The Cult- Wildflower (Manor sessions)

[@lgwelsh1]

I heard this version a long time ago, it's beautiful. You can hear the original direction which is definitly more classic Cult. Rick Rubin produced a more raw sound that obviously paved the way towards a more rock orientated sound. I prefer the "Love" sound layering of guitar and vocal effects but obviously they would not have has the commercial success with the continuation of this type of sound. Im glad they released these original recordings. Haunting and classic in their own right.

[@andrewstefani3939]

I adore this version, all kinds of melodies going on. The production sounded more lush, and Duffy has a guitar army on this version.

[@MarianMuruzabal]

When you listen to The Mannir Sessions you realize how amazing this band was during the Love era. Rick Rubin destroyed their unique sound. After listening to Peace I eas never able to listen to Electric Again. This is the true Cult sound.

[@zoso1980]

This. Electric is a smoldering piece of corporate rock garbage. Ian, Jamie and Billy doing their best AC/DC impression. It's rubbish.

[@cffc2880]

I personally think the Manor Sessions are fantastic. The best band ever!

[@DamienOutlaw77]

The Manor Sessions are the follow up to Love we never got to hear in 1987.

[@scotte.miller5707]

from way back in Southern Death Cult to present, this is an amazing evolution of a band, and Im thankful for that. Scenes, times & styles change and without many exceptions, bands that dont evolve, die. When did you last hear a Love & Rockets album? Besides, like it or love it, how lucky we are to have different versions & demos & solo projects circulating so we could have the luxury of debate. Great band, sorely underrated. Cant wait to see them in a few weeks...

[@Sreybk]

I like both of these versions.

[@salivabubble]

My favorite version of this song...roommate got ahold of "Manor Sessions" back in '90, and I have to say that I wish they hadn't scrapped "Peace". Would love to get my hands on a copy of "Sessions" now.

[@gratefulslacker]

Love the Manor Sessions! I was always glad to have both versions of these songs because they fit different moods for me. I am glad to see some new Cult fans discovering the offbeat stuff.

[@LaSombraRocknRoll]

Rick Rubin es un genio. Esta canción suena all LOVE. Rick Rubin suena al siglo XXI, Rick Rubin es la verdadera mezcla del hip hop y el hard rock en su máxima expresión

[@stephencawker1565]

Love this Shit in the morning outside with a coffee and a joint..listen to different versions of the singles looking forward to seeing them and JT on drums for the first time.

[@philfalsetti6139]

Most likely, my favorite song of all time.

[@davidtrenberth5356]

'Electric' proved that The Cult had a broader musical vocabulary than most of their contemporaries. That being said, their previous outing was a higher calibre and at least they wandered vaguely back in that direction for 'Temple.

[@tommytrixter]

I Still Have My Box Set With All These Mixes

[@bigrickhbcycle]

Great mid eighties sound..use to Rock the headphones on the way to grade 10 with these guys...that feeling comes back listening to this tune...bravo...

[@zzsql]

I got this box set back in like 1990. Really neat picture CDs with the remixes. wow. still epic!

[@phillyduffy9831]

Very interesting, love it!

[@jonomutiny]

Cheers for the upload man, great stuff!!! I remember when Electric came out, it was a massive direction change and took a bit to get into it, but not too long as it was an awesome album, saw the the Love tour and on the Electric tour twice and met them also, great guys, great music........

[@RTC1655]

Ian's voice here - just wow

[@xmt84]

@VERCENDARKA pesar que tengan el mísmo sonido que Love. Las canciones de Peace/Manor sessions ya incorporan Riffs entrecortados, punteos y solos de guitarra Rockeros y ritmos mas pesados. Alejandose de los sonidos gothicos. La producción de Rubin ayudo a extraer todo el potencial de la banda y reflejo las ideas que Astbury y Duffy tenían. Hacer simple y puro Rock. Solo hay que seguir su carrera y comprobar que han seguido variando su sonido disco a disco sin dejar de ser The Cult.

[@timothymaroney4497]

This version is so much better than the boring version on the "Electric" album. The "Peace" versions of all these songs, especially this one and "Love Removal Machine," really are just vastly superior.

[@GrayWoIf]

First time hearing this wow its night and day

[@dirtstyles]

well the Electric album cracked the U.S market for them, Ian & Billy said they were already heading in a more hard rock direction so Rick Rubin just helped them realise this.

[@halation777]

I remember seeing they Love Removal Machine video for the first time, thinking "Is this a joke"?? So many rock cliches in that video. The album grew on me eventually. It was the last Cult album I ever bought. They lost something special after Love.

