Bag of Trix – Music from the Roxette Vaults

The time has come! Vol. 1 of Bag of Trix is out on 30th October on streaming sites and until 11th December, the official physical release date of the complete Bag of Trix collection we will get to hear more ear candies on digital platforms on a regular basis. Vol. 2 on 13th November, Vol. 3 on 27th November, Vol. 4 on 11th December together with the physical release.

The booklet in the physical editions will include track by track comments from Per Gessle and Mikael Bolyos!

Per about Bag of Trix:

Lots of memories and plenty of joy, hopefully not only for me but also for people interested in what Roxette is all about.

PRESS RELEASE 

Now comes Volume 1 of “Bag of Trix” – the Roxette collection which presents a total of 47 unreleased or so far unavailable recordings: demos, alternative mixes and recordings, Spanish versions, bonus songs plus other fun stuff from the band’s long and successful career 1986-2016.

The first volume will be released on October 30th and contains twelve songs that have been recorded over a 30-year period. From the demo of “Like Lovers Do”, recorded during an early demo session as Marie and Per prepare Roxette’s debut album “Pearls of Passion” in the summer of 1986, to the new single “Let Your Heart Dance With Me” which was never completed during the “Good Karma” recordings 2016.

“Bag Of Trix” provides a unique insight into one of Sweden’s most successful pop groups’ fascinating career. Take just one of the gold nuggets of the first volume – Brian Malouf’s American single mix of “Joyride”, which in the spring of 1991 became Roxette’s fourth number one on the Billboard charts. The song in its album version is a classic in Roxette’s repertoire, but most people outside the US have probably never heard this hot-tempered and special single mix.

“Bag Of Trix” Volume 1 also offers Per and Marie’s acoustic demo of the – at the time of recording – brand new “Hotblooded”, as well as an acoustic version of “Listen To Your Heart” which together with the interpretation of the Beatles masterpiece “Help!” was recorded in the Abbey Road studio in London in the autumn of 1995.

And for Marie Fredriksson’s millions of fans around the world, it is perhaps with extra great anticipation that they want to listen to her three home-recorded demo versions of her own songs “Pocketful Of Rain”, “Beautiful Boy” and “Waiting For The Rain” – of which only the latter ended up on a Roxette album.

“Both Marie and I loved being in the studio and recording our music – and now that you look back on our career, it is quite overwhelming how much material we managed to produce. Significantly more than we could ever release. We were really spurred on by the whole fantastic Roxette circus”, says Per Gessle with a smile.

“Much of what “only” ended up as bonus material on CD singles in Japan and in some cases never even released stuff today feels like an interesting complement to our regular catalogue. So we believe that “Bag of Trix” can offer a lot of interesting listening for those who have followed us over the years”, says Per.

4LP box

Volume 1:

  1. Help! (Abbey Road Sessions – Nov 15, 1995)
  2. Listen To Your Heart (Abbey Road Sessions – Nov 15, 1995)
  3. Let Your Heart Dance With Me GOOD KARMA OUTTAKE ***
  4. Waiting For The Rain (Studio Vinden Demo 1997)
  5. Joyride (Brian Malouf US Single Mix 1991)
  6. Like Lovers Do (Montezuma Demo – Jul 25-26, 1986) ***
  7. Pocketful Of Rain (Skinnarviksringen Demo – Feb 1993) ***
  8. Wish I Could Fly (Live EMP Sky Church, Seattle Oct 7, 2000) ***
  9. Happy Together (T&A Demo – Jul 1-2, 1998)
  10. Beautiful Boy (Studio Vinden Demo – Mar 2000) ***
  11. You Don’t Understand Me (T&A Demo – Jul 30, 1995) ***
  12. Hotblooded (T&A Demo – Dec 13, 1990) ***

