The Pleasure Principle & Warriors
(BEGA 153CD)
© 1993 Beggar's Banquet Records

The Pleasure Principle Liner Notes:

It was this album, more than any other, that linked Gary Numan synonymously with the word 'synthesizer'. Gary had idealistically rejected the guitar to make his first purely electronic album and totally immersed himself in the latest technology available to produce a sound like no other. The eerie machine-like quality gave it an aura of coldness (often picked up by his critics) which belied the wealth of emotion bubbling under the surface. Themes of detachment and alienation seem to dominate and Gary's vision is so singular and removed that it really does sound like the last album ever made in a post-apocalyptic, nuclear destructed world of our worst nightmares; where our only comfort is in the machines that still function. Despite its initial coldness, the album features some of Gary's most emotive songs, including "Complex", the first ever electronic ballad, and "Tracks", which went on to be a firm 'live' favourite. "Cars" struck such a chord with people that it became a huge worldwide hit. With the release of "Cars" Gary decided to finally drop the name Tubeway Army, though the record company were strongly against the idea, fearing it would be commercial suicide. They needn't have worried, for Gary had not only arrived but he would become one of the biggest names of the decade.

- Francis Drake

"I'd like to give my special thanks to the band - who turned basics into songs."

- Gary Numan

("Asylum" was released on the B side of "Cars" and recorded, along with "Random" and "Oceans", at Freerange Studios, London, as part of the 'demo' sessions for THE PLEASURE PRINCIPLE. Also recorded during these sessions, between 9-12 April 1979, were "Photograph" and "Trois Gymnopedies" as well as versions of "Cars", "Metal", "Observer", "Conversation", "Tracks", "Airlane", and "Engineers".)

Warriors Liner Notes:

Prior to recording WARRIORS, Gary had spent a whole year outside the U.K. and his return was a very memorable experience for him, and an unforgettable event for the multitude of 'Numanoids' who turned up at Blackbushe Airfield to give him what can only be described as a hero's welcome. There were hundreds on hundreds of them trudging along the A30 like ants and by the time Gary's plane came into view the airfield was bursting with fans. Gary couldn't believe his eyes and circled the airfield a second time. He told me later that he was overwhelmed by his fans' loyalty and devotion.

The next few months were spent writing and recording so it comes as no surprise that this album presented a far more confident Numan, far more at ease with his fame than before. There's a sense of optimism, a certain richness and depth to the recording and you get the feeling that Gary was in a good frame of mind when he made it. Although it's never been considered one of Gary's more commercial albums, it's an undeniably strong record. The use of elements of jazz, electronic and dance give it a unique sound and, by using the '79/'80 band augmented with distinguished guests, the musicianship on WARRIORS is so good; tight and yet fluid. It has a live feel that is unusual on studio recordings.

- Francis Drake

(The two versions of "My Car Slides", 1 & 2, were 12" B sides of the "Warriors" single. "Letters" had previously appeared in 1981 on the B side of the Dramatis 12" under its correct title of "Face To Face". Due to a mistake at the master cut, the track was used, along with "Poetry And Power", on the 12" B side of the "Sister Surprise" single.)

(In 1987, "Cars" was remixed by Zeus B. Held and reissued as a single and the 12" featured the two versions included here.)

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