The only album released under ex-babybirder’s real name in 2003 is also the one he’s most happy with. Controversial then and now even among the fans and a twisted classic. An initial promo was circulated but withdrawn due to sampling issues and rereleased online in October 2012 with rare outtakes.

Buy online from Stephen’s bandcamp profile

Tracks

1. Intro (0.43)
2. Keys to the Brain (3.08)
3. Under the Rainbow (3.33)
4. Good Day in a Bad World (3.42)
5. Interlude (1.27)
6. Friend (3.32)
7. Cured of Sadness (3.58)
8. American Dream (3.10)
9. Your Time (3.33)
10. Little Thug (2.48)
11. Sitting in my Graveyard (3.58)
12. Jesus Freaks and Candyasses (2.53)
13. Interlude (1.27)
14. Radio’s Been Thinking Again (4.56)
15. Someplace too Faraway (4.03)
16. Quaaludes (4.00)
17. Interlude (0.30)
18. Almost Cured of Sadness (4.15
19. My Girlfriend killed Jesus (10.50*)

*Bonus Tracks (untitled, un-indexed):
Interlude
Sing a Rainbow
Before I Die

Download only (oct. 2012)
F.u (1:00)
Sadness Does Have a Home (2:09)
sugarlungs (02:54)
Plastic Bag (03:09)

Catalogue numbers

UK CD: SANCD121
UK Promo CD: SANP1121
US CD: Sanctuary/BMG 06076-84569-2

The 2002 Promo Version

In the summer of 2002, Almost cured of sadness started circulating in a version that would differ slightly from the finished version released in early 2003. Appearently, the release was from held up over issues with uncleared samples, but someone in SJ’s camp decided to leak what was supposed to be the finished album.

Three songs from the promo are unavailable. ‘Sunshine Shovery Day’ was completely dropped, while ‘Radio’s Been Thinking Again’ and ‘Friend’ were slightly remixed without the uncleared samples. Three other dropped tracks turned up elsewhere: ‘Walking in the Shadows’ became a b-side on the Friend single, ‘Pretty Fucking Happy’ was squeezed in with 67 other numbers on Plastic Tablets 2002 and years later the wonderfully resignating morphine-sleep of ‘Go to Sleep’ was renamed to ’Forgot to Take My Drugs’ and found a perfect home on Death of the Neighbouhood.

When Almost Cured of Sadness was finally released in 2003, it was not nesessarily better than the promo, perhaps more focused and cohorent. New tracks were the slow-moving, noisy Cured of Sadness, American Dream, the dreamy and sinister My girlfriend killed jesus and the closing Before I Die (which recycles the piano part from Nervous ice in Cheap Cola from Stephen Jones 1985-2001), and after a while fades in a string arrangement and multible layers of vocals.

Unreleased tracks and interview

The Interview Disc questions

Chrysalis marketing campaign (yes, where was one) included shipping out a 13 minute interview disc with Stephen answering 21 questions. Though it’s a pretty shit marketing tool, it’s a pleasure hearing Stephen tell about the creative process and much more. Listen for yourself here.

1: Your tenth album. A landmark release? 2: It is a concept album? 3: How did it first take shape? 4: How long did it take? 5: It’s a thesis on the cult of happiness – so why does it sound so creepy? 6: Do you find it hard to be happy? 7: Why sing in a falsetto so much? 8: Are you trying to step away from being a vocalist, or frontman, despite being a solo artist? 9: What are you trying to achieve with the array of effects and odd noises that swim in and out of the melodies? 10: What functions do the interludes perform? 11: Tell me about the near-title song ‘Cured of Sadness’ 12: ‘Music and production by Stephen Jones’ – what does working alone do for your muse? 13: Your Studio i 10′ x 10′ with blood red walls. Is it meant to be like a womb, and if so, why? 14: What happened to Babybird? 15: How often, on average, do your hear You’re Gorgeous? 16: How does hearing it now make you feel? 17: What did it enable you to do? 18: What did it prevent you from doing?
19: In what circumstances did Johnny Depp and Elton John name check you? 20: How will future tours shape up? 21: How many unused songs in the bedroom stock pile now?

