Crocodiles was originally released in July 1980 and reached 17 in the UK Charts. The band rose to the fore as part of the vibrant post punk Liverpool scene with the likes of Teardrop Explodes. Their debut gig at the now legendary ‘Erics’ home of the Cavern Club on Matthew St Liverpool, the cradle of British rock and roll, delivered them onto the scene.

Recorded at Eden Studios in London and Rockfield Studios in Monmouth Wales, Crocodiles was produced by Bill Drummond and David Balfe, it is heralded as one of the ‘Classic Debut Albums Of All Time’. Ian Broudie had already produced the single ‘Rescue’ and the albums cover and music both reflect the imagery of darkness and sorrowfulness contained within. This was much lauded at the time with NME describing McCulloughs lyrics as being ‘scattered with themes of sorrow, horror,and despair, themes that are reinforced by stormy animal/sexual imagery”.

Echo And The Bunnymen were formed in 1979 and originally consisted of Ian McCullough, Will Sergeant and Les Pattinson and a drum machine ‘Echo’. Their debut single ‘Pictures On My Wall was released in July 1979 on the independent Liverpool Zoo Records, The band subsequently signed to WEA subsidiary label Korova.

2 LP + Book Version:
This 180g remastered 2LP Hardback Book Edition features the original Crocodiles LP as LP1 and a bonus LP2 containing 10 extra tracks. Included are ‘Do It Clean’ and ‘Read It In Books’ which were missed off the album but included as a 7 inch single in UK pressings. ‘Simple Stuff’ the b side to the single ‘Rescue’ plus early versions of ‘Villiers Terrace’, ‘Pride’ and ‘Simple Stuff’ from the albums recording sessions. The rest of disc 2 is made up of tracks from the ‘Shine So Hard EP’ a 4 track live 12inch recorded at the Pavilion Gardens in Buxton Derbyshire, in January 1981.

The hardback book also features new 16 page booklet with contributions from Will Sergeant and Les Pattinson including new photos.