Elbow Unreleased debut album on island info please?

Hi guys, was windering if anybody could help me, i am looking for any info about this unreleased album that was recorded but never saw the light of day for island before the label disbanded, i know it was around 1997 and after noisebox but does anybody own it, how many copies were relased etc, ican find little bit of info on wiki but it doesnt really say more than i already know, any help would be much appreciated,
Thank you in advance

for Elbow are now again at some branch of Universal it would be fair enough to give them the old version back...

I've been very eager for this as well since first learning of its existence... anyway!!! http://elbow.heavenforum.org/offered-f7/elbow-unreleased-debut-album-on-island-1997-for-sale-on-ebay-t438.htm#10824

Don't miss out!!!

Im happy to take offers on this, if any ones interested, just pm me as i got it up on ebay! thanks

The 'whole album being re-recorded' for V2 is a bit of a misconception as a look at the recording and production credits would show. Only some of the songs were re-recorded; some were licenced back from Universal/Island, and some were either new songs or not previously considered for the album. And the Noisebox EP precedes any record deal/album recording sessions.

So here's my take on the recording history of the 'unreleased album' songs, which is a mixture of facts (taken from recording info on the album and singles), and educated guesses (gotta get some sort of disclaimer in).

Recording Timeline
May-June 1998 - Noisebox EP recorded
15/06/1998 Noisebox EP released
Sept 1998 - Elbow make it into the final of the In The City music fest
Sept 1998 - Powder Blue first radio play on John Peel show
later in 1998 - Sign with Island and start writing and recording an album between France and Realworld Studios in Bath
1999 - Elbow dropped from Island following the takeover by Universal
1999/2000 - EMI agree to sign Elbow, proposed contracts sent to lawyers etc, but bail on the deal before anything is signed
07/08/2000 - Newborn EP released on Uglyman Records
Sept 2000 - Second appearance at In The City
late 2000 - band sign with V2
Nov 2000 - finish recording tracks for album with V2 in Liverpool
23/01/2001 - Any Day Now EP released on Uglyman
23/04/2001 - Red released
07/05/2001 - Asleep in the Back finally released.

Unreleased Album Song History

Any Day Now
It's the same recording on the EP and (released) album, and the EP has the note "Produced... ...to a blueprint by Steve Osborne" which suggests that it was re-recorded from the Island sessions but probably doesn't sound much different.

Red
Re-recorded. A post on the Elbowfans Yahoogroup suggests that the Island version is actually the Noisebox version.

Powder Blue
The released version is actually the Noisebox 'demo' remixed and possibly with some new recorded elements and a new vocal, or at least with those effects etc taken off. It seems as if they recorded a new version of Powder Blue during the Island sessions, but eventually decided the first (Noisebox) version was still better.

Bitten By The Tailfly
Re-recorded for the album but the Newborn EP version appears to be from the Island sessions.

George Lassoes The Moon
The version on the Any Day Now EP appears to be from the Island sessions.

About Time
Licenced from Universal/Island as a b-side to Red.

Newborn
Licenced from Universal/Island for the Newborn EP and the album but remixed for the album.

Suffer
Licenced from Universal/Island as a b-side to Powder Blue.

Can't Stop
Licenced from Universal/Island for the album.

Scattered Black and Whites
Released on the Manchester Aid to Kosovo compilation CD 'Cohesion' in January 2001, and re-recorded for Asleep In The Back.


So that only leaves 2 or 3 recordings that we don't know much about, unless someone wants to speculate that they re-recorded songs even while with Island...

I'd also suggest the 'original' versions which remain unreleased perhaps only really have curiosity value - the band could've simply licenced them all back from Island but chose to re-record them so presumably they think the newer versions are an improvement. Also in interviews they stated that they played it pretty safe with the original recordings because of what was happening within Island at the time. It's not like it's the Rootin' Tootin' Luton Tapes great lost album or something...

Wow, cheers for the timeline and info.

Saw auction finished today...Reserve not met...got to £67

If anyone is still interested to make an offer on the cd, thankyou