Bad Ambassador – UK / Ireland
- Bad Ambassador CD1
- 1. Bad Ambassador [Regeneration] – without overlap
- 3:50
- 2. Edward The Confessor
- 5:24
- 3. U.S.E.
- 3:08
- 4. CD-ROM element: Bad Ambassador [Promo video without guns]
- 4:00
- Bad Ambassador CD2
- 1. Bad Ambassador [Live version, Oxford, Brookes University, 21/03/2001]
- 3:57
- 2. Pictures Of Matchstick Men [Live version, Oxford, Brookes University, 21/03/2001]
- 4:21
- 3. Sweden [Live version, Oxford, Brookes University, 21/03/2001]
- 4:33
- Bad Ambassador 7"
- A. Bad Ambassador [Regeneration] – without overlap
- 3:50
- B. Life On Earth [Live version, Oxford, Brookes University, 21/03/2001]
- 3:59
- Promo CD
- 1. Bad Ambassador [Regeneration] – without overlap
- 3:50
- Promo VHS/Betacam
- 1. Bad Ambassador [Promo video without guns]
- 4:00
- 2 tracks promo VHS
- 1. Bad Ambassador [Promo video without guns]
- 4:00
- 2. Bad Ambassador [Promo video with guns]
- 4:00
- Formats (editor / manufacturer / distributor, date)
- CD1 (Parlophone / EMI / EMI, 14/05/2001):
- 7243 8 79318 0 0 (CDRS 6558)
- CD2 (Parlophone / EMI / EMI, 14/05/2001):
- 7243 8 79318 2 4 (CDR 6558)
- 7" (Parlophone / EMI / EMI, 14/05/2001):
- 7243 8 79318 7 9 (R 6558) – 3,000 copies
- Promo CD (Parlophone / EMI / Alan James PR):
- CDRDJ 6558
- CD-R (Parlophone / / Parlophone, Alan James PR)
- Promo VHS (Parlophone Creative Dept / EMI):
- Letterbox: PAL
- 2 tracks promo VHS (Parlophone Creative Dept):
- Letterbox: PAL
- Betacam SP S (Parlophone Creative Dept / Klones, 30/03/2001):
- Letterbox: PAL
- Items
In the UK the two CD singles came within regular single cases, with stickers promoting the content.
CD 1 comes with a white sticker promoting the 2 B-sides and the video. The catalogue number is also printed on this sticker. Except the front cover, the background of the sleeve features a graphical design by Claire Burbridge, probably sketches. Notes promoting the CD 2 and the forthcoming albums are featured plus notes on how to play the video from the CD-ROM track. A barcode is to be found, in an EMI frame which features catalogue number and Parlophone logo.
Tracklisting and credits/copyright notes are to be found on both sleeve and CD. The CD also features bel BIEM and Parlophone logos. Near the centre of the CD we can read IFPI L042 8793180 1 : 1 : 1 EMI UK
CD 2 comes with a black sticker promoting the live tracks. The catalogue number is also printed on this sticker. The front cover features another sculpture, and the other part a photo of many of these sculptures. The sketches background is only featured on the part where the barcode is to be found, in an EMI frame which features catalogue number and Parlophone logo.
Tracklisting and credits/copyright notes are to be found on both sleeve and CD. The CD also features bel BIEM and Parlophone logos and has a slightly different colour from CD 1. Near the centre of the CD we can read: IFPI L041 879318 2 2 : 1 : 1 EMI UK
While the same pressing of the CD 1 was also used for international release, the CD 2 distributed in the international market is actually slightly different.
In addition to the CDs, the second Regeneration single was also release as a limited 7” vinyl. Each copies (of 3,000) is numbered on the back.
The artwork is similar to the promo CD. The front cover features the same picture as CD1 cover; while the back cover features a photo of a few Claire Burbridge’s sculptures including the one from the front cover. The back cover features the release number, tracklisting, credits and the bar code in an EMI frame.
On each sides are printed the band name, record speed, title name, credits and serial number as well as a Parlophone logo.
The A side features on the centre the artwork from CD 1, and near the edge we can read: 8793187 1A1 R 6558
While the B side features on the centre the artwork from CD 2, and near the edge we can read: 8793187 1B1 R6558
The promo CD is a one track CD featuring the single edit of the song (ie without ‘Timestretched’ overlapping). The CD has again a different colour which is the background colour from the front cover, and features some credits and copyright notes; the catalogue number as well as Parlophone and bel BIEM logos. Near the centre of the CD we can read: IFPI L041 DCDJ6558 11 : 1 EMI UK
The front and back cover use the same photos used for 7” release; while the inside is not plain white but printed with the sketches artwork. On the back are also printed the catalogue number, a Parlophone logo and the notes ‘For Promotional Use Only’, ‘Made in EU’.
