The Legendary Pink Dots discography explained

Artist:The Legendary Pink Dots
Studio:47
Live:26
Compilation:48
Video:7

This is a detailed list of releases by the European band The Legendary Pink Dots., they have released 32 studio albums, 52 live albums and compilations, and 14 singles. Their first release was the cassette Only Dreaming in 1981, initially limited to 10 copies only, each with their own, handmade cover.[1] After a few more cassette-only releases, Brighter Now saw the light of day in the following year, as their first 'proper' album.

From the start, their output has been quite prolific, with no less than four tapes released in the first year of their existence alone.[2] This would not change until the late nineties, with a new album with original material every 1–2 years only, but accompanied by re-releases of early, hard-to-find material, and live albums.

In addition, singer Edward Ka-Spel has released more than 60 solo albums to date, and he and other members of the band have collaborated in various other projects, most notably in The Tear Garden, which originally consisted of Ka-Spel and cEvin Key of Skinny Puppy,[3] but later expanded to involve all current Pink Dots members as well as several friends of both the Pink Dots and Key.

Another notable peculiarity in the Pink Dots' discography is their affection for vinyl. With only a few exceptions, all of their albums have seen vinyl editions in addition to the standard CD release, many of them (like their 2010 studio album, Seconds Late For The Brighton Line) featuring exclusive tracks not found on the CD, although some may later appear on the digital release.

In their history, The Legendary Pink Dots have released—and re-released—their records on a large number of labels, as well as having their own label, The Terminal Kaleidoscope, and a bandcamp.com page for digital self-distribution.

Studio releases

YearTitleLabelFormat
1981Only DreamingMirrordot, JarmusicTape
1981Kleine KriegMirrordot, Terminal Kaleidoscope, 235Tape
1982Brighter NowIn Phaze, Art Nouveau, New Europeans, Terminal Kaleidoscope, Play It Again Sam, SPV Poland, SoleilmoonTape, LP, CD
1982Atomic RosesIllusion ProductionsTape
1982PremonitionFlowmotion, Ding Dong, 235, Terminal Kaleidoscope, Mirrordot, JarmusicTape
1982ApparitionDing Dong, Terminal KaleidoscopeTape, LP, CD
1982BasiliskThird Mind, Ding Dong, Terminal Kaleidoscope, Mirrordot, Jarmusic, Beta-lactam RingTape, CD
1983Chemical Playschool 3 & 4Mirrordot Tapes, Terminal Kaleidoscope, Jarmusic, Staalplaat2x Tape, 2x CD
1983CurseIn Phaze, Terminal Kaleidoscope, Play It Again Sam, SPV Poland, Soleilmoon, Big BlueLP, Tape, CD
1984The TowerIn Phaze, Terminal Kaleidoscope, Play It Again Sam, SPV Poland, SoleilmoonLP, CD, Tape
1985AsylumPlay It Again Sam, Cacciocavallo/Soleilmoon, SPV Poland2xLP, CD
1985Prayer For AradiaBain Total, Terminal Kaleidoscope, Big BlueTape, CD
1986Island Of JewelsPlay It Again Sam, Penguin, Cacciocavallo/Soleilmoon, SPV PolandLP, CD
1988Any Day NowPlay It Again Sam, Wax Trax!, SPV Poland, Cacciocavallo/SoleilmoonLP, Tape, CD
1989The Golden AgePlay It Again Sam, Wax Trax!, SPV Poland, Cacciocavallo/SoleilmoonLP, Tape, CD
1990Four DaysMirrordot, Terminal Kaleidoscope, SPV PolandTape, CD
1990Crushed Velvet ApocalypsePlay It Again Sam, Wax Trax!, Caroline, Cacciocavallo/Soleilmoon, SPV PolandLP, Tape, CD
1991The Maria DimensionPlay It Again Sam, Caroline, SPV Poland, Cacciocavallo/SoleilmoonLP, Tape, CD
1992Shadow WeaverPlay It Again Sam, Caroline, SPV Poland, Cacciocavallo/SoleilmoonLP, Tape, CD
1992Malachai (Shadow Weaver Part 2)Play It Again Sam, Caroline, Cacciocavallo/Soleilmoon, Big BlueLP, Tape, CD
19949 Lives to WonderPlay It Again Sam, Soleilmoon, Flesh Eating AntsCD, 2xLP
1995From Here You'll Watch the World Go BySoleilmoon, Staalplaat, SPV Poland, RustbladeCD, Tape, 2xLP
1997Hallway of the GodsSoleilmoon, Terminal Kaleidoscope, Staalplaat, SPV PolandCD, Tape, 2xLP
1998Nemesis OnlineSoleilmoonCD, 2xLP
2000A Perfect MysteryCacciocavallo/Soleilmoon, Beta-lactam RingCD, 2xLP
2002All the King's HorsesSoleilmoon, Big BlueCD, 2xLP
2002All the King's MenROIRCD, 2xLP
2004Poppy VariationsTerminal Kaleidoscope, Beta-lactam Ring, Big BlueCD, 2xLP
2004The Whispering WallROIRCD
2006Your Children Placate You from Premature GravesROIRCD
2006Alchemical PlayschoolCaciocavalloCD, 2x 10" vinyl
2008Plutonium BlondeROIRCD
2010Seconds Late for the Brighton LineROIRCD
2012The Creature That Tasted SoundTrademark of QuantityCD-R
2013Taos HumTrademark of QuantityCD-R
2013The Gethsemane OptionMetropolis RecordsCD
2013Code NoirBeta-lactam Ring RecordsCD
2013 The Curse of Marie Antoinette RustbladeLP
2014 109 Rustblade2xLP, CD
2015 The Seismic Bleats Of Quantum Sheep Self-released on bandcamp.com, Abstrakce RecordsDigital download, LP
2015 Five Days Self-released on bandcamp.comCDr, Digital download
2015 5 Days Instrumentals Self-released on bandcamp.comCDr, Digital download
2016 Pages Of Aquarius Metropolis RecordsCD, 2xLP, Digital download
2018 8118 Des Astres D’Or RecordsLP, Digital download
2019 Angel in the Detail Metropolis RecordsCD, 2xLP, Digital download
2022The Museum Of Human HappinessMetropolis RecordsCD, 2xLP, Digital download
2022The 13th StepSelf-released on bandcamp.comVinyl, CDR, Digital Download
[4] [5]

