Bronski Beat's classic album ‘The Age of Consent' to get box set treatment in October to mark 40th anniversary

On October 18, London Records will celebrate the 40th anniversary of Bronski Beat's debut album, ‘The Age of Consent,’ with deluxe reissues. Speaking about the legacy of the album, Jimmy Sommerville reveals, “When there is something we do in our life that can have such an impact on other peoples’ lives, and to be told this by others, it's humbling. 'The Age of Consent’ is, and always will be, such a special part of my life.”

Pre-order the 40th Anniversary re-issue of Bronski Beat’s debut album, ‘The Age of Consent’ HERE.

London Records has shared a remix of “Smalltown Boy” by singer-songwriter, composer, producer, DJ, and director Planningtorock. A self-taught, trans-non-binary, working-class musician, they've spent almost two decades working as a remixer for Lady Gaga, Robyn, Christine and The Queens and Romy. 

Listen to the Planningtorock Rework of “Smalltown Boy” HERE.

“Smalltown Boy” has been listed among Rolling Stone’s Greatest Dance Songs, Time Out’s Best Pride Songs, and continues to reach new audiences. The track had a steady climb back to #51 in the UK singles charts (its highest chart entry since August 1984) recently, in part due to celebrities like Cyndi Lauper, Kevin Bacon and Jennifer Garner jumping on the viral TikTok trend of reliving 80s dance moves using the song. In addition to this, Jimmy’s message on social media around the track has had over a million views across the Bronski Beat social media channels.

Released in 1984, ‘The Age of Consent’ was a leading voice in the fight for queer liberation and equal rights, addressing the struggles and triumphs of LGBTQ+ communities at a time when such discussions were often silenced. Fast forward 40 years, and while some milestones such as equal marriage have been won, the fight for true equality throughout the LGBTQ+ community continues. The album’s themes of liberation and defiance remain as prescient today as they were then. In the 1984 release, Bronski Beat listed the ages of consent in every country around the world on the inside jacket and the album still serves as a reminder of both progress made and battles yet to be won by an increasingly marginalized LGBTQ+ community.

The 40th-anniversary reissue of ‘The Age of Consent’ will be available in physical and digital formats, including a 5-Disc Deluxe Edition (4CD+DVD): featuring 4 essays by Tom Rasmussen, Lesley Chow, Lucy Robinson, and Barney Ashton-Bullock, the original album, bonus tracks, remixes, rarities, early versions, and rare radio sessions. Its DVD comes with restored promo videos, Top of the Pops performances, and original TV adverts.

Other formats include 2CD with new reworks, 2LP (with ‘The Age of Consent’ and its neighboring remix album ‘Hundreds & Thousands,’ a yellow 1LP edition (Lexer Music Exclusive), and a Super Deluxe Edition exclusive Blu Ray edition featuring ‘The Age of Consent’ and ‘Hundreds & Thousands’ in Dolby Atmos & 5.1 mixes.

4CD+DVD DELUXE SET TRACKLISTING

DISC ONE
THE AGE OF CONSENT - THE ALBUM PLUS

WHY?
IT AIN’T NECESSARILY SO
SCREAMING
NO MORE WAR
LOVE AND & MONEY
SMALLTOWN BOY
HEATWAVE
JUNK
NEED A MAN BLUES
I FEEL LOVE / JOHNNY REMEMBER ME
SMALLTOWN BOY (DJ 7” EDIT) - Bonus track
WHY? (REMIX) - Bonus track
IT AIN’T NECESSARILY SO (7” VERSION) - Bonus track
I FEEL LOVE (7” VERSION) WITH MARC ALMOND - Bonus track
RUN FROM LOVE (RADIO VERSION) - Bonus track
HARD RAIN (NME 7” VERSION) - Bonus track