Volume 2

  1. The Look (Abbey Road Sessions – Nov 15, 1995)
  2. Tu no me comprendes (You Don’t Understand Me) ***
  3. Soul Deep (Tom Lord-Alge Mix)
  4. Always The Last To Know (Studio Vinden Demo 1998) ***
  5. Sleeping In My Car (The Stockholm Demo Version 1993)
  6. Watercolours In The Rain (T&A Demo – Jan 24, 1990) ***
  7. From One Heart To Another (Montezuma Demo – Jul 25-26, 1986) ***
  8. I Remember You (T&A Demo – Mar 15, 1990) ***
  9. It Hurts (T&A Demo – Aug 3, 1995) ***
  10. Perfect Day (T&A Demo – Aug 23, 1990) ***
  11. New World (Studio Vinden Demo 1996)
  12. Lo Siento (Salvation)

Volume 3

  1. Piece Of Cake GOOD KARMA OUTTAKE ***
  2. You Don’t Understand Me (Abbey Road Sessions – Nov 15, 1995)
  3. Dangerous (Swedish Single Version)
  4. Every Day (Studio Vinden Demo – Mar 2000) ***
  5. The Big L (T&A Demo – Mar 29, 1990) ***
  6. It Will Take A Long Long Time (Modern Rock Version)
  7. Little Girl (Studio Vinden Demo – March 2000) ***
  8. Cry (Live Norrköping Dec 16, 1988)
  9. Goodbye To You (Montezuma demo – Jul 25-26, 1986) ***
  10. Go To Sleep (Skinnarviksringen demo – Feb 1993) ***
  11. Quisiera Volar (Wish I Could Fly)

Volume 4

  1. The Centre Of The Heart (Is A Suburb To The Brain) (Have A Nice Day Version) ***
  2. Pearls And Passion (Montezuma Demo – Jul 25-26, 1986) ***
  3. Things Will Never Be The Same (T&A Demo – Dec 13, 1990) ***
  4. Entering Your Heart (Long Version)
  5. Cooper (Closer To God)
  6. Joy Of A Toy (Montezuma Demo – Jul 25-26, 1986) ***
  7. It Takes You No Time To Get Here (Long Version) ***
  8. Before You Go To Sleep (T&A demo – Oct 23, 1992) ***
  9. I Was So Lucky (The Golden Blow) ***
  10. Jag älskar (Surrender) (Montezuma Demo – Jul 25-26, 1986) ***
  11. Som i en dröm (So Far Away) (Montezuma Demo – Jul 25-26, 1986) ***
  12. Alguien (Anyone)

*** Previously unreleased

 

3CD set

CD 1

  1. Help! (Abbey Road Sessions – Nov 15, 1995)
  2. Listen To Your Heart (Abbey Road Sessions – Nov 15, 1995)
  3. Let Your Heart Dance With Me GOOD KARMA OUTTAKE ***
  4. Waiting For The Rain (Studio Vinden Demo 1997)
  5. Joyride (Brian Malouf US Single Mix 1991)
  6. Like Lovers Do (Montezuma Demo – Jul 25-26, 1986) ***
  7. Pocketful Of Rain (Skinnarviksringen Demo – Feb 1993) ***
  8. Tu no me comprendes (You Don’t Understand Me) ***
  9. Happy Together (T&A Demo – Jul 1-2, 1998)
  10. Beautiful Boy (Studio Vinden Demo – Mar 2000) ***
  11. Cooper (Closer To God)
  12. Hotblooded (T&A Demo – Dec 13, 1990) ***
  13. The Centre Of The Heart (Is A Suburb To The Brain) (Have A Nice Day Version) ***
  14. Pearls And Passion (Montezuma Demo – Jul 25-26, 1986) ***
  15. Things Will Never Be The Same (T&A Demo – Dec 13, 1990) ***
  16. Alguien (Anyone)

