Desire Avenue

I've just ordered from the US (so its going to be a week or two before I get my grubby mits on it) a Independiente promo cd-r for 'This is Stina Nordenstam' album when it was still known by its original title 'Welcome To Happiness'.

Now,before you all start yawning and grumbling 'big deal,we've known about this promo for years', whats interesting about this particular promo is that although it retains the 'Welcome To Happiness' title,this version doesn't start with that track.

In fact,this revised tracklisting is very close to the final running order,with the main variation being the transposition of 'Trainsurfing ' & 'Keen Yellow Planet'. So the album,at this particular time, was to start with 'Everyone Else In The World' followed by 'Keen Yellow Planet'.

Unfortunately, but understandably,the item has disappeared off the listing page since my purchase so please bear with me until I receive the disc when I'll post up a piccie of the insert and track sequencing.

Ok,you can all start yawning and grumbling now!

I safely received my 'missing link' (sic) 'Welcome To Happiness' promo cd-r this morning (see below)



As you can see,apart from the variation in track sequencing in comparison to the tracklisting of the more common cd-r promo and also with the officially released album, also of interest is the date stamped on the card......1st May 2001 which was roughly mid-way between the recording sessions and the eventual release.

.......and here's the more 'common' cd-r promo version,but the question is,which one came first?

It was probably the 01.05.2001 version which had the opening 'Welcome To Happiness' title track demoted further down the listing and replaced by 'Everyone Else in The World',which would remain as the opening track for the final album release.

Despite all the flaffing about, 'So Lee', 'Clothe Yourself For The Wind' and 'Sharon And Hope' did retain their original positions.

by the way, i prefer the it titled "THIS IS" than "welcome to happiness"

I can imagine Stina wanting the more cynical 'Welcome to happiness' title whilst Independiente wanting the more positive statement title of 'This Is'.

I think Stations would have made a good title too.

One thing that occured to me this morning as I played the '01.05.2001' version and thats 'Keen Yellow Planet (featuring Brett Anderson on vocals) was eventually placed by 'Trainsurfing',the other track to feature Brett.

It seems that Stina and / or Independiente were keen on getting their 'special guest' featured as quickly as possible on the album.

RobB wrote:One thing that occured to me this morning as I played the '01.05.2001' version and thats 'Keen Yellow Planet (featuring Brett Anderson on vocals) was eventually placed by 'Trainsurfing',the other track to feature Brett.

It seems that Stina and / or Independiente were keen on getting their 'special guest' featured as quickly as possible on the album.

Interesting find.


Any differences to songs?

I have a couple of This Is... promos somewhere. But not sure of the dates (if printed). My collection (RIP) is boxed up somewhere.

kuhn wrote:Interesting find.

Any differences to songs?

Not that I noticed unfortunately.
It would have been nice to have had an alternative take of a track.

I do not have the '01.05.2001' .


From my collection. I might be able to put up some scans soon.

Welcome to Happiness. No date. same sleeve design as '01.05.2001'
This Is.... No date. No date same sleeve design as '01.05.2001'
Welcome to Happiness. No date. (Unmastered?) Handwritten and highlighted on the front for Keen Yellow Planet : DUET!
Revisted Album November 00. [no title].*


* first track is Welcome To Happiness

kuhn wrote:Revisted Album November 00. [no title].*

* first track is Welcome To Happiness

That sounds like it was the first version of the album,coming only weeks after the recording sessions were completed.

If you could scan all your versions then that would be great,thanks.

contact info blurred out by me

Thanks for the scans.

Judging from all the scans shown in this thread,it seems that the order of issue for the promos were:

Stina Nordenstam Revised album November 00

Welcome To Happiness (Independiente)

Welcome To Happiness

Welcome to Happiness 01-05-2001

This is ... Stina Nordenstam.

This Is ... Stina Nordenstam 03/07/01 (see illustration on page 2 of this thread)

Six promos containing three variant track listings between them.

Seems like Stina and Independiente couldn't quite agree with the track sequencing or the album title and that it took a year to sort it all out. No wonder there wasn't a second album released?

Interesting though that right from the outset,there was never any intention to release 'The Thing About Fire' or 'Walking Too Fast' on the album.

Another full album promo,possibly the last since the front cover artwork,title and track sequencing now matches the commercial version.

Interesting to note though the ... which follow the word IS on the cd-r itself.

'Clothe Yourself For The Wind' and 'Sharon & Hope' are both anchored at the end of the various pumutations and having just re-listened to an interview that Stina did at the time of release,I've suddenly remembered why.

Both those songs were the last to be written for the album, shortly before the recording sessions were completed.

Stina also mentions that there is no intended irony to 'Welcome To Happiness' which might explain why it was removed as the albums title.

Which interview is that,RobB? The 'wandering around Stockholm in the cold with a recorder' one?