WEA EastWest Box

"The WEA EastWest Albums 1988–1995" is a new 5 CD box set that brings together the 1st 5 albums of British singer songwriter Tanita Tikaram.

The albums in question are "Ancient Heart", "The Sweet Keeper", "Everybody’s Angel", "Eleven Kinds Of Loneliness" and "Lovers In The City. All have been remastered and all offer bonus tracks, with the label stating that it contains all of her studio recordings from this period, which appears to be accurate, although there’s plenty of live tracks from singles that aren’t included.

In total, there’s 81 tracks in this set and with the bonus material largely b sides, edits, instrumentals and the like. The ‘Early Guitar And Voice’ versions of "Hot Port Sandwiches" and "I Love The Heaven’s Solo" were originally on "Little Sister Leaving Town", the 2nd single from "The Sweet Keeper", but because Tanita re-recorded them for her 3rd album, "Everybody’s Angel", they are appended to that album in this set. In fact, having been a b side in 1990, "I Love The Heaven’s Solo" became a single in 1991 in a 3rd new version of the song!

There has never been an expanded, deluxe version of Tanita’s debut "Ancient Heart", which is strange, given the album was a big hit around the world, and to date has sold around 4 000 000 copies. There was a modest reissue back in 2019, but that was mostly about a clear vinyl pressing, and the CD offered 2 bonus tracks, including rather nonsensically, "I Love The Heaven’s Solo".

Tanita Tikaram has provided exclusive album introductions and track by track annotations in the 24 page booklet that comes with this box set.

"The WEA EastWest Albums 1988–1995" will be released on June 28th, 2024, via Cherry Red Records.