Baby’s Coming Back: Jellyfish Goes Deluxe In January

This January is all about Jellyfish, thanks to the team at Omnivore Recordings. On January 20, 2015, the label will release the eagerly-anticipated 2-CD deluxe editions of both 1990’s Bellybutton and 1993’s Spilt Milk – in other words, the complete original album oeuvre of the power pop revivalists. In total, 51 bonus tracks will be spread across the two releases for the most complete account of the short-lived yet fondly-remembered Bay Area band.

Formed by singer/drummer Andy Sturmer and keyboardist Roger Joseph Manning, Jr., both late of San Francisco’s Beatnik Beach, Jellyfish initially featured Manning’s brother Chris on bass and Jason Falkner of The Three O’Clock on guitar. Inspired by The Beach Boys, The Beatles and Badfinger (among others), Bellybutton yielded a modest hit in the form of the single “Baby’s Coming Back,” but while the single was sweet, band relations weren’t. Chris Manning and Jason Falkner would depart the band after the completion of its first tour. (A document of the group in action can be heard on the splendid 2012 Live at Bogart’s, also from Omnivore.) But the 10 tracks the original group left behind speak volumes for the quartet’s musical compatibility. The upcoming edition of Bellybutton contains the original, remastered album in full, plus a generous 26 bonus tracks. The 2-CD set, housed in a digipak, adds demo and live versions of both released and unreleased tracks, plus covers of favorites from Paul McCartney & Wings (“Jet”), Donovan (“Season of the Witch”) and even The Archies (“Sugar and Spice”). The full-color booklet boasts an essay from author Ken Sharp based on recent interviews with Andy Sturmer, Roger Joseph Manning Jr., and the album’s producers (Bee Gees veteran Albhy Galuten and Jack Joseph Plug). Sturmer and Manning also participate in track-by-track commentary on the original tracks. The Bellybutton Demos, consisting of 16 demos found on Disc 2 of the deluxe edition CD, will also be released as a digital-only standalone set.

Hit the jump for more, including the complete track listings for both titles!

THE SECOND DISC’S HOLIDAY GIFT GUIDE IS HERE!

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