[@renatofabbro5263]

Same here. They were trying way too hard in that video and same for Wild Flower (from the new look to the head banging to Ian jumping through beer cans, it was one cringey cliche after another). A lot of us original fans were turned off by Electric and what Rick Rubin did with them. Love was their best album, and the last one that I bought.

[@sangeli1901]

@@renatofabbro5263 as a new 1988 Cult fan and by the way very much into heavy metal at that time I never understood you old heads dislike of Electric…. Now I understand….

[@davidphoenix3593]

Crazy bout you Wildflower Star of my dreams The most beautiful thing

[@DaveClark-ib6sp]

I prefer the Love approach and sounds over Electric. So do they... Love is my favorite Cult album, especially on vinyl.

[@3rdDegreeGurn]

THE CULT STILL KICK ASS NOW.FCK YEAH!!

[@lolitriguercomariadolores138]

LOVE music

[@naracarvalho4918]

love

[@tomt6142]

I am a HUGE Love fan - so I can and do appreciate this - but the best part of Wildflower is that great guitar riff, which is missing here. 1 vote for the Electric version

[@sebastiaooliveira5189]

Fantastico

[@TheMcmikerg]

Whether you prefer "Peace" or "Electric", it takes balls of steel to (essentially) scrap a whole album and completely re-tool the sound.

[@pedroarranz313]

The way Billy Duffy rewrote this riff for the Electric version is absolutely a masterclass. How you come with that monster riff that melts your loudspeakers, starting from this boring and you-heard-it-on-the-previous-album-didn't-you Manor sessions riff.... No doubt why they felt they needed a 180⁰ turn.

[@VERCENDARK]

@ohmygoshwhy Thank you i think lol. was just spouting my opinion and my sadness at 'The Cult's' change in direction from their classic post punk, goth albums and will always feel the Manor sessions would have been a great heavier continuation from their previous albums. Cheers and all the best to you

[@warborn_inc.]

Love both albums "Peace " and "Electric "...Billy has actually said had the Cult not put out Electric with the Raw Rick Rubin production they (The Cult) would have most certainly just disappeared into obscurity and wouldn't have been around very long. Basically meaning that the drastic change they made from Love to Electric was crucial because it kept the bands name in circulation...they had a hint of controversy around them between the "original " Cult fans and then the "new" Cult fans who loved the raw "Electric" album. Especially in the U.S..."Electric " opened the door which allowed them to make what is largely considered their best album "Sonic Temple" which in many ways is a blend of the largely effected post punk/psychedelic sound of Love and the balls out rock sound of Electric. They have been a favorite band of mine since I saw them in 85-6 and I personally love the diversity their albums always present

[@renatofabbro5263]

Sonic Temple is not their best album. Love is. Also, I don't think they would have faded into obscurity if they didn't go the route they did because they had a very solid fan base.

[@zoso1980]

@@renatofabbro5263 Yup. I think they'd have evolved a fan base kind of like The Cure had they stayed with Steve Brown development. Sure, they'd not be stadium rock, however they'd have been recognized as innovators of a genre. Instead, we got Billy and Ian hopping from Gothic Rock, to US corporate stadium rock, or that weird 1994 LP that was soulless. They had guts to change their sound, yes. However, looking at them across the decades there are touches of inauthenticity and going where the trends are. At times it's offputting.

[@seagullsummer3856]

Whatever session........these guys bust it out.

[@artpimpjulz]

Listen to the voice on the first verse, the rock and roll solo, the attitude of the chorus - that is a band wanting to break free from the pale shadow of the alto scene and man-up. Didn't get into love until much later and i love both Cult's, but Electric just rocks. My opinion, but by leaving an ageing scene they were able to continue with a whole new generation of people for whom a rainy Leeds was just not that relevant a touchstone.

[@spikesification]

I want this manor sessions album...

[@frankiesaenz5870]

it was released as "peace" the full album that was originally was before they scrapped it and had rick rubin turn what was something amazing and unique into AC/DC worship

[@MadSlantedPowers]

I think I heard this version on Music Choice once. I guess this is what the song would have sounded like if it had been on Love instead of Electric.

[@eduardobracamontealvarez1959]

great

[@glenmunro3]

yep

[@henninggjerdisoltvedt4614]

Better than the Eletric vertion that was released.

[@999Cinderwolf]

@euqsabtnatillim I have great news for You both! The true isthat We don´t have to choose a preferible album... We have the big, enormous lucky to have both versions!! Both, "Peace" and "Electric" make a complete kit of one of the greatest songs in Rock history... Regards from someone that just love Cult seriously!!

