Titanic Days (RSD 24)

To mark Record Store Day 2024 Universal Music Recordings are making Kirsty MacColl’s 1994 album ‘Titanic Days’ available as an LP for the very first time, on limited edition green vinyl.

Originally released on CD in the US and Australia at the tail end of 1993, Kirsty’s fourth studio album made its UK debut on Trevor Horn’s ZTT label the following February. According to the excellent kirstymaccoll.com website a catalogue number was allocated for a vinyl version but it never saw the light of day.

Depending on her mood, Kirsty would describe ‘Titanic Days’ as either her “sad divorce album” or “a fantastic record”, and whilst there are obvious signs of poignancy in the sharp-as-ever lyrics, her second more upbeat view reflects a collection of skilfully crafted songs that have stood the test of time.

Seven of the twelve tracks were written by Kirsty with Mark E. Nevin, then recovering from “the rollercoaster ride that is pop success” – his band Fairground Attraction had a No. 1 single in May 1988, though by the time he renewed his friendship with Kirsty (they had worked together on her 1983 single ‘Terry’) he was without a record label. In typical Kirsty style she christened their group ‘The Paddle’ – as in “up the creek without…”. One of the songs they wrote together was the title track, released as a single in the US, while ‘Can’t Stop Killing You’, a collaboration with Johnny Marr, got a US and Australia release. UK singles buyers were treated to the wonderful ‘Angel’, which featured cover artwork by Kirsty’s friend Holly Johnson, and a remix by Apollo 440, among others.

Further highlights include the fan favourite ‘Soho Square’ – its touching lyric “One day I’ll be waiting there / No empty bench in Soho Square” provided the inspiration for a memorial bench placed at the London landmark in 2001, which now provides a rallying point for fans to gather each year on the Sunday closest to Kirsty’s birthday, the 10th October.

Additional personnel on ‘Titanic Days’ include guitarist Pete Glenister (who has worked with Terence Trent D’Arby, Alison Moyet and ABBA’s Anni-Frid Lyngstad) drummer Dave Ruffy (a founder member of The Ruts, who later worked with Sinéad O’Connor, Aztec Camera and Dexys), and bass player Gary Tibbs (one time member of Roxy Music, after which he joined Adam And The Ants).