The First Chapter (The Mission album)

Updated on Nov 21, 2023

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Released January 1987 First Chapter (1987) Children (1988) Release date January 1987 Genre Gothic rock		Length 44:47 Artist The Mission Label Mercury Records

Recorded September - October 1985, The Slaughterhouse Studios, Driffield Similar The Mission albums, Gothic rock albums

The mission like a hurricane 1987

The First Chapter is a compilation album by gothic rock band The Mission. It gathered the material released on the first two EPs released through the Chapter 22 label. Titled I (featuring Serpents Kiss) and II (featuring the double A-side "Like A Hurricane" and "Garden Of Delight") the album was released on Mercury Records in June 1987. It includes all the songs from the first EP in its entirety, but omits the original versions of "The Crystal Ocean" (from the 12") and Garden Of Delight (from the 7" and ltd. edition 12") from the second. The US release was augmented with the b-sides of the V (Severina) EP. The tracks that were originally left off this compilation were included on the expanded and remastered edition. This restored (and repositioned) both the short intermissions and 'swan song' from the II EP.

Christ True of allmusic.com called the album 'an interesting piece of history of an oft-forgotten era of English rock'.

The mission the crystal ocean extended version

Track listing

Except where noted, all music by Adams, Brown, Hinkler, Hussey and words by Hussey

UK release

"Like a Hurricane" (Neil Young) – 4:55
"Over the Hills and Far Away – 3:56
"Naked and Savage" – 4:46
"Serpents Kiss" – 4:15
"Dancing Barefoot" (Patti Smith, Ivan Kral) – 3:05
"The Crystal Ocean (extended version)" – 7:35
"Garden of Delight (extended version)" – 5:00
"Wake (RSV)" – 5:00
"Like a Hurricane (extended)" (Neil Young) – 7:05

US release

The US version drops "Like a Hurricane (extended)" and adds "Tomorrow Never Knows (edited version)" and "Wishing Well" from the band's 5th single "Severina", the latter from its 12" version.

"Tomorrow Never Knows (edited version)" (John Lennon, Paul McCartney) – 3:30
"Over the Hills and Far Away" – 3:56
"Naked and Savage" – 4:46
"Serpents Kiss" – 4:15
"Wake (RSV)" – 5:00
"Like a Hurricane" (Neil Young) – 4:55
"Garden of Delight (extended version)" – 5:00
"Wishing Well" (Paul Rodgers, Simon Kirke, Paul Kossoff, John Bundrick, Tetsu Yamauchi) – 2:45
"Dancing Barefoot" (Patti Smith, Ivan Kral) – 3:05
"The Crystal Ocean (extended)" – 7:35

Other releases

The Japanese version also includes the tracks "Serpents Kiss (live)" from the band's 4th single "Wasteland" and "Tomorrow Never Knows (Amphetamix)" from the band's 5th single "Severina".

Reissued version

In June 2007, Universal Music re-released the UK edition of The First Chapter with 9 bonus tracks

"Like a Hurricane" (Neil Young) – 4:51
[+] "Intermission: Gleaming Dome" [incidental] – 0:38
"Over the Hills and Far Away" – 3:56
[+] "Intermission: Easy Coast Lament" [incidental] – 0:39
"Naked and Savage" – 4:45
"Serpents Kiss" – 4:11
"Dancing Barefoot" (Patti Smith, Ivan Kral) – 3:08
"The Crystal Ocean (extended)" – 7:33
[+] "Swan Song: Vigilante Man" [incidental] – 0:24
"Garden of Delight (extended)" – 5:01
"Wake (RSV)" – 5:01
"Like a Hurricane (extended)" – 7:07
[+] "Bridges Burning" (Slaughterhouse Version) – 3:59
[+] "Serpents Kiss" (Live '86) – 4:11
[+] "Wake (Live '86)" – 4:56
[+] "Dancing Barefoot" (Live '86) – 2:06
[+] "1969 (Live '86)" (Dave Alexander, Ron Asheton, Scott Asheton, Iggy Pop) – 2:43
[+] "Shelter from the Storm (Live, Astoria '88)" – 9:26