In 1993, the LP Dreamland was released by Aztec Camera. Three multi-format singles were lifted from it. Fans who bought the various formats hoping for new material that hadn’t made the cut for the LP were left sorely disappointed but there was some consolation prizes, initially at least.
First up was Spanish Horses. It came out in three formats and the b-sides consisted of 7 live versions of old songs appealing enough to fans to make it a worthwhile purchase. But it still only reached #52.
Next was Dream Sweet Dreams. It also came out in three formats and consisted of 6 live versions of old songs; again, these were of enough appeal that it reached #67.
The third and last single was Birds.
This was the opening track on the LP and seen by many as one of the best songs on a record that had received mixed reviews and hadn’t sold well. Being the third single off an LP was always going to be of limited appeal, so you’d think everyone concerned would do something special on the b-sides. Instead what we got was a pointless, money-grabbing exercise as the single was issued on 2 x CDs with the five tracks on the b-sides – Working In A Goldmine, Knife, Somewhere In My Heart, Oblivious and Good Morning Britain – all being the exact same versions of songs that had been released some years earlier. There was absolutely no incentive whatsoever to buy Birds other than for the sake of completeness.
You won’t be surprised to hear it didn’t dent the charts. In fact, I’d be surprised if sales reached four figures….
mp3 : Aztec Camera – Birds
File under rip-off.
THE NEW VINYL VILLAIN 
Spot o post JC. I didn’t buy Birds.
I was surprised with the mixed reviews that Dreamland received. I really like the album.