Compilations

YearTitleLabelFormatNotes
1981Chemical Playschool 1 & 2Mirrordot Tapes, Terminal Kaleiddoscope, Jarmusic, Staalplaat2x TapeA collection of early tracks, some of them available on other releases from that time. The track listings on later releases differ from the original Mirrordot release, but the tracks are in fact the same, just named differently.
1981Dots On The EyesCassette KingTapeMarch is exclusive to this release, while all other songs appeared on Chemical Playschool 1 & 2.
1987Stone Circles: A Legendary Pink Dots AnthologyPlay It Again Sam USALP, CDCompilation for the US market. All tracks previously released except for Gladiators Version Apocalypse.
1988Traumstadt 1Mirrordot Tapes, Terminal KaleidoscopeTape, CDFeatures tracks that previously appeared on Atomic Roses, Apparition and the various artist compilations Rising From The Red Sand 3, Turkish Delight and I Love Liberty. The version of I Dream Of Jeannie on this release is different from the one appearing on the bonus CD for The Maria Dimension.
1988Traumstadt 2Mirrordot, JarmusicTapeFeatures unrelesed tracks and versions as well as the Pink Dots' entries for the various artists compilations Something Stirs, Mineral Composition (Edges 40 Vol. 2), Zamizdat Trade Journal Volume 4, Four In One Vol. 2, Compulsory Overtime and Three Minute Symphony.
1989Traumstadt 5Mirrordot, Jarmusic, StaalplaatTapeCompilation of material from various Pink Dots releases as well as their entries for the compilations Life At The Top, Insane Music For Insane People Vol. 2 and An Invitation To The Last Judgement: The Labyrinth.
1989The Legendary Pink BoxPlay It Again Sam, Cacciocavallo3x LP, 2x CD"Featuring the ancient, the resurrected, re-recorded, the rare and the exclusive".[6]
1995Chemical Playschool 8 & 9Terminal Kaleidoscope, Soleilmoon Recordings, Beta-lactam Ring Records2x CDIncludes the Maria Dimension Bonus CD as well as unreleased tracks and songs recorded for the various artists compilations Sonora 2/91 (magazine with CD), A Drop In The Ocean... and Ohren Des Kaiser Hirohito.
1996Canta Mientras PuedasPlay It Again Sam, SoleilmoonCDAll material previously released, with the tracks A Velvet Resurrection and Friend presented in slightly remixed versions. The title of the compilation is the Spanish translation of the Pink Dots' motto "Sing While You May".
1996Lullabies For The New Dark AgesSoleilmoon4x LP, 4x CDRe-release of the albums Brighter Now, Curse, Faces In The Fire and The Tower as a box-set. 4x LP box is limited to 512 copies and 4x CD box is limited to 1000 copies.
1997Ancient DazeTerminal Kaleidoscope, Beta-lactam Ring RecordsCD, 2x LPCollection of material originally released 1980-1981 plus the previously unreleased Spaced Out. Re-released in 2000 with three additional, previously unreleased tracks : Odd, West Side Story (The Forgotten Version) and Candlelight Or Fullbeam?.
1997Stained Glass Soma FountainsSoleilmoon2x CDCollection of early material and cassette releases as well as tracks made for the compilations The Dice Are Rolling: A Play It Again Sam Records Sample , QED and Flowmotion. According to the liner notes, April's Song "is the oldest surviving recording of The Legendary Pink Dots".
