The long-out-of-print album by The Sisterhood — the project born out of Andrew Eldritch’s feud with ex-Sisters of Mercy bandmates Wayne Hussey and Craig Adams — will be reissued on CD, cassette and vinyl for the first time in decades, and released digitally for the first time ever.
London-based Cadiz Music has announced the reissue is “coming soon” and is being produced in conjunction with Eldritch’s Merciful Release label, which first issued The Sisterhood’s album Gift in 1986.
The album — the only ever released by the short-lived side project — is being remastered from the original tapes, according to the label, and will be released in a limited-edition colored vinyl LP signed by Eldritch as well as a limited-edition digipack CD, cassette and digital download. No tracklist has been released and it’s not clear whether the five-song album will be supplemented with bonus material.
On Facebook, the label suggests the reissue will be released later this year or in early 2020, after Eldritch finishes his current tour with The Sisters of Mercy.
The Sisterhood dates back to failed attempts in late 1985 to record a second Sisters of Mercy album. When Hussey and Adams left the Sisters, they set out to tour on their own, playing music written for the second Sisters LP that Eldritch had rejected. They christened themselves The Sisterhood, immediately drawing Eldritch’s ire. “There was nothing I could do but be the Sisterhood before them — the only way to kill that name was to use it, then kill it,” Eldritch told the NME.
Eldritch raced to record a new single under the Sisterhood name, releasing “Giving Ground”– with James Ray on vocals, since Eldritch couldn’t contractually appear — on his Merciful Release label on the very same day that Hussey and Adams played their first gig.
By March, Hussey and Adams had changed their name to The Mission, but Eldritch continued plans to record an album by The Sisterhood, eventually releasing it in July 1986. Along the way, he’d considered recording “This Corrosion” as The Sisterhood, but decided to save the track for the second incarnation of The Sisters of Mercy he envisioned with Patricia Morrison on bass.
The Gift album was issued on CD for the first time in 1989 then reissued in 1994, but has been out of print on all formats — aside from bootleg repressings — since then, and has yet to debut digitally.
PREVIOUSLY ON SLICING UP EYEBALLS
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- Watch: The Sisters of Mercy play ‘Walk Away’ for first time in 32 years, cover Mission of Burma
- ‘120 Minutes’ Rewind: The Sisters of Mercy’s Andrew Eldritch talks ‘quality control’ — 1993
- The Sisters of Mercy’s ‘Some Girls Wander By Mistake’ to receive 4LP box set reissue
- Vintage Video: The Sisters of Mercy’s out-of-print Royal Albert Hall concert film ‘Wake’
- ‘120 Minutes’ Rewind: The Sisters of Mercy go under the ‘120 X-Ray’ in 1988
I still think this is a fantastic album
Purchased it when first released and still listen to it.
Agreed. Brilliant album.
Love this record, love the back story too. Totally Eldritch.
Absolutely love this album and have it on the original CD. Glad to hear it is going to be reissued soon.
Would like to see an official DVD of each and every promo video The Sisters Of Mercy have ever made in high definition wide screen 16:9 PAL ratio out as well.
Initially excited about getting this on wax. Checks record crate between FALAA and Floodland: “when the hell did I buy this on vinyl”?
Well, we are in July 2020 and up to now no reissue in the pipeline. Any news about It?? Someone please to answer it !!??
I am also checking in on this being the only copy I had was on a blank CD back in 2001. It is LONG gone. Would love the digital version please!
Still no News about this reissue? I can’t wait!
Have the original on CD…might be tempted with the vinyl release!!
Regardless of it’s history or original purpose, still a stand out album …sits next to the Sisters of Mercy collection in the rack!
Where is the damn reissue ? It’s may 2021.
Unfortunately this seems to be dead in the water
The wire says “6-8 weeks” today.
Time will tell.