Kevin Rowland faced certain challenges in December 1981. When the recordings for the second LP TOO-RYE-AY by Dexys Midnight Runners started, he decided at the last second to modify the sound with strings. At the same time, the horn section around Dexys’ co-leader and composer “Big” Jim Paterson, who had significantly dominated the sound of the debut SEARCHING FOR THE YOUNG SOUL REBELS, said goodbye to take off as The TKO Horns. With tongues of angels, Rowland persuaded Paterson to at least take part in the sessions. All ready-to-record songs were given new arrangements that leaned toward Celtic folk, just as the band was beginning to establish itself as a blue-eyed soul novelty.
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When TOO-RYE-AY was released in July 1982, fueled by two singles – the moderately successful “The Celtic Soul Brothers” and the catchy “Come On Eileen” – the breakthrough was complete. The rag look, that textile anti-strategy to counteract the New Romantics movement, lifted the troupe, which was supplemented by the string duo Helen O’Hara and Steve Brennan and the singers Carol Kenyon, Katie Kissoon and Sam Brown, from the bulk of the UK bands.
Now Rowland is launching the double-platinum work again. The title of the 3-CD set TOO-RYE-AY AS IT SHOULD HAVE SOUNDED – 40TH ANNIVERSARY REMIX (DELUXE EDITION) with a 12-page booklet already announces the innovation: Rowland already struggled with the final 82 mix in interviews at the time. CD 1 now experiences an amazing upgrade of the ten original tracks, CD number 2 contains 13 B-sides, rarities and previously unreleased outtakes. A complete concert recording with 16 tracks from October 1982 delights on the third disc.
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