Item is new, mint and sealed Billy MacKenzie and Alan Rankine formed The Associates in Dundee, Scotland, in 1976. They released a self-funded 7" of Boys Keep Swinging mere weeks after David Bowie had released his original. This scam got them a publishing deal with Bowie's publishers and a proper record deal. By 1980 they were touring with The Cure and signed to Fiction Records, for whom they recorded The Affectionate Punch. At the turn of the year they relocated to Situation Two and put out a string of singles, later compiled on the album Fourth Drawer Down, recorded using money from major labels who were expecting demos to be produced with their cash. In tandem with their increasing consumption of cocaine and speed, the group's music became increasingly deranged and experimental. John Murphy and Michael Dempsey (ex-The Cure) became official members. The Associates signed with WEA in 1982. Martha Ladly joined as back-up singer. Billy and Alan immediately scored a string of UK top 20 chart hits. The album Sulk made the UK top 10, winning album of the year awards in the UK music press. The group’s drug use was at a peak - Billy and Alan’s behaviour was becoming somewhat erratic. On the eve of their biggest ever UK tour MacKenzie pulled out. A US deal with Island was consequentially lost. Deciding that he couldn't continue, Alan Rankine left the group. From this moment on, the Associates were to be just that: Billy MacKenzie solo, with different associates for each release. MacKenzie started recording a follow-up album. 1984s Perhaps cost WEA £250,000. It took three years and four production teams to record - twice (dissatisfied with the original production Billy "lost" the first versions' master tapes, forcing a re-recording). The album had some chart success, but WEA were dissatisfied, and started pressuring MacKenzie to follow a more straightforward pop-soul direction. Frustrated by WEA's lack of support, MacKenzie focussed on collaborations, most notably with Yello (featuring on One Second, Flag, Baby and writing The Rhythm Divine). 1988's comeback single, a cover of Blondie's Heart Of Glass, failed to chart. WEA refused to release its parent album, The Glamour Chase, and with MacKenzie over a million pounds in debt to the label The Associates were dropped. Circa quickly signed MacKenzie and in 1990 released Wild And Lonely, the last album of original music under the The Associates name. 1992's album, the Thomas Fehlmann / Boris Blank-produced Outernational was issued under the artist name Billy MacKenzie. Even though the album had good reviews in the press and Baby was single of the week in Melody Maker, the album stiffed - partially due to Circa winding down operations. Aside from an aborted Associates reunion with Alan Rankine in the mid-90s, MacKenzie remained a solo artist, collaborating in the 90s with Peach, Barry Adamson, Paul Haig and Apollo Four Forty amongst others. At the end of 1996, after four years without a deal, he signed with Nude Records. Tragically his first release for the label was a posthumous one. The death of his mother in 1996 was likely the trigger of an emotional breakdown that led him deeper and deeper into a depressed state. Billy MacKenzie died aged 39, on 22nd January 1997 from an overdose of prescribed and over-the-counter pills. Associates – Sulk Label: BMG – ASCBOOK1 Format: Vinyl, LP, Album, Reissue, Blue CD, Album, Reissue 2 x CD All Media, Deluxe Edition, Remastered Country: Worldwide Released: Jul 15, 2022 Sulk A1 Arrogance Gave Him Up A2 No A3 Bap De La Bap A4 Gloomy Sunday A5 Nude Spoons B1 Skipping B2 It's Better This Way B3 Party Fears Two B4 Club Country B5 Nothinginsomethingparticular Sulk CD1-1 Arrogance Gave Him Up CD1-2 No CD1-3 Bap De La Bap CD1-4 Gloomy Sunday CD1-5 Nude Spoons CD1-6 Skipping CD1-7 It's Better This Way CD1-8 Party Fears Two CD1-9 Club Country CD1-10 Nothinginsomethingparticular Outtakes, Monitor Mixes & Rarities CD2-1 Ulcragyceptimol (Demo) CD2-2 I Never Will (Demo) CD2-3 Club Country (Demo) CD2-4 Me, Myself and the Tragic Story (John Leckie Recording) CD2-5 Australia (John Leckie Recording) CD2-6 Skipping (Monitor Mix Instrumental) CD2-7 It's Better This Way (Monitor Mix) CD2-8 And Then I Read a Book (Alternative Version) CD2-9 Ulcragyceptimol (Alternative Version) CD2-10 It's Better This Way (Alternative Version) CD2-11 The Associate CD2-12 A Girl Named Property CD2-13 Grecian 2000 CD2-14 Party Fears Two (7") CD2-15 Club Country (7") CD2-16 18 Carat Love Affair CD2-17 Love Hangover (Extended Version) Associates Live - The Peel Sessions CD3-1 Me, Myself and the Tragic Story CD3-2 Nude Spoons CD3-3 A Matter of Gender CD3-4 It's Better This Way CD3-5 Ulcragyceptimol CD3-6 Waiting for the Love Boat CD3-7 Australia CD3-8 Love Hangover CD3-9 A Severe Case of Career Insecurity Associates Live - Gigant, Apeldoorn 10/01/81 CD3-10 Arrogance Gave Him Up CD3-11 A Matter of Gender CD3-12 Nude Spoons CD3-13 Paper House CD3-14 No CD3-15 And Then I Read a Book CD3-16 Gloomy Sunday CD3-17 It's Better This Way CD3-18 Skipping CD3-19 Australia 40th Anniversary limited edition deluxe 12" 20-page book pack. Box will be sent by registrated mail.