Liner notes

Almost Cured of Sadness was recorded on 8 track at the Old Folk’s home, Wolf’s Castle and at the Temple of Doom, London

Original artwork and photography by Al Levy & Stephen Jones. Images taken/souls stolen from: Snowdonian, Dove Dale, Mount Pilatus, Pathos, California Highway One, Niagara Falls, Lake Lucerne, San Francisco Chinatown and North London. Lay Out by Stephen Jones and Chris Collins.

All music written, played and produced by Stephen Jones.
Except music for ‘Friend’ and ‘Sing a Rainbow’ arranged lightening-quick by Luke Scott. Mixed, produced and played by Luke Scott and Stephen Jones.’ Sing a Rainbow’ originally written by Arthur Hamilton and published by Warner Chappell.

Mastered by Nick Watson @ Sanctuary Mastering, Townhouse. Thanks for shifting Arizona around and making it look so easy.

Thank you to Luke Scott (the axeman cometh), DJT & Monkey Girl, all @ Sanctuary. Kinder, London-Rowell, and all @ Chrysalis, the late and great Scott Piering, Jayne and all @ Excess, all the S Club embryos sitting in my graveyard, the midgets in my cellar for their various talkovers, song intros and outros on this album (Sad & Happy, you know who you are), and Big Al. Fuk Caesar, I love the scar.

This is dedicated to Delphie, the stomach baby, who makes it a jesus-free Xmas almost everyday.

Lyrics

Thanks to RZ for providing the majority of the passages below. And thank you Hogarth, Paulo and Magnus for corrections.

1. Intro (0.43)

Almost cured of sadness
Almost cured
Almost
Almost cured of sadness mother fucker
Al almost cured
Almost
Almost cured of sadness mother fucker
Almost cured almost
[Al al] almost cured of sadness mother fucker
[Al] almost cured
Almost
[Al al] almost cured of sadness mother fucker

2. Keys to the Brain (3.08)

I want the keys to my brain
I wanna get out of my head tonight
I want this darkness
I wanna find life
I want this darkness
I wanna find life Somewhere inside of me
Somewhere inside
Somewhere inside of me
Somewhere inside
Somewhere inside of me
Somewhere inside
Somewhere inside of me
Somewhere inside

I want the keys to my brain
I wanna get out of my head tonight
I want the darkness
I wanna find life

I want the keys to my brain
I wanna get out of my head tonight
I want the darkness
I wanna find life

I want the keys to my brain
I wanna get out of my head tonight
I want the darkness
I wanna find life

[…unintelligible voice…]
Hm! they smoke marijuana and god knows what else. they wont even fight for their country anymore

3. Under the Rainbow (3.33

Underneath the rainbow
I’ll peel away my skin
And when I’m done with peeling
I’ll let you back inSomewhere under the Rainbow
Somewhere under the Rainbow
Somewhere under the Rainbow

Underneath the black clouds
There’s sunshine on my floor
And with my nails I’m peeling (it)
To use it for my skin

Somewhere under the Rainbow – the rainbow
Somewhere under the Rainbow – the rainbow
Somewhere under the Rainbow – the rainbow
Somewhere under the Rainbow – the rainbow

Sha la la la

4. Good Day in a Bad World (3.42)

[Everybody’s nice. OK?
Love the people, love the people
Everybody’s nice
Love the people, everybody’s nice. OK?]

I wanna lay back and think about nothing (think about nothing)
Empty my head
Empty my head

I wanna lay back and think about nothing
(I wanna lay back and think about nothing)

This is a good day
Good day in a bad world
In bad world this a good day
Good day in a bad world
In bad world this a good day

I wanna get rid of my moral conscience
All of that old school shit
All of that old school

I wanna lay back and think about nothing
Empty My Head
Empty My Head

Good day in a bad world
In bad world this a good day
Good day in a bad world

In bad world this a good day
[OK. Not for you, not for me. For everybody. Everybody’s nice. OK?
Everybody’s nice. OK?
Love the people, love the people (love the people)

Love the people, love the people]

Sha la la la la la…
Sha la la la la la…
Sha la la la la la…
Sha la la la la la …

Good day in a bad world
In bad world this a good day
Good day in a bad world
In bad world this a good day

