Roxette – Bag Of Tricks – 4LP Boxset Review

All I can really say about the Bag Of Tricks 4LP set is WOW.

The presentation is lovely. The glossy booklet inside is superb and the records themselves look great. So let’s join the Joyride and delve in. 

The sound of each album has surprised me. A few of the recordings are a trifle rough due to the nature of how they were recorded (hotel rooms) but others that have been recorded in home studios are sublime. 

A lot of the songs that has been released in this box is unreleased. That alone is worth the purchase. But it’s the Abbey Road acoustic sessions, the different versions of the hits, The Look and Joyride.  Even tracks that were recorded for other territories are just icing on the cake.

For those who still own all of the Roxette albums, there’s plenty here to swoon over.  Even for the few who got rid of their collections and just kept the best of, this is worthy of a purchase. For new fans, (and there will be a few who read this) it’s an essential slice of the talent that we are sadly missing with the passing of vocalist Marie. 

If Carlsberg were to go through Roxettes vaults and release a box set, this is it. 

Score 8/10
Tracklisting

Volume 1

1. “Help!” (Abbey Road Sessions – Nov 15, 1995)

2. “Listen To Your Heart” (Abbey Road Sessions – Nov 15, 1995)

3. “Let Your Heart Dance With Me” (Good Karma Outtake 2016) ***

4. “Waiting For The Rain” (Studio Vinden Demo 1997)

5.“ Joyride” (Brian Malouf US Single Mix 1991)

6. “Like Lovers Do” (Montezuma Demo – Jul 25-26, 1986) ***

7. “Pocketful Of Rain” (Skinnarviksringen Demo – Feb 1993) ***

8. “Wish I Could Fly” (Live EMP Sky Church, Seattle Oct 7, 2000) ***

9. “Happy Together” (T&A Demo – Jul 1-2, 1998)

10. “Beautiful Boy” (Studio Vinden Demo – Mar 2000) ***

11. “You Don’t Understand Me” (T&A Demo – Jul 30, 1995) ***

12. “Hotblooded” (T&A Demo – Dec 13, 1990) ***

Volume 2

1. “The Look” (Abbey Road Sessions – Nov 15, 1995)

2. “Tu No Me Comprendes” (Spanish version of You Don’t Understand Me) ***

3 .“Soul Deep” (Tom Lord-Alge Mix)

4. “Always The Last To Know” (Studio Vinden Demo 1998) ***

5. “Sleeping In My Car” (The Stockholm Demo Version 1993)

6. “Watercolours In The Rain” (T&A Demo – Jan 24, 1990) ***

7. “From One Heart To Another” (Montezuma Demo – Jul 25-26, 1986) ***

8. “I Remember You” (T&A Demo – Mar 15, 1990) ***

9. “It Hurts” (T&A Demo – Aug 3, 1995) ***

10. “Perfect Day” (T&A Demo – Aug 23, 1990) ***

11. “New World” (Studio Vinden Demo 1996)

12. “Lo Siento” (Spanish version of Salvation)

Volume 3

1. “Piece Of Cake” (Good Karma Outtake 2016) ***

2. “You Don’t Understand Me” (Abbey Road Sessions – Nov 15, 1995)

3. “Dangerous” (Swedish Single Version)

4. “Every Day” (Studio Vinden Demo – Mar 2000) ***

5. “The Big L” (T&A Demo – Mar 29, 1990) ***

6. “It Will Take A Long Long Time” (Modern Rock Version) (Have A Nice Day Outtake 1999)

7. “Little Girl” (Studio Vinden Demo – March 2000) ***

8. “Cry” (Live Norrköping Dec 16, 1988)

9. “Goodbye To You” (Montezuma demo – Jul 25-26, 1986) ***

10. “Go To Sleep” (Skinnarviksringen demo – Feb 1993) ***

11. “Quisiera Volar” (Spanish version of Wish I Could Fly)

Volume 4

1. “The Centre Of The Heart (Is A Suburb To The Brain) ” (Have A Nice Day Outtake 1999) ***

2. “Pearls And Passion” (Montezuma Demo – Jul 25-26, 1986) ***

3. “Things Will Never Be The Same” (T&A Demo – Dec 13, 1990) ***

4. “Entering Your Heart” (Room Service Outtake 2001)

5. “Cooper (Closer To God) ” (Have A Nice Day Outtake 1999)

6. “Joy Of A Toy” (Montezuma Demo – Jul 25-26, 1986) ***

7. “It Takes You No Time To Get Here” (Room Service Outtake1999) ***

8. “Before You Go To Sleep” (T&A demo – Oct 23, 1992) ***

9. “I Was So Lucky” (The Golden Blow) (Have A Nice Day Outtake 1999) ***

10. “Jag älskar (Surrender) ”” (Montezuma Demo – Jul 25-26, 1986) ***

11. “Som i en dröm (So Far Away) ” (Montezuma Demo – Jul 25-26, 1986) ***

12. “Alguien” (Spanish version of Anyone 1999)

*** Previously unreleased

Release Date – 11th December 2020
Label – Warner/Parlophone/Rhino

For all things Roxette, click HERE and to purchase this box, click HERE