May 28 sees the vinyl reissue of the 2006 collection of PJ Harvey’s The Peel Sessions collection. Harvey’s sessions with the late BBC Radio 1 DJ John Peel, spanned recordings from the start of her career in 1991 up to 2004.
Originally released two years after Peel’s death in 2004, the record came with a tribute message from Harvey in the liner notes which read, “More than I would ever care to admit for fear of embarrassment to both sides, but I sought his approval always. It mattered. Every Peel Session I did, I did for him. It is with much love that I chose these songs, in his memory. A way of saying ‘Thank You,’ once more. Thank You, John.”
Available on 180 gram vinyl, The Peel Sessions 1991-2004 was cut by Jason Mitchell at Loud Mastering under the guidance of John Parish. When it was initially released in 2006, it garnered considerable critical praise. Drowned In Sound wrote, “It serves as a most welcome and convincing re-reminder of exactly how good PJ Harvey is; it’s a record which has simple enjoyment merit as well as being of sound development/ obsessive collectors item interest”; Uncut described is as “Stark, often stunning”, while Pitchfork declared it to be be “A vibrant, living record…none of these performances ever feels like a throwaway, and each veritably ripples with spontaneous, one-take-only passion.”
The Peel Sessions 1991-2004 is the latest in the on-going, career-spanning PJ Harvey vinyl reissue series, which has already seen her studio recordings from 1992’s Dry to 2004’s Uh Huh Her reappearing on 180 gram vinyl through UMe/Island Records.
The Peel Sessions 1991-2004 is out on May 28. Scroll down to read the full tracklist and pre-order it here.
The Peel Sessions 1991-2004:
“Oh My Lover” – Peel 10.29.91
“Victory” – Peel 10.29.91
“Sheela-Na-Gig” – 10.29.91
“Water” – Peel 10.29.91
“Naked Cousin” – Peel 3.2.93
“Wang Dang Doodle” – Peel 3.2.93
“Losing Ground” – Peel 9.5.96
“Snake” – Peel 9.5.96
“That Was My Veil” – Peel 9.5.96
“This Wicked Tongue” – Peel 1.10.00
“Beautiful Feeling” – Peel 11.10.00
“You Come Through” – John Peel Tribute 12.16.04