1997Under Triple MoonsROIRCDCollection of tracks from the cassette releases Premonition, Traumstadt 2, Kleine Krieg and Chemical Playschool 1 & 2.
1998Chemical Playschool 10SoleilmoonCDNew and previously unreleased material. Originally sold exclusively at the Pink Dots' North American tour in 1997, it was later put into general release.
1999Poi Poka MozheshBrudeniaCDCollection of previously released material as well as a different version of Supper at J's and the two previously unreleased tracks Interflora Overdrive (Part One) and Interflora Overdrive (Part Two). The album's title is the Russian translation of the Pink Dots' motto "Sing While You May".
2001KollabarisTerminal Kaleidoscope, Beta-lactam Ring RecordsCDCollection of collaborations with other artists, including Artwork, Karolinek and Lydia Tomkiw as well as the side-projects The Tear Garden and Mimir.
2001Chemical Playschool 11, 12 & 13Caciocavallo3x CDCollection of previously unreleased material (going back as far as 1992) and the tracks 10th Shade and Schatten from the vinyl version of Nemesis Online. All three discs were designed to have no index points (although the third disc erroneously has one near the end) to invoke the experience of listening to a cassette.
2002 Synesthesia S.P.K.R., Big Blue RecordsCDDescribed as "a companion to Chemical Playschool 11, 12 & 13", featuring previously unreleased (presumably all newly recorded) material.
2002El Kaleidoscopo TerminalCaciocavalloLP, CDCollection of previously released material plus a new version of Blue from A Perfect Mystery.
2002Caciocavallo Reissue CollectionCaciocavallo10x CDBox set featuring all albums previously available through Play It Again Sam: The Lovers, Asylum, Island Of Jewels, Any Day Now, The Golden Age, The Legendary Pink Box, The Crushed Velvet Apocalypse, The Maria Dimension, Shadow Weaver and Malachai.
2003A Guide to the Legendary Pink Dots Vol. 1: The Best BalladsBig Blue RecordsCDCollection of previously released material.
2003I Did Not InhaleZakatCDCompilation for the Russian market containing previously released material.
2003A Guide To The Legendary Pink Dots Vol. 2: Psychedelic Classics And RaritiesBig Blue Records2x CD & 1x VCDCollection of previously released material plus unreleased live versions of the songs The Saucers Are Coming (renamed to Saucers Over Poznan), Citadel, A Velvet Resurrection and I Love You In Your Tragic Beauty, all recorded in Poznan, Poland, in 1996. The Video CD features a live show recorded in Germany on January 11, 1989, as well as an interview two clips of the songs Der Schrei and Talent Contest.
2004Singe Waehrend Du BistUMO MagazineCDCollection of previously released songs and unreleased live versions of Space Captain, Andromeda Suite and Evolution / The Brightest Star.
2004Crushed MementosPlinkity PlonkCDCollection of tracks taken from the compilations The Voice, Rising From The Red Sands Vol. 3 and Zamizdat Trade Journal, the Pink Dots' Traumstadt 4 cassette, plus a new song called Premonition 15.
2007The Legendary Pink DotsVinyl On Demand5x LP
  • LP 1: A Collection Of Tracks From Chemical Playschool 1+2 Part I
  • LP 2: A Collection Of Tracks From Chemical Playschool 1+2 Part II
  • LP 3: Kleine Krieg Part I & II
  • LP 4: Kleine Krieg Part III & IV
  • LP 5: Live In Cologne 8-4-1983