5. Interlude (1.27)

6. Friend (3.32)

Something sweet for my eyes
Something sweet for my ears
Don’t feel safe inside my head
Just switch off the waterfall Do you wanna be my friend? (Sha la la la la la)
Do you wanna be my friend? (Sha la la la la la)
Do you wanna be my friend? (Sha la la la la la)
Do you wanna be my friend? (Sha la la la la la)Don’t know where the fuck I am
Walking streets and watching TV
Little family in my head
Tapping gently on my windowscreenDo you wanna be my friend? (Sha la la la la la)
Do you wanna be my friend? (Sha la la la la la)
Do you wanna be my friend? (Sha la la la la la)
Do you wanna be my friend? (Sha la la la la la)?

Do you wanna be my friend? (Sha la la la la la)
Do you wanna be my friend? (Sha la la la la la)
Do you wanna be my friend? (Sha la la la la la)
Do you wanna be my friend? (Sha la la la la la)

Sometimes I look at my TV and wonder where all my friends are. And then I catch a glimpse of my reflection in the screen and I think “Hey TV, do you wanna be my friend?”

7. Cured of Sadness (3.58)

I can see it in my street
I can see it in my home
I can see it in my self
Making out like I’m okI can hear it on the radio
I can hear it on the TV
I can see it all gone wrong
Making out like it’s ok

We’re almost cured of sadness
We’re almost cured of sadness

I can’t watch the world no more
‘Cause my TV’s looking sad
Cut up on the floor
Tied up in my bag

I’m going out tonight
To throw it in the river
But when it sinks away
It’s the thing I want back most
But when it sinks away
It’s the thing I want back most

We’re almost cured of sadness
We’re almost cured of sadness
We’re almost cured of sadness
We’re almost cured of sadness
We’re almost cured of sadness
We’re almost cured of sadness

8. American Dream (3.10)

Wh? What? Wha? OK.There comes two million people who’ve got the selfish gene
Now I’ve checked my blood for English-ness, it’s clean.
I’ve got a big American bolt knife running up my brain
W whatever bombs they strap on me, I’m getting on that plane

American dream American dream
American dream American dream
American dream American dream
American dream American dream

Got too many little pleasers(?)
Walking round like Jesus, spreading religious diseases, in two dollar sneakers.
But that’s what I want when I get off that plane
(that’s what I want when I get off that plane)
That American knife tickling in my brain (tickling in my brain)

American dream American dream
American dream American dream
American dream American dream
American dream American dream
American dream American dream
American dream American dream
American dream American dream
American dream American dream

American dream American dream
American dream American dream
American dream American dream
American dream American dream
American dream American dream
American dream American dream
American dream American dream
American dream American dream

9. Your Time (3.33)

[unintelligible voice]If he stole your time
The punk sitting in the back
The drugs stole your mind with a brain whack
The camera stole your soul
A fifteen minute crime
Enjoy it while you can ‘cause it’s your time

‘Cause it’s your time
‘Cause it’s your time
‘Cause it’s your time
‘Cause it’s your time

Television ate my brain
And puked it on the floor
Pushed a finger in for (?)
And drew a little door
But I couldn’t scribble keys
And the handle wouldn’t shift
Now I’m sliding on the puke
In a TV lift

It’s your time
‘Cause it’s your time
‘Cause it’s your time
‘Cause it’s your time
‘Cause it’s your time
‘Cause it’s your
‘Cause it’s your
‘Cause it’s your time

‘Cause it’s your time
‘Cause it’s your time
‘Cause it’s your time
‘Cause it’s your time

‘Cause it’s your time
‘Cause it’s your time

10. Little Thug (2.48)

I was known as little (?) thug
I was just a dog though
I don’t mean it dirty or nothing
I was jus a (?)
I was known as little (?) thug
I was just a dog though
I don’t mean it dirty or nothing
I was I was I was I was
I was known as little (?) thug
I was just a dog though
I don’t mean it dirty or nothing
I was jus a (?)
I was known as little (?) thug
I was just a dog though
I don’t mean it dirty or nothing
I was
I was just a dog though
I was just a dog
I was just a dog though
I was known as little (?) thugLove me love me love me love me
Love me love me love me love me

