The most recent CHINA CRISIS album ‘Autumn In The Neighbourhood’ may be 10 years old but the background to its genesis now makes it seem like it has come from another era.

The follow-up to 1994’s ‘Warped By Success’, when it finally went public in 2015, it was only available as a CD or download via the now defunct crowdfunding platform Pledge Music and subsequently at CHINA CRISIS shows.

Curiosity was piqued by the light chamber recital that introduced opener ‘Smile’ before a fuzzy bass synth interjected while ‘Because My Heart’ showcased a Merseyside take on countrified Americana. A CHINA CRISIS album would not have been complete without a wistful number about ‘Being In Love’ but keener fans wanted to know how Howard Jones came to be playing on ‘Bernard’ and asked what happened to ‘Everyone You Know’, a sprightly pop tune gifted as a free download to all Pledgers when the campaign began in 2013.

A charming compendium of “adult contemporary soulful art pop…” that has grown in stature over recent years, as songs such as ‘Fool’, ‘Down Here On Earth’ and ‘My Sweet Delight’ became live favourites, interest was reignited in ‘Autumn In The Neighbourhood’. The album got a limited self-reissue in 2020 with ‘Everyone You Know’ appended to a new vinyl edition, but that sold out a while ago.

Having reissued the debut CHINA CRISIS album ‘Difficult Shapes & Passive Rhythms – Some People Think It’s Fun To Entertain’ as well as the collections ‘China Greatness’ and ‘The Complete Sessions 1982-1983’, the ethically minded Independent record label Last Night From Glasgow has released an expanded version of ‘Autumn In The Neighbourhood’ as a forest green double vinyl LP and CD, both containing 10 bonus tracks, as well as a single cloudy blue vinyl version for the more cautious consumer.

With the CHINA CRISIS nucleus of Gary Daly and Eddie Lundon now as busy on the live circuit as they were in their commercial heyday when their third album ‘Flaunt The Imperfection’ became their biggest seller, album number seven ‘Autumn In The Neighbourhood’ can be yours to own and is available at gigs, in shops and online via the usual retail outlets.

Taking a short break from their live schedule, Gary Daly looked back at 10 years of ‘Autumn In The Neighbourhood’ with ELECTRICITYCLUB.CO.UK and chatted about the bonus tracks that are now on offer as part of this new 10th anniversary edition.

Even though ‘Autumn In The Neighbourhood’ is now 10 years old, it’s still a bit of a best kept secret even among CHINA CRISIS fans, but now they are getting to find out?

Autumn was never “released”, not in the traditional way of a record company being involved… manufacturing and distribution, basically putting the album in shops around the world. ‘Autumn In The Neighbourhood’ was one of the last great Pledge Music / fan funded albums, made and distributed by us, the band. It was thrilling and super exciting to be so involved but having said that, we are sooooo happy ‘Autumn’ is now going to be available again courtesy of Last Night From Glasgow record label…

‘Everyone You Know’ was the download only gift to Pledgers when you first crowdfunded the album in 2013, have you been able to find a place for it on this reissue, is this now an album track or an extra?

‘Everyone You Know’ is now both an album track and extra track, depending on what format you choose. The song itself was initially left off the CD, we felt it was, sonically, a little bit “stand alone”… of course we are now of a mind it’s a fantastic addition…

How did the idea for a deluxe edition with bonus tracks come about, are they all tracks from the original sessions or are there newly curated pieces?

Curated and very very relatable. Some of the songs are home demos and a couple are live in the studio piano / vocal performances. With it being the 10th anniversary, we saw it as a great opportunity to do an extended edition and make more ‘Autumn’ music available…

Are you yourself a fan of demos and alternative takes in the deluxe boxed sets of your favourite albums?

No, I’m not really but I must admit, I absolutely “love” our China demos…

The demo version of ‘Being In Love’ sounds like something that could have gone on your 2019 solo album ‘Gone From Here’?

Yeah, that was done with a buddy of mine Christopher Barlow in his home studio, we’ve worked a lot together these past 10 years. Chris is a real Bowie and vintage synths guy, he contributed to both ‘Autumn’ and ‘GFH’.