[@holeintheleg]

Why the actual fuck didn’t they actually follow through with this recording of the electric album, like this?!!... The manor sessions EP is extraordinary. Electric stripped back sounds like rip off AC-DC. seriously a misstep. OK I understand they wanted to move on but sometimes artists need saving from themselves. The production is out of this world here. Fucking loved it first time I head it.

[@matthewlee7788]

❤ 100%

[@rodneystanger1651]

They should have taken the unused bits and see if there was another tune in there. My guess is they probably thought so too, but couldn't nail it.

[@kellyburke3529]

Proof that the follow up to Love would've been "Love Pt II" if it hadn't been for Rick Rubin. Drenched in reverb and studio gimmicks. Rubin's production took the sheen off and turned The Cult into something totally different. Apart from Born to be Wild, Electric is a stripped down materpeice.

[@troymcclure8851]

Did you mean "Stripped dowm masterbate?" Yes Rubin was indeed wank

[@vicentepons956]

brutal!!

[@Joeskint]

Rick Rubin killed The Cult as far as I'm concerned - this version of Love Removal Machine has some of Billy's most innovative playing, but Rubin dumbed it down.

[@1badjesus]

Freudian Slip.....this is Wildflower.

[@sandorfintor]

I agree.

[@michaelhermanson2755]

U guys are crazy.. these sessions sound so bad in comparison. The reverb is obscene..and the cult would have never elevated to Sonic Temple without the intervention of Rubin on Electric to give them a berth of confidence to get them moving in that direction. These manor sessions are basically "love" part duo...and if we respect The Cult at all we must respect their desire to evolve.. and Rubin was a pathway to evolution. The Cult has said as much..and you all disagree? Meaning then you are not fans then of anything post Love? In respect to full disclosure however, electric is my least favourite record but i understand what it meant for the band, I am a dyed-in-the-wool love fan and a dyed-in-the-wool sonic temple fan but I realise what it took to get from one to the other and that was Rick Rubin's electric

[@michaelhermanson2755]

And don't get me started on the forgotten album Ceremony either! Brilliant stuff!

[@999Cinderwolf]

@@michaelhermanson2755 you're so right here! Personally, I like both versions: the "Manor sessions", and the final cuts with Rubin producing... But I think that the Eléctrico album is the Cult at their top! And the obvious step before their masterpiece Sonic temple 😉

[@neilmoneymaker4875]

Rick Rubin did the Cult their biggest favor ever by agreeing to work with them on Electric. Without Electric being finished like it was when released, Sonic Temple would've never been possible, because they wouldn't have had the learning experience of being first told what to cut and what not to. And Sonic Temple would've been full of meandering shit that didn't need to be there and every fucking song would've probably been a 10 minute epic. Electric, was their best effort, top to bottom, they ever recorded.

[@milesc.anthony2811]

Awee-Jobby-Jabber-Woky.

[@Kelly14UK]

I want that American box set. I've got loads of Cult stuff, but i don't use iTunes, so it's frustrating in the shops for me. Want to complete my collection badly.

[@Flagellator1974]

This is a Wild Flower.

[@williamrobinson6824]

Sorry, but if there is one song that fits the motorcycle snarl style, it's Wildflower.

[@jonathancridford8754]

Peace will always supersede Electric, as far as I'm concerned. Electric was an interesting side step - and there's no doubt that both Billy and Ian saw the zeitgeist turning in the States - but for me, the musicality and 'Cultness' of Peace wins. The songs are so much richer and feel like a logical step on from Love. Personally, I think they'd have always made Sonic Temple; when you hear Love - Peace - Sonic Temple in order it feels rightt. I agree with Billy that some of the songs needed trimming - "Peace Dog", "Bad Fun" and "Outlaw" are a little bloated - and perhaps the production needed finessing, but the core ingredients are here and sublime.

[@ohmygoshwhy]

@VERCENDARK -- Sorry about your brain. Electric is a great album, and all the CAPSLOCK in the universe isn't going to change that. Pre-Electric the Cult was awesome. Electric and after: still awesome.

[@somedudeinva]

You can call it that. Fact is, they are business people making decisions which must included weigh-ins from their artistic and business interests. If this was a business decision which went against their artistic interests, then that would be selling out. If it was a compromise, maybe not. I don't think they would have gone with something they didn't like at all just to make a buck.