Got beat up got shown outside
Got smacked in the mouth ‘til I nearly died
But I got out my gun
Like a dirty little bum
And popped some caps in her ass

Got beat up got shown outside
Got smacked in the mouth ‘til I nearly died
But I got out my gun
Like a dirty little bum
And popped some caps in her ass

Love me love me love me love me
Love me love me love me love me

I was known as little (?) thug
I was just a dog though
I don’t mean it dirty or nothing
I was jus a (?)
I was known as little (?) thug
I was just a dog though
I don’t mean it dirty or nothing
I was
I was just a dog though
I was just a dog
I was just a dog though
I was known as little (?) thug
I was just a dog though
I was just a dog
I was just a dog though
I was known as little (?) thug

11. Sitting in my Graveyard (3.58)

Picking out singers from the crib
Puffed your lips up and lost a rib
Picking out winners on the (?)
I want lip synchs not ad-libs

Sitting in my graveyard
Making out that everything’s alright
Sitting in my graveyard
Making out that everything’s alright

Picking out kids from the bars
Singing karaoke like stars
You’re never gonna make it tra la la
Even if you find yourself a guitar

Picking out singers from the crib
(Making out that everything’s alright)
Picking out singers from the crib
Picking out singers from the crib
(Making out that everything’s alright)

Picking out singers from the crib

Sitting in my graveyard
Making out that everything’s alright

Sitting in my graveyard
Making out that everything’s alright

Sitting in my graveyard
Making out that everything’s alright

Sitting in my graveyard
Making out that everything’s alright

Sitting in my graveyard
Making out that everything’s alright

Sitting in my graveyard
Making out that everything’s alright
Making out that everything’s alright
Making out that everything’s alright
Making out that everything’s alright
Making out that everything’s alright
Making out that everything’s alright
Making out that everything’s alright
Making out that everything’s alright
Making out that everything’s alright
Making out that everything’s alright
Making out that everything’s alright
Making out that everything’s alright
Making out that everything’s alright
Making out that everything’s alright

12. Jesus Freaks and Candyasses (2.53)

They dropped a bomb on the high school promenade
Spilt (name?)’s lemonade
Now there’s bubbles in the graveyard baby
Under the sign first gradeJesus freaks and candyasses
Little hippies in a sty
Listening to that old school music
Lets drop a bomb and get high
Oh yeah oh yeah yeah yeah
Lets drop a bomb and get high
Oh yeah oh yeah yeah yeah
Lets drop a bomb and get high

They dropped a bomb on the high school promenade
Spilt (name?)’s lemonade
Now there’s bubbles in the graveyard baby
Under the sign first grade

Jesus freaks and candyasses
Little hippies in a sty
Listening to that old school music
Lets drop a bomb and get high

Jesus freaks and candyasses
Little hippies in a sty
Listening to that old school music
Lets drop a bomb and get high

Jesus freaks and candyasses
Little hippies in the sky
Listening to that old school music
Lets drop a bomb and get high

Jesus freaks and candyasses
Little hippies in a sty
Listening to that old school music
Lets drop a bomb and get high
Lets drop a bomb and get high
Lets drop a bomb and get high
Lets drop a bomb and get high
Lets drop a bomb and get high
Lets drop a bomb and get high
Drop a bomb and get high inside

13. Interlude (1.27)

14. Radio’s Been Thinking Again (4.56)

[Knocking me off the air into electronic oblivion]

TV’s on TV’s on
TV’s on so what’s wrong
I can’t breathe and my eyes don’t belong
(?) too much too fast
On the rough side of the glass

Radio’s been thinking again
I cant turn it off
Radio’s been thinking again
I cant turn it off
I cant turn it off
I cant turn it off

Radio’s on in my car
I can’t get my pigskin gloves off the wheel
I’m spinning (I’m spinning)
On black ice (on black ice)
I’m tired of hearing us puking up the past

Radio’s been thinking again
I can’t turn it off

Radio’s been thinking again
I can’t turn it off
I can’t turn it off
I can’t turn it off

[Knocking me off the air into electronic oblivion
Knocking me off the air in
Knocking me off the air into electronic oblivion
Knocking me off the air in
Knocking me off the air in]

Radio’s been thinking again
I cant turn it off

Radio’s been thinking again
I cant turn it off
I cant turn it off
I cant turn it off
I cant turn it off
I cant turn it off
I cant turn it off
I cant turn it off

[I don’t pretend to be different from everybody else… (?)]