DISC TWO

HUNDREDS & THOUSANDS - THE REMIX PLUS
HEATWAVE (HARVEY GOLDBERG REMIX)
WHY (HARVEY GOLDBERG REMIX)
RUN FROM LOVE (DOMINIC MAITA REMIX)
HARD RAIN (HARVEY GOLDBERG REMIX)
SMALLTOWN BOY (HARVEY GOLDBERG REMIX)
JUNK (HARVEY GOLDBERG REMIX)
LOVE AND MONEY (HUNDREDS & THOUSANDS REMIX) * - Bonus track
INFATUATION / MEMORIES - Bonus track
CLOSE TO THE EDGE - Bonus track
I FEEL LOVE (CAKE MIX) WITH MARC ALMOND - Bonus track
CADILLAC CAR (EXTENDED) - Bonus track

DISC THREE
CONSENT EXTENDED - THE 12 INCHES PLUS

SMALLTOWN BOY (12” VERSION)
WHY? (12” VERSION)
IT AIN’T NECESSARILY SO (12” VERSION)
I FEEL LOVE (12” VERSION) WITH MARC ALMOND
RUN FROM LOVE (US CLUB REMIX ‘85) *
SMALLTOWN BOY (US CLUB REMIX ‘84) *
RED DANCE
THE POTATO FIELDS
PUIT D’AMOUR
SIGNS (AND WONDERS)
I FEEL LOVE (FRUIT MIX)

DISC FOUR
IGNORE AT YOUR PERIL - THE RARITIES PLUS

SMALLTOWN BOY (CAPITAL RADIO SESSION, MAY ‘84) *
HEATWAVE (CAPITAL RADIO SESSION, MAY ‘84) *
HARD RAIN (CAPITAL RADIO SESSION, MAY ‘84 )*
WHY? (EARLY VERSION, MARCH ‘84) *
CRAZY MARAQUITTA (STUDIO SESSION) *
IT AIN’T NECESSARILY SO (EARLY VERSION) *
UPSIDE DOWN (STUDIO SESSION) *
SCREAMING (EARLY VERSION, MARCH ‘84) *
THE POWER OF THE GOLD (STUDIO SESSION) *
LOVE AND MONEY (EARLY VERSION) *
FIRST CHURCH (FEEL LOVE) (STUDIO SESSION) *
JUNK (EARLY VERSION 2) *
WALKING (STUDIO SESSION) *
NO MORE WAR (EARLY VERSION) *
1GO (YOU & ME) (STUDIO SESSION) *
CLOSE TO THE EDGE (EARLY ALTERNATE EXTENDED MIX) *
HEATWAVE (EARLY VERSION) *
THE OTHER SIDE OF THE TRACKS (STUDIO SESSION) *
SMALLTOWN BOY (EARLY VERSION, MARCH ‘84) *

DISC FIVE
THE FIRST CHAPTER - THE VIDEOS PLUS [DVD]
OFFICIAL MUSIC VIDEOS

SMALLTOWN BOY (RESTORED PROMO)
WHY? (RESTORED PROMO)
IT AIN’T NECESSARILY SO (RESTORED PROMO)
I FEEL LOVE (RESTORED PROMO) WITH MARC ALMOND

TOP OF THE POPS PERFORMANCES
SMALLTOWN BOY (BBC ‘TOP OF THE POPS’, JUNE ‘84)
WHY? (BBC ‘TOP OF THE POPS’, SEPTEMBER ‘84)
IT AIN’T NECESSARILY SO (BBC ‘TOP OF THE POPS’, DECEMBER ‘84)
I FEEL LOVE (BBC ‘TOP OF THE POPS’, APRIL ‘85) WITH MARC ALMOND

ORIGINAL TV ADVERTS
THE AGE OF CONSENT - TV ADVERT #1 (DECEMBER ‘84) *
THE AGE OF CONSENT - TV ADVERT #2 (JANUARY ‘85) *
* PREVIOUSLY UNRELEASED

Photo courtesy: High Rise PR