DARK DVDs & CDs
DARK have made several CDs & DVDs available including the 1997 Beer Festival 25th Anniversary Gig,
the 'Memories In Pink' event and their FINAL Farewell performance at The Racehorse,
'Reaching The Edge'.
These are available for sale through this website.
Aside from the NEW 'Dark Round The Edges' CD (with BONUS material), they are NOT professionally produced.
Steve makes each of the others himself, by hand, on his PC.The DVD discs are DVD-R and are 'Region Free' - i.e. they should play on any DVD player.
The CDs are also available for Download - just go to the Downloads Tab, where you can also hear 30 second snippets of each track.
They are produced to order although usually there are a few 'in stock' ready to go out, but please allow 28 days for delivery, especially if ordering from outside the U.K.
If you have a PayPal account you should be aware of the transaction procedure. If not, that is not a problem. You don't need one.
Just follow the instructions. You will be invited to open an account, but this is NOT necessary.
Payment can still be made, via PayPal, using a credit card. This is very safe & secure. Your details are NOT available outside of PayPal!
The price of each item is indicated below the picture and is including administration, packaging & postal charges.
Please Note!
The WorldWide charge is THE MOST it will cost me to ship anywhere in the World.
If the cost to your country is LESS than that - I will refund the difference. Thank you!
If you would like to order more than one item, please do NOT use the 'Buy Now' buttons.
Instead, scroll to the bottom of the page and message us with the items you require and to which country you would like them sent.
We will then determine a fair carriage charge and offer a discount depending on how many discs you order.
Thank you!
IMPORTANT!
When placing an order PLEASE make sure that you let me have an address to send to,
either as a note in the PayPal transaction,
or as a message
using the form at the bottom of this page.
Thank you!
Dark Round The Edges CD
UK - £8.99
World - £14.00
This CD IS professionally produced. The CDs are NOT burned CD-R discs.
The photo shows 2 CDs. This is just so you can see that the CD is NOT CD-R. There is only ONE CD in the package.
A brand new release from Steve Giles of the original 6 tracks from the Dark Round The Edges LP recorded at SIS Studios in Northampton between July 9 & July 13, 1972,
PLUS bonus material consisting of the rejected backing tracks (without vocals or overdubbed guitars) and the actual backing tracks used, which have been edited so as to fit on the CD.
The tracks have been remastered from the original analogue tapes by myself after they were transferred to Digital files.
The original artwork has been reproduced as faithfully as possible, with the original black on red label being adapted for use as the CD label.
The package includes an 8 page lyric booklet using the artwork from the originals.
There is also a 12 page 'The Dark Round The Edges Story' by myself.
The discs are numbered as sold out of 1000.
Prices include shipping + packing. If the shipping cost is less than you have paid, I will refund the difference.
Sessions After Dark CD
Things we got up to after 'Dark Round The Edges'
What it is IMPORTANT to bear in mind here, is that all these recordings were done for FUN!
We never intended for them to see the light of day, save for family & friends.
A lot of them, maybe most, are not really DARK material - but I think they all stand up in their own right.
AND . . . . . you get to hear the Ron Johnson voice as lead vocal on a few tracks
DARK effectively split after recording DRTE, doing a 'Farewell Gig' on November 18th, 1972.
After that we got back together briefly at the behest of Island Records.
We had sent a few copies of the album to record labels, Island being the only one to respond.
They asked us to set up a gig for them to send an A&R man along to.
We did (bringing in Bob Stryjek on drums, as Clive had joind another band and so was unavailable) but their man was a 'no-show' so that never went any further - but the gig, at a college on 1st December 1973, was a great success!
Shame he never turned up!
What might have been . . . . . . . .
So . . . . that was it.
After that, Ron & I got together once a week in my parents' loft, in which I had built a recording studio.
We wrote and recorded songs, a lot of which were Ron's compositions.
I had bought a Teac A-3340 SIMUL-SYNC Tape Recorder which enabled me to overdub 2 tracks on to an initial stereo image.
I could then mix those 4 tracks down, adding another track as I did so, onto a Revox A-77 Tape machine.
That mixed stereo track could then be copied to 2 of the tracks on the TEAC machine, to which could be overdubbed to more tracks . . . . . . and so on - and so on.
There was Ron playing acoustic guitar, bass, 2nd guitar and harmony vocals.
I was guitar, vocals, harmonies and drums.
Eventually we invited Clive along to record with us which improved the drums No-End !!!