15. Someplace too Faraway (4.03)

[We find ourselves in a world of hope]

Got myself an extra head
In my little bag of time
In case I lose my way
In case I go blind

I wanna go someplace too faraway
Somewhere I cant come back from

I wanna go someplace too faraway
Somewhere I cant come back from

[We find ourselves in a world of hope]

Sometimes it breaks your heart
To see me like that
Plastic bag over my head
Sitting on my lap

When you look out and your eyes clear
It’s all right where it should be
Smile through those tears
(It’s all right where it should be)
(It’s all right where it should be)

I wanna go someplace too faraway
Somewhere I cant come back from

I wanna go someplace too faraway
Somewhere I cant come back from

I wanna go someplace too faraway
Somewhere I cant come back from

I wanna go someplace too faraway
Somewhere I cant come back from

I wanna go someplace too faraway
Somewhere I cant come back from

I wanna go someplace too faraway
Somewhere I cant come back from

16. Quaaludes (4.00)

The cocaine makes me sneeze
The botox on my double cheese
I got one twenty-nine for sneakers
Now I’m walking round like JesusGot three stripes on my leg
And a black tick on my knees
Got a barcode on my forehead
Like a brain striptease

Got Quaaludes in my milkshake
Avocados on my (?)
Got a three point cross in the fireplace
(…?…)

Got fifteen hundred for a nose job
Got six for a double chin
Gonna sail my (flesh?) to mozambique in a wheelie bin
(Just cant get enough)

Sha la la la la la
Sha la la la la la
Sha la la la la la
Sha la la la la la

The cocaine makes me sneeze
The botox on my double cheese
I got one twenty-nine for sneakers
Now I’m walking round like Jesus

Got three stripes on my leg
And a black tick on my knees
Got a barcode on my forehead
And a brain striptease

Got Quaaludes in my milkshake
Avocados on my (?)
Got a three point cross in the fireplace
(…?…)

Got fifteen hundred for a nose job
Got six for a double chin
Gonna sail my (flesh?) to mozambique in a wheelie bin
(Just cant get enough)

Sha la la la la la
Sha la la la la la
Sha la la la la la
Sha la la la la la
(Just cant get enough)

17. Interlude (0.30)

Sadness does not have a home
Sadness does not have a home
You come home from a hard day’s work
You come home from a hard day’s work
You come home from a hard day’s work
The last thing you want to be confronted with is sadness
You’re at the station, you look a lot happier than the sad old dossers
You hear it on TVs and radios and everyone smiles
Sadness does not have a home here
Sadness does not have a home
I don’t care what you have to say, you tell me that you lost someone. People really don’t give a shit
They wanna hear about your son or some TV asshole. That’s what.. that’s what he is
Sadness does not have a home
I don’t care what you have to say
Sadness does not have a home
You talk about you lost someone
Sadness does not have a home
People really don’t give a shit
Sadness does not have a home
They wanna hear about your son or some TV asshole. That’s what.. that’s what he is
That’s what.. that’s what he is
That’s what.. that’s what he is
That’s what.. that’s what he is
That’s what.. that’s what he is

18. Almost Cured of Sadness (4.15)

When the world goes away
And it leaves us here
And from nowhere it comes back
And we disappear

Like nothing ever happened
And no one ever noticed
‘Til we came back as ghosts
With invisible fears

We’re almost cured of sadness
We’re almost cured
We’re almost cured of sadness
We’re almost cured

When the world’s almost here
And it won’t go away
When you’re dying for some peace
From another day

And you just can’t stop complaining
About everything you feel
Like a stupid little ghost
That wouldn’t disappear

We’re almost cured of sadness
We’re almost cured
We’re almost cured of sadness
We’re almost cured

We’re almost cured of sadness
We’re almost cured
We’re almost cured of sadness
We’re almost cured

19. My Girlfriend Killed Jesus (10.50)

My girlfriend killed Jesus
‘Cause I asked her to
Now Jesus killed my girlfriend back
So I killed him tooWhen you feel my hand
Does it feel like Jesus?
When you feel my hand
Does it feel like Jesus?

