In 1990 Neil Hannon started recording and releasing under the name The Divine Comedy. Thirty years and twelve great albums later, Hannon is rightly adjudged one of the finest singer songwriters of his generation. To celebrate, Divine Comedy Records are remastering and reissuing nine of the bands classic albums A Short Album About Love was conceived as a companion piece to the bands previous album Casanova. It was recorded live at the Shepherd’s Bush Empire in London in 1996 with a 30-piece orchestra, and was released in time for Valentine’s Day 1997, charting at 13 in the UK. NME described the show where the album was recorded as “an evening when dreams finally come true; a night of costume changes, classical kisses and – in time honoured tradition of drinking and dressing up – hugely sophisticated fun… One suspects it wouldnt be too hazardous to suggest that Neil Hannon is having by far the finest night of his entire sodding life.” Time Out, reviewing the album, said: “Seven of the most heart-stoppingly gorgeous, romantic smoochers you have ever heard, all drenched in strings and emotion.” The single Everybody Knows (Except You) reached 14 in the UK chart. The album has been remastered from the original tapes at the legendary Abbey Road Studios by mastering engineer Frank Arkwright (Blur, The Smiths.) Overseeing the audio throughout the campaign is engineer/mixer/producer Guy Massey, whose work on the Beatles Stereo Remasters won him a Grammy Award. The CD release consists of 2 discs: the original remastered 7 track album, with an additional 12 tracks of B-sides, demos and alternate versions lovingly curated by Neil Hannon, much of which has never been heard before. The 2nd disc is the DVD – A Short Film About A Short Album About Love – a previously unreleased 50- minute film of the Shepherd’s Bush Empire concert at which Short Album.. was recorded. The CD comes with a booklet of photos, credits and extensive liner notes written by Neil covering the context and inspiration behind the album and its songs. Tracklisting 1. In Pursuit Of Happiness 2. Everybody Knows (Except You) 3. Someone 4. If… 5. If I Were You (Id Be Through With Me) 6. Timewatching 7. Im All You Need Bonus material 1. Bath (live) 2. A Short Film About Driving 3. Everybody Knows (Except You) (early idea) 4. Johnny Mathis Feet (live) 5. Im All You Need (instrumental demo) 6. A Short Film About Dreams 7. Your Daddys Car (live) 8. Teach Us To Love 9. A Short Film About Waiting 10. A Short Film About Chance 11. If I Were You (Id Be Through With Me) (rehearsal version) 12. Make It Easy On Yourself (live) Bonus DVD – A Short Film About A Short Album About Love 1. In Pursuit Of Happiness 2. Everybody Knows (Except You) 3. Someone 4. Timewatching 5. If… 6. If I Were You (Id Be Through With Me) 7. Im All You Need 8. A Drinking Song 9. Something For The Weekend 10. The Dogs And The Horses