CD 2

  1. The Look (Abbey Road Sessions – Nov 15, 1995)
  2. You Don’t Understand Me (Abbey Road Sessions – Nov 15, 1995)
  3. Soul Deep (Tom Lord-Alge Mix)
  4. Wish I Could Fly (Live EMP Sky Church, Seattle Oct 7, 2000) ***
  5. New World (Studio Vinden Demo 1996)
  6. Sleeping In My Car (The Stockholm Demo Version 1993)
  7. Watercolours In The Rain (T&A Demo – Jan 24, 1990) ***
  8. From One Heart To Another (Montezuma Demo – Jul 25-26, 1986) ***
  9. I Remember You (T&A Demo – Mar 15, 1990) ***
  10. It Hurts (T&A Demo – Aug 3, 1995) ***
  11. Perfect Day (T&A Demo – Aug 23, 1990) ***
  12. Joy Of A Toy (Montezuma Demo – Jul 25-26, 1986) ***
  13. Always The Last To Know (Studio Vinden Demo 1998) ***
  14. It Takes You No Time To Get Here (Long Version) ***
  15. Before You Go To Sleep (T&A demo – Oct 23, 1992) ***
  16. Lo Siento (Salvation)

CD 3

  1. Piece Of Cake GOOD KARMA OUTTAKE ***
  2. You Don’t Understand Me (T&A Demo – Jul 30, 1995) ***
  3. Dangerous (Swedish Single Version)
  4. Every Day (Studio Vinden Demo – Mar 2000) ***
  5. The Big L (T&A Demo – Mar 29, 1990) ***
  6. It Will Take A Long Long Time (Modern Rock Version)
  7. Little Girl (Studio Vinden Demo – March 2000) ***
  8. Cry (Live Norrköping Dec 16, 1988)
  9. Goodbye To You (Montezuma demo – Jul 25-26, 1986) ***
  10. Go To Sleep (Skinnarviksringen demo – Feb 1993) ***
  11. I Was So Lucky (The Golden Blow) ***
  12. Entering Your Heart (Long Version)
  13. Jag älskar (Surrender) (Montezuma Demo – Jul 25-26, 1986) ***
  14. Som i en dröm (So Far Away) (Montezuma Demo – Jul 25-26, 1986) ***
  15. Quisiera Volar (Wish I Could Fly)

*** Previously unreleased

 

Pre-order Bag of Trix at Bengans or Ginza already now or find it in your local music stores / webshops!

     

Roxette – Let Your Heart Dance With Me

The long-awaited 2nd treat from Bag of Trix – Music from the Roxette Vaults album series is out this Friday.

A previously unreleased Roxette single, Let Your Heart Dance With Me is one of the last recordings Roxette ever did and is released almost a year after the tragic passing of lead singer Marie Fredriksson. It will be available on digital platforms on 2nd October and is to be released as a limited edition 7″ golden vinyl single in 1500 copies worldwide on 9th October.

Thanks to songwriter Per Gessle’s prolific flow of tunes, classic Swedish pop group Roxette always had a surplus of material to choose between for their albums. Many of these leftover songs were actually strong contenders for inclusion and their quality has made them loved among fans when they’ve popped up as bonus material on singles or compilations.

This was the case up until the release of Roxette’s final studio album, Good Karma, which in the summer of 2016 yielded a couple of songs that weren’t needed for the album. On of them was Let Your Heart Dance With Me, but it finally sees the light of day thanks to the Bag of Trix box set, Roxette’s magnifique collection of unreleased material. The first volume of Bag of Trix is planned to be released on 30th October.

Per says about Let Your Heart Dance With Me:

I wanted to write a classic and simple “clap your hands and stomp your feet” song, and “Let Your Heart Dance With Me” came out of it. I liked it already in the studio, but as usual we already had so many strong contenders that it had to wait for a second chance. And when the idea for this project came up, it was a given.

Gessle gave Let Your Heart Dance With Me to mixing maestro Ronny Lahti, who some two decades ago gave the Roxette album Room Service its characteristic pop shimmer. The result now is a song that radiates summer, sun and optimism, despite being recorded during a time when Marie was on her final days with Roxette due to increasing health problems following her cancer treatment a decade earlier.

