MARC AND THE MAMBAS
THREE BLACK NIGHTS OF
LITTLE BLACK BITES
live album
2xLP | ltd colour 2xLP
out 8th August 2025
(Cold Spring)
Bandcamp pre-order
includes
MY FORMER SELF
audio
Made available on vinyl for the very first time, this 2xLP set presents the complete recordings of three live performances by Marc And The Mambas (led by Marc Almond of Soft Cell) at The Duke Of York’s Theatre in London’s West End in 1983.
Restored from original VHS tape recordings made by the late Peter ‘Sleazy’ Christopherson (Throbbing Gristle, Coil), these remain the only recordings that exist of Marc And The Mambas performing live.
Originally released in 2012 on Almond’s own Strike Force Entertainment label as a long sold out CD/DVD set, this remastered edition contains all 17 tracks from that CD plus two bonus DVD-only tracks: ‘Près Des Ramparts De Séville’ and ‘Jacky’.
Consisting of chanson and torch songs that Almond still sings today, accompanied by piano, strings and woodwind, Record Collector said of the 2012 edition: “It’s quite a spectacle, especially when Almond hits his sweet spot of sinister lyrics, declared pompously over a droned string arrangement. Early signs of the full-on showtune and classical rearrangements that make up his current albums are evident.”
‘Three Black Nights Of Little Black Bites’ is presented on heavyweight double vinyl in a deluxe glossy gatefold sleeve featuring an extensive reminiscence by Almond himself. The package also includes a reproduction of the 16-page programme printed in 1983 for the three concerts. The stunning cover painting by Val Denham is exclusive to this release.
THREE BLACK NIGHTS OF LITTLE BLACK BITES
TRACKLISTING
1 My Former Self
2 Your Aura
3 The Animal In You
4 Black Heart
5 Narcissus
6 Gloomy Sunday
7 Vision
8 In My Room
9 The Bulls
10 Pres Des Ramparts De Seville
11 Catch A Fallen Star
12 Your Love Is A Lesion
13 Torment
14 Empty Eyes
15 Untitled
16 Angels
17 Caroline Says
18 First Time
19 Jacky
Performed by
THE MAMBAS
Marc (The Mamba) Almond – vocals
Annie Hogan – piano, vox, Farfisa
Lee Jenkinson – guitar, vocals
Steve Sherlock – sax, flute
Peter Ashworth – percussion
+
THE VENOMETTES
Anne Stephenson – violin
Gini Hewes – violin
Martin McCarrick – cello
Bill McGee – bowed double bass
with guest: Audrey Riley – cello
Baby cries by Caresse P-Orridge
Cover painting ‘Arise 2’ by Val Denham, 2022
Red motif illustrations by Huw Feather
Photography by Peter Ashworth
Mastered by Martin Bowes at The Cage
Layout by Abby Helasdottir
