For those not in the know, the earliest incarnation of Flesh for Lulu came together in 1982 in Brixton, London and worked to build an underground following in the post-punk/goth scene, playing gigs alongside bands like Alien Sex Fiend and Specimen.

By the next year, they were recording demos and had achieved enough recognition to be invited to record a John Peel session. All this groundwork work led to a deal with Polydor Records for the bands’ self-titled debut album released in 1984.

A U.K. tour support slot with The Sisters Of Mercy gave them further exposure and more albums followed. 1986 found Flesh For Lulu signed to Beggars Banquet with producer Mike Hedges (The Cure, The Beat, Siouxsie And The Banshees) on board to help the now, classic-era line-up of Flesh For Lulu realize their Beggars debut, Long Live The New Flesh.

All four members contributed songs and additional member, Derek “Del Boy” Greening joined on guitar to allow lead singer Nick Marsh to focus on his vocals. The album, recorded at Abbey Road Studios, threw off the single, “Postcards From Paradise” which made the U.S. Dance chart and a second single, “Siamese Twist” attracted some college radio play, but it was “I Go Crazy” from the John Hughes’ film Some Kind Of Wonderful that gave the band their broadest American success to date gaining some chart action on the Billboard Alternative survey.

The single preceded the release of the album and was added to the U.S. version of the record. On the back of the Some Kind Of Wonderful soundtrack, Flesh For Lulu toured with soundtrack-mates March Violets, promoting both the soundtrack and their Beggars debut, Long Live The New Flesh.

This new, expanded edition includes 15 bonus tracks and is remastered from the original tapes. Joe Marchese of The Second Disc interviewed band members for the liner notes. Long Live The New Flesh finally gets the reissue it deserves and is dedicated to the memory of Nick Marsh.

CD 1:
1. Lucky Day
2. Postcards From Paradise
3. Hammer Of Love
4. Siamese Twist
5. Sooner Or Later
6. Good For You
7. Crash
8. Way To Go
9. Sleeping Dogs
10. Dream On Cowboy
11. I Go Crazy [Bonus Track]
12. Postcards From Paradise (Extended Version) [Bonus Track]
13. Siamese Twist (Extended Version) [Bonus Track]
14. I Go Crazy (Dynamix) [Bonus Track]

To my mind, Long Live the New Flesh is an album that marked a bold, and ultimately controversial, reinvention of the band. They shed their skin, leaving behind the ramshackle post-punk of their earlier years and slithering into a shinier, stadium-ready rock sound.

Their biggest hit I Go Crazy (from the Some Kind of Wonderful soundtrack) blared the change loud and clear. Gone were the scuzzy guitars and jagged rhythms, replaced by soaring anthems fueled by Nick Marsh’s charismatic vocals and polished production. It was a gamble, aiming for an American breakthrough by embracing a more commercial sound.

But Long Live the New Flesh wasn’t just arena rock painted over their former canvas. Beneath the glossy surface still flickered the band’s dark undercurrent. Tracks like Lucky Day and Siamese Twist oozed a simmering tension, while Hammer of Love pulsed with a distorted urgency. This push-pull between polished ambition and raw energy is what gave the album its unique edge.

Some fans were alienated by the transformation, feeling betrayed by the band’s abandonment of their gritty roots. Others saw it as a bold evolution, finally showcasing the musical talent that lay beneath the surface. The critics were, unsurprisingly, divided where some lauded the album’s anthemic power, and others derided it as a calculated sell-out.

Whether you see it as a daring reinvention or a misstep, Long Live the New Flesh remains a pivotal moment in Flesh for Lulu’s story. It pushed the band to the brink of mainstream success, only to see them fall back after alienating their core fanbase. It’s an album that reflects the band’s ambition, their restlessness, and ultimately, and sadly, their fragility.

Now coming complete on this brilliant Expanded 2CD Edition of this 1987 album is a whole wondrous 11-track disc of bonus tracks! Containing rarely heard cuts, extended mixes, dub versions and even an instrumental cut of their big hit I Go Crazy, come on now, what more could any fan of Flesh for Lulu EVER ask for than all this?!

CD 2 Bonus Tracks:
1. I’m Not Like Everybody Else
2. Dumbest Thing (Live In Your Living Room)
3. Idol (Extended Version)
4. Life Of Crime
5. Sleeping Dogs (Edit)
6. Spaceball Ricochet
7. Blue Sky
8. Baby Baby Baby Baby Baby
9. Sometimes Good Guys Don’t Wear White
10. Postcards From Paradise (Dub)
11. I Go Crazy (Instrumental)

Official Purchase Link

www.fleshforlulu.com