It's Better to Travel

Information

This was Swing Out Sister's debut album and contained the hit single "Breakout", which reached number 4 on the UK pop chart in November 1986 and number 6 on the US pop chart in November 1987. Subsequent singles released from It's Better to Travel include "Surrender", "Twilight World" and "Fooled by a Smile". The original vinyl and cassette release comprised the first nine tracks shown below. The remaining tracks were added to the subsequent CD release.

The album also garnered the band two American Grammy Award nominations for Best New Artist and Best Pop Vocal Performance by a Group or Duo ("Breakout") at the ceremony held in 1988.

For this album, Swing Out Sister consisted of vocalist Corinne Drewery, keyboardist Andy Connell and drummer Martin Jackson. Jackson would depart the group during the recording of their second album, Kaleidoscope World.

The title for the album was derived from a quote by the Scottish author Robert Louis Stevenson: "To travel hopefully is a better thing than to arrive, and the true success is to labour."

On 16 July 2012, It's Better to Travel was re-released in an expanded 2-disc version, to celebrate the 25th anniversary of its release. It contained both the remastered version of the original album, plus a bonus disc of various remixes and B-sides, most of which were previously unavailable on CD.

Reviews

Caroline Sullivan of Melody Maker described the songs on It's Better to Travel as "spanking, sparkling, radio-friendly little tunes, dressed up in some Dagworthy/Galliano fashionwear and committed to vinyl by a good-looking girl and two male partners." Lucy O'Brien of New Musical Express mentioned a "lush, laidback funky mix with nifty horn section" and stated that "it should be less a case of Swing than Break Out Sister."

Track listing

All tracks credited to "Swing Out Sister"

LP and cassette version

1. "Breakout" - (3:46)
2. "Twilight World" - (Superb, Superb, Mix) - (6:27)
3. "After Hours" - (4:48)
4. "Blue Mood" - (4:18)
5. "Surrender" - (3:53)
6. "Fooled by a Smile" - (4:06)
7. "Communion" - (4:40)
8. "It's Not Enough" - (3:46)
9. "Theme (From - 'It's Better to Travel')" - (4:32)

CD version

1. "Breakout" - (3:46)
2. "Twilight World" - (Superb, Superb, Mix) - (6:27)
3. "After Hours" - (4:48)
4. "Blue Mood" - (4:18)
5. "Surrender" - (3:53)
6. "Fooled by a Smile" - (4:06)
7. "Communion" - (4:40)
8. "It's Not Enough" - (3:46)
9. "Theme (From - 'It's Better to Travel')" - (4:32)
10. "Breakout" (NAD Mix) - (5:50)
11. "Surrender" (Stuff Gun Mix) - (6:40)
12. "Twilight World" (Remix) - (6:09)
13. "Communion" (Instrumental) - (4:39)

Note: The version of "Breakout" listed as the "NAD Mix" is actually "A New Rockin’ Version". This was corrected in the 2012 re-issue.

Remastered 2-CD Version

CD1

1. "Breakout" – (3.46)
2. "Twilight World" (Superb, Superb Mix) – (6.27)
3. "After Hours" – (4.48)
4. "Blue Mood" – (4.18)
5. "Surrender" – (5.53)
6. "Fooled By A Smile" – (4.06)
7. "Communion" – (4.40)
8. "It’s Not Enough" – (3.46)
9. "Theme From It’s Better to Travel" – (4.32)
10. "Breakout" (N.A.D. Mix) – (7.02)
11. "Surrender" (Stuff Gun Mix) – (6.40)
12. "Twilight World" (Gas Distress Mix) – (6.13)

CD2

1. "Breakout" (A New Rockin’ Version) - (5.52)
2. "Surrender" (Roadrunner Mix) - (6.17)
3. "Fooled By A Smile" (Ralph Mix) – (6.10)
4. "Blue Mood" (Dubbed Up Mix) - (6.48)
5. "Communion" (Instrumental) – (4.43)
6. "Dirty Money" – (4.09)
7. "Fever" – (4.33)
8. "Who’s to Blame?" – (5.13)
9. "Wake Me When It’s Over" – (4.34)
10. "Another Lost Weekend" – (5.27)
11. "Blue Mood" (Growler Mix) - (6.52)
12. "Breakout" (Horny Mix) - (4.33)