The Teardrop Explodes - Kilimanjaro [Deluxe Edition]

Kilimanjaro [Deluxe Edition] is the expanded, three-disc celebration of the 1980 debut album by Liverpool neo-psychedelic pioneers The Teardrop Explodes. Fronted by the eccentric Julian Cope, the original record famously blended the nervous, jagged energy of late-'70s post-punk with soaring brass arrangements, driving basslines, and bright pop sensibilities. This definitive reissue pairs the core masterpiece—which includes iconic tracks like "Reward," "Sleeping Gas," and "Treason"—with its distinctive visual history, capturing the era when the band famously swapped their moody, monochrome group cover art for a vibrant photograph of zebras grazing beneath Mount Kilimanjaro.

Spanning three comprehensive discs, the deluxe package offers a deep dive into the band's most creative and volatile period. Beyond the remastered original album, the set compiles rare early singles from the legendary Zoo Records era, obscure B-sides, and unique curiosities like a French-vocal version of their hit single. The final disc rounds out the collection with raw, high-energy live-in-the-studio cuts captured during their 1979–1980 BBC radio broadcasts, including their influential John Peel sessions. Accompanied by extensive liner notes and archival essays, it serves as the ultimate document of a landmark moment in British alternative pop history.

Kilimanjaro [Deluxe Edition] is a monumental three-disc celebration of the 1980 debut album by Liverpool neo-psychedelic pioneers The Teardrop Explodes. Fronted by the eccentric and charismatic Julian Cope, the original record masterfully bridged the gap between post-punk tension and euphoric pop. This definitive reissue pairs the core masterpiece with its distinctive visual history, capturing the era when the band famously swapped their moody, monochrome group cover art for a vibrant photograph of zebras grazing beneath Mount Kilimanjaro. It remains a stunning testament to a brief moment when underground art-rock aimed squarely, and successfully, for the mainstream charts.

The original album, sitting proudly on Disc 1, sounds as vital and exhilarating as it did over four decades ago. Powered by Gary Dwyer’s frantic drumming, driving basslines, and David Balfe's icy keyboards, tracks like "Ha Ha I'm Drowning" and "Sleeping Gas" pulse with a nervous, jittery energy. The addition of the band’s signature hit "Reward"—complete with its legendary, blazing horn section—showcases their unique ability to transform avant-garde sensibilities into undeniable pop hooks. Cope’s vocals anchor the madness, shifting effortlessly from detached coolness to soaring, dramatic showmanship.

Discs 2 and 3 elevate this package from a simple remaster to an essential historical archive. The second disc, subtitled Bates Motel, dives deep into the band's formative years with rare B-sides and early singles from the legendary independent Zoo Records label. Hearing raw, embryonic versions of these songs alongside oddities like "Traison" (the French-vocal version of "Treason") provides a fascinating look at the group's rapid artistic evolution. The third disc compiles their explosive 1979–1980 BBC radio sessions, including standout cuts for John Peel, which capture the band playing with a ferocious, unpolished intensity that the studio versions occasionally tamed.

Ultimately, this deluxe edition is an indispensable document of the post-punk era that avoids the trap of lazy nostalgia. Accompanied by extensive liner notes, archival essays, and beautifully reproduced artwork, the package tells the full story of a brilliant, volatile band on the cusp of stardom. For casual fans, it provides the definitive context for a classic record; for obsessive collectors, the treasure trove of live sessions and rarities makes it an absolute necessity. It stands as a flawless tribute to a time when British alternative pop was at its most daring and imaginative.

Disc Breakdown

Disc 1: Kilimanjaro (The Original Album) – Features the core masterpiece, anchored by driving basslines, bright drum patterns, and unexpected trumpet arrangements. Essential tracks include "Ha Ha I'm Drowning", "Sleeping Gas", "Treason", and the added hit single "Reward".

Disc 2: Bates Motel (Rare & Early Versions) – Compiles early singles from the legendary Zoo Records era, B-sides, and curiosities like "Strange House In The Snow" and "Traison" (a French-vocal version of "Treason").

Disc 3: BBC Sessions – Collects raw, energetic live-in-the-studio cuts captured during their 1979–1980 radio sessions, including standout recordings for John Peel.

Ripped to MP3

Disc 1: Kilimanjaro (Original Album & Singles)

1. Ha Ha I'm Drowning

2. Sleeping Gas

3. Treasure House

4. Went Crazy

5. Reward

6. Thief of Baghdad

7. When I Dream

8. Poppies In the Field

9. Went Crazy (Note: Re-recorded version on some pressings)

10. Brave Boys Keep Their Promises

11. Bouncing Babies

12. Books

13. The Thief of Baghdad

Disc 2: Bates Motel (Rarities & B-Sides)

1. Camera Camera

2. Kirby Workers Dream Fading

3. Bouncing Babies (Zoo Single Version)

4. All I Am Is Loving You

5. Treason (It's Just a Story) (Zoo Single Version)

6. Read It In Books (Zoo Single Version)

7. Kilimanjaro

8. Strange House In the Snow

9. Use Me

10. Traison (Treason) (French Version)

11. Blunderbuss

12. Second Head (Live at the Paradox, Liverpool, 1979)

13. He Wants To Know (Live at the Paradox, Liverpool, 1979)

Disc 3: BBC Sessions

1. Sleeping Gas (John Peel Session, 1979)

2. Bouncing Babies (John Peel Session, 1979)

3. Treasure House (John Peel Session, 1979)

4. Books (John Peel Session, 1979)

5. Deadly Fitter (David Jensen Session, 1980)

6. Went Crazy (David Jensen Session, 1980)

7. The Thief of Baghdad (David Jensen Session, 1980)

8. When I Dream (David Jensen Session, 1980)

9. Poppies In the Field (John Peel Session, 1980)

10. Brave Boys Keep Their Promises (John Peel Session, 1980)

11. Ha Ha I'm Drowning (John Peel Session, 1980)

12. Reward (John Peel Session, 1980)