CV - Peter Gabriel

I'm only doing this one now because I happened to come across it today, but it's still going to be much later in the month before I pick this blog up regularly again.

So, anyway...

Let's see... Why did I even get this video. Oh, I know. It's because Kate is featured on it. It certainly has nothing to do with Peter Gabriel because I'm not a fan of him or his music. It's tough if people don't like hearing that, but it's true. Anyway, I bought this back in the early 90s, and I recall it being quite expensive at the time for a video. I think it was largely due to the fact that it was imported from the U.S. This compilation features both versions of the 'Don't Give Up' video, which still didn't make up for the price of this video, especially if you aren't a Gabriel fan. It sounds like I'm having a bit of a rant, doesn't it? Well, I probably am.

Version 1 of the video is the one which most people are familiar with - the moving embrace. It's video number eight on this compilation. The second version of this video I can only describe as crap. It looks as though it was made with a welfare budget. Kate is featured in this version as well, but it's clear that her bits were recorded separately, then superimposed over the video at different intervals, which creates a very cheap and crappy look if you ask me. This version is video number two on the compilation. I'm sure you can easily find it on YouTube, especially if you want to see how terrible it is.

Rubberband Girl - Canada VHS Promo Video

This video is a slight oddity. I found it at a record fair around 1998, and supposedly it's a Canadian promo release of the U.S. version of the Rubberband Girl, which is housed inside a hard plastic video case with a UK printed sleeve inserted inside.

As I've never come across any solid info about this one it's quite possible this was a bootleg copy. The video is a perfect copy of the full U.S. version of Rubberband Girl... as far as VHS video quality went at that time, so if this is a bootleg it's possible that the video transfer was made directly from a legitimate promo copy.

Despite my speculation as to its authenticity, I do find it sort of bizarre that the U.S. video would be issued as a promo in Canada using a UK sleeve.

Live At Hammersmith Odeon - Canada VHS Release

I can't remember for the life of me if this was the second or third Canadian reissue of Hammersmith on VHS. The first issue was actually a U.S. release that was distributed into the Canadian market as well - so that release shared the same catalogue number with the U.S. There was also some very minor differences to the front of the box cover with logos.

This particular version was solely a Canadian copy which was released in 1991 - this was also around the same time that I picked it up. Interestingly enough, the sticker on the cassette still has the 1981 copyright, which is when the video was first released for the home video market. It wouldn't surprise me if these videos weren't leftover from the '81 release because none of the video releases, including reissues, are anything to get excited about - not even the '94 version with the CD.

The artwork is pretty consistent with all worldwide releases of this video.

Side Note: For years and years I had a huge gripe about this particular video and how it had been absolutely butchered to death for the home video market. I always wondered what was the point of releasing a live show if most of it had been edited out.

As of late 2015, all the missing Hammersmith sections that had originally been cut out leaked onto the internet. One person even spliced them back into place to create the full concert again. It's definitely worth watching if you haven't already.

The Single File - Canada VHS Release

Unfortunately, this video is still sealed to this day so I can't show you the video itself - just the box portion. I also can't tell you how many times The Single File video has been reissued in Canada or what reissue this one is.

Prior to this copy, I did own an older copy of the video, which eventually snapped on me because I played it so much. It took me years to find another copy, and while I searched I came across a bootleg version and bought it. When I eventually found another copy to buy, I decided to keep it sealed since I had a bootleg copy I could watch instead.

This video compilation was originally released in the UK to coincide with the Single File box set. All video releases pretty much have the same identical artwork.

The Sensual World: The Video - Canada VHS Release

The interview version was released in both the USA and Canada, but under completely different catalogue numbers.

The interview portion takes place first, followed by the videos. For anyone that doesn't own the video and has never seen it, the interview portion can usually be found online if you look in the right places. Kate mainly talks about her inspirations behind the Sensual World, but she also touches on a lot of other things like the '79 tour and the work that goes into creating her videos, plus there's some nice behind the scenes footage on the set of This Woman's Work video. It's definitely worth watching.