Some of these promo CD or CD-R come with a Parlophone sticker with contacts to the regional promotion service of the label. Other comes with a Alan James PR stickers and features the following release notes: “The Divine Comedy release a single ‘Bad Ambassador’ through Parlophone on May 14th. Taken from their acclaimed new album Regeneration, the single is the follow up to ‘Love What You Do’, which was the band’s tenth Top 40 hit. The Divine Comedy have just completed a sell-out UK tour and are now on the European promo trail. They will return for more gigs around the release of the single and play London’s Kentish Town Forum on May 11th & 12th.”
Unlike the other promo from that era, the CD-R of Bad Ambassador does not comes within a PVC slipcase. It comes with a similar sleeve than the promo CD, but without the sketches printed on the inside.
The sleeves either comes with Parlophone stickers (regional promotion contact on front and information on the back), or AJPR stickers. Both of them refer to the original release date of the single, May 7th, which means this promo was released earlier than the standard promo. The AJPR sticker refers to ‘Love What You Do’ being played 35 times on Radio 1; while the EMI stickers mentions Regeneration being a Top 15 album.
The CD itself has the same radio edit as the promo CD. Different designs of the disc exist, although they all featured a white background, a big Parlophone logo and the band and title names, and times.
As for Love What You Do, a promo VHS was issued by the Creative Dept of Parlophone, and comes within a designed card sleeve. The tape has blue windows, and features only the ‘censored’ ‘No Guns’ version.
The video was edited by Metropolis, and features a start screen with the director name, and specifies it is the ‘No Guns’ version.
Another version of the ‘Bad Ambassador’ video exists, where the two main characters are seen using gunfires. That scene, rather unnecessary to the plot, has been censored; hence the existence of versions with and without guns. Not surprisingly the ‘no gun’ version was the one used for promotion at the time, and the version with guns has only been revealed through the band’s youtube channel in May 2016.
Both versions of the video are to be found on a promo VHS, also issued by the Creative Dept of Parlophone. The cassette comes into a generic white sleeve and features similar stickers as the other version; however what is inside seems rather strange for an official Parlophone video, or was edited by amateurs. First the start screens are totally different from the 1 track VHS or betacam. This is not the Metropolis screen, but there is just a black screen with white writing introduction each video, starting with Parlaphone Records (sic!). It is dated from 19th February 2001. Then only the first video has a countdown ‘VDI Multimedia’. Both ends with a different copyright screen than the official video, once again “© Parlaphone Records”.
A better version of the video exists as a promotional betacam. The tape was duplicated by Klones Video Transfers with whom EMI was working with back then. Included is a technical sheet featuring the time codes, etc. It is dated from March 30th 2001. The sticker on the case’ insert is by Parlophone’s Creative Dept; however it does not mention which version of the video is on the tape, not surprisingly this is only the ‘no gun’ version.
A postcard was issued by Parlophone to promote the single. The front features the same picture as CD 1. The other side features a promotional text about the release of the single (with the correct release date), as well as updates on the band’s tour, and information on the merchandising and DC fan club.
A 12”x12” in store advert was printed to promote the release of the single.
CD 1
CD 1 comes with a white sticker promoting the 2 B-sides and the video. The catalogue number is also printed on this sticker. Except the front cover, the background of the sleeve features a graphical design by Claire Burbridge, probably sketches. Notes promoting the CD 2 and the forthcoming albums are featured plus notes on how to play the video from the CD-ROM track. A barcode is to be found, in an EMI frame which features catalogue number and Parlophone logo.
Tracklisting and credits/copyright notes are to be found on both sleeve and CD. The CD also features bel BIEM and Parlophone logos. Near the centre of the CD we can read IFPI L042 8793180 1 : 1 : 1 EMI UK
CD 2
CD 2 comes with a black sticker promoting the live tracks. The catalogue number is also printed on this sticker. The front cover features another sculpture, and the other part a photo of many of these sculptures. The sketches background is only featured on the part where the barcode is to be found, in an EMI frame which features catalogue number and Parlophone logo.
Tracklisting and credits/copyright notes are to be found on both sleeve and CD. The CD also features bel BIEM and Parlophone logos and has a slightly different colour from CD 1. Near the centre of the CD we can read: IFPI L041 879318 2 2 : 1 : 1 EMI UKWhile the same pressing of the CD 1 was also used for international release, the CD 2 distributed in the international market is actually slightly different.
