Close is a song that was recorded in 2001 and first appeared on the In The Poppy Fields Bond #1 – Close released in September 2002. This is a track co-written by Mike Peters and Billy Duffy
In The Poppy Fields Recording Diary
Day Eight : Wednesday 5th September 2001
Location: Black Swans Rehearsal Room, Rhuddlan, Wales
James Stevenson and I came back from London last night to begin work on laying down some guitar textures over Steve’s rough drum guides. The first track we worked on was ‘Close’ which came up great from the get go. I have a part in mind built around an e-bow, a sound often used in the eighties by Big Country, it was used on Declaration a lot particularly during the middle of Howling Wind. James and I have decided to use a lot of effects on the guitars and James has brought for this session an old, very hard to find, pedal called a Rangemaster, which is apparently the pedal used by Eric Clapton on the classic Blues Breakers album. He has also brought up an old Watkins Scout amplifier which is quite small and versatile for doing demos. Throughout the day we worked backwards and forwards across most of the tracks with either James or myself laying down bass guitar and then me showing James the guitar chords and any particular riffs, then James would expand on them or leave them as they are. We knocked off early because England were playing Germany in a World Cup Qualifier…
Day Ten: Friday 7th September 2001
Location: Black Swans Rehearsal Room, Rhuddlan, Wales
Dropped James Stevenson off at the railway station for the journey back to London.
Went to the studio to do some more work with Mike Jones, put some vocals down on ‘Close’, it’s bit high, but sounds very vibey. Still trying to decide on the best room for the main recording sessions, on an impulse we decided to visit the Kinmel Hall were a lot of the ‘Change’ album was conceived. Met with Steve, the proprietor, who took us around and showed us all the renovations that had gone on since my last visit of 1989. Last time, we worked in the Gym, this time however, providing the owner gives us the go ahead, we will work in the main ballroom. Mike Jones is very excited about the prospect of recording here. Fingers crossed…
June 2002 – Close Promotional Video shoot
As luck would have it, Craig Adams quit his position with The Mission just in time to play with The Alarm at the San Siro Stadium in Milan, Italy (June 5th/6th), that we had booked to play a year earlier when offered to the band by Italian superstar Ligabue. The shows were amazing for us and with Craig back on board, the band kicked up to another gear. It was at the San Siro Stadium that we recorded a video to go with the release if the first single from ‘In The Poppy Fields’ which was Close. It turned out to be an unforgettable event for us – Mile Peters – In The Poppy Fields Collected Works sleeve notes 2013
2001 In The Poppy Fields Bond
Running length 3:55
Written by Mike Peters & Billy Duffy
Musicians & Credits
Mike Peters – Vocals, Electric & Acoustic Guitar
James Stevenson – Electric Guitar, EBow, Bass Guitar
Steve Grantley – Drums
Mark O’Grady – Effects
Steve McElroy – Strings
Recorded September 2001, Kinmel Hall, St George, Wales
Produced by Mike Peters with Martin Wilding, Mike Jones & Mark O’Grady
Mixed by Martin Wilding
Mastered by Gary Butler at RTS Liverpool
Alternative studio recording ~ 2004 Album ~ Remixes ~ Remaster
2004 : In The Poppy Fields Album
Running length 3:55
Musicians & Credits
Mike Peters – Vocals, Electric & Acoustic Guitar
James Stevenson – Electric & Acoustic Guitar, Backing Vocals
Craig Adams – Bass Guitar, Backing Vocals
Steve Grantley – Drums, Backing Vocals
Mark O’Grady – Effects