[@VERCENDARK]

@ohmygoshwhy Don't be sorry for my brain, She's fine and loving life. And i will always think the Electric album is shit and think it's a shame they didn't keep the Manor versions for release of the album. And liked alot Sonic Temple. But still no match for 'LOVE AND DREAMTIME', THEIR BEST EVER ALBUMS. AND CAPSLOCK OR NOT, NOTHING CAN CHANGE THE FACT THEY ARE MUCH DEEPER AND MEANINGFUL ALBUMS AND NOT JUST WEAK ATTEMPTS AT AMERICAN METAL, AND PROBALY JUST MADE TO SELL MORE IN AMERICA :-)

[@CUPCAKESUGARPIE]

MERCY

[@makaras]

Beats the Electric version by miles

[@sulatlalaki]

True that many people don't know the Manor Sessions were the orig, before the commercial, COMPLETE AND TOTAL CHANGE of their style. I, too, remember being super disappointed with Electric ["dry" version]. It took me some time, song by song, to warm up to Electric2: Wild Flower, Peace Dog, Lil' Devil. It's too bad these Manor Sessions [at least here] aren't mixed better.

[@typblack1]

I eat class for breakfast Jack. Along with my fuckin cheerios.

[@DavidGarvinTechnophile]

Many disagree, but you're so right. Manor Sessions would have put them over the top. Electric (as released) was a disappointment to fans, me included.

[@SullyGuitars]

I give a fuck! :) I love The Cult, and while I love this song on Electric, this sounds more "Cult-like" to me. Especially when you listen to the rest of their music.

[@csansolo]

could not agree more, I got the album when it was released, as a present. I gave it away straight way. rock for 13 year old boys. disgusting. huge disapointment.

[@somedudeinva]

Of course it's my opinion. Obviously such things are subjective and nobody can really know how things would have worked out had they stuck with this. Just my assessment.

[@dlvox5222]

Thank you Rick Rubin for fixing this.

[@somedudeinva]

As awesome as the Manor sessions were, the Cult made the right decision by ditching them. They would not have achieved the same commercial success. Fans will appreciate them, but they would not have been as catchy and radio-friendly. It was a business decision. And the correct one.

[@ohmygoshwhy]

@VERCENDARK I was hoping maybe you just had a broken keyboard, or had enabled sticky keys and hadn't been able to figure out how to turn them off. Either of those options is a lot less damaging to my usual belief the people aren't purposely berserk. But then again, you are someone who thinks Electric sucks. I'm amused by your reply to my idiotic brain remark, though. Very well played. Cheers, Señor CAPSLOCK.

[@wrabit79]

@VERCENDARK MOYA

[@VERCENDARK]

@aweejobby Aww poor little baby did i hurt babies feelings LMFAO

[@Higherlearningfacility]

@VERCENDARK The truth.

[@halation777]

I agree. They lost it after Love.

[@picajoool]

Where did you get this?

[@halation777]

So a "buisiness decision" was the correct one? Hmmm. Interesting opinion. I would call that "selling out".

[@poemeetsludwig2410]

Gothic Rock version

[@MarianMuruzabal]

When you listen The Mannor Sessions you realize Rick Rubin destroyed their sound. This would have been a much MUCH better progression from the LOVE album.

[@infowazz]

interesting. i shall check it out. first time hearing this. it seems a bit too layered but love it still. i was a huge Cult fan as a kid. nobody liked them like me back then. wasn't a big sonic temple fan at all.

[@sandorfintor]

Peace > Electric.

[@wrabit79]

all cult is great, that this wheter sounds good or not the electric album is one of the best hard rocking albums of all time....is like gnr released welcome to the jungle different than the original...so now the one that became the hit is not good as the demo

[@DavidGarvinTechnophile]

"The Worst Cult Album". Well, one has to be "the worst". Still much better than most of that dreck out there!!!!!!

[@halation777]

Actually, that is your opinion. There is no "correct" one.

[@Havanacuba1985]

I don’t like this compared to the version on electric, the. Erosion on electric is tight , bare bones rock n roll

[@PaulRoneClarke]

The Manor Sessions were far more in line with "Love" - Love Removal Machine when it came out, was just "generic rock", and I always assumed the homogenised production on the released album was a scared, knee-jerk reaction from the producer and label that wanted to take no risks. It wasn't so much a progression for the band. It was them being moulded to fit the sound every other rock band was doing at the time. Shame.

