Pere Ubu
Worlds In Collision

Release Notes

The album title comes from the Immanuel Velikovsky bestseller, Worlds In Collision. The intention was that the following album would be called Ages In Chaos.

After recording on Cloudland, Allen Ravenstine retired from Pere Ubu to become a pilot, and eventually a pilot trainer, with Northwest Airlines. He was replaced by Eric Drew Feldman.

I met Eric in an elevator at a festival in a castle in Bari, Italy. I knew his name from Beefheart's band. He was playing with Snakefinger. I was there with The Accordion Club which was based around Swedish identical twins Stefan (guitar) and Thomas (bass) Agaton. Chris Cutler was playing drums.

In January 1989, Eric rehearsed with the band in Cleveland. B-sides were recorded in anticipation of the release of Cloudland: Fedora Satellite, Down By The River, Bang The Drum and Wine Dark Sparks.

Fontana A&R man, Dave Bates, responsible for signing Pere Ubu, encouraged David to name a producer for the album that would follow Cloudland. David wanted it to be Van Dyke Parks. (The song Wine Dark Sparks was, obviously, a play on his name.)

I went out to LA to film promotional videos. I had Van Dyke's phone number but was too scared to call. On the next to last day I finally rang him. He answered. I panicked and hung up.

Bates suggested the producer of The Pixies, Gil Norton.

Before the release of the album, in an effort to break through the pre-conceptions that have always plagued Pere Ubu's story, Bates released a promo cassette of Fontana's 'new signing' Modern Solution. The tracks were I Hear They Smoke The Barbecue and Invisible Man. Whether anyone was taken in is unknown.

Production Notes

2018 Fire remaster

The album was remastered and edited in 2017 by Paul Hamann and David Thomas.

Mercury Director's Cut 2007

Four extras were added: Like A Rolling Stone, Invisible Man, Around The Fire and Down By The River. The packaging was updated by John Thompson and liner notes added, written by David Stubbs.

All songs written by Feldman - Jones - Krauss - Maimone - Thomas, except Cry Cry Cry, Don't Look Back, Winter In The Firelands, Around The Fire, Down By The River, Like A Rolling Stone, and Invisible Man which are written by Cutler - Feldman - Jones - Krauss - Maimone - Thomas. All songs ©1991 Ubu Projex.

Pere Ubu (v.6,1)

David Thomas - vocals

Jim Jones - guitar, backing vocals

Eric Drew Feldman - keyboards, computers & synthesizers

Tony Maimone - bass

Andy Redhead - drums

Scott Krauss - drums on Like A Rolling Stone, Invisible Man, Around The Fire and Down By The River

Guest Players

Allen Ravenstine - EML synthesizers on Turpentine!, Life of Riley, Playback and Winter in the Firelands

John Kirkpatrick - Melodeon on Cry Cry Cry, Over The Moon and Worlds in Collision

Al Clay - Backing vocals on Don't Look Back, Goodnite Irene, Nobody Knows, Over The Moon and Worlds In Collision

Susie Honeyman - Violin on Over The Moon

Gil Norton - Backing vocals in various places

Singles and EPs

• I Hear They Smoke The Barbecue b/w Invisible Man and Down By The River. Released March 4 1991.
• Oh Catherine b/w Like A Rolling Stone and Around The Fire Released May 1991 (UK).

Release History

• Fontana Records 848 564 May 7 1991 lp, cd, mc.
• Fontana PHCR-1091 May 7 1991 Japan cd.
• Mercury Records 9846173 Director's Cut, April 16 2007 cd.