Recorded January 9th – January 22nd 2004, Foel Studios, Llanfair Caereinion, Wales
Produced by Mike Peters with Martin Wilding, Mike Jones & Mark O’Grady
Mixed by Steve Brown at Raezor Studios, Wandsworth, London
2009 : Remix
Running length 3:37
Musicians & Credits
Mike Peters –
2012 : In The Poppy Fields Collected Works
Remix of In the Poppy Fields Bond 2001 recording
Running length 3:16
Musicians & Credits
Mike Peters – Vocals, Electric & Acoustic Guitar
James Stevenson – Electric Guitar, EBow, Bass Guitar
Steve Grantley – Drums
Mark O’Grady – Effects
Steve McElroy – Strings
Produced by Mike Peters with Martin Wilding, Mike Jones & Mark O’Grady
Remixed by Mike Peters 2012
2018 : 21 [Redux]
Remaster of In the Poppy Fields Bond 2001 recording
Running length 3:24
Musicians & Credits
Mike Peters – Vocals, Electric & Acoustic Guitar
James Stevenson – Electric Guitar, EBow, Bass Guitar
Steve Grantley – Drums
Mark O’Grady – Effects
Steve McElroy – Strings
Produced by Mike Peters with Martin Wilding, Mike Jones & Mark O’Grady
Remastered 2018
Album appearances and discography of studio recording
All the following are Worldwide releases except where stated
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25th September 2002 : The Alarm – Close (In the Poppy Fields Bond)
Released on CD by Twenty First Century Recording Company, catalogue number 21C025
2001 Kinmel Hall recording
2002 : The Alarm MM – Close
Released on CD by Twenty First Century Recording Company, catalogue number 21CS002
2001 Kinmel Hall recording edit
19th April 2004 : The Alarm MMIV – In the Poppy Fields
Released on CD by Snapper Music, catalogue number SMACD873
Released on Double CD Special edition by Snapper Music, catalogue number SMDCD570
2004 Foel Studios recording
2009 : The Alarm – 21
Released on CD by Twenty First Century Recording Company, catalogue number 21C050
2009 remix
2013 : The Alarm – In The Poppy Fields – Collected Works
Released as a CD Box set – Disc 2 by Twenty First Century Recording Company, catalogue number 21C060
2012 Reworked recording
4th June 2021 : The Alarm – History Repeating 2021-1981
Released on Double CD by Twenty First Century Recording Company, catalogue number 21C120
4th June 2021 : The Alarm – History Repeating 1981-2021
Released on Double vinyl by Twenty First Century Recording Company, catalogue number 21C123LP
2001 Kinmel Hall recording remastered
December 2021 : The Alarm – Close (In the Poppy Fields Bond)
Released on Red Vinyl by Twenty First Century Recording Company, catalogue number ARCCLP001
2001 Kinmel Hall recording
Officially released live recordings ~ Audio
All are Worldwide releases except where stated
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1st February 2003. Recorded at The Garage, Glasgow, Scotland
Running Length 4:58
6th February 2003. Recorded at Masque Theatre, Liverpool, England
7th February 2003. Recorded at The Mean Fiddler, Harlesden, London NW10, England
Running Length 4:24
February shows performed by The Alarm : (line up tbc)
Released on CD’s as The Alarm MMIII Live At ……
The Twenty First Century Recording Company, no catalogue numbers
23rd August 2003. Recorded at William Aston Hall, NEWI, Wrexham, Wales
Running Length 2.56. Mike Peters Solo acoustic.
Released in CD in 2003 : Alarmstock vol 4 – The New Wave Songs Are Rising
The Twenty First Century Recording Company, no catalogue number
3rd November 2003. Recorded at The Knitting Factory, New York, USA.
5th November 2003. Recorded at The Middle East, Boston, Massachusetts, USA.
10th November 2003. Recorded at The Knitting Factory (East), New York, USA.
Running Length 4:32
17th November 2003. Recorded at The Knitting Factory (East), New York, USA.
