The sound of EBTG, which is comprised of Tracey Thorn on lead vocals and Ben Watt on arrangement, has changed from album to album, but yet has remained consistant enough to satisfy loyal fans (except maybe for the stray Walking Wounding.) Spaning over 14 years and 10 albums, EBTG seems to be on the road to finally become more of a household name.

The following is a list of CDs, both originals and collection sets, that make up the albums by this band. The list is chronologically arrange, beginning in 1982.

A Distant Shore Tracey's solo album Cherry Red Records, 1982

-Small Town Girl -Simply Couldn't Care -Seascape -Femme Fatale -Dreamy -Plain Sailing -New Opened Eyes -Too Happy

I bought this album hoping it would sound something like EBTG. This is some of Tracey's earliest work and every song sounds alike. She is much better when paired with Ben­ they should always work together. On this album, her voice sounds flat and shows no range as compared with her work with EBTG. Small Town Girl is the best of the lot. It's just Tracey and a guitar. Skip it­ it's hard to find anyway.

North Marine Drive Ben's solo album Cherry Red Records, 1987

-On Box Hill -Some Things Don't Matter -Lucky One -Empy Bottles -North Marine Drive -Waiting Like Mad -Thirst for Knowledge -Long Time No Sea -You're Gonna Make Me Lonsesome When You Go (the following are with Robert Wyatt) -Walter and John -Aquamarine -Slipping Slowly -Another Conversation With Myself -A Girl In Winter

Uh, no. I'm more dissapointed with this album then I was with A Distant Shore. Ben sounds much better when he sings with EBTG than when he sings solo. Beached whale is more like it. Over the years with EBTG, he has grown and mataured, all for the better. Skip it and go straight to the next album. This album is very hard to find (and that's a good thing).

Eden Blanco y Negro, 1984

-Each and Every One -Bittersweet -Tender Blue -Another Bridge -The Spice of Life -The Dustbowl -Crabwalk -Even So -Frost and Fire -Fascination -I Must Confess -Soft Touch

This is EBTG's first work as as band. An OK album, but not a great album. The best songs off of here, Each and Every One, Another Bridge and others, can be found on many of the compilations that you will see listed below. The Spice of Life is the only song I REALLY like. This album sounds like it would be their first- it's very unrefined and relies on guitar and rusty sounding voices. Some fans may actually like this sound a lot, I just prefer other albums in which Tracey's voice is more smooth and flowing and shows a wider range. This album is only moderately easy to find.

Everything but the Girl* Blanco y Negro, 1984; Warner Archives re-release, 1995

-Each and Every One -Tender Blue -Another Bridge -Frost and Fire -Fascination -Crabwalk -Never Could Have Been Worse -Laugh You Out of the House -Mine -Easy As Sin -Native Land -Riberbed Dry

This is the album Eden, with a new cover and six new songs. This album has been released twice, both identical. I like this album a lot. Each and Every One, Another Bridge, Fascination and Native Land all appear on other albums, but they work well together here. They also compliment may favorite songs from this album­ Never Could Have Been Worse and Riverbed Dry (buy it if only for this song). The re-release of this album is pretty easy to find. This album has an early, earthy feel to it that I like and it shows some of Tracey's vocal range. It's EBTG first album and it a vast, vast improvement over both of their solo albums.

Love, Not Money* Blanco y Negro, 1985;Warner Archives re-release 1995

-When All's Well -Ugly Little Dreams -Shoot Me Down -Are You Trying to be Funny? -Sean -Ballad of the Times -Anytown -This Love (not for sale) -Trouble and Strife -Angel The re-release contains two new songs: -Heaven Help Me (Chrissie Hind remake) -Kid

A very good album. Even though EBTG's early albums, such as this one, have a much different sound than their later albums (that's neither a good nor bad thing), I like this one. I have problems with Eden which has a much similar sound to this one and tend to like it less. Tracey and Ben just sound like they had more fun in making this album. When All's Well (a classic), Are You Trying to be Funny, Heaven Help Me and Angel are amongst the best here. This original is a hard to find piece since it's been replaced with the re-release, but you wouldn't really need it anyway. The re-release is easy to find.

Baby, the Stars Shine Bright* Blanco y Negro, 1986 (pictured); Warner Archives re-release 1995

-Come On Home -Don't Leave Me Behind -Country Mile -Cross My Heart -Don't Let the Teardrops Rust Your Shining Heart -Careless -Sugar Finney -Come Hell or High Water -Fighting Talk -Little Hitler

This album is lighter than a lot of EBTG albums, with the tunes being somewhat cheary and bright, even if the lyrics may not be. Sugar Finney can damn-well almost make you boogie. A couple of classics came from this album: Come On Home and Don't Let the Teardrops Rust Your Shining Heart. There are sad songs on here as well, but they have really good messages attached to them and still make me smile. I would definately buy this album because it sound different enough from the next few albums. It was re-released in 1995, with a slightly different cover than the original of 1986. Unfortunately, no new songs were added, but it makes the album easy enough to find.