Per Gessle says:

Just a couple of months before “Good Karma” was released, Marie’s doctors advised her to quit touring for good. We cancelled the Summer tour and all future commitments. But even a studio recording was demanding for her. She wanted so much, but really had to fight to get it out. And she did. Marie was a real trooper to the very end.

To celebrate this release, Mr. G will do an exclusive interview and answer fans’ questions LIVE on Roxette’s YouTube channel at 16.30 CEST on Friday, 2nd October. After that, premiere of the music video to Let Your Heart Dance With Me will happen at 17.00 CEST. Save the link to the Q&A and the music video premiere HERE and get ready with your questions!

The music video showcases Per and Marie’s close friendship and long companionship that led to the worldwide success. To quote Per:

We’ve also put together a beautiful music video for the song including private footage from the glorious past. Lots of memories and plenty of joy, hopefully not only for me but also for people interested in what Roxette is all about. Can’t wait to watch it together with you – our fans – who made it all possible.

See teasers of the music video here: 1; 2; 3.

See Per announcing the Q&A session HERE.

PRE-ORDER the limited edition single at Bengans, Ginza or check the availability with your local music stores, since it’s a worldwide release. UPDATE on 1st October: the single seems to be sold out at Bengans and Ginza. It might be available again on release day, but it’s worth trying to buy it in other stores. CDON, for example.

Tracklist

A            Let Your Heart Dance With Me
B            Help! (Abbey Road Sessions)

Press release in Swedish can be found HERE.

Let Your Heart Dance With Me

It was so easy to fall in love
It got so simple to fall in love
You know what I did?
I got excited
We were united
So delighted

It was so easy to laugh with you
It was so simple to look at you
You made it possible
By being beautiful
So incredible
Truly wonderful

Dance with me
Let your heart dance with me
Dance with me
Let your heart dance with me
Let me see you smile

I might be living in my car
I might be running near and far
When stars can’t find me
You know where I’ll be
Closed in the mystery
The love of you and me

Dance with me
Let your heart dance with me
Dance with me
Let your heart dance with me
Let me see you smile again
Let me see that smile

Words + Music by Per Gessle
© Jimmy Fun Music

Watch the premiere interview with Per Gessle HERE and the video to Let Your Heart Dance With Me HERE.

Roxette – Help! (Abbey Road Sessions November 1995)

On 15th November 1995, Roxette recorded 4 acoustic tracks at the Abbey Road Studios in London. Those songs were 3 Rox hits (The Look, Listen To Your Heart, You Don’t Understand Me) and a wonderful cover of The Beatles gem, Help! All 3 Roxette tracks were already released on the You Don’t Understand Me single and YDUM also appeared on the Anyone single later. Help! (Abbey Road Sessions November 1995) is released digitally for the first time on 8th May, but earlier it was released on The RoxBox. Marie’s vocals are stunning! Listen to it on iTunes, Spotify, YouTube or other digital platforms.

Per about the single:

In these days of seclusion and confusion this digitally unreleased pearl is very much needed. Roxette paid homage to The Beatles on a sunny day in November 1995 at the Abbey Road studio in London. “Help!” is the first taste of the “BAG OF TRIX – Music from the Roxette Vaults” album series that will pop up when you least expect it. Enjoy!

Parts of the Abbey Road recording sessions can be seen in the documentary, Really Roxette. The album sleeve photo of Marie and Per was taken by Marie Dimberg in 1989 when Roxette was in London to appear on TV with The Look in Top of the Pops. You can see this picture in Sven Lindström’s book, Roxette – Den osannolika resan tur och retur. The famous Abbey Road crossing is still very popular. You can wacth it online all day long via a live cam on the studio’s website. The album sleeve itself would deserve a physical release and the song would definitely sound fantastic on vinyl.

The Beatles released Help! (written by John Lennon and Paul McCartney) in 1965 and it was No. 1 both in the UK and in the US. After 55 years, it still sounds amazing, even if John told in an interview that he regrets a bit that it became too fast, because they tried to make the song more commercial. I’m quite sure he would have liked Roxette’s slow version.