7”
In addition to the CDs, the second Regeneration single was also release as a limited 7” vinyl. Each copies (of 3,000) is numbered on the back.
The artwork is similar to the promo CD. The front cover features the same picture as CD1 cover; while the back cover features a photo of a few Claire Burbridge’s sculptures including the one from the front cover. The back cover features the release number, tracklisting, credits and the bar code in an EMI frame.
On each sides are printed the band name, record speed, title name, credits and serial number as well as a Parlophone logo.
The A side features on the centre the artwork from CD 1, and near the edge we can read: 8793187 1A1 R 6558
While the B side features on the centre the artwork from CD 2, and near the edge we can read: 8793187 1B1 R6558
Promo CD
The promo CD is a one track CD featuring the single edit of the song (ie without ‘Timestretched’ overlapping). The CD has again a different colour which is the background colour from the front cover, and features some credits and copyright notes; the catalogue number as well as Parlophone and bel BIEM logos. Near the centre of the CD we can read: IFPI L041 DCDJ6558 11 : 1 EMI UKThe front and back cover use the same photos used for 7” release; while the inside is not plain white but printed with the sketches artwork. On the back are also printed the catalogue number, a Parlophone logo and the notes ‘For Promotional Use Only’, ‘Made in EU’.
Some of these promo CD or CD-R come with a Parlophone sticker with contacts to the regional promotion service of the label. Other comes with a Alan James PR stickers and features the following release notes: “The Divine Comedy release a single ‘Bad Ambassador’ through Parlophone on May 14th. Taken from their acclaimed new album Regeneration, the single is the follow up to ‘Love What You Do’, which was the band’s tenth Top 40 hit. The Divine Comedy have just completed a sell-out UK tour and are now on the European promo trail. They will return for more gigs around the release of the single and play London’s Kentish Town Forum on May 11th & 12th.”
CD-R
Unlike the other promo from that era, the CD-R of Bad Ambassador does not comes within a PVC slipcase. It comes with a similar sleeve than the promo CD, but without the sketches printed on the inside.The sleeves either comes with Parlophone stickers (regional promotion contact on front and information on the back), or AJPR stickers. Both of them refer to the original release date of the single, May 7th, which means this promo was released earlier than the standard promo. The AJPR sticker refers to ‘Love What You Do’ being played 35 times on Radio 1; while the EMI stickers mentions Regeneration being a Top 15 album.
The CD itself has the same radio edit as the promo CD. Different designs of the disc exist, although they all featured a white background, a big Parlophone logo and the band and title names, and times.VHS
As for Love What You Do, a promo VHS was issued by the Creative Dept of Parlophone, and comes within a designed card sleeve. The tape has blue windows, and features only the ‘censored’ ‘No Guns’ version.
The video was edited by Metropolis, and features a start screen with the director name, and specifies it is the ‘No Guns’ version.
2 tracks VHS
Another version of the ‘Bad Ambassador’ video exists, where the two main characters are seen using gunfires. That scene, rather unnecessary to the plot, has been censored; hence the existence of versions with and without guns. Not surprisingly the ‘no gun’ version was the one used for promotion at the time, and the version with guns has only been revealed through the band’s youtube channel in May 2016.
Both versions of the video are to be found on a promo VHS, also issued by the Creative Dept of Parlophone. The cassette comes into a generic white sleeve and features similar stickers as the other version; however what is inside seems rather strange for an official Parlophone video, or was edited by amateurs. First the start screens are totally different from the 1 track VHS or betacam. This is not the Metropolis screen, but there is just a black screen with white writing introduction each video, starting with Parlaphone Records (sic!). It is dated from 19th February 2001. Then only the first video has a countdown ‘VDI Multimedia’. Both ends with a different copyright screen than the official video, once again “© Parlaphone Records”.
Betacam
A better version of the video exists as a promotional betacam. The tape was duplicated by Klones Video Transfers with whom EMI was working with back then. Included is a technical sheet featuring the time codes, etc. It is dated from March 30th 2001. The sticker on the case’ insert is by Parlophone’s Creative Dept; however it does not mention which version of the video is on the tape, not surprisingly this is only the ‘no gun’ version.
Postcard
A postcard was issued by Parlophone to promote the single. The front features the same picture as CD 1. The other side features a promotional text about the release of the single (with the correct release date), as well as updates on the band’s tour, and information on the merchandising and DC fan club.
In-store ad.
A 12”x12” in store advert was printed to promote the release of the single.