[@toolkien]

1) It was the band who wanted a different sound - they DIDN'T WANT Love Part II. 2) In so doing, they choose to re-record the material with a DIFFERENT PRODUCER. And working with Rick Rubin, largely up until 1987, a Rap producer, was hardly going in the same old, safe direction. It was a bold move. 3) The label was unhappy with the decision to re-record and didn't want to spend the money over and above the money already spent on these versions -they're in the business to make money back on money they've invested, not re-record songs twelve times. 4) But, once the label heard a few of the re-recorded songs, they got enthused quickly paid for the rest of the recording. 5) When Love Removal Machine came out, to me, it was a REFRESHING dose of stripped down rock that hadn't been around for a few years, and as a teen a "few years" was a long time. Around 1983, something terrible happened in hard music where the suits were trying to get the chicks to the concerts. Production was getting insipid, ballads becoming mandatory, weak sounds out of fake equipment and overproduction was the common standard. It was hard listening to Poison/Motley Crue/Def Leppard etc etc. "Electric" blew the doors open and let a fresh breeze come through, or - perhaps - a return to Flick of the Switch Era AC/DC got a new turn. Electric was hardly the same old thing in 1987. The Cult's Electric coupled with Guns'N'Roses gave me hope for a revitalization of hard rock. G'N'R was set to disappoint, and the advent of grunge - pounded into the ground by the suits - killed my optimism just a few short years later. 6) IF the Cult had stuck with Love Part II, I doubt very highly we'd be talking/typing today. The Cult would have gone by why of a dozen other British acts of the early 80's. Talk Talk, The Chameleons, Echo and the Bunnymen, or Love and Rockets aren't exactly putting out new, quality stuff, or had the sustain of The Cult. She Sells Sanctuary would be relegated to the One Hit Wonder/New Wave compilations, and people would recall it fondly as "that one song by a group who I can't remember their name when I went to the roller rink as a kid song". THAT would be a shame.

[@PaulRoneClarke]

And yet they did end up sounding like most other rock bands of the era with LRM and ST being so generic they might have been made by any one of 100 late 80's bands. I remember my mum seeing Ian gyrating on stage to one of the LRM tracks and saying at the time "Aerosmith, they haven't changed in years have they" - and I thought she had a valid point. - thought he sound was more like The Scorpions back then to me (before they got all "power ballad" on us) Glad they are still going, a great band, but I struggle to see how their albums after Love were in any way ground breaking or different from many other bands of the era.

[@aarthoor]

Paul Rone-Clarke At the time I thought that LRM was a safe bet as Led Zep and AC/DC never go out of fashion. I remember the band saying they had always wanted to just play heavy metal, fair do's but while lucrative, original it was not.

[@YazGuitarChannel]

+Paul “Scritty” Rone-Clarke I agree that Sonic Temple sucked and so did everything after. I loved "Love" and their earlier stuff (which I had first heard on the amazing Vertigo Sampler). When Electric came out, it was amazing and different. Glam metal was in at that time, not AC/DC or Zep. This preceded Guns n Roses, too. (Aerosmith didn't get back together at that time, either.) Metal guitarists were all doing Eddie Van Halen kind of stuff, not the old school Angus Young type solos that Billy Duffy was reviving. (Conquistador on the B side of Love Removal Machine was amazing too, and connected them to the Love sound). And in any case, in the She Sells Sanctuary video, me and my friends always said that Ian Astbury was channeling Steve Tyler. It was so obvious. And they always had that "retro" style about them, so moving from the 1960s to the 1970s wasn't so bad. And in fact it was pretty bold since 1970s retro was not fashionable at the time. It was just sad that they degenerated into a B-grade rock band after Electric. They needed to do another bold move after this album, too. But they couldn't do it sadly. At least we have two GREAT albums from them. And very different from each other.

[@PaulRoneClarke]

Yaz Stone Pretty much agree with everything there Yaz. 2 great albums. The only 2 I listen to for the past 20 years really.

[@fakebrake]

Way to much reverb on the vocals and everything else.

[@philphilly4777]

Blah,blah,blah,if you like it u like it if not then u don,t !!

[@VERCENDARK]

HA HA HA REMIX, WHAT A FOOL. THE MANOR SESSIONS WERE THE ORIGINAL BEFORE THE ELECTRIC ALBUM BECAME THE WORST CULT ALBUM EVER. BECAME A PATHETIC WANK ATTEMPT AT AMERICAN METAL. DAMN IF ONLY THE CULT HADN'T LET THEIR ROOTS GET DESTROYED. THEY WERE SO ORIGINAL BEFORE THEY RELEASED (THE TOTAL AND UTTER CRAP VERSION OF) ELECTRIC. R.I.P TO THE ORIGINAL CULT