1984’s Wonderful is not The Fall’s best album by any stretch. Being the Mancunians’ first for Beggars, however, it it’s encouraging to see it get the “omnibus” treatment from the label: a great signifier of things to come in what looks to be an exceptionally lavish series.
The eighth album helmed by Mark E Smith, Wonderful finds our hero enlisting John Leckie at the production desk, who brings a suitable murk to the likes of Copped It. Disc Two adds in non-album singles such as the excellently breezy Oh! Brother (and another version, O! Brother), as well as the Brix Smith-boasting CREEP (c.r.e.e.p. also appears!). “Vintage” Fall tracks such as Draygo’s Guilt are included (dating from the band’s earliest sessions), while there are 15 BBC tracks. Phew.
But the joy of this release – all for under £20 – is the love that’s gone into it, perhaps just ranking above the music itself. Four discs of outtakes, sessions, demos and live recordings are bolstered by a 48-page book, all in a tasty box. Let’s just hope This Nation’s Saving Grace is up next.
