Nocturne (Siouxsie and the Banshees album)

Nocturne
Live album by Siouxsie and the Banshees
Released	25 November 1983
Recorded	1983
Genre	Post-punk
Length	76:47
Label	Geffen (US) Polydor (UK)
Producer	Siouxsie and the Banshees, Mike Hedges
Siouxsie and the Banshees live albums chronology
Nocturne (1983) Seven Year Itch (2003)

Nocturne is a live double-album by English rock band Siouxsie and the Banshees, released in 1983 and remastered in 2009, which featured performances recorded at two shows at the Royal Albert Hall on 30 September and 1 October 1983, featuring Robert Smith (of The Cure) on guitar. Most of the material came from Juju and A Kiss in the Dreamhouse, plus a couple of B-sides ("Pulled to Bits" and "Eve White/Eve Black"). Also included was a live version of The Beatles' "Dear Prudence"; the Banshees had recorded and released a studio version of the song as a single earlier that year.

A video version was released on DVD in 2006. Bonus features included the Play at Home TV special from 1983, the "Dear Prudence" music video and performances from The Old Grey Whistle Test.

The music heard at the introduction of "Israel" is "The Rite of Spring", composed by Igor Stravinsky.

Background

Siouxsie and the Banshees with Robert Smith and the Cure outside Morgan Studios, London in September 1979, left to right: Robert Smith, Laurence Tolhurst, Michael Dempsey, Budgie, Steven Severin and Siouxsie

The Banshees had already performed live with Smith on guitar in September and October 1979, when he and his band The Cure served as tour support for the Banshees. A friendship had started at the time between the members of The Cure and The Banshees. In late 1982, when guitarist John McGeoch left the band prior to the A Kiss in the Dreamhouse tour, Steven Severin asked Smith to join the band for the tour. With the September 1983 release of the "Dear Prudence" single, Smith became an official member of the Banshees; a few weeks later, they recorded this live album Nocturne in London.

Reception

Nocturne was retrospectively hailed by critics. AllMusic said the album "serves as an excellent, no-nonsense introduction to the band's music for neophytes, while fans of the group will appreciate the tight, gutsy, stripped-down performances," also describing it as "top-notch".^[1] In 2013, the album was included in The Quietus' list of its writers' 40 favourite live albums.^[2]

Track listing

All songs by Siouxsie and the Banshees except * by Sioux & Severin and ** by Lennon & McCartney

1. "Israel" (6:45)
2. "Dear Prudence" ** (3:55)
3. "Paradise Place" * (4:28)
4. "Melt!" (3:48)
5. "Cascade" (4:35)
6. "Pulled to Bits" (4:03)
7. "Night Shift" (6:27)
8. "Sin in My Heart" (3:31)
9. "Slowdive" (4:18)
10. "Painted Bird" (3:56)
11. "Happy House" * (4:39)
12. "Switch" (6:35)
13. "Spellbound" (4:31)
14. "Helter Skelter" ** (3:42)
15. "Eve White/Eve Black" * (2:58)
16. "Voodoo Dolly" (8:42)

Live performances of "Head Cut" and "Running Town" from the 1 October show were not included on the release of Nocturne, but in December 1983, a double-A-side 7" vinyl single featuring both tracks was given away as a Christmas gift to members of the band's fan club, The File. To date, these Nocturne performances of "Head Cut" and "Running Town" have not been released in any other format.

DVD

1. "Israel"
2. "Cascade"
3. "Melt!"
4. "Pulled to Bits"
5. "Night Shift"
6. "Sin in My Heart"
7. "Painted Bird"
8. "Switch"
9. "Eve White/Eve Black"
10. "Voodoo Dolly"
11. "Spellbound"
12. "Helter Skelter"

DVD Bonus

1. Bonus 1: Play at Home ( a 45-minute show broadcast on Channel 4, also featuring The Creatures and The Glove)
2. Bonus 2: Old Grey Whistle Test
3. Bonus 3: "Dear Prudence" (promotional film)

Personnel

• Siouxsie Sioux: Vocals, guitar on "Sin in My Heart" and "Paradise Place"
• Steven Severin: Bass guitar
• Budgie: Drums, percussion
• Robert Smith: Guitar
• Mike Hedges: Producer
• Siouxsie and the Banshees: Producers

References