Treason (It's Just a Story)

"Treason (It's Just a Story)" is a song recorded by Liverpool group The Teardrop Explodes. The track was originally released as a single in early 1980 and then included on the group's debut album Kilimanjaro later the same year.[1]

"Treason (It's Just a Story)"
Single by The Teardrop Explodes
from the album Kilimanjaro
A-side"Treason (It's Just a Story)"
B-side"Read It In Books"
WrittenCope, Dwyer, Finkler
ReleasedFebruary 1980 (1980-02)
RecordedJanuary 1980 (1980-01)
StudioT.W. Studios
Length3:05
LabelZoo Records
Producer(s)Clive Langer & Alan Winstanley
The Teardrop Explodes singles chronology
"Bouncing Babies"
(1979)		 "Treason (It's Just a Story)"
(1980)		 "When I Dream"
(1980)
"Treason (It's Just a Story)" (remix)
Single by The Teardrop Explodes
A-side"Treason (It's Just a Story)"
B-side"Use Me"
WrittenCope, Dwyer, Finkler
ReleasedMay 1981 (1981-05)
Length2:57
LabelMercury Records
Producer(s)Clive Langer & Alan Winstanley
The Teardrop Explodes singles chronology
"Reward"
(1979)		 "Treason (It's Just a Story)" (remix)
(1981)		 "Passionate Friend"
(1981)

The original version of the song failed to become a hit, but was later re-mixed by Hugh Jones and re-released as the follow-up to the group's breakthrough hit Reward in 1981.[2] This version reached no.18 in the UK Singles charts in May of the same year.[3] The new version was also included on the re-issue of the Kilimanjaro album, itself more commercially successful than the original album release. On both album releases the song is listed under the title of "Treason".[4]

B-side

The B-side of the original 1980 7" release was "Read It In Books", the Teardrop Explodes' own version of a song originally co-written by Julian Cope and Ian McCulloch, previously recorded and released by McCulloch's band Echo & the Bunnymen in 1979 as the B-side to their debut single "The Pictures on My Wall".[5] The Teardrops' version was also included on the Kilimanjaro album, re-titled "Books".[6]

The B-side of the remixed single version of "Treason" was a new track, entitled "Use Me", written by Julian Cope alone.

Other versions
  • A French language version of the track entitled "Traison (C’est juste une histoire)" was released as a bonus track on the 12" release of the re-mixed single in 1981. This version was later included on the deluxe edition of Kilimanjaro released in 2010.[7]
  • A live version of Treason performed at Club Zoo, Liverpool on 25 November 1981 was included on the group's comprehensive 2023 compilation Culture Bunker 1978-82. This compilation also features both single versions and the French version of the song, as well as the two B-sides "Read It In Books" and "Use Me".[8]
  • A cover version of "Treason" was recorded and released by Nottingham indie pop band Fat Tulips in 1991 as part of their "The Tulip Explodes!" EP, which also included cover versions of Teardrop Explodes songs "Passionate Friend" and "Reward".[9]

References
  1. "News" (PDF). Record Mirror: 2. 11 October 1980. Retrieved 24 October 2023 – via worldradiohistory.com.
  2. "Bless his cotton socks he's in the news". Smash Hits: 4. 30 April 1981. Retrieved 24 October 2023 – via Flickr.com.
  3. "Official Singles Chart - 17 May 1981". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 23 October 2023.
  4. "Treason (It's Just a Story) The Story Behind The Song". www.wow-vinyl.com. Retrieved 24 October 2023.
  5. "Echo And The Bunnymen – The Pictures On My Wall". discogs.com. Retrieved 24 October 2023.
  6. "The Teardrop Explodes – Kilimanjaro". discogs.com. Retrieved 24 October 2023.
  7. "The Teardrop Explodes – Kilimanjaro (Deluxe ed., 2010, Disc 2 'Bates Motel')". discogs.com. Retrieved 24 October 2023.
  8. "The Teardrop Explodes – Culture Bunker 1978-82, 6xCD, 2023". discogs.com. Retrieved 24 October 2023.
  9. "Fat Tulips – The Tulip Explodes!". discogs.com. Retrieved 24 October 2023.
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