IdleWild Blanco y Negro, 1988

-I Don't Want to Talk About It -Love is Here Where I Live -These Early Days -I Always Was Your Girl** -Oxford Street** -The Night I hHeard Caruso Sing -Goodbye Sunday** -Shadow on a Harvest Moon** -Blue Moon Rose -Tears All Over Town** -Lonesome for a Place I Know** -Apron Strings

This is a MUST-HAVE of EBTG albums. It contains great remakes of classic songs like I Don't Want to Talk About It and Apron Strings. These Early Days is especially nice with the power of the music showing through. My favorites off this album are many, and I consider them to be some of EBTG's best work. This album is still easy to come by and you can find it for a reasonable price almost anywhere. Buy the CD to see if you're going to like the sound of this group. It shows a wide range of vocal quality of both Ben and Tracey. Tidbit: Aprong Strings appeared on the soundtrack to the Kevin Bacon movie She's Having a Baby. Six degrees is right!

Language of Life Atlantic Records, 1990

-Driving -Get Back Together -Meet Me in the Morning -Me and Bobby D -The Language of Life -Take Me -Imagining America -Letting Love Go -My Baby Don't Love Me -The Road

This album took a while to grow on me, but once it did, I was singing every song at some point during the day. It's the album you'll hear at most restaurants while eating. Whether in Austin, TX, South Beach, FL, New York, NY, I heard this piping out of the speakers while eating at restaurants ranging from vegetarian to Japanese and Mexican. It soothes the soul I guess. Driving is the most popular song of this album, but I like Get Back Together, Meet Me in the Morning and Me and Bobby D the most. I say buy it. Easily found at most stores for around $9.99-$11.99. Tidbit: Driving was a VH-1 hit.

Worldwide Atlantic Records, 1991

-Old Friends -Understanding -You Lift Me Up -Talk to Me Like the Sea -British Summertime -Twin Cities -Frozen River -One Place -Politics Aside -Boxing and Pop Music -Feel Alright

An overall good album! You Lift Me Up, Talk to Me Like the Sea, Twin Cities and One Place are amoung the best and should be listened to on a CD-discman for the best effect. This is a must-have album if you want to have a small EBTG collection. Tracey's voice floats on most songs and the album can still be found in almost any store, expecially Tower and HMV, for the nice price of $8.99-11.99. Pay it.

Accoustic Atlantic Records, 1991

-Love Is Strange -Tougher Than the Rest -Time After Time -Alison -Downtown Train -Driving -One Place -Apron Strings -Me and Bobby D -Come on Home -Fascination

Interesting album, this one is. It's name implies exactly what it is. Them and a guitar or piano. I don't really prefere songs 6-11, but then again, songs 1-5 are excellent. Dowtown Train and Love is Strange are very good. However, I feel the accoustic versions of their already-released songs lack flavor. One Place, which is one of my favorite EBTG songs, fails to even make me smile. Same goes for Me and Bobby D. It's a tough call if you want this one, but I say five songs are definately worth it. There aren't even five Mariah Carey, Boyz2Men, John Tesch and Coolio songs counted collectively that I like, so there you go. P.S. Does anyone REALLY listen to any of the above artists?

Essence and Rare Cherry Red Records, 1992 (Japanese import)

-Meet Me In The Morning -These Early Days (remix) -Come On Home (acoustic) -Downtown Train -Living on Honeycomb -Each and Every One -Night and Day -Almost Blue -Native Land -Draining the Bar -Oxford Street -I Don't Want to Talk About It -Driving (acoustic) -Take Me (love mix) -Twin Cities (the Green Plains A Cappella Mix) -No Place Like Home -Old Friends

This album is a collection of pre-released songs, but contains some remixes or songs that aren't on any other album, but it still isn't "essence" or "rare." One such song is Living on Honeycomb, which is a must-hear. Also, not from any album, is Draining the Bar of which I'll send you a sound sample if you ask me nicely. Most of these songs come from EP's or have not been released before now. It's a good compilation for those who like different mixes that hold on to the original version's soul, but are different enough to pay the extra price for this hard-to-find import. Around $30.

Home Movies, the Best of EBTG Blanco y Negro, 1993

-Each and Every One -Another Bridge -Fascination -Native Land -Come On Home -Cross My Heart -Apron Strings -I Don't Want to Talk About It -The Night I Heard Caruso Sing -Driving -Imagining America -Understanding -Twin Cities -Love is Strange -I Didn't Know I Was Looking For Love -The Only Living Boy in New York

Like Essence and Rare, this is a good album to buy if you are not an Everything But the Girl collector because it's a collection of pre-released songs. My only problem is that it doesn't have some of the best EBTG songs on it, including Downtown Train, One Place, Meet Me in the Morning, and Lonesome For a Place I Know- just to name a few. But then again, it at least has Another Bridge, Come on Home and I Didn't Know I Was Looking For Love which are must haves. All-in-all, a good album, but expect to pay a premium price because it's an import. Around $30.

