.1/DOLBY AC3 5.1
04. Passing Strangers (5.1 Surround Mix) - 24bit/96khz PCM/DTS 96/24 5.1/DOLBY AC3 5.1
05. Sleepwalk (5.1 Surround Mix) - 24bit/96khz PCM/DTS 96/24 5.1/DOLBY AC3 5.1
06. Mr. X (5.1 Surround Mix) - 24bit/96khz PCM/DTS 96/24 5.1/DOLBY AC3 5.1
07. Western Promise (5.1 Surround Mix) - 24bit/96khz PCM/DTS 96/24 5.1/DOLBY AC3 5.1
08. Vienna (5.1 Surround Mix) - 24bit/96khz PCM/DTS 96/24 5.1/DOLBY AC3 5.1
09. All Stood Still (5.1 Surround Mix) - 24bit/96khz PCM/DTS 96/24 5.1/DOLBY AC3 5.1
10. Waiting (5.1 Surround Mix) - 24bit/96khz PCM/DTS 96/24 5.1/DOLBY AC3 5.1
11. Passionate Reply (5.1 Surround Mix) - 24bit/96khz PCM/DTS 96/24 5.1/DOLBY AC3 5.1
12. Herr X (5.1 Surround Mix) - 24bit/96khz PCM/DTS 96/24 5.1/DOLBY AC3 5.1
13. Astradyne (Steven Wilson Stereo Mix) - 24bit/96khz PCM
14. New Europeans (Steven Wilson Stereo Mix) - 24bit/96khz PCM
15. Private Lives (Steven Wilson Stereo Mix) - 24bit/96khz PCM
16. Passing Strangers (Steven Wilson Stereo Mix) - 24bit/96khz PCM
17. Mr. X (Steven Wilson Stereo Mix) - 24bit/96khz PCM
18. Western Promise (Steven Wilson Stereo Mix) - 24bit/96khz PCM
19. Vienna (Steven Wilson Stereo Mix) - 24bit/96khz PCM
20. All Stood Still (Steven Wilson Stereo Mix) - 24bit/96khz PCM
21. Waiting (Steve Wilson Stereo Mix) - 24bit/96khz PCM
22. Passionate Reply (Steven Wilson Stereo Mix) - 24bit/96khz PCM
23. Herr X (Steven Wilson Stereo Mix) - 24bit/96khz PCM
24. Alles Klar (Steven Wilson Stereo Mix) - 24bit/96khz PCM
25. Astradyne (Original Stereo Mix) - 24bit/96khz PCM
26. New Europeans (Original Stereo Mix) - 24bit/96khz PCM
27. Private Lives (Original Stereo Mix) - 24bit/96khz PCM
28. Passing Strangers (Original Stereo Mix) - 24bit/96khz PCM
29. Mr. X (Original Stereo Mix) - 24bit/96khz PCM
30. Western Promise (Original Stereo Mix) - 24bit/96khz PCM
31. Vienna (Original Stereo Mix) - 24bit/96khz PCM
32. All Stood Still (Original Stereo Mix) - 24bit/96khz PCM
33. Waiting (Original Stereo Mix) - 24bit/96khz PCM
34. Passionate Reply (Original Stereo Mix) - 24bit/96khz PCM
35. Herr X (Original Stereo Mix) - 24bit/96khz PCM
36. Alles Klar (Original Stereo Mix) - 24bit/96khz PCM
37. Keep Talking (Original Stereo Mix) - 24bit/96khz PCM


Now that's a pretty darn decent DVD.

AWS

So, preordered the cd box set and the 2LP version. Could not justify the 4 LP set to my wallet...

Its sold out now so no looking back!

The Vienna deluxe CD box set seems to be averaging around £50 online.

I'm going for the CD/DVD boxset and have to say this looks a fantastic package and seems very good value too, especially when you compare to similar offerings from the Beatles, Paul McCartney, etc.

Chrysalis are doing a great job with the Ultravox catalogue (not to detract from the excellent work EMI did in collaboration with Extreme Voice) and I'm particularly excited to see the recent announcement on the EV newsletter that the label have started remastering the band's promo videos. I've long thought that the videos would have the potential to look better if newly transferred and edited from the original 16mm camera negatives (in a simlar way to how TV shows such as the Sweeney and The Professionals have been assembled for Bluray release).