When you push your finger through the hole
Can you feel me on your side?

When you push your finger through the hole
Can you feel me on your side?

(When you feel my hand
Does it feel like Jesus?)

When you push your finger through the hole
Can you feel me on your side?

(When you feel my hand
Does it feel like Jesus?)

When you push your finger through the hole
Can you feel me on your side?

When you feel my hand
Does it feel like Jesus?

[Hey hey hey hey hey hey Jesus! Fuck You!]

[20]. Interlude

[I don’t expect to get rid of sadness altogether
(I keep trying to warm up to happiness?)
Happiness]

[21]. Sing a Rainbow

[Hello children]
Orange and yellow and purple and green
Orange and purple and blueRed and yellow and pink and green
Orange and purple and blue

I can sing a rainbow,
sing a rainbow,
sing a rainbow too.

Listen with your eyes,
Listen with your eyes,
and sing everything you see.

You can sing a rainbow,
sing a rainbow,
sing along with me.

Red and yellow and pink and green,
Orange and purple and blue

I can sing a rainbow,
sing a rainbow,
sing a rainbow too.

Listen with your eyes,
Please listen with your eyes,
and sing everything you see,

You can sing a rainbow,
sing a rainbow,
sing along with me.

Red and yellow and pink and green,
Orange and purple and blue

I can sing a rainbow,
sing a rainbow,
sing a rainbow too.

[Haha haha Oh, you think this day could, could go on forever?
Supposing we keep it going. I’ll pick you up tonight, we’ll go dancing, out for a drive, anything. As long as we’re together
OK, sounds wonderful]

[22]. “Before I Die”

[(?) …right before he died he said how beautiful life can be and then he’d gone…]

(Before I die)
Somewhere, somehow, some day
(Before I die)
Somewhere, somehow, some day

Before I die
Before I die
Before I die
Before I die

Songs from Almost Cured of Sadness 2002 Promo version

2. Sunshine Showery Day

It’s a sunshine showery day
We can get to heaven fast
I got guns and cigarettes
We can hide out in the grassIt’s a sunshine showery day
It’s a sunshine showery day
It’s a sunshine showery day
It’s a sunshine showery dayLook at the clouds, look at the rain
Like little bombs going off in my brain
Look at the time, Look at the space
Like little guns going off in your faceIt’s a sunshine showery day
It’s a sunshine showery day
It’s a sunshine showery day
It’s a sunshine showery day

It’s a sunshine showery day
It’s a sunshine showery day
It’s a sunshine showery day
It’s a sunshine showery day

Sha la la la la
Sha la la La la

It’s a sunshine showery day
It’s a sunshine showery day
It’s a sunshine showery day
It’s a sunshine showery day

3. Walking in the Shadows

Looking at happy girl
Sad here in sad world
Can’t get her soul
Out my headWalking in the shadows
Walking in the shadows
Walking in the shadows
All day

Walking in the shadows
Walking in the shadows
Walking in the shadows
All day

[sampled voice]

Dirty little fingers
Playing on her heart strings
Can’t get her soul
Out my head

Walking in the shadows
Walking in the shadows
Walking in the shadows
All day

Walking in the shadows
Walking in the shadows
Walking in the shadows
All day

Playing with sharp knives
Got her on his Catherine Wheel
Can’t get her soul
Out of my head

Walking in the shadows
Walking in the shadows
Walking in the shadows
All day

Walking in the shadows
Walking in the shadows
Walking in the shadows
All day

4. Forgot to Take My Pills

I’m in my hospital bed
All I wanna do is sleep
Feel like I’m in some kind of failed suiside club
Watching the machines beatIt’s allright
You can go to sleep now

It’s allright
You can go to sleep now

You can have it all
You can have it all
You can have it all
You can have it all

It’s allright
You can go to sleep now