BILL NELSON – QUIT DREAMING AND GET ON THE BEAM (3 x CD + Blu-Ray) (Cherry Red) (2024): THE BACKGROUND

Written between 1978 and 1979, “Quit Dreaming and Get on the Beam” was originally shelved by EMI. It followed Bill’s work with Red Noise on the sci-fi leaning “Sound on Sound” and “Drastic Plastic”, and was a logical extension of his experiments with guitar synth, loops and synth during that time, channelling his experiments with his “weird and wonderful ideas” born out of an Art College experience, absorbing the music of Cage, Stockhausen, Riley and Jean Cocteau, which became the name of his label when he began to work independently of major labels, which he still does today and has done prolifically over the years.

So here we have a remaster of a 1981 album that, despite all the apprehension and setbacks, went on to reach #7 in the UK albums chart. The second CD has singles and radio sessions from 1980-1981 with original mixes of ‘Ideal Homes’ and ‘Instantly Yours’, the B-side of ‘Do You Dream in Colour’, ‘Atom Man Loves Radium Girl’; a Belgian B-side, ‘Dada Guitare’; the ‘Banal’ extended mix and his March, 1981 EP; Nelson’s double single set that began with ‘Youth of Nation on Fire’; his August, 1981 EP beginning with ‘Living in My Limousine’; a four track session for Piccadilly Radio showcasing the more experimental side of Nelson’s music; and finally, a four track John Peel Radio One session from June, 1981. CD three has the album sessions with two bonuses; the fourth disc is a 5.1 Blu-Ray and the promotional video for ‘Do You Dream in Colour?’