Julianne Regan, a former journalist, played bass in an early line-up of the gothic rock group Gene Loves Jezebel, before leaving to form The Swarm with Manuela Zwingmann of Xmal Deutschland. This partnership was the precursor to All About Eve, who were named after the 1950 film starring Bette Davis, and the line-up was completed with the addition of former Aemotti Crii guitarist Bricheno and bassist Gus Ferguson. In 1985 the band released their debut single , 'D For Desire' on the Eden label, but shortly afterwards Zwingmann and Ferguson left, with the latter joining Test Department. Bricheno suggested Andy Cousin as a replacement for Ferguson, and so as a three-piece plus a drum machine, they released the singles 'In The Clouds' in 1986) and 'Flowers In Our Hair' in 1987, with the music on showing an ethereal gothic sound, sometimes compared to the music of the Cocteau Twins and Siouxsie and the Banshees. After Regan sang backing vocals for The Mission's 'God's Own Medicine' album, she suddenly started to receive greater attention and the band were signed to Phonogram. A real drummer was added at this time, with Mark Price taking the role, and their self-titled debut album, which was produced by Paul Samwell-Smith, was released in 1988. As well as 'In The Clouds', it included four more UK hit singles, in the form of 'Wild-Hearted Woman', 'Every Angel', 'Martha's Harbour', and 'What Kind Of Fool'. The album itself reached No. 7 on the UK Albums Chart, with much of its lyrical material drawing from hippie ideals, white magic and dreamlike fairy tales.
The following year their second top 10 album, 'Scarlet And Other Stories', was released, and the band toured around the UK to promote it. In 1990 Bricheno left the group, and was replaced by The Church's Marty Willson-Piper, and this line-up recorded their third album 'Touched by Jesus' in 1991, featuring a guest performance from David Gilmour on two tracks. Following a change of label to MCA Records, the group released 'Ultraviolet' in 1992, and then continued working on new material for a prospective fifth album, but Regan soon left, and although remaining members continued for a couple more months without Regan's input, they disbanded in early 1993. The album they had been working on was subsequently released under the group name Seeing Stars. Regan went on to form Mice, and to work with Bernard Butler, and Cousin joined a reformed Mission, touring extensively and contributing to their albums 'Neverland' and 'Blue', before the band split up again. In 2002 Regan and Cousin released their first studio recordings in a decade, with the EP 'Iceland', which was a collection of 'winter songs', including reworkings of 'December', and cover versions of Wham!'s 'Last Christmas', Queen's 'A Winter's Tale', and 'Walking in the Air'. However, it is the late 80's version of the band that fans revere, and so this collection of non-album singles, b-sides and rarities should take them back to the heyday of their favourite group.
Track listing
Disc I - 1985-1987
01 D For Desire (single 1985)
02 Don't Follow Me (March Hare) (b-side of 'D For Desire')
03 Suppertime (demo 1986)
04 Our Summer (single 1987)
05 Lady Moonlight (b-side of 'Our Summer')
06 Set Sail (demo 1987)
07 Devil Woman (b-side of 'Flowers In Our Hair' 1987)
08 Paradise (b-side of 'Flowers In Our Hair' 1987)
09 End Of The Day (b-side of 'In The Clouds' 1987)
10 Love Leads Nowhere (b-side of 'In The Clouds' 1987)
11 Calling Your Name (b-side of 'In The Clouds' 1987)
Disc II - 1988-1991
01 Wild Flowers (b-side of 'Every Angel' 1988)
02 Candy Tree (b-side of 'Every Angel' 1988)
03 More Than This Hour (b-side of 'Every Angel' 1988)
04 Another Door (b-side of 'Martha's Harbour' 1988)
05 The Garden Of Jane Delawney (b-side of 'What Kind Of Fool?' 1988)
06 Drowning (b-side of 'December' 1989)
07 The Witches Promise (b-side of 'December' 1989)
08 Elizabeth Of Glass (b-side of 'Farewell Mr. Sorrow' 1991)
09 All The Rings 'Round Saturn (b-side of 'Farewell Mr. Sorrow' 1991)
10 Silver Song (b-side of 'Farewell Mr. Sorrow' 1991)
Disc III - 1991-1992
01 Drawn To Earth (b-side of 'Strange Way' 1991)
02 Nothing Without You (b-side of 'Strange Way' 1991)
03 Light As A Feather (b-side of 'Strange Way' 1991)
04 If I Had You (previously unreleased 1991)
05 Different Sky (previously unreleased 1991)
06 Frida Of Blood And Gold (b-side of 'The Dreamer' 1991)
07 Road To Damascus (b-side of 'The Dreamer' 1991)
08 Ascent/Descent (from the 'Phased' EP 1992)
09 Moodswing (b-side of 'Some Finer Day' 1992)
10 Dive In (b-side of 'Some Finer Day' 1992)
