Prints Of Peace – The Bond – Geoff Mann: The Definitive Edition

Please note this is a PRE-ORDER as the album will not be shipping until mid-May 2024.

We are delighted to announce the forthcoming ‘Definitive Edition’ release of The Bond’s album Prints Of Peace.

Prints of Peace was The Bond’s second album and was recorded in March and April 1988. It is full of simple songs with clear messages. The original album, comprising eight tracks issued on LP and cassette, finds Geoff in a more reflective mood than on some other albums. The lyrics are brilliant as usual, and there are some really beautiful moments throughout. All the songs were written by Geoff except ‘Stranded’ by Geoff & keyboard-player Steve Ridley, and ‘Looking For Love’ by Geoff & guitarist Dave Mortimer.

This double CD Definitive Edition not only includes those eight tracks but also live versions of all of them, plus a number of other demos and song ideas that Geoff recorded on his own (that would probably have developed for inclusion on a third Bond album). Here are more details…

Disc One comprises the original album, followed by several new songs and song ideas. It closes with the version of ‘Seriously Siblings’ that Steven Wilson included on his Double Exposure compilation album released back in 1987.

Disc Two focusses on live versions as there are versions of all the album tracks – taken from Bond gigs at Ashton-under-Lyne and The Marquee, and a Geoff solo gig – sequenced in order. Whilst the live recordings are not of studio quality the different mixes bring out different elements of the music, as always underpinned by Geoff’s insightful lyrics and unmistakeable vocals. Then before the disc closes with the beautiful ‘Time and Tide’ (the highlight of another batch of song ideas), there is the bonus of three further live tracks, two of which feature a certain former bandmate on drums…

So, all told there are no less than 31 tracks in total!

The artwork has been updated and expanded by our good friend Spencer Rowbotham. The booklet will contain all of Geoff’s fantastic lyrics, as well as some of Geoff’s artwork, photos, sleeve notes, etc.

We hope you enjoy listening as much as we have enjoyed putting it all together.

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Here are some extracts from His Love… Andrew Wild’s biography of Geoff. The opinions expressed are Andy’s.

Prints of Peace was engineered and co-produced by Frank Walsh, who had previously worked with Geoff on Chants Would be A Fine Thing in 1984. ‘I remember working with Geoff being very positive and enjoyable on both occasions and talking to him about his faith’. Walsh recalls. ‘We had a young trainee called Lisa who had a very strong Leigh accent and had a lovely way of saying ‘snare’. Geoff picked up on that which is why the album credits ‘Lisa (great snur’), along with ‘everyone who’s helped us to become a farce to be recognised with!’

Steve Ridley’s gorgeous counter melody lifts the opening ‘Gateway Into Heaven’. The wide-open ‘Sob Stories’ has, according to Geoff, ‘big bare synths, bells and smells, acoustic guitar in the cloisters…’. It would be worked into a much different beast in concert by the Eh! Geoff Mann Band. Geoff is totally committed to ‘High Ground’, which has strong, questioning lyrics. ‘Seriously Siblings’ ends side one. Geoff described it as ‘a gleaming mix of chrome, bare bones, and muscle. Killer guitar from Dave, wide ranging keys of all sorts from Steve drawing landscapes in the air, and a mean throb of wobble on the throttle…’

The chirpy ‘Don’t You Wait’ offers a change of pace, and according to Mark Hughes: ‘is undoubtedly the closest Geoff ever got to writing a pop song and is one of the album’s highlights.’ Keyboards and guitars weave through the gentle, lovely ‘Stranded’. This subdued mood carries on in ‘Looking for Love’, a guitar ballad with fluting keyboards, a gorgeous lead vocal and a fluid guitar solo. The album closes with ‘Table Talk’, with its wobbly acoustic, synthesised strings, and swooping lead guitar. Geoff said: ‘This song carries an invite to dinner and call to the peaceful heart, RSVP.’

Surprisingly the cover was almost identical to that of Won By One with the same band logo over the album title. Neither are that striking nor memorable and it is a shame that some of Geoff’s own distinctive artwork could not have been employed. It was re-released on CD in 1996, with the new title Peace Offering and five additional tracks from Pullman Studio demo sessions for Won By One: ‘Too Modern ‘, ‘His Love’, ‘After The Storm’, ‘Certainly’ and ‘Willy Welsh’. [The complete Pullman studio demos, along with a host of other bonus tracks, are now available on the definitive edition of Won By One. Ed]

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The Bond were a trio in which Geoff was joined by guitarist Dave Mortimer, who had played on his previous two solo albums, and keyboard/saxophone player Steve Ridley. Their first release in 1986 was a cassette single comprising early versions of new songs ‘Too Modern’ and ‘Trumpet Call’. The Bond began gigging and recorded two demos. Soon after drummer Andy Mason left and a drum machine by the name of Roland was recruited.

More demos were recorded at Pullman Studios which resulted in an album deal. Won By One was released in 1987, featuring new recordings of all the songs previously demoed. The record company was pleased enough with Won By One to release a second album Prints Of Peace the following year. However, after a wide range of gigs including several headlines at London’s famous Marquee Club, The Bond disbanded amicably in 1989 and Geoff went on to form A/Eh! Geoff Mann Band. For their final gig, which was at the Marquee, they were joined on drums by Geoff’s former Twelfth Night bandmate, Brian Devoil.