Acoustic Works 1987 – 1991 is an album, of 23 brand new acoustic recordings of songs released by The Alarm between 1987 and 1991. It is often referred to as “blue” due to it’s cover artwork colour. The recordings started in 1995 with the final songs recorded in 1997. The recordings were made at 3 different studios: Fort Apache, Boston, Massachusetts, USA. Dreamland, Woodstock, Ulster County, New York, USA. Mountain & Sea, Dyserth, North Wales. It was officially released as CD on Twenty First Century Recording Company, catalogue number 21C005 on 28th October 1997

Press Release
MPO is proud to announce the forthcoming release of the ‘Red’ & ‘Blue’ albums (Mike Peters Acoustic Works 1981 – 1991).The 2 albums, available exclusively on 21st Century records through MPO feature 46 songs from ‘Unsafe Building’ to ‘Walk Forever by My Side’ (1981 – 1986) and ‘Rain in the Summertime’ to ‘Moments in Time’ (1987 – 1991). ‘Acoustic Works’ will be available as 2 separate CDs, each containing a double album’s worth of material totaling almost 2.5 hours of running time

On 17th December 1997 a special MPO Xmas Party gig was held at The Cavern Club in Liverpool, England to celebrate the Acoustic Works release.

Sleeve Notes
I began these recording in 1995 at Fort Apache studios in Boston USA and ever since then, whenever I have been in a recording situation, I have cut some more of these songs, usually with fans/friends present. In 1997, having completed the final recording sessions at Mountain & Sea Studios Wales, time has dictated that this record be released. It has taken more than 10 years to write, at least 2 years to record and over 17 years to produce, and together with Acoustic Works 1981 – 1986 contains 46 performances of songs that have, and will always remain, a huge part of my life.

I recorded all the songs in exactly the same way I have performed them live; acoustic guitar, voice and harmonica. I chose the studio environment rather than a live situation because I wanted the songs to be heard without distraction. I wanted the listener to get as close to the performance as possible. In an acoustic, the pause between a guitar chord, the silence between one verse and the next, are as profound as a guitar solo is to an electric performance. in fact my whole approach is as a one man band. I throw my entire being into every syllable, word, melody, guitar chord, harmonica note …

I wanted to bring out the imperfection as well as the perfection, the strength alongside the weakness because if this album is to tell the whole story the I had no choice but to tell it / sing it as it is

A lot of blood, sweat and tears have been invested in this music and I hope these recordings can enrich those that have gone before them. The songs and their meanings have been influenced by many people and many events, not only by the performer but by the listener. In fact, I believe this record is a direct result as a human inter-action between the two. the one would not exist without the other

I produced this record to capture the very essence of my acoustic shows and also mark the development of my cannon of Alarm songs. I wanted to do it now, whilst I am still able, and while all the ideas remains fresh. I actually think some of the songs are better now than when they were originally recorded by The Alarm, in the sense that over the years the lyrics/melodies have matured and hindsight has managed to shed new light on them

Mike Peters and The Alarm may forever be seen in their own respective time-frames, but these songs can and will continue to grow with the times. Lobe and Life – Mike Peters 18th October 1997



Musicians & Credits
Mike Peters – Vocals, Acoustic Guitar, Harmonica

Produced and performed by Mike Peters
Recorded by Dan McLoughlin. & Joe Brigande at Fort Apache & Dreamland
Recorded by Gethyn Evans at Mountain & Sea
Design & Art Direction by Karl “The Design Doctor” Parsons

Track Listing:
1. Rain In The Summertime
2. Newtown Jericho
3. Hallowed Ground
4. Shelter
5. Rescue Me
6. Permanence In Change
7. Presence Of Love
8. Eye Of The Hurricane
9. Change I
10. Sold me Down The River
11. The Rock
12. Devolution Workin’ Man Blues
13. Love Don’t Come Easy
14. Hardland
15. No Frontiers
16. Where A Town Once Stood
17. How The Mighty Fall
18. Rivers To Cross
19. A New South Wales
20. Breaking Point
21. The Road
22. The Wind Blows Away My Words
23. Moments In Time

The following songs were written by Macdonald/Peters : Newtown Jericho, Hallowed Ground, Rescue Me, Permanence In Change, Presence Of Love, Eye Of The Hurricane, Change I, Sold Me Down The River, The Rock, Devolution Workin’ Man Blues, Love Don’t Come Easy, Hardland, No Frontiers, How The Mighty Fall, Rivers To Cross, A New South Wales, Breaking Point, The Road, The Wind Blows Away My Words

The following songs were written by Macdonald/Peters/Sharp/Twist : Rain In The Summertime, Shelter, Where A Town Once Stood

The following tracks were recorded at Fort Apache, Boston, Massachusetts, USA by Dan McLoughlin in 1995 : Rain In The Summertime, Newtown Jericho, Hallowed Ground, Permanence In Change, Presence Of Love, Eye Of The Hurricane, Sold Me Down The River, Devolution Workin’ Man Blues, Love Don’t Come Easy, No Frontiers, A New South Wales, Breaking Point

The following track was recorded at Dreamland, Woodstock, Ulster County, New York, USA by Joe Brigande in 1996 : Moments In Time

The following tracks were recorded at Mountain & Sea, Dyserth, Wales by Gethyn Evans in 1997 : Shelter, Rescue Me, Change I, The Rock, Hardland, Where A Town Once Stood, How The Mighty Fall, Rivers To Cross, The Road, The Wind Blows Away My Words

(Page updated 06/03/2023)