Gary Numan — The Pleasure Principle - The First Recordings

Hot on the heels of recording his (soon to be) first number one album, Replicas, Gary Numan was back in the studio recording his follow-up, The Pleasure Principle. Recording under his stage name instead of Tubeway Army, his third album saw the band take a different approach - no guitars. Along with this, the synths took a larger role, and an atmospheric touch was added with a viola. The songs spoke for themselves, and The Pleasure Principle was his second number one album of the year. Beggars Banquet is celebrating the 40th anniversary of this album by releasing a two disc set of demo versions, outtake mixes, and Peel Sessions.

With this newer approach, the demos on The Pleasure Principle often sit further distant from the finished product than those on Replicas. The structures are the same, but there are elements that were added to make the album into the classic that was released to the public. Not to say that they're all progression, as some are just a bit different and great in their demo version for their own reasons. To the former, "Film" has a bit more of a choppy synth layer instead of the haunting, evocative drone that was on the final product. Like listening to an instrumental of an old vocal classic, the lack of viola on "Complex" feels like someone isn't there. It's such an integral voice in the final track that it's alien to hear the song without it. For the latter, the vocals on "M.E." and "Tracks" are more natural and less in character. After listening to the originals for nearly 30 years, it's hard to pull myself out of those versions, but these have such an honesty to them that is easy to love. Thankfully, I don't have to choose a version and can just be thankful that I have both. The demo vocal may not add as much isolation to "M.E.," but it is so fitting for "Tracks." I feel like this is how it would sound while Gary sang it in his bubble bath. In addition to these demo versions, there are two songs that ended up as B-sides on Telekon. The very early version of "Trois Gymnopédies No. 1" shows ambition, and I'm glad that they waited until it was perfected before they released it.

The second release of Tubeway Army/Gary Numan's to get the two disc demo treatment, The Pleasure Principle - The First Recordings is an awesome trip to a time before this classic album was a polished gem. Hearing these early workings gives us an insight into Numan as a songwriter. This is interesting timing, as technology and crowdfunding have allowed him a platform to open up and let fans in on his creative process. With more of Numan's Beggars Banquet albums nearing the 40 year mark, one can only hope that more treasures are unearthed and more first recordings will be released.