This carried on for a few years until SIS Studios in Military Road, Northampton (where we recorded Dark Round The Edges) packed up - and I took over the premises.
So I moved all the kit over to there and set up from scratch.
A much better proposition as, previously - playing in a residential property with neighbours - we had recorded the drums whilst covered with sheets, to keep the noise down.
The guitars were not a problem as we 'Direct-Injected'.
We got a few more tracks down here, occasionally using Bob on drums, until Ron got Married and moved to Cornwall in 1977.
You can hear some tracks I've uploaded to YouTube here:
Lonely Nights Without You
Let's Get Together
Six Rules To Live By
Thanks for reading!
Steve G.
UK - £7.25
World - £12.50
Dark Cross The Ages
Double CD
UK - £11.75
World - £16.75
Dark Cross The Ages is a Double CD-R
CD1 consists of the original 6 tracks from the Dark Round The Edges LP recorded at SIS Studios in Northampton between July 9 & July 13, 1972 - PLUS bonus material consisting of the rejected backing tracks (without vocals or overdubbed guitars) and the actual backing tracks used, which have been edited so as to fit on the CD.
This is a CD-R but otherwise is exactly the same as the professionally replicated DRTE CD I also sell on here.
CD2 is a Live recording of the album tracks captured at our final ever performance on October 19th 2011 - having got back together for the memorial event of my daughter Carly Giles.
This includes the 10 minute Jam Session at the end, which was NOT included on the LP version.
Included is a miniature of our signed photos - plus my personal DARK card, which I have signed on the back.
ALL Artwork, including the CD label, is Inkjet printed and so will not tolerate damp or moist conditions.
PLEASE HANDLE WITH CARE.
Teenage Angst - Revisited
UK - £6.30
World - £11.30
Real LIVE Angst here! From a 50 year old tape - so please - EXCUSE THE QUALITY!
Revisiting the original Kissing Spell release but leaving off the Studio tracks - which can all be found on the 'Artefacts From The Black Museum' CD.
All these were recorded in late 1970 and all ‘Live’ apart from ‘Cloud Of Unknowing’ which I now believe to have been recorded at a rehearsal. It was given that name by Kissing Spell as, basically it was a jam session and I had no idea what we had called it - if anything!
BREAKING NEWS!
I have now remembered the name: 'No Need To Shout'!
But, I quite like the title Kissing Spell gave it - so I reckon that will stay.
The rest of the tracks were all from a gig on 17th November, 1970 and would have been the last gig before Bruce and Charlie left. All the tracks were recorded on a very basic tape deck which could only accommodate 5” spools so, quite often, the tape ran out before a track we were playing was finished.
‘Descent Onto Tranquility’ is a fine example of that - and another that’s been renamed as I’ve no recollection of what we called it back then - it may have even been part of 'No Need To Shout' live!.
I’ve done what I can with the quality and hopefully improved it enough to be more listenable.
Immature, self indulgent - but we had fun!
Artefacts From The Black Museum
UK - £7.80
World - £12.80
'Follow-up to "Dark Round The Edges" although all the tracks were recorded prior to that and none include the DRTE line-up.
All tracks were composed by Steve Giles, founder member and is guitarist and vocalist on all tracks.
Other players are as follows:
Maypole,
In The Sky,
Wasting Your Time,
Could Have Sworn,
RC8
Carl Bush, Bass Guitar,
Clive Thorneycroft, Drums
These tracks were recorded in October 1971
I'm Not Sad,
All Through The Night,
Maypole #2,
Bad Taste
Bruce Duncan, Bass Guitar, Harmony Vocals
Charlie Hiams, Drums,
Martin Moloney, Keyboards, Harmony Vocals
These tracks were recorded in April 1970
Beer Festival DVD*
Please see note on video quality at bottom of page
UK - £7.80
World - £12.80
This DVD is burned to a DVD-R and all artwork is Ink-Jet, so will not tolerate moist or damp conditions! PLEASE handle with care!
This DVD includes the Gig, "Recording at Far Heath", the 40th 'Round The Edges' anniversary video, the 'Shadow Of The Rain' video and the Anglia News TV Broadcast.
Each section has its own chapter.
The live tracks are:
The Cat, R.C.8., Miles & Miles Away, Maypole, Killin' My Friends,
Don't Worry About That, Walking The Road, All The Loving I Need,
Madame La Guillotine and Live For Today.
