Declaration – (Song)

Declaration was recorded totally live with all four members of The Alarm playing acoustic guitars in Abbey Road Studio Two and spliced onto the beginning of Marching On at the mixing stage. This piece of music had originally been conceived as part of one of our earlier songs For Freedom, which was issued on the b-side of The StandMike Peters, Alarm 2000 collection liner notes

Originally formed the introduction to “For Freedom”, this was subsequently rewritten as “Declaration” and formed the introduction to Marching On both on record and live, as well as providing the title of The Alarm’s debut CD. Declaration first appears on the Declaration album released on 13th February 1984

Declaration album recording details
Running length 0:43
Written by Macdonald / Peters

Musicians & Credits
Mike Peters – Lead Vocals, Acoustic Guitar
Dave Sharp – Acoustic Guitar
Eddie Macdonald – Acoustic Guitar
Nigel Twist – Acoustic Guitar

Recorded at Abbey Road Studios, London NW8, England, between 7th and 30th November 1983
Produced by Alan Shacklock
Engineered by Chris Porter

Alternative recordings of the song ~ Acoustic, Remastered

1995 – Acoustic recording details
Running length 0:28
Musicians & Credits
Mike Peters – Vocals, Acoustic Guitar
Recorded at Fort Apache, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
Produced by Michael Peters
Recorded by Dan McLoughlin

2000 – The Alarm – The Alarm 2000 Collection Box Set : Declaration [1984-1985] [Remastered]
Running length 0:42
Musicians & Credits
Mike Peters – Lead Vocals, Acoustic Guitar
Dave Sharp – Acoustic Guitar
Eddie Macdonald – Acoustic Guitar
Nigel Twist – Acoustic Guitar
Remastered from the 1983 original recording by Mike Peters
Remastering Engineered by Gary Butler @ RTS Liverpool in 2000

2014 – The Alarm – Declaration [Reimagined]
Running length 0:33
Musicians & Credits
Mike Peters – TBC
Acquire Choir under musical director Leslie Churchill Ward – Backing vocals (tbc)
Choral Arrangements by Steve Allan Jones (tbc)
Recorded at Aerial Studios, Wrexham, Wales, Bethel Chapel Dyserth, Wales, and Tape Studios Wales 
Recorded by Andrea Wright and Mark Warden
Produced by Michael Peters

2018 – The Alarm – Declaration [1984-1985] [Remastered]
Running length tbc
Musicians & Credits
Mike Peters – Lead Vocals, Acoustic Guitar
Dave Sharp – Acoustic Guitar
Eddie Macdonald – Acoustic Guitar
Nigel Twist – Acoustic Guitar
Remastered from the 1983 original recording by Pete Maher
Remastering supervised by Mike Peters

Album appearances and discography for studio versions


All the following are Worldwide releases except where stated
(All Images right click to open larger in new window)


(V)
13th February 1984 The Alarm – Declaration
Released in the UK on vinyl IRSA 7044, cassette IRSC 7044, CD IRS CDA 7044 by IRS Records
Declaration was released on vinyl, cassette and CD in USA, Canada, Japan, Australia. Vinyl only South Korea, New Zealand, Israel, Greece, Spain, Portugal, Europe. Cassette only Netherlands
Original 1983 recording


28th October 1997 : Mike Peters – Acoustic Works 1981-1986 – Twenty First Century Recording Company, catalogue number 21C004. (CD) 1995 Fort Apache Recording


2000 The Alarm – Declaration [1984-1985] – Twenty First Century Recording Company, catalogue number 21C011 (CD). Appearing as part of the Alarm 2000 collection box set and then later as an individual disc. 1983 recorded version remastered


2002 Mike Peters – Acoustic Alarm Standards – Conspiracy Music CM0014 (CD) (USA Release) 1995 Fort Apache Recording


2002 – The Alarm – 68 Guns compilation album released in the Netherlands on Disky, catalogue number SI 905175. (CD) Original 1983 recording.


2014 – The Alarm – Declaration – Twenty First Century Recording Company, catalogue number 21C065 (CD). Reimagined new recording version.


2018 : The Alarm – Declaration [1984-1985] – Twenty First Century Recording Company, catalogue numbers : double vinyl LP 21C094 and double CD 21C096. 1983 recorded version remastered

Officially released live recordings ~ Audio

All the following are Worldwide releases on Twenty First Century Recording Company
(Except where stated)

14th February 1984. Recorded live at Hammersmith Palais, London W6, England
Performed by The AlarmMike PetersDave SharpEddie Macdonald and Nigel Twist
Running length 0:51
Released on CD in 2002 as The Alarm Record Collectors Club Vol II – Hammersmith 1984. Twenty First Century Recording Company, catalogue number ARCC002

12th April 1986. Recorded live at the campus of UCLA, Los Angeles, California, USA
Performed by The AlarmMike PetersDave SharpEddie Macdonald and Nigel Twist
Produced by Mike Peters, Paul Sutherland & Rob Spaull
Released on CD/DVD package in 2007 as The Alarm Spirit of 86 as remastered audio with photo montage present on the DVD. Catalogue number 21C DVD011