Limited to 600 copies. Came with a bonus DVD when ordering directly from the label, which featured a TV performance of Echo Police and a short interview.

2009The Maria SessionsTrademark Of QuantityCDPreviously unreleased recordings made in 1991.
2010Any Day Now SecretsTrademark Of QuantityCDPreviously unreleased recordings made in 1987.
2011All The King's SessionsTrademark Of QuantityCDOuttakes and alternate versions from All The King's Horses and All The King's Men.
2012Chemical Playschool 15RustbladeCD, CDr, DVDA collection of new tracks recorded in August 2012.
2013Come Out From the Shadowsself-released on bandcamp.comDigital downloadPreviously unreleased recordings made in the 1990s.
2013Come Out From the Shadows Volume 2self-released on bandcamp.comDigital downloadPreviously unreleased recordings from the Shadow Weaver and Malachai sessions.
2013Come Out From the Shadows (Volume 3 - The 80s)self-released on bandcamp.comDigital downloadPreviously unreleased recordings made in the 1980s.
2013The Maria Sessions Volume 2self-released on bandcamp.comDigital downloadPreviously unreleased recordings made in 1991.
201412 Steps Off The Pathself-released on bandcamp.comCDR, Digital downloadSongs featured on Various Artists compilations and songs from the bonus disc of Classics & Rarities.
2014Chemical Playschool 16 & 18self-released on bandcamp.com, Beta-lactam Ring RecordsCDR, Digital download, 2xCDA collection of new tracks recorded between May and July 2014.
2015The Shock ExchangeRustbladeLPSplit release with kETvECTOR.
2016Chemical Playschool 19 & 20Beta-lactam Ring Records2xCDA collection of new tracks recorded throughout the year 2015.
2016FestiveSelf-released on bandcamp.com2xCDRA collection of most of the holiday specials from 2013 to 2015.
201940 Angels: The ArchiveSelf-released on bandcamp.comCDRs, Digital download, DVDA"The Archive of The Project of The Angels For The Angels."[7]
[4]