Unfortunately it was not possible to allow each track to be accessed individually.
If you would like to purchase this DVD, please click the appropriate
PayPal 'Buy Now' button below.
Memories In Pink DVD**
Please see note on video quality at bottom of page
This DVD is burned to a DVD-R and all artwork is Ink-Jet, so will not tolerate moist or damp conditions! PLEASE handle with care!
This DVD includes the preparation during the day, setting up the equipment, sound check, auction, snippets of the support band*** and, of course,
DARK performing the tracks from 'Dark Round The Edges'.
There is also a chapter at the end of the disc showing the presentation of the cheque to Paddington Ward at Northampton General Hospital
The disc is divided into chapters, so you can choose which section to play and each track has it's own chapter.
The package includes full information about the event and about Carly, in whose memory the event was organised.
If you would like to purchase this DVD, please click the appropriate
PayPal 'Buy Now' button below.
UK - £7.80
World - £12.80
Reaching The Edge DVD
This DVD is burned to a DVD-R and all artwork is Ink-Jet, so will not tolerate moist or damp conditions! PLEASE handle with care!
This DVD includes the preparation during the evening, setting up the equipment, sound check and, of course, DARK performing the tracks from 'Dark Round The Edges' plus an 11 minute Jam Session - 'Reaching The Edge' - the VERY last track ever performed by the famous 'Dark Round The Edges' line up
The disc is divided into chapters, so you can choose which track to play, without having to run through the whole disc.
There is a photo insert with a few photos taken on the night, including one of the band with an original 'Dark Round The Edges' album cover that was brought up from Taunton by one of our original fans, Allison.
Ron had originally signed this for her when she bought it back in 1973, and the rest of the band were happy to add their signatures as well on the night
If you would like to purchase this DVD, please click the appropriate
PayPal 'Buy Now' button below.
UK - £8.80
World - £13.80
Reaching The Edge CD
This CD is burned to a CD-R and all artwork is Ink-Jet, so will not tolerate moist or damp conditions! PLEASE handle with care!
This CD is the edited down audio from the 'Reaching The Edge' DVD and features DARK performing the tracks from 'Dark Round The Edges' plus an 11 minute Jam Session - 'Reaching The Edge' - the VERY last track ever performed by the famous 'Dark Round The Edges' line up
The disc is divided into chapters, so you can choose which track to play, without having to run through the whole disc.
If you would like to purchase this CD, please click the appropriate
PayPal 'Buy Now' button below.
UK - £7.30
World - £12.30
Anonymous Days CD - (2022 Remix)
This CD is burned to a CD-R and all artwork is Ink-Jet, so will not tolerate moist or damp conditions! PLEASE handle with care!
Anonymous Days was originally released by the band themselves in 1996 on their own DARKEDGE RECORDS label.
In 2001 it was put out commercially by Kissing Spell with a new cover painted by Martin Weaver.
The same cover now features on this brand new CD, Digitally remastered and remixed by Steve Giles, from the original analogue tapes recorded at Far Heath and Outrider Studios.
This new Remix/Remaster now has 12 tracks - in a slightly different order from the original CDs - to include 2 rehearsal tracks (eventually rejected) and an earlier version of 'Miles & Miles Away', from the first session at Outrider Studios - not shown in the images here.
If you would like to purchase this CD, please click the appropriate
PayPal 'Buy Now' button below.
This was available on 12" vinyl from Void Records of Millville New Jersey - but is now out of print, although it occasionally turns up on eBay or Discogs.
UK - £7.95
World - £12.95
DARK Jams CD
Including 'The Jam - 1975' (Remastered)
UK - £6.30
World - £11.30
This CD is burned to a CD-R and all artwork is Ink-Jet, so will not tolerate moist or damp conditions! PLEASE handle with care!
Following the discovery of a Bootleg release of the CD originally put out by
Kissing Spell, DARK have brought out another version, this time Remastered from the original by Steve Giles and featuring extra 'Jams' that were recorded.
'The Jam - 1975' was recorded in Steve's parent's loft, which he had converted into a small recording studio, to test out a new 12 Channel mixer.
'Jam Knight' was recorded at SIS Studios shortly after it was taken over by Steve. Featuring the late Mick Knight on keyboards, it was recorded to test the equipment once it had been installed at the studio.
'Piece Of Cake' - not really a Jam but a short instrumental composed by Steve.