Running Length 4:31
November shows performed by The Alarm : (line up tbc)
Released on CD’s as The Alarm MMIII Live At ……
The Twenty First Century Recording Company, no catalogue numbers
7th February 2004. Recorded at Wulfrun Hall, Wolverhampton, England
8th February 2004. Recorded at Academy, Liverpool, England
26th February 2004. Recorded at Municipal Arts Centre, Pontypridd, Wales
Running Length 4:17
1st March 2004. Recorded at La Scala, London N1, England
Released in 2005 on CD/DVD : Live In The Poppy Fields, on Snapper Records SMASDVD026
Running Length 4:38
7th March 2004. Recorded at The Garage, Glasgow, Scotland. Running Length 6:31
February/March shows performed by The Alarm :: Mike Peters, James Stevenson, Craig Adams, Steve Grantley
Released on CD’s as The Alarm MMIV Live At …… (except for 1st March)
The Twenty First Century Recording Company, no catalogue numbers (except for 1st March)
28th August 2004. Recorded at William Aston Hall, NEWI, Wrexham, Wales
Running Length 4:03
Performed by Mike Peters solo acoustic
Released on CD in 2004 on Alarmstock 2 vol 3 – A Door Opens As Another One Closes
The Twenty First Century Recording Company, no catalogue number
13th August 2005. Recorded at Electric Lady Studio A, New York, USA
Running Length 5:22
Performed by Mike Peters solo acoustic
Released on CD in 2005 on Alarmstock III vol 2 – New York : Set 2 Travelling Not Arriving
The Twenty First Century Recording Company, no catalogue number
26th January 2008. Recorded at The Gathering 16, The North Wales Conference Centre, Llandudno, Wales
Running length : 3:36
Performed by The Alarm : Mike Peters, James Stevenson, Craig Adams, Steve Grantley
Released on CD/DVD in 2008 : The Alarm – Tactical Response – Live at The Gathering 2008
The Twenty First Century Recording Company, catalogue number 21CDVD012
1st February 2014. Recorded at The Gathering 22, Venue Cymru, Llandudno, Wales
Running length : 24:08
Performed by The Alarm : Mike Peters, James Stevenson, Craig Adams, Steve “Smiley” Barnard, Mark Taylor
Released on CD/DVD in 2014 : The Alarm – No Barriers The Gathering 2014,
The Twenty First Century Recording Company, catalogue number 21CDVD018 (CD/DVD)
Officially released live recordings ~ DVD
All are Worldwide Releases except where stated
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13th January 2001. Recorded at The Gathering 9, The North Wales Conference Centre, Llandudno, Wales
Performed live by Mike Peters solo acoustic
Released on DVD in 2005 as The Alarm – The Gathering History
Twenty First Century Recording Company, catalogue number 21CDVD003
12th January 2002. Recorded at The Gathering 10, The North Wales Conference Centre, Llandudno, Wales
Performed by The Alarm MMII
Band line up : Mike Peters, James Stevenson, Richard Llewellyn, Steve Grantley
Released on DVD in 2005 as The Alarm – The Gathering History
Twenty First Century Recording Company, catalogue number 21CDVD003
25th January 2003. Recorded at The Gathering 11, The North Wales Conference Centre, Llandudno, Wales
Performed live by The Alarm MMIII :
Band line-up : Mike Peters, James Stevenson, Craig Adams, Steve Grantley, Mark Taylor
Released on DVD in 2005 as The Alarm – The Gathering History
Twenty First Century Recording Company, catalogue number 21CDVD003
24th January 2004. Recorded at The Gathering 12, The North Wales Conference Centre, Llandudno, Wales
Performed by The Alarm MMIV
Band line up : Mike Peters, James Stevenson, Craig Adams, Steve Grantley, Mark Taylor
Released on DVD in 2005 as The Alarm – The Gathering History
Twenty First Century Recording Company, catalogue number 21CDVD003
1st March 2004. Recorded at Scala, Kings Cross, London N1, England
Performed live by The Alarm MMIV
Band line up : Mike Peters, James Stevenson, Craig Adams, Steve Grantley
Released in 2005 on CD/DVD as The Alarm MMIV – Live In The Poppy Fields
