lilybee wrote:Nope, that's not it. The Josephine in The Very Best album it's an updated one.
I've only seen it on you tube:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-MYOa8Rq_Go
Is it on Shamrock Diaries? I don't have that album. Ronald and Chris probably know...?
Lily
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Hi Lilybee,
I don't know everything and I do not pretend to know all about Chris' music, but since I've been called to come to the black board (sort of), my answer would be: the original version of "Josephine" came out on the "Shamrock Diaries" album. It was recorder at Bray and Chipping Norton Studios, in Oxon, England, in December 1984. The songs were mixed at Mountain Studios in Montreux, Switzerland, the very next month (January 1985) by Chris Rea and Dave Richards. "Shamrock" was first published as a LP and later issued as a CD (it was the time this brand new sound carrier had been introduced!) The video version of "Josephine" in question, I believe, is based on an "unplugged" recording. It could have been done by Chris and Jon Kelly at a different location. Perhaps in France, where Chris used to worked in late 80s.
Honestly saying: I came upon this "unplugged Josephine" only in a video form.
The song, however, had been re-recorded, re-edited, re-issued and published time and over again on numerous "single CDs" as well as compilations (the best of), from England through France and Germany all the way to Australia, Japan, Russia and the Ukraine. It's not necessarily the same version though, but still a "Josephine."
The "French extended version" is a little bit misleading but it was the French market it was first produced for as dancing music. I guess they must be more romantic there than we all think we are....
After all "Josephine" stayed for several weeks at the top of French charts (an 'avenement!') which must have been a pleasant surprise for Chris because generally speaking (I don't think I should generalize here, since it goes very much against the political correctness!) the Anglo-Saxon rock and roll music (as opposed to the French rock!) is not very cherished in France. If they like some British or American music, it must be top-notch.
"Josephine" was different because it stroke a proper note...
The version where Chris added a stanza "but Josephine grew up and she went away..." appeared only during his last tour, back in 2006.
Take care,
Chris