'Reaching The Edge' was recorded at DARK's farewell gig in 2011 and is the last time the 'Round The Edges' line-up performed Live together.
If you would like to purchase this CD, please click the appropriate
PayPal 'Buy Now' button below.
Welcome To The Edge CD
UK - £6.30
World - £11.30
This CD is burned to a CD-R and all artwork is Ink-Jet, so will not tolerate moist or damp conditions! PLEASE handle with care!
This is our last ever foray into the recording studio with the Round The Edges line up, except that Martin has now emigrated to Bulgaria, so he wasn’t there.
That didn’t stop him contributing, however.
Once we had acceptable backing tracks complete, we emailed him the files, told him where we wanted his solos and left him to it!
The idea for this project first came about in early 2014 when Clive thought it would be a good idea to do something with our ‘In The Sky’ track.
Bearing in mind the lyrics, he felt it would be great if we could do something to
commemorate the Centenary of The Great War, 1914-1918.
We didn’t exactly know what we’d do, then Clive came across a recording studio that had recently opened and were offering great promotional rates.
So, we got booked in on their deal of an 8 hour session for up to 4 tracks.
Then I decided that, if we were going to do something with ‘In The Sky’, why not do the other 2 tracks that have often featured with that one on many of our
‘Round The Edges’ reissues - so that’s what we’ve done!
We spent a few weeks rearranging the songs,
which I had actually written quite a while before DRTE.
We had never played them with that line up!
‘Wasting Your Time’ ended up with a completely new ending,
so much so that Ron felt the original lyrics didn’t suit the new feel.
He came up with new lyrics, and both versions are included here.
Included also is a track from our latest project - a remix of our 2nd album,
‘Anonymous Days’ - which is was also available on 12" vinyl, but now out of print.
If you would like to purchase this CD, please click the appropriate
PayPal 'Buy Now' button below.
Welcome To The Edge DVD
This DVD is burned to a DVD-R and all artwork is Ink-Jet, so will not tolerate moist or damp conditions! PLEASE handle with care!
This DVD is the story of our day in the Recording studio laying down the backing tracks.
As explained above, Martin is not there, having emigrated to Bulgaria, but he still features in the video as he records his parts in his own studio, which I later add to the mix.
The DVD is split into 10 chapters and covers the whole day from leaving for the studio, arriving at the studio and recording the takes of all 3 tracks.
There is also a short video showing how the sleeve photo developed as we tried various ideas, a video with the original 1971 recording as a backing track and the final chapter which includes some 'Out-takes'.
If you would like to purchase this DVD, please click the appropriate
PayPal 'Buy Now' button below.
UK - £8.30
World - £13.80
Please use the Form below if you would like to order multiple discs.
If you would like to order more than one item, please do NOT use the 'Buy Now' buttons.
Instead, use the Form below to message us with the items you require and to which country you would like them sent.
We will then determine a fair carriage charge and offer a discount depending on how many discs you order.
Thank you!
Please Note:
* The Live Video presented on the Beer Festival DVD was recorded on 2 Video-8 Analogue Camcorders before the advent of High Definition Digital Video.
It was edited onto a VHS Master Copy and then copied from that to Standard VHS.
Unfortunately, the Master copies were lost during the intervening years and therefore the DVD files had to be produced from that 3rd generation copy.
Consequently the quality of those files is way below what we would prefer but, being the only video record of DARK performing Live prior to 2011,we felt it worthy of producing and so have done what we can to keep the quality as high as possible.
** It was planned for the gig to be filmed with at least 2 Hi-Definition video cameras - Steve's on a tripod and 1 or 2 others 'roaming'. However, the others didn't turn up and Steve's camera inexplicably cut out before the end of 'The Cat' - the first song. From radio & press appeals, Steve managed to get some more footage and combined with what he, and band family members, had taken, there was enough to cover the whole gig. Unfortunately some of the footage is not the best quality and the acoustics at the venue are awful. making it difficult for us to hear what we were playing, but all things considered, it's not too bad at all and the sound we've got is much better than we could hear on stage!
*** The support band on the night was 'Hunsbury Central' - which featured Andy Johnson on rhythm guitar. Andy, Ron's brother, also plays on the DARK set.
Hunsbury Central were drafted in at literally the last minute when the scheduled support act - 'The Talks' - broke down on their way to the event.
Special thanks must go out to the members of Hunsbury Central. They had expected an evening off watching DARK.
Instead they all had to shoot off to collect their equipment!
