Red Box: Anthology 1980-1990 is the first comprehensive overview of the band’s initial run which technically began with Cherry Red issuing the band’s debut single Chenko in 1983.

For this four CD box set frontman and mainstay Simon Toulson-Clarke undertook a deep dive into his archives and discovered 11 previously unreleased demos from 1980-1982.

As well as the previously unreleased audio, Simon was also able to provide a treasure trove of unseen photos from the very earliest days of the band all the way through to 1990.

Red Box initially came to prominence in the 1980s with UK Top Ten hits Lean on Me (Ah-Li- Ayo) in 1985 and For America in 1986. Both of these tracks were included on debut album The Circle & the Square in 1986 (WEA), which would be followed by 1990’s Motive (EastWest), with no further album’s forthcoming until Plenty (2010) on Cherry Red Records.

Disc One: THE CIRCLE & THE SQUARE (1986)
1. For America 2. Heart Of The Sun 3. Billy’s Line 4. Bantu 5. Living In Domes 6. Lean On Me (Reprise) 7. Chenko (Tenka-Io) 8. Lean On Me (Ah-li-ayo) 9. Saskatchewan 10. Leaders In Seventh Heaven 11. Walk Walk 12. Amen 13. Chenko (Tenka-lo) (Cherry Red 7” Version) [Bonus Track] 14. Valley (7”) [Bonus Track] 15. Saskatchewan (Alternative 7” Mix) [Bonus Track] 16. Speeches [Bonus Track] 17. Lean On Me (Ah-li-ayo) (Vera’s Husband’s Complete Mix) [Bonus Track] 18. Stinging Bee (Catmatix Mix) [Bonus Track] 19. R‘n A [Bonus Track]

Disc One contains the band’s debut album The Circle & the Square as well as seven bonus tracks that include both sides of their debut single as well as other rarities.

For me, this is one of the most original albums you could ever buy back in the day. Three of the songs - For America, Lean On Me and Heart Of The Sun - were hits in the UK and were the reason why I originally bought the album.

However, Living In Domes, Billy’s Line, Bantu, Chenko and, in particular, the Buffy Saint-Marie song Saskatchewan are a varied collection of brilliant World Music-type songs and made a change from other kinds of music (a lot of it good) which was heard at the same time.

The infectious enthusiasm of the girls and boys in the troupe behind Simon Tolson-Clarke and Julian Close, when performing, was another reason for enjoying the album, of course.

Disc Two: MOTIVE (1990)
1. Train 2. Moving 3. Hungry 4. The Clapping Song 5. Soldier Of Love 6. The Power Is Down 7. Now Ask 8. Casbah 9. Walk On My Hands 10. New England 11. Train (Hornby Mix) [Bonus Track] 12. Enjoy (Original Golden Lay Mix) [Bonus Track] 13. “Hello” He Lied [Bonus Track] 14. Train (Travellers Fare Mix) [Bonus Track] 15. Chenko (Tenka-io) (Remix) [Bonus Track]

Disc Two includes sophomore album Motive as well as five rare bonus tracks.

Now flying solo, it was a little obvious that Simon was never going to beat musical gems such as both Lean On Me and For America, singles which had made Red Box a Top Ten charting act in six years prior when he was part of a duo.

Thw story goes that he was sailing the world with his wife at the time Motive was released, and amazingly with Simon being the last to know. It turns out that a friend of his had built connections to East/West, had gained a deal, told Simon about it in an offhand way, and then had a guitar handed to him along his sailing route, so he could write new songs.

Simon was not even thinking about another Red Box album, having broken from away from Julian Close and so was travelling without any musical instruments, but did what he was told and thus we got Motive soon thereafter.

In truth, Motive holds no big, outstanding tracks, but (with the exceptions of the rather uninspired sounding ballad Soldier Of Love and the so/so New England) all of them are solid to good, or, at the very good at times.

Disc Three: 12” & ALTERNATIVE MIXES
1. Saskatchewan (Crew’s Testing Mix) 2. Chenko (Tenk-Io) (Pow-Wow Press Mix) 3. Lean On Me (Ah-li-ayo) (Vera’s Husband’s Mix) 4. Lean On Me (Ah-li-ayo) (Dogmatix Mix) 5. For America (Bazooka Mix) 6. For America (Boys Own Mix) 7. Heart Of The Sun (Slash And Burn Mix) 8. Chenko (Tenka-io) (No Reservations Mix) 9. Train (Fantasy Island Mix) 10. Train (Mr Chandra Is Upstairs Mix) 11. Enjoy (Paul Oakenfold Future Mix) 12. Ain’t Got No... I Got Life

The third disc is a most wondrous collection of their 12” and Alternative Mixes and features 12 simply brilliant mixes of some of their top songs.

Stand out cuts here are full and plenty, and to my mind are top loaded here, as they are the opening six tracks; which are just an amazing way to start your day when left to play out!

Saskatchewan (Crew’s Testing Mix), Chenko (Tenk-Io) (Pow-Wow Press Mix), two mixes of Lean On Me (Ah-li-ayo) (Vera’s Husband’s Mix and Dogmatix Mix) are just a sunny smile of a day to still hear, as are two mixes of For America (Bazooka Mix and Boys Own Mix).

Disc Four: 8 AND 16 TRACK DEMOS (1980-82) (ALL TRACKS PREVIOUSLY UNRELEASED)
1. Age Of Moods 2. Surrounded 3. Carry Me Home 4. Living In Domes 5. Change My Heart 6. Demons In My Pockets 7. Superbowl 8. One For The Curve 9. In Your Name 10. Black & Blue 11. Tonight

The fourth disc is a collection of eleven 8 and 16 Track Demos from between 1980 and 1982, and with all tracks previously unreleased, this disc is assuredly one of the most incredible Red Box gems to behold here.

Stand out tracks, in my humble opinion, include the pacy rocker of an opener in Age Of Moods, the free flowing pop synth delights within Carry Me Home, the jaunty pop-rocker Demons In My Pockets, and the euphorically charged One For The Curve.

Red Box - Anthology 1980-1990 4CD [Trailer]

Official Purchase Link