Oh and fingers crossed for a deluxe 40th Anniversary of Rage In Eden in 2021, that really would be something!

videos remastered would be cool.

rage in eden is my least favorite album out of the classics, so pass on that.
would love quartet and lament though.

later
-1

They've remastered the Vienna live at St Albans video, looks really good. Wonder if they have anything else from that gig in the vaults? A whole show remastered would be amazing!

The only other track on film from the concert is Sleepwalk: both these tracks were released with the Very Best Of DVD in 2008 but these are new, restored from the original film, edits with new soundtracks from the St Albans disc(s) included in the 40th Anniversary edition.

The rest of the gig sounds superb too with highlights for me being Western Promise, Quiet Men & Kings Lead Hat.

Wonder whether they filmed the whole show though? It would seem a bit strange to send a crew down to the show and only film two songs? Here's hoping the rest exists somewhere.

Well I guess it's possible but if they did and if they kept it then god knows where it is.

5CD / DVD turned up today. Utterly fantastic package, and it's great to finally clear up my confusion over Sound On Sound, which was listed in Record Collector as the b-side of Passing Strangers. Turns out to be Face To Face with different lyrics.

I am particularly delighted to have decent versions of this line-up doing the three Foxx-era songs live, and Animals is unusual - could almost be a repurposed Rich Kids song. On first non-surround listening, the SW mix is heavier on the guitar and lighter on the synths. Crossfades intact!

Am planning a most enjoyable evening investigating further.

Lucky bugger, Amazon is sitting on my copy till next week according to the extimated delivery date

I got my cd boxset this morning and it is a stunning set. I love the way it's been packaged. I understand why people don't like the card wallets but I'm fine with them. The only problem I have now is choosing what to listen to first! I really do hope that Rage In Eden gets the same treatment next year. As much as love the Vienna album, Rage is a masterpiece.

Is that Amazon UK? They delivered mine today

Yeah I ordered with Amazon UK, it was showing as next week but luckily they have had a change of heart and delivered it today

Absolutely fantastic set this one. Booklet looks great and I like the fact the CD card sleeves are big enough so the CDs slide straight out with little resistance (no scratches with these wallets)

On first glance this set is even better in hand than I thought it would be. I sure hope this leads to the rest of the albums receiving a similar treatment in the future.

Only received the 2LP set. Will listen tomorrow. My local retailer did not get the box set. Have ordered it from another one that had it in stock. So will have to wait until next week then.....but glad to see these positive reviews. Worth waiting for...and +1 for getting Rage in Eden next year.

Listening to the tracks now. Excellent tracklisting, and its great
to have everything in one place.

I will be working on a review of the tracks.
(Except the 5.1, will leave that to the experts).

Great to see this product. Wonder if they will do more in the
future. (Although I dont' care much for rage in eden). But
would love one for Quartet, and Lament.

later
-1

I agree that the deluxe edition is beautifully presented. The 5.1 mix has a good balance of spacious sound, clear focus on vocals and instrumental solos, with plenty of surround effects. It enhances the listening experience for me. I'm just wondering how many times I've bought this album since my pocket-money cassette purchase in the early 80s

19 in my case but I know of people with plenty more.

I'm still after the Philippines LP pressing...

I’m absolutely loving this release.Especially the DVD DTS 5.1 mixes which go on a bit longer than before.Like finding buried treasure.If you don’t have a 5.1 setup you need to get one for the DVD.

Brian

Good spot Brian - the surround mixes and the Wilson mix are about 17-18 seconds longer in total than the original mix from memory. Outside of the project group I think you are the first person to comment on that.

Steven created the stereo versions first to make sure he got the right feel for the album and then constructed the surround from the same edits.

It is a great package, although personally I've never seen the need for new mixes in these sorts of releases, and can't hear any difference here.

Listening again has reminded me of an old question and raised a new one. Does anyone know what is sung through the vocoder throughout Western Promise? There's more than just the "Hai!" given in the printed lyrics.

And who plays the second guitar on Face To Face? It's live, so it can't be an overdub. I'm not sure it had ever occurred to me before, although something at the back of my head tells me I may have read somewhere in the past that it was Billy, and he seems the only possibility. Is that correct?

I've always been under the impression it's Billy based on something I saw once.

It is. I saw a picture once with him holding a guitar from a live performance around that time.

