Mastering notes – The first three albums have been compiled from the re-masters done for the expanded editions which were all from analogue sources. The last two albums were originally recorded digitally and analogue masters weren’t available, though the bonus and unreleased tracks have been mastered from analogue where available.

Twin brothers Jay and Michael Aston began playing music in 1980 when they formed Slav Arian with guitarist Ian Hudson and a drum machine. Though the Astons grew up in Porthcawl, South Wales, they moved to London in 1981 and renamed the goth-influenced group Gene Loves Jezebel. The trio played several live shows and were quickly signed by Situation 2. In May 1982, the label released Gene Loves Jezebel’s demo single, “Shavin’ My Neck.” The band then added bassist Julianne Regan and drummer Dick Hawkins. Regan left soon after to form All About Eve, leaving Ian Hudson and Michael Aston to alternate on bass until Peter Rizzo joined in 1984. Hawkins also split for a time — replaced by John Murphy and later Steve Goulding — but returned in 1983.

Gene Loves Jezebel released two more singles in 1983 before their debut album, Promise, hit number one in the U.K.‘s indie charts. In 1984, the group recorded a John Peel radio session for BBC and toured America with John Cale. After returning to England, Gene Loves Jezebel released the singles “Influenza (Relapse)” and “Shame (Whole Heart Howl),” but then waited a full year before second album Immigrant appeared in mid-1985. (It’s not very surprising that the album was recorded with a lineup change, this time drummer Marcus Gilvear instead of Dick Hawkins.) Immigrant also hit number one on the indie charts, but during a tortured American tour, founding member Hudson left, and was replaced by former Generation X guitarist James Stevenson.

The year 1986 brought a contract with Be.......
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