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What do Pretty Girls do?

This is as collection of all four BBC Radio 1 sessions broadcast between 1989 and 1995. Mostly the tracks are all previously unavailable versions of songs - some very familiar, others you won't have heard unless you're an obsessive collector! Kirsty was concerned when the recordings were due to be released, wondering if they might turn out to be the aural equivalent of holiday snapshots. As she wonders in the sleeve notes "vocally speaking, would I be sporting flares and a feather cut whilst waving a jug of sangria? Well, in some cases yes, but in spite of a certain amount of nervousness and the odd nod to Loretta Lynn, the tracks sound pretty good - and they made me laugh.".

The main difference with the originals, and the main reason why recordings spanning 6 years on this CD fit so well together, is that these are virtually all acoustic versions with a slimmed down support - just the odd vocal contribution or, er, party whistles in evidence.

Review: "Taped variously between 89 and 95, these recordings capture MacColl - undervalued marrier of wit, compassion and sharply observed lyrics to a well-worked tune - clearly enjoying the informal settings, and in good voice without the overpolishing that too often takes the edge off her records. Some of her better known work is here but more to be valued are some great lost songs and B sides: the guilty treachery of Caroline, the trailer trash mum's pleas of Don't run away from me now, the hellraising threat of Bad, plus jokey covers of Darling let's have another baby (one of two duets with Billy Bragg) and the Everlys Walk right back. Great stuff." Q, Ian Cranna (5 stars)

Musicians: Billy Bragg, Phil Rambow, Martin Belmont, Pete Glenister, Mark Nevin, Gavin Povey, Paul Riley, Simon Edwards, Segs, Guy Pratt, Pete Thomas, Lu Edmonds, Dave Ruffy, Bobby Valentino.

Tracks 1-4: BBC Radio 1: Nicky Campbell show 8 November 1989.
Tracks 5-8: BBC Radio 1: Nicky Campbell show 26 June 1991.
Tracks 9-11: BBC Radio 1 : Simon Mayo show 7 March 1994.
Tracks 12-15: BBC Radio 1 : Kevin Greening show 20 February 1995 .

1. Don't come the cowboy with me, Sonny Jim!
   Kirsty MacColl LYRICS, CHORDS
   "They'll never mind if you're counting the cracks on the wall"
   A straightforward version, minus slide guitar.
2. What do pretty girls do?
   Kirsty MacColl & Pete Glenister LYRICS, CHORDS
   "She never thought she'd have to take care of herself"
   The original song was an effective enough little song in the middle of the "Kite" album. At the time I awarded it only 2 stars, but this version is more direct and for me brings out the quality of the song somewhat better. Possibly it got lost a little amongst Kite's many highlights.
3. Don't run away from me now
   Kirsty MacColl & Philip Rambow LYRICS
   "Give us a kiss 'cause there's nothing to say, but don't run away from me now"
   A marvellous lost gem in the country mould, swathed in sadness and not a little humour. This was always one of my favourite tracks so it's good to see it reaching a wider audience on this release. The radio version is a close cousin to the original track.
4. Still life
   Kirsty MacColl & Philip Rambow LYRICS
   "Somewhere behind the concrete and the glass, the monuments of England's sacred cow"
   Drenched in memories, sparse, delicate and basically wonderful. Of course introducing Milton Keynes in a rhyming couplet is the icing on the cake. If you know this from the Days CD single, this version adds misty violin from Bobby Valentino which can't ever be a bad idea. The track concludes the first 1989 session - time to buckle your seat belts, here comes Billy!
5. There's A Guy Works Down The Chip Shop Swears He's Elvis
   Kirsty MacColl & Philip Rambow LYRICS, CHORDS
   "but he's a liar, and I'm not sure about you"
   Broadcast in 1991, it's a reworking in the country style - stripped down to guitar and vocals (plus the occasional 'whee' noise). Possibly the best way to sing it, conjuring dreams of empty bourbon glasses and backwoods bars. This is a different take from the session version previously issued on the "All I ever wanted" CD single.
6. Walk right back
   Sonny Curtis LYRICS
   "I want you to tell me why you walked out on me"
   The old Everly Brothers hit, first a hit in 1961, later charting with Perry Como in 1973. It's a fine bittersweet song you know - just managing to survive what sounds like death by Kazoo in the middle section, reminiscent of Bob Dylan's Highway 61 revisited.
7. Darling, let's have another baby
   Fred Berk LYRICS, CHORDS
   "Darling, if you ever leave me I'll cry a million tears"
   The other version of this Fred Berk song which appeared in 1991 was all grungey electric guitar and interminably drawn out finale; this cut is tighter but both of course feature the wonderful Billy Bragg on joint lead vocals. Kirsty even forgets to come in on time on one chorus!
8. A new England
   Written by Billy Bragg LYRICS, CHORDS
   "Are you looking for another girl?"
   Still featuring Bragg and fun packs, a fairly straightforward run through of Billy's classic song brings the 1991 session to a close.
9. My affair
   Kirsty MacColl & Mark Nevin LYRICS
   "It's no concern of yours if I sleep with the President"
   Three years later, from the Simon Mayo show. Played on acoustic guitars, but retaining the Cuban Chorus. Great how the verse about "now it's no concern of yours if I sleep with the President" sounds so topical in 1998.
10. Bad
    Kirsty MacColl LYRICS, CHORDS
    "I want a brief encounter in a stolen car, a hand on my buttock in a Spanish bar "
    Not quite so slinky and atmospheric as the album version, but a fine solo version all the same.
11. Can't stop killing you
    Kirsty MacColl & Johnny Marr LYRICS, CHORDS
    "I'm the lightning that strikes you just before you hear the thunder"
    A sublime track from Titanic Days, once again given an acoustic rendition in the radio studio. Immaculately done and a definite album highlight. 
12. Caroline
    Kirsty MacColl LYRICS, CHORDS
    "What a terrible thing for a friend to do"
    The start of the final session, from Kevin Greening's show in 1995. Kirsty's voice takes on a slightly huskier tone in these tracks, which is in no way a criticism.
13. Free World
    Written by Kirsty MacColl LYRICS, CHORDS
    "With a pocketful of plastic like a dollar on elastic in this free world "
    A very sparse version of our theme song, cut down to the bone and still cookin'
14. He's on the beach
    Kirsty MacColl & Gavin Povey LYRICS, CHORDS
    "I'm not sure where he is - but he's out of reach"
    This is the gem on the album - buried in amongst the big production number originally heard in 1985 is a fabulous song. I know it appeared on "Galore" too but until I heard this version I didn't realise how good a song this is.
15. A new England
    Written by Billy Bragg LYRICS, CHORDS
    "Are you looking for another girl?"
    The better of the two versions, sung solo and the best possibly way to wind up the sessions, and the CD.

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• Other albums - Desperate Character - Kite - Electric Landlady - Titanic Days - Tropical Brainstorm
• Compilations - Kirsty MacColl - The Essential Collection - The One and Only - Galore

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