Defunct industrial heavyweight Ministry continues to roll out fresh product, despite having called it quits two years ago. Next up: Every Day is Halloween: The Anthology, a 12-track compilation that appears to mix some of the band’s best-known singles with new covers of classic songs by AC/DC, Jimi Hendrix, The Rolling Stones — and Amy Winehouse?
The disc is due out Oct. 5 on Cleopatra Records, yet aside from listing the title on its site, the label hasn’t formally announced the set, nor has Ministry mastermind Al Jourgensen. In fact, the comp may actually be called Every Day is Halloween: Greatest Tricks, based on the alternate artwork displayed by Amazon.com.
According to a tracklist posted at AllMusic.com and Billboard.com, the disc opens with some of Ministry’s biggest hits: “Every Day is Halloween,” “N.W.O.,” “Jesus Built My Hot Rod” and “Stigmata.” The Billboard tracklist labels “Every Day is Halloween” as the “2010 Hard Version,” which presumably is the version that, a reader points out, Amazon already is selling here — a mix that sounds like it might feature new vocals from Jourgensen
To further confuse matters, electro/industrial artist Razed in Black posted his own new mix of “Every Day is Halloween” on Facebook recently, labeling it as “upcoming on Cleopatra Records,” and writing, “The other remixes from other artists for this track are aggressive and much faster than the original” (hear a 30-second sample here).
The disc then segues into what presumably are covers of classic tunes by Ted Nugent (“Stranglehold”), ZZ Top (“Sharp Dressed Man”) and Black Sabbath (“Iron Man”), among others (see full tracklist below). There’s also, somewhat inexplicably, an appearance by Ministry’s “Khyber Pass,” off 2006’s Rio Grande Blood, plus a song called “Rehab” — which very well could be a cover of Winehouse’s boozy 2006 hit.
Of those covers, one of them, “Thunderstruck,” was released this summer as an iTunes single off the Hell’s Bells: A Salute to AC/DC album. It’s unclear whether Jourgensen recorded the new covers recently, or whether they’re leftovers from the sessions that led to 2008’s Cover Up, an album credited to Ministry and Co-Conspirators.
See full tracklist for Ministry’s ‘Every Day is Halloween’ after the jump…
Tracklist: Ministry, Every Day is Halloween: The Anthology
1. “Every Day is Halloween” (2010 Hard Mix)
2. “N.W.O.”
3. “Jesus Built My Hotrod”
4. “Stigmata”
5. “Stranglehold”
6. “Khyber Pass”
7. “Iron Man”
8. “Thunderstruck”
9. “Purple Haze”
10. “Sharp Dressed Man”
11. “Rehab”
12. “Paint It Black”
PREVIOUSLY ON SLICING UP EYEBALLS
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- Ministry’s Al Jourgensen, Gary Numan sing early-’80s soda pop jingles
- Video: Ministry’s Al Jourgensen sings ‘It’s Always Christmas Time’ for Paul Raven
- Ministry’s Al Jourgensen records Christmas song in memory of Paul Raven
- Ex-Ministry frontman Al Jourgensen threatens to make ’80s synthpop album
- Revolting Cocks map first headlining tour in 20 years — but without Al Jourgensen
Everything went downhill after Paul Barker left.
Cleopatra Records is an awful label. Just check their catalog, really bad cover bands, and they have the gall to release cds by that have “re-recorded versions” !
Ugh…I can’t believe they’re still around…
This is a real “garage sale” mix of tracks here. It feels pretty random.
When is Hypo Luxa going to finally reissue his early work that is way overdue for remaster (LOR&H, MIATTTT)?
Sad.
Sandy Denny was one of the great female songwriters of the 1970`s in England – perhaps the greatest. Sadly Sandy died from a fatal fall from her stairs in 1978. All her records are filled with atmosphere and great songs. It must have been a very hard job to try and cover her recording career on only 2 CD`s. But I really think this collection does it very well.Even the title of this collection covers the weary mood that always can be felt in Denny`s songs; even in her most up-beat moments.There are no songs included from her short time with the Strawbs, but beginning with Sandy`s song “Fotheringay” from the 2nd “Fairport Convention” album the songs come chronologically.”Fotheringay” would later give name to Sandy`s own band, which she formed in 1969 with Pat Donaldson, Gerry Conway, Jerry Donahue and Trevor Lucas, who would later be her husband.From “Unhalfbricking” comes “Who Knows Where The Time Goes” – one of her most moving songs.From the classic folk-rock album “Liege and Lief”, an album dominated by Sandy`s unique voice, come two great Richard Thompson songs, “Crazy Man Michael” and “Farewell Farewell”. Good to see “Farewell Farewell” here, a song which has often been overlooked. The rare outtake “Ballad of Easy Rider” is good and interesting. Personally I think “The Deserter” would have been a nice inclusion. It was the song that turned me on to Sandy`s voice and music.Sandy left Fairport Convention in 1969 to start her new band “Fotheringay”. Their only record is represented here by 4 songs. 3 of Sandy`s own compositions and the traditional “Banks of the Nile”. Sandy`s songs are great, especially “The Pond and the Stream”, but I would have replaced the 8 minutes long “Banks of the Nile” with a couple of songs from the never released 2nd Fotheringay album; for instance “Gypsy Davey” or the Fotheringay version of “Late November”. Both these songs can be found on the box-set “Who Knows Where the Time Goes”.Sandy began her solo career with the terrific album “The North Star Grassman and the Ravens”. Most of the songs from that album would have been worthy of being selected for a compilation like this. “Late November”, “Next Time Around”, “John the Gun” and the title tracks are all well-chosen. The music on the album not much ulike the Fotheringay style, no surprice since the musicians a practically Fotheringay supported by friends like Richard Thompson, whose distinctive guitar style can be heard on all tracks, and Ian Whiteman.In 1971-1972 Sandy and her Fairport/Fotheringay friends recorded an album of 1950`s favourites; I assume just for fun. But it turned out the be a great album and I think it sold pretty well. The album was called “The Bunch” and Sandy`s two best permonces on that album are inluded here. Buddy Holly`s “Learning the Game” and the Everly Brothers` “When Will I Be Loved” – a great duet with Linda Peters (Thompson).Sandy recorded two songs for a film soundtrack called “Pass of Arms” which were also released as a single. The songs are unlike Sandy`s usual style – written by Elford/Fraser – they`re interesting, but not very good. Included here for collectors.From Sandy`s 2nd album “Sandy” there are 5 songs. All great, but I think the acapella version of Richard Farina`s “Quiet Joys of Brotherhood” is too special to be included here. I would have chosen the beautiful “Sweet Rosemary” instead.From “Like an Old Fashioned Waltz” there are also 5 songs included. All good choices; here “Solo” and “Friends” are the standout songs.Sandy rejoined Fairport Convention after that album. She did one studio-abum and a live album with them this time. I was fortunate to see them here in Denmark a couple of times: they were great and really big time at that point. Swarbrick, Mattacks, Donahue, Pegg, Lucas and of course Sandy – terrific.Here are included two demos for the Fairport Convention album “Rising for the Moon”. Both very strong. “Stranger to Himself” and “One More Chance”, both highlights on the Fairport album which also includes classics like “White Dress” and “What is True”; and of course the glorious title track. If you want these songs go for the original Fairport Convention album.Sandy recorded only one more solo-album “Rendezvous” which was released in 1977, some of the best songs from that album are included here. “One Way Donkey Ride” and “I Am a Dreamer” are standouts.This CD is highly recommendable!