Live albums

YearTitleLabelFormatNotes
1984The LoversDing Dong Tapes and Records, TorsoLPTracks 1-4 recorded live at De Melkweg, Amsterdam, 9/9/1984. Tracks 5-8 recorded for VPRO Radio at Vara Studios, Hilversum, 1984.
1985The Terminal KaleidoscopeDing Dong Tapes and Records, Terminal KaleidoscopeTapeSplit release with Attrition. Recorded live in Netherlands and Switzerland during their 1984 tour.
1988Dot-To-DotTeddy Bear Music, JarmusicTapeRecorded live in Hannover, Germany, 02/10/1988.
1988Traumstadt #3Mirrordot, Jarmusic, StaalplaatTapeRecorded at various venues in Germany, Austria, France and Netherlands.
1989Greetings 9Materiali SonoriLPSide a recorded live at The Ubu Club, Rennes, France, in February 1988. Side b are studio tracks recorded August, 1988. Released on CD as Greetings 9 + Premonition 11 by Materiali Sonori in 1991 and re-released as It's Raining In Heaven by Soleilmoon Recordings in 1996.
1991Live at Centralino, 15.2.1987, Torino, ItalyOld Europa CafeTapeOriginally released as a bootleg, it was later sanctioned by the Legendary Pink Dots. Recorded live at Centralino, Torino, Italy, on February 15, 1987.
1997Live '85 - '88Terminal Kaleidoscope, Beta-lactam Ring RecordsCD-RTracks taken from various live performances.
1997Live '89Terminal Kaleidoscope, Beta-lactam Ring RecordsCD-RRecorded at Kling-Klang in Wilhelmshaven, Germany.
1999Live at the MetroSPV PolandCD, TapeRecorded live at the Cabaret Metro, Chicago, Illinois, US, on November 11, 1998.
2000Farewell, Milky WayCaciocavalloCDThe Pink Dots' final concert at the Melkweg ("Melkweg" is Dutch for "Milky Way") in Amsterdam, the Netherlands, in 1994. The Melkweg had been host to a Pink Dots concert every year since 1984.
2003Live in Hildesheim 1991Trademark of QuantityCD-RRecorder live at Hildesheim, Germany, on May 8, 1991.
2005Live at Montpellier 1994Trademark of QuantityCD-RRecorded live in Montpellier, France, on May 27, 1994.
2008Live at Cafe De La Danse, Paris, 20 December 2007Trademark of QuantityCD-RLimited to 80 copies. Recorded live at Cafe De La Danse, Paris, France, on December 20, 2007.
2009Human RadioTrademark of QuantityCD-RRecorded at the Studio Desmet cafe, Amsterdam, Netherlands, on May 14, 2002, during a live debate for Human Radio.
2010The French CollectionBeta-Lactam Ring RecordsCDRecorded in March 1994, at the Theatre Passage du Nord Quest in Paris, the Espace Julien in Marseilles and an unnamed venue in Toulouse.
2013Live At Pandora's Music Box 1985Self-released on bandcamp.comDigital downloadRecorded live in Rotterdam, Netherlands, on October 10, 1985.
2013Plutonium LiveSelf-released on bandcamp.comDigital downloadRecorded on April 23, 2009, at The Orangerie, Munich. This is a live recording of their Plutonium Blonde tour.
2014Live '89 Volume 2Self-released on bandcamp.comDigital downloadRecorded at the Bikini Club in Toulouse, France. This album is the restoration of "A rough cassette that lurked, waiting to be played, in an Ikea basket for a couple of decades".[8]
2014Paris In The SpringSelf-released on bandcamp.comDigital downloadRecorded in April 2014 at Le Klub in Paris during their Year 33 tour.
2015Easter In The Deep SouthSelf-released on bandcamp.comDigital downloadA radio recording of the show at Alabamahalle in Munich, Germany, on 6 April 1985.
2015The Wednesday MassSelf-released on bandcamp.comDigital downloadA live recording from Ostrava, Czech Republic, in January 2000.
2015Crash Velvet ApocalypseSelf-released on bandcamp.com2xCDr, Digital downloadLive recordings from Crash Club, Freiburg, Germany in 1990, and Vienna, Austria in 1991.
2015Come Out From The Shadows 4-Live At Lounge Ax 1993Self-released on bandcamp.comDigital downloadLive recording from Chicago, USA in 1993.
2016A Public BathSelf-released on bandcamp.comDigital downloadLive recording from Waschhaus in Potsdam, Germany, in 1996.
2016Intimacy (Live At The Rumba Cafe 2010)Self-released on bandcamp.comDigital downloadLive recording from Rumba Café, Columbus, Ohio, US, in 2010.
2016A Sunday In BrightonSelf-released on bandcamp.comDigital downloadLive recording from Brighton, United Kingdom, in 2003.
[4]

