On Friday, November 25, singer/songwriter Van Stephenson’s album “China Girl” will be reissued via the company MelodicRock Classics. Here’s what you can read in a press release:
MelodicRock Classics is proud and honoured to partner with the family of the late, great VAN STEPHENSON, plus his many co-writers and musical partners, to pay tribute to the legacy of the legendary singer/songwriter/multi-instrumentalist with a series of archive releases, culminating in two career spanning box sets, featuring all unreleased songs from his vast songwriting archives.
MRC Owner and A&R director Andrew McNeice has been given the responsibility of archiving Van’s songwriting demos from the 70s, right up until the last songs he wrote.
Over 12 months of work behind the scenes will come to fruition November 25, with the first two releases from the Van Stephenson Archives.
A Deluxe Edition of Van’s debut solo album China Girl is the first title announced.
Released at the end of 1981, ‘China Girl’ established Van as a solo artist in his own right, with the hit single ‘You’ve Got A Good Love Coming’ entering the Top 100. Due to complicated ownership issues, the album has remained hard to find on CD, with limited brief re-issues appearing in the US (1999) and Japan (2014).
Finally, the definitive version of the album can be revealed – a Deluxe 2CD Edition – featuring the original album plus 4 unreleased demos on Disc One and an amazing 15 unreleased tracks from the same 1980-81 song-writing period on Disc Two.
The songs are all cultivated from Van’s unreleased archives and feature songs written by him alone plus other songs co-written with his ‘China Girl’ writing partners Sam Lorber, Jeff Silbar, Austin Roberts and Dave Robbins.
To complete the package, new artwork from French graphic artist Arnaud Leger has been specially commissioned, plus the audio for both discs has been carefully remastered by acclaimed producer JK Northrup.
Pre-orders will be available from next Monday and the complete track listing for China Girl – Deluxe Edition is as follows:
Disc One: ‘China Girl’
01. You’ve Got A Good Love Coming 2:55
02. Looks Like A Loser 3:20
03. Seeing Is Believing 3:26
04. China Girl 4:18
05. Weekend Warrior 3:52
06. I Would If I Could 3:02
07. Tonight The Love’s On Me 3:44
08. Hotter In The Night 3:28
09. New York, Hold Her Tight 3:52
10. Lion In The Night 3:07
11. I Would If I Could (Original Demo) 3:31
12. New York, Hold Her Tight (Original Demo) 3:55
13. Lion In The Night (Guitar & Vocal Gospel Version) 2:48
14. New York, Hold Her Tight (Acoustic Version) 3:52
Disc Two: The 80-81 Sessions
01. Burning The Midnight Love 02:15
02. Kiss Your Heartache Goodbye (Rock Mix) 03:10
03. Don’t Be Afraid Of The Dark (Full Demo) 03:27
04. I Don’t Want To Know 02:51
05. The Night Is Saying Yes (Full Demo) 03:23
06. Still Falling 03:59
07. As Long As I’m With You 02:56
08. When You’re In Love 02:53
09. With Love To Spare (Full Demo) 02:52
10. Is She In Love 02:31
11. Come Out, Come Out Where Ever You Are 02:48
12. Marlena 03:55
13. Don’t Give In (Gospel Version) 02:38
14. Kiss Your Heartache Goodbye (AOR Mix) 03:15
15. Here Today, Gone Tomorrow 02:13