GEORGIA SATELLITES – Ultimate [Cherry Red 3-CD remastered box-set] (2021)

Cherry Red / Lemon Records have put out the awesome 3-CD remastered box-set titled “Ultimate“, covering GEORGIA SATELLITES most relevant music while on the Elektra label between 1986 and 1989 – with 13 tracks appearing on CD for the first time in Europe.
Spanning the years 1986 to 1990, the band released three studio albums and various singles that feature on this collection plus the related bonus tracks taken from the band’s b-sides and 12″ releases. It is the definitive collection of the band’s material available.
With 54 tracks & rarities “Ultimate” does what it says on the tin. This is the throwback celebration of the GEORGIA SATELLITES that fans have craved for decades.

“We played whatever we wanted and answered to no one.” said Georgia Satellites’ guitarist Rick Richards. Making the music they loved, rather than writing the hit songs that could have made them a fortune, the quartet (almost) always stayed true to their dyed-in-double-denim rock and roll roots.
Indeed, a reassuringly familiar ‘fuck you’ refrain runs right through this delightfully off trend three-disc set.

Rarely fashionable, regularly refusing to toe the line and always up for a fight, the Satellites were unique. And ”Ultimate” is a glorious trip down memory lane as Dan Baird and co. journey towards greatness before settling, somewhat appropriately, with third album ‘In The Land Of Salvation And Sin.’
Baird’s ear for an authentic tune and eye for a catchy lyric was captured to perfection on the band’s raw and riotous self-titled debut. And much like fellow misfits Tesla, Georgia Satellites’ determination to stay true to their roots helped grow a loyal fanbase and a solid reputation.

The first disc features the 10 original album tracks from the band’s debut studio album “Georgia Satellites”, which was released in 1986 and produced by Jeff Glixman. In this set there are eight bonus tracks, including two mixes: Party Mix and Kick ‘N’ Lick Remix of the single “Battleship Chains”. Plus five live tracks, including the band’s cover of Lou Reed’s “I’m Waiting For The Man”, the B-side of the band’s best known single, “Keep Your Hands To Yourself”.

Disc two here focuses on the band’s second album, “Open All Night”, with the 11 original album tracks, plus six related bonus tracks includings the remix of their single, “Sheila”, along with live recordings of “Let It Rock”, “Battleship Chains” and “Railroad Steel”.
The Satellites’ second album is a firm fan favourite that still gains regular rotation on our player. It’s an album tha never gets old.
The party-starting title track, up-tempo ‘love song’ Sheila, Whole Lotta Shakin’, and Hand To Mouth showcase Baird and co. at their affecting best.
Bundled with the Ultimate version are six bonus tracks including Hippy Hippy Shake (featured on the Cocktail soundtrack) and a brilliant live blast of Battleship Chains. But the pick of the bunch for Open All Night afficionados is the remix of Sheila — surely one of the finest Satellites’ tracks of all time?

The third CD here offers up the band’s final Elektra album, “In The Land Of Salvation And Sin” from 1989, produced by Joe Hardy and features the 14 original album tracks, plus five bonus offerings. Including the B-sides, “Saddle Up” and “That Woman”, the US promo’ edit’ versions of “Shake That Thing” and “All Over But The Cryin’”, and the UK single version of “Another Chance”.
In The Land Of Salvation And Sin represents a coming of age for the Satellites. The matured songwriting elevates the band to an exciting new level here. The stars align on a record that mixes astute musicality with painfully raw emotions.
Bottle O’ Tears, Another Chance and Days Gone By ripple with underlying angst. And yet there’s a sense of hopefulness at the heart of this criminally underrated classic. Still not sure about the Satellites as a songwriting force? Skip to Stellazine Blues and then pass judgement on Baird and his buddies.
Five bonus tracks are bolted on to ITLOSAS’s powerhouse 14-track set and it’s the groove-laden That Woman which stand out as an ass-kicking hidden gem.

After three studio albums for Elektra, vocalist Dan Baird left to pursue a solo career. The band continued with numerous changes of personnel. Original member Rick Richards leads the current line-up on the road.
With 54 tracks & rarities “Ultimate” does what it says on the tin. This is the throwback celebration of the GEORGIA SATELLITES that fans have craved for decades.
HIGHLY Recommended

CD 1:
01 – Keep Your Hands to Yourself
02 – Railroad Steel
03 – Battleship Chains
04 – Red Light
05 – The Myth of Love
06 – Can’t Stand the Pain
07 – Golden Light
08 – Over and Over
09 – Nights of Mystery
10 – Every Picture Tells a Story
11 – The Myth of Love (Live)
12 – Battleship Chains (Kick ‘N’ Lick Remix)
13 – Hard Luck Boy
14 – Red Light (Live)
15 – No Money Down (Live)
16 – Battleship Chains (Party Mix)
17 – Nights of Mystery (Live)
18 – I’m Waiting for the Man (Live)

CD 2:
01 – Open All Night
02 – Sheila
03 – Whole Lotta Shakin’
04 – Cool Inside
05 – Don’t Pass Me By
06 – My Baby
07 – Mon Cheri
08 – Down and Down
09 – Dunk N’ Dine
10 – Baby So Fine
11 – Hand to Mouth
12 – Let It Rock (Live)
13 – Hippy Hippy Shake
14 – Sheila (Remix)
15 – Battleship Chains (Live)
16 – Railroad Steel (Live)
17 – Almost Saturday Night / Rockin’ All Over the World

CD 3:
01 – I Dunno
02 – Bottle O’ Tears
03 – All Over but the Crying
04 – Shake That Thing
05 – Six Years Gone
06 – Games People Play
07 – Another Chance
08 – Bring Down the Hammer
09 – Slaughterhouse
10 – Stellazine Blues
11 – Sweet Blue Midnight
12 – Days Gone By
13 – Crazy
14 – Dan Takes Five
15 – Saddle Up
16 – That Woman
17 – Another Chance (Radio Edit)
18 – All Over but the Cryin’ (Radio Edit)
19 – Shake That Thang (Edit)

Dan Baird – lead & backing vocals, rhythm guitar
Rick Richards – lead guitar, lead & backing vocals
Rick Price – bass
Mauro Magellan – drums
Ian McLagan – keyboards

BUY IT
www.target.com/p/georgia-satellites-ultimate-georgia-satellites-cd/-/A-82281903