Amplified Heart Blanco y Negro, 1994

-Rollercoaster -Troubled Mind -I Don't Understand Anything -Walking to You -Get Me -Missing -Two Star -We Walk the Same Line -25th December -Disenchanted -Missing (Todd Terry mix)- only on albums made after 1995

Who hasn't heard Missing? Are you out of it!? Originally released in 1994, as both a normal EP mix and a dance mix, Missing made only a small dent in the dance world. Then re-released by 1995, the Todd Terry mix of this song propelled EBTG to their first wide-spread and well-deserved fame. Missing quickly rose up the charts, hitting number one in several countries, and settling for (I think) number four in the US. It was soon added to the album as the 11th track. But that isn't the only song that makes this album one of EBTG's best. Walking to You and Get Me are two of my favorites songs and shouldn't be overlooked. This album received numerous favorable reviews, but I'm worried people will be expecting all songs that sound like the remix of Missing- that however is not the case. This is by far one of the best and most refined pieces of work. BUT according to EBTG themselves, their future work won't sound anything like this. I say they are making the biggest mistake in their career. This album easily outsold Walking Wounded and that should tell them something. Go where the money is- it's your best work.

Walking Wounded Virgin Records, 1996 Japanese import has playboy bunny on Ben's Jacket.

-Before Today -Wrong -Single -The Heart Remains a Child -Walking Wounded -Flipside -Big Deal -Mirrorball -Good Cop Bad Cop -Wrong (Todd Terry Remix) -Walking Wounded (Omni Trio Remix)

This album is very, very different than anything EBTG has done in the past. It didn't sell as well as they hoped. Heavily influenced by their work with Massive Attack, EBTG has added ambient, house, and dance beats as a part of every song on this album. With the exception of "Mirrorball" and "The Heart Remains a Child," in which you can actually hear accoustic guitar, each song has a synthetic attitude- a striking contrast to Tracey's voice. However, upon listening to it several times, the album definately has an eclectic feel and I don't hate it. "Wrong", "The Heart Remains a Child" and "Mirrorball" are must-hears. Wrong debuted at #68 on the Billboard's Top 100 and stayed for 5 weeks before dropping off. The album istself debuted at #37. It's interesting to note this quote by Tracey: "Even we got a bit bored with what we were doing. We felt, for the time being, we'd gone as far as we possible could doing that. With this material, it's like hearing a new group." A new album won't be out till late 1998 and we'll wait to see if the mass population accepts it like they did Amplified Heart. --------------------------------- The following was forwarded to me and is a brief synopsis of the "Amplified Heart" interview ten-year retrospective that was released to radio stations in 1996, then on CD: Background: With the release of "Worldwide," Ben and Tracey had "gone as far in that direction as (they) wanted to go...there was a danger in production techniques, and studio technology." "Amplified Heart" was a "batch of songs, recorded quickly," without too many overdubs....the goal: to record as simply as possible. Rollercoaster: Ben refuses to call it a single. Rather, the "flagship" of the album-very representative of what they were trying to accomplish. "Quite a cyclical, moody track..relies on motif rather than standard pop choruses." Troubled Mind: Co-produced by beatmaster John Coxon. Written on acoustic guitar/ drum track added in post-production. Tracey calls it "slightly odd...elegant" sounding. I Don't Understand Anything: "most obvious Fairport Convention groove on the album." String arranger Harry Robinson brought out of 20-year retirement to work with Ben and Tracey. Demo hand taken by Ben to Robinson's house. Walking To You: Simplest song on album in terms of production. About how past comes back to haunt you. Missing: First ebtg song written on rhythm track. Drum track-then guitar added- then lyrics last. Never existed as an acoustic song. Tracey calls it a "yearning song....returning to a familiar childhood scene, wondering what happened to a person in your past." Two Star; "Restless, unresolved." Oddest song construction on album...unstructured, odd-bar lengths. Lyrics about self-disgust. Brit-group Underworld interested in remixing it into an "ambient chill-out piece" We Walk the Same Line: Most "cheerful" song on record. Tracey calls it a "straightforward country-style pop song." 25th December: About going home, reassesment of your past, and relationships with friends/family. Guitar added by accident....wrong track queued up on DAT player...done in one take. Disenchanted: Theme song for a French film that lost its financing. Rather than "just throw it away," placed it on the album. Ironically, Tracey claims this "jazz-standard" type song is one they are identified with, but rarely have written.

Tidbits: I hope Warner is completely devestated by their loss of EBTG over to Virgin. Serves them right. Actually, I think Virgin owns most of the foreign/import rights and Warner owns most of the domestic rights. The only difference from the domestic vs. import CD is that on the cover of the import CD, Ben's jacket displays the Playboy logo, but on the domestic version, it's not. You'll pay $15 more to get the bunny.