Interestingly enough, this wasn't the only video release seen in Canada. Prior to the interview version release there was another Sensual World video that came out. I can't specifically remember if it was made in Canada or had been imported from the U.S. What I do remember is that there was no interview portion - only the three videos. The was no copper lettering on that version of the box - just plain white, and the size of the lettering on the front cover of the box was much, much smaller. Also, the front photo and the rest of the box had more of a plain black/white colour scheme. When the interview version was released right afterwards, I gave my other copy to a friend, so I can't tell you anymore about it because I simply don't remember much more. What I can tell you is that when the interview version was released, the other version quickly disappeared off the shelves without a trace.

The interview version of the video came with mini video catalogue sheet inserted, which listed some of the other video releases that were available at the time. I thought I'd include it for a laugh.

The Whole Story - USA/Canada VHS Release

The Whole Story was released on VHS video in both the USA and Canada. Basically they were all manufactured in the U.S. and copies were distributed in Canada - so all boxes carry the same catalogue number.

Just like with the rest of Kate's North American releases, this too was also issued in a full cardboard box. The front and back artwork is pretty identical to the original UK release from that time.

One of the more annoying things with some of these older videos are the cassette stickers. Over time the glue would begin to bleed through the sticker leaving it discoloured like it was full of grease spots. I bought this video brand new back in 1987, and once upon a time this sticker was a solid white colour. The stickers you find on the UK Moments of Pleasure box set and the 12" single for Moments of Pleasure are also prone to do this problem. In those cases I would strongly suggest leaving the stickers right where they are. Attempting to remove them can cause irreparable damage - and at the very least you'll be left with a sticky permanent mess of glue residue on these items that can never be removed.

The Line, The Cross & the Curve - Canada VHS Release

This was the first issue release for Canada, and possibly the only one. I don't think this video ever got a reissue in Canada later on. Unlike UK video releases, both Canadian and U.S. video releases came in full cardboard boxes, which also meant they had a spine on both sides of the box and a flap along the top. I actually despised these cardboard boxes with a passion because if you didn't keep them in their original cellophane wrapping, the edges tended to wear out pretty fast from handling.

One of the more interesting and odd things about the Canadian release is that it features the UK grading classification symbol on the front, back and spine areas of the box. This is the only case where a Canadian release of a Kate video has ever donned the UK grading classification symbol on a box, so it's my guess that the sleeve was directly copied from a UK one with some minor changes made.

This was also the only Kate release in Canada that didn't have a sticker label on the video - but a silver paint lettering application instead.

Despite everything that people have read or heard throughout the years, The Line, The Cross & The Curve has never been officially released onto DVD to this day - not in any country. Basically it all started because of places like Amazon and HMV who jumped the gun on it to begin with, and they listed it as a pre-order without actually knowing one way or the other. When DVDs first started to flood the market it was automatically assumed by these places that it wouldn't be long before videos like TLTC&TC would be issued onto DVD, so when it didn't happen, all the Chinese whispers and rumours of the elusive official DVD continued on through the years. It's as simple as that. There have been some nice bootleg DVDs made of it over the years, but never an official release.

Live At Hammersmith Odeon - Video & CD Pack: Canada Release

Canadian release of the box set version of Live at Hammersmith Odeon, which came with the video and a first time CD release. This was also released in the UK under the pal video system. I have absolutely no idea if this got released in any other countries or if it was just exclusive to the UK and Canada

This came in a rather thick clamshell type packaging, and the insert design is fairly identical to the original.

The biggest selling feature of this set was clearly the CD. Up until that point, the Hammersmith show had never been officially released onto CD. There were a lot of lousy sounding bootlegs out there, but that was all. It was a clever marketing move since the CD was exclusive to this set only, and it's never been given a separate release since.

The CD has a double-sided single page insert. It falls out pretty easily if you aren't careful.

The back of the insert pretty much has the same artwork that's found on the rest of the packaging.

If you can get a hold of the CD it's worth having. The sound quality is amazing.

My only disappointment with this set is the video itself. Despite the fact that the label area is stamped with a 1994 copyright on it, along with a new catalogue number, the transfer on this video is the exact same one from the original video release years prior. For the kind of money that this sold for at the time, I did expect something a little better than that - but as I said earlier, the CD was the big selling feature of this set and they knew it.

This box set has long been deleted now, but it still turns up from time to time. If you're desperate to get it because of the CD, just be prepared to pay some money for it because you won't get it for cheap.