Singles and EPs

YearSongAlbumLabelFormat
1984Faces In the FirenonePlay It Again Sam, Soleilmoon, SPV Poland12", CD, audio cassette
1986Curious GuynonePlay It Again Sam12"
1987Premonition 11noneSnowdonia7"
1988Under GlassnonePlay It Again Sam12"
1988Traumstadt 4noneMirrordot, Jarmusic, StaalplaatAudio cassette
1989BlacklistThe Golden AgePlay It Again Sam12"
1990Princess ColdheartThe Crushed Velvet ApocalypsePlay It Again Sam, Wax Trax12"
1994Siren9 Lives to WonderAcid VisionsVHS
1994Tryst 7noneUbuibiAudio cassette
1996Remember Me This WayFrom Here You'll Watch the World Go BySoleilmoonCD
1997 Sterre Hallway of the GodsSPV PolandCD, audio cassette
1998Pre-Millennial SinglenoneSoleilmoonCD, 12"
2006LegacynoneSome Fine Legacy7"
2013The Legendary Pink Dots' Christmas AlbumnoneSelf-released on bandcamp.comDigital download
2014The Legendary Pink Dots Hallowe'en Special 2014noneSelf-released on bandcamp.comDigital download
2014The Legendary Pink Dots' Yuletide Special 2014noneSelf-released on bandcamp.comDigital download
2015We'll Get Around To YounoneDadaïsm Neuf 9 Neuf7"
2015The Legendary Pink Dots Hallowe'en Special 2015noneSelf-released on bandcamp.comDigital download
2015The Legendary Pink Dots Christmas Special 2015noneSelf-released on bandcamp.comDigital download
2016A Scented CandlenoneNoise Noise Noise Records12" Vinyl
2018The Legendary Pink Dots' Hallowe'en Special 2017noneSelf-released on bandcamp.comDigital download
2017THE LEGENDARY PINK DOTS' CHRISTMAS SPECIAL 2017noneSelf-released on bandcamp.comDigital download
2018The TunnelnoneNoise Noise Noise Records12" Vinyl
2018The Legendary Pink Dots' Hallowe'en Special 2018noneSelf-released on bandcamp.comDigital download
2018The Legendary Pink Dots' Christmas Special 2018noneSelf-released on bandcamp.comDigital download
2019Junkyard (Version Apocalypse) / Mantis MantranoneSelf-released on bandcamp.com7" Vinyl
[4]

Videos

YearTitleLabelFormatNotes
1989 Live in Dallas - April 20, 1989 Videophile MagazineVHSRecorded live at Trees in Dallas, Texas, USA on April 20, 1989.
1998 Live at La Luna SoleilmoonVHS/DVDRecorded live at La Luna in Portland, Oregon, USA on September 13, 1997.
2005 A Dream is a Dream is a Dream Beta-Lactam Ring RecordsDVDRecorded live at De Vrije Vloer in Utrecht, Netherlands on January 21, 1987.
2007 Key Club, West Hollywood, Los Angeles 14/11/2002 Trademark of QuantityDVD-RRecorded live at The Key Club in West Hollywood, California, USA on November 14, 2002.
2009 Maria Dimension Tour 1991 Terminal KaleidoscopeDVD-RRecorded live at Doornroosje in Nijmegen, Netherlands on May 28, 1991.
2011 Paris in The Fall SoleilmoonDVDRecorded live at Le Klub in Paris, France, on November 13, 2009.
2014 The more it changes Trademark of QuantityDVDRecorded live in Tel Aviv in June 2013. This show features the former member Patrick Q. Wright on violins.
[4]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Only Dreaming. brainwashed.com.
  2. Web site: The Legendary Pink Dots music. brainwashed.com.
  3. Web site: The Tear Garden. brainwashed.com.
  4. Web site: The Legendary Pink Dots: Combined Discography. 2019. Camille. 2019-08-16.
  5. Web site: The Legendary Pink Dots: Angel in the Detail. 2019. Metropolis Records. 2019-08-16.
  6. Web site: The Legendary Pink Box (2012 Remaster).
  7. Web site: 40 Angels - The Archive by Legendary Pink Dots.
  8. Web site: Live '89 Volume 2, by Legendary Pink Dots. Legendary Pink Dots.