Snapper Records catalogue number SMASDVD026
8th November 2004. Recorded at at The Marquee, Leicester Square, London WC2E, England
Performed by The Alarm MMIV
Band line-up : Mike Peters, James Stevenson, Craig Adams, Steve Grantley
Released in 2006 on DVD as The Alarm MMIV – Rock And Roll Circus (Live At The Marquee)
Twenty First Century Recording Company, catalogue number 21CDVD005
29th January 2006. Recorded at The Gathering 14, The North Wales Conference Centre, Llandudno, Wales
Performed by The Alarm VI
Band line up : Mike Peters, James Stevenson, Craig Adams, Steve Grantley
Released on DVD in 2006 as The Alarm – Live At The Gathering 2006
Twenty First Century Recording Company, catalogue number 21CDVD008
26th January 2008. Recorded at The Gathering 16, Venue Cymru, Llandudno, Wales
Performed by The Alarm
Band line-up : Mike Peters, James Stevenson, Craig Adams, Steve Grantley
Released on DVD in 2008 as The Alarm – Live At The Gathering 2008 Tactical Response
Twenty First Century Recording Company, catalogue number 21CDVD012
1st February 2014. Recorded at The Gathering 22, Venue Cymru, Llandudno, Wales
Performed by The Alarm
Band line-up : Mike Peters, James Stevenson, Craig Adams, Steve “Smiley” Barnard, Mark Taylor.
Released in 2014 on DVD as The Alarm – No Barriers Act 1 Gathering 2014
Twenty First Century Recording Company, catalogue number 21CDVD018
Sessions, Podcasts, Downloads, and Multi-Media Broadcasts
All the following are Worldwide releases except where stated
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2002 : The Alarm – Close
Available as a MP3 download as a single
This is the version that appears on the In The Poppy Fields Bond #1 – Close release
2002 : The Alarm – In The Poppy Fields website
Available as a MP3 download inthepoppfields.com/demos – Close
2001 Demo recording
2002 : The Alarm – 21[Redux]
Available as a MP3 download as a single
Also available on streaming services – including Spotify
This a remaster of the version that appears on the In The Poppy Fields Bond #1 – Close release in 2002
9th May 2020 : First broadcast for Season 1 Episode 8 of the Big Night In live stream broadcast from The Peters House, Dyserth, Wales. The Big Night In Season 1 Episode 8 can be viewed in full on The Alarm Central platform
Running Length tbc
Performed by Mike Peters solo acoustic
Released on CD in 2020 as The Alarm – Music Will Keep Us Strong – Disc 3 by Twenty First Century Recording Company, catalogue number 21C118
Lyrics ~ In The Poppy Fields Bond
Today, just like yesterday
I’m ascending and descending
Travelling, not arriving
That’s the story of of my life
I’ve been close
Closer than close
So close
I’ve been close
Closer than close
Not close enough
Somewhere, I don’t know where
There is someone, someone somewhere
I’ve been close
Closer than close
So Close
I’ve been close
Closer than close
Not close enough
I’m travelling
Not arriving
I’ve been close
Closer than close
So Close
I’ve been close
Closer than close
Not close enough
So close
So close
So close
So close
So close
So close
la la lal la la la la la la
So close
So close
la la lal la la la la la la
So close
la la lal la la la la la la
So close
la la lal la la la la la la
So close
la la lal la la la la la la
Audio & Visual Sources
~ San Siro Promotional Video ~ Live Video 2022 ~ Demo version Audio
~ Streaming Services
Click on image to play official promotional video recorded at San Siro Stadium, Milan Italy June 2002
Click on image to play Close 2001 Demo version, originally available on http://inthepoppyfields.com/demos
Click on image for video of The Alarm live audience recording Edinburgh Liquid Rooms 3rd Aoril 2022
Streaming Services
In The Poppy Fields – Close and In The Poppy Fields – Collected Works albums are available on The Alarm Central website Audio section
In The Poppy Fields – Close album is available on Spotify
(Page updated 02/12/2022)