Part of the joy attached to the new reissue of China Crisis’ 1985 album Flaunt the Imperfection is the inclusion of so much bonus material. The expanded version not only includes the near-perfect Walter Becker-produced (and newly remastered) 10 song album, but also an extra disc of demos, remixes and live recordings from the Janice Long radio sessions.
All of the live recordings are brilliant, but “You Did Cut Me” (which is mis-identified as an “edit” on the new booklet) is simply amazing. On the original recording, Walter Becker’s sonic footprint in highly evident in the arrangement. He utilized the Kick Horns by adding long sweeping textures to the melodies Gary Daly and Eddie Lundon wrote. Becker also decided that China Crisis’ guitar parts needed more precision and brought in Tim Renwick to play the guitar solos on the album.
For the live radio sessions, China Crisis handles the tune’s heavy instrumental lifting admirably.
Becker wisely chose the leave the rhythm section in place from the original recording. Here, bass player Garry (Gazza) Johnson and the late drummer Kevin Wilkinson show why. They are rock steady yet their playing is always inspiring. The rhythm track to “You Did Cut Me” is worth the price of admission alone.
Then there’s Eddie Lundon, whose electric-guitar playing is assured and steady – as are his harmony vocals. Lundon’s solo is a tad tentative but, had you never heard the original, you would never find it wanting. China Crisis lead singer and lyricist Gary Daly provides a quirky yet assured vocal, which adds a feeling of insecurity and loss to the song.
Hear my silence, see my blindness
A love ascending, and never ending
You did cut me, from the same tree
A love incision, my inner vision
Loving on our hands and knees
Always trying hard to please
Never in my life have I
Questioned or discovered why
This live version of “You Did Cut Me” is a treasure. Likewise, the expanded reissue of Flaunt the Imperfection is a must have for China Crisis fans, an interesting footnote for Walter Becker/Steely Dan fans, and one of the best reissues of 2017. It’s available via PledgeMusic.
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