There are two versions of ‘Fool’, Eddie’s acoustic demo and an electronic instrumental “KRAFTWERK meets STEELY DAN” version which is fantastic. It shows where you can take a song… could you see the potential of ‘Fool’ almost as soon as the demo was presented to you?

‘Fool’ is very much an Eddie song, it was Brian McNeill who fashioned its feel, he realised its ‘Flaunt’ arrangement potential. And it was a colleague of Eddie’s, Paul Mitchell Davidson what did the fantastic brass and wind arrangement.

Two tracks ‘My Sweet Delight’ and ‘Bernard’ appear as live recordings made in North Wales but in solo piano-centric arrangements?

Bryn Derwen studio, Bethesda, North Wales… Andy Steele (of MUDDYHEAD) on piano and myself, lead vocal. These recordings are from sessions over the last few years, I would have just recorded them as songs in progress and would have been curious to hear them in a singer / songwriter setting.

‘Fall’ is like the theme to ‘Autumn In The Neighbourhood – The Musical’ if one existed, was this overture a retrospective idea or something you had already considered when the album was being made?

‘Fall’ is basically Chloe Mullet’s wind and brass arrangement with additional soundscaping by engineer / producer Carl Brown. When Carl and Mark (Pythian, mix engineer) were mixing the track ‘Autumn In The Neighbourhood’, they soloed Chloe’s arrangement and it was completely a work of some considerable sonic / melodic achievement. Worthy of a presentation as is, they sent it to me and I was blown away. It was always my intention to include in any re-release.

What’s the meaning behind the “Dutch Master” of ‘Down Here’?

‘Down Here’ / Dutch Master is Brian McNeill’s initial mix and was mixed in Holland… at this point, we was of a mind maybes it was time to mix the album. But after living with some of the initial mixes for a little while, we decided there was still work to be done…

Is there a story behind ‘How To Live & Love?’

The story behind the inclusion of ‘How To Live & Love’ is the song itself features Kevin Wilkinson, Gary ‘Gazza’ Johnson and myself on piano / vocal. It’s a live performance and very much from a time when it had the potential to make it to the album but then things change and… a version did make it to my solo Polite Postcard CD box set ‘How To Live & Love Your Life’ from 2008. I was deffo of a mind fans would enjoy hearing Kev and Gaz again, hence the inclusion.

As well as appearing as ‘Because Because Because’ which is a not-so-country version of ‘Because My Heart’, the ‘Autumn In The Neighbourhood’ version had been given a new Mark Saunders single mix which plays on its New Country vibes… its interesting how this song has developed as it first appeared in 2007 as part of ‘The Visionary Mindset Experience’ solo EP you did?

‘Because My Heart’ deserves wholeheartedly to be known the whole world over, it’s soooo beautiful. We have been working once again with Carl Brown (‘Autumn’ producer) and Mark Saunders; we decided to ask Mark would he like to remix ‘Because My Heart’; I think he’s added some new country music energy and radio friendly vibes. It’s definitely on a journey, from my ‘Visionary Mindset…’ EP to this re-release… songs do indeed have a life of their own!

How would you sum up ‘Autumn In The Neighbourhood’ and why anyone interested in quality music should have it in their home?

Well firstly… if it is already in your home, let me on behalf of everyone involved in the making of and now promoting of ‘Autumn’, thank you thank you thank you. And for everyone yet to hear / own ‘Autumn’, take a minute, a chance and immerse yourself in what is now considered to be one of our finest recordings… you will not be disappointed.

ELECTRICITYCLUB.CO.UK gives its warmest thanks to Gary Daly

The 10th Anniversary edition of ‘Autumn In The Neighbourhood’ is released by Last Night From Glasgow as a forest green double vinyl LP and expanded CD each with 10 bonus tracks plus a cloudy blue single vinyl LP, all available now from https://shop.lastnightfromglasgow.com/products/china-crisis-autumn-in-the-neighbourhood-10th-anniversary

For information on CHINA CRISIS live dates in the UK and internationally throughout 2026, please go to https://linktr.ee/chinacrisismusic

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Text and Interview by Chi Ming Lai
28th November 2025