Also, King's Lead Hat has two basses: both Chris and Midge play bass. I believe Midge plays the guitar-like part, while Chris is doing the low end. There was a picture of this as well, but I can't find it anymore unfortunately.

It is Billy who´s playing the rythm guitar on Face to face. You probably saw it in this fantastic interview. It´s a shame that it never was finished. http://www.ultravox.org.uk/ImageFolio43_..._Print_v1.1.pdf

That's exactly where I read it - years ago and sometime more recently as work on this release started.

Yes, that must be where I read it too.

I've listened to all the material,
but have not written a review yet.

So far its been great.

I don't listen to surround sound,
but a review is here:
https://forums.stevehoffman.tv/threads/s...0#post-25198930

later
-1

Now, I like Steven Wilson, and have been followed his career ever since "The Sky Moves Sideways", so I was really looking forward to hearing his mix of Vienna.

I admit to slightly mixed feelings about it. I really do not like the two bass (C) Moog notes before the second chorus of "Vienna" at all. They simply do not fit. Ditto Billy's staccato solo synth coming in too early in "Passing Strangers", plus it disappears later in the solo. The end of "Vienna" comes too soon as well and the synth effects on the final chord disappear, like on the 7" version. I suppose he wanted to change the album slightly otherwise there is no point in remixing it, and I think he probably succeeded in doing so. In the end I suppose it is just personal taste, isn't it?

I do like the extra little effects in "Private Lives" plus the extended fadeouts, though, and it is definitely interesting to hear the different balance between the two violins in "Mr. X" and the extra parts in the solo of "Vienna". The slightly extended fadeouts in particular are the kind of thing a fan would do. Personally I would have liked the option of hearing Side Two without the crossfades as well.

The numerous positives outweigh my petty, picky negatives many fold and I am extremely happy overall, and the package as a whole is fantastic. I am particularly enjoying the live disc.

I think that's exactly the right approach in that you have to have some difference and it is a question of subjective, personal taste. There are people that love Steven's mixes, those that don't and those that are happy that there is a different interpretation.

When I first heard the mixes Steven had done I noticed the extra bass notes and thought that it was different but not jarring. Billy and Warren both had lots to say about the mixes across the project and were OK with it. From memory -and I could be wrong here - Billy did comment on those notes in particular but didn't have an issue.

Interesting what you say about the crossfades on side two (and also whether or not there should be a gap before New Europeans) were matters of debate at Chrysalis. My opinion was that they formed part of the integral structure of the album and so shouldn't be changed. Steven was asked to to do an 'up to date' mix of the album, not a new edit.

I think an alternative without crossfades, having been created, could have been put on the DVD, space permitting. It would be interesting to hear it.

I don't want to be seen as moaning, because a) it is personal choice, and b) it is still a superb release without it.

I've listened to it a lot over the years, and particularly over the last week or so, but today is the first time I've ever noticed there are two voices on the spoken parts of the verses in All Stood Still. (I'd always been aware there were two in the chorus.) One's obviously Warren, but I don't think they both are, as the other sounds like it's a slightly higher pitch, so it must be either Midge or Chris. The remasters also make it clearer that Warren is one of the spoken voices saying the title on Waiting.

In the sleeve notes, Midge says although they were always seen as a synth band, he thinks they sound more like a rock band here. While that might be arguable for Passing Strangers and maybe Astradyne, Mr X very much is a synth track while Vienna is classical; but I'd say everything else (even Sleepwalk) has its roots in the band's punk/new wave past.

Super deluxe edition of Vienna unboxing:



https://www.superdeluxeedition.com/video/ultravoxs-40th-anniversary-of-vienna-unboxing-video/

later
-1

postpunkmonks review part 1:

https://postpunkmonk.com/2020/10/19/vien...chstone-part-1/


part 2:
https://postpunkmonk.com/2020/10/20/vien...chstone-part-2/


later
-1

Not taken as a moan but, I bet, if we had included the non-crossfade versions there would be plenty of people saying "What a waste of space!"

Can't please all the people, all the time.

Probably true, mate.

Just to chime in and say that yes, this is an awesome set. Love the live concert, great versions of the Foxx era songs. Also, had never picked up on that there are two guitars on Face to Face, let alone two basses on Kings Lead Hat. Interesting Midge song Animals on the rehearsal disc. Sounds like a possible Rich Kids outtake to me. Would love to get. Rage in Eden set next year. Hope this has sold well.