9th December 2000. Recorded at The Lomax, Liverpool, England
Running Length 5:14 (Declaration/Marching On combined)
10th December 2000. Recorded at The Leadmill, Sheffield, England
(Declaration/Marching On combined)
December shows were performed by The Alarm MM : Mike PetersJames Stevenson, Richard Llewellyn, Steve Grantley. The UK December dates were part of the tour to promote The Alarm 2000 collection and were billed as The Alarm MM.
15th December 2000. Recorded at Shepherds Bush Empire, London W12, England.
Running Length 0:56
Performed by The Alarm MM : Mike PetersJames Stevenson, Richard Llewellyn, Steve Grantley
Released on CD in USA on Beyond (398 578 223-2 / BEY 78223) and Japan on Imperial Records (TECI-24086) in 2001, reissued in UK, and Europe on Eagle Records (EAMCD301) Australia & New Zealand (CDR0795) and USA (ER 20057-2) as The Alarm – Greatest Hits Live

1st February 2003. Recorded at The Garage, Glasgow, Scotland 
Running Length 1:53 (Declaration/Marching On combined)
6th February 2003. Recorded at Masque Theatre, Liverpool, England  
Running Length 1:51 (Declaration/Marching On combined)
(performed by The Alarm MMIII, Band Line up : tbc for the Feb dates)
5th November 2003. Recorded at The Middle East, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
(Declaration/Marching On combined)
20th November 2003. Recorded at Elbo Room, Chicago, Illinois, USA
Running Length 4:46 (Declaration/Marching On combined)
21st November 2003. Recorded at The Knitting Factory (West), Los Angeles, California, USA
Running Length 4:52 (Declaration/Marching On combined)
(performed by The Alarm MMIII, Band Line up : tbc for November dates)

26th February 2004. Recorded at Municipal Arts Centre, Pontypridd, Wales
Running Length 4:10 (Declaration/Marching On combined)
1st March 2004. Recorded at Scala, Kings Cross, London N1, England
Running Length 0:49
Released in 2005 on CD/DVD Live In The Poppy Fields, on Snapper Records SMASDVD026
February/March recordings were performed by The Alarm MM : Mike PetersJames StevensonCraig AdamsSteve Grantley
29th August 2004. Recorded at William Aston Hall, NEWI, Wrexham, Wales
Running Length 0:39
Performed by Mike Peters acoustic
Released in 2004 on Alarmstock 2 Volume 7 – Out Come The Flags And Banners Again

6th August 2005. Recorded at Abbey Road Studios, London NW8, England
Running Length 2:38
Performed by Mike Peters acoustic
Released in 2005 on Alarmstock III London Set 1 – Declaration [Take This Song Of Freedom]
6th August 2005. Recorded at Abbey Road Studios, London NW8, England
Running Length 6:44 Declaration Medley
Performed by Mike Peters acoustic
Released in 2005 on Alarmstock III London Set 4 – Eight Thousand Went Down
13th August 2005. Recorded at Electric Lady Studio A, New York, USA
Running Length 4:05 (Declaration/Marching On combined)
Performed by Mike Peters acoustic
Released in 2005 on Alarmstock III New York Set 4 – Flowers In The Dressing Room
20th August 2005. Recorded at Capitol Records Studio A, Los Angeles, California, USA
Running Length 1:18
Performed by Mike Peters acoustic
Released in 2005 on Alarmstock III Los Angeles Set 4 – Spirit of ’86 Revisited

26th January 2013. Recorded at The Gathering 21, Venue Cymru, Llandudno, Wales
Running length 0:40
Performed by The AlarmMike PetersJames StevensonCraig AdamsSteve “Smiley” Barnard and Mark Taylor
Released in 2013 – The Alarm – Abide With Us – Live at The Gathering 2013 Catalogue number 21C063)

1st February 2014. Recorded at The Gathering 22, Venue Cymru, Llandudno, Wales
Running length 0:32
Performed by The AlarmMike PetersJames StevensonCraig AdamsSteve “Smiley” Barnard and Mark Taylor
Released on CD/DVD in 2014 : The Alarm – No Barriers The Gathering 2014, catalogue number 21CDVD018
5th April 2014. Recorded at The Deaf Institute, Manchester, England
Running length 0:48 
Performed by Mike Peters acoustic
Released in 2014 on DVD – Declaration – Live From The Deaf Institute, catalogue number 21CDVD017
18th April 2014. Recorded at McCabe’s, Santa Monica, California, USA.
Running Length 0:56 
Performed by Mike Peters acoustic
Released on CD in 2014 Mike Peters In Concert at McCabe’s Catalogue number 21C069

Officially released live recordings ~ Video / DVD

All the following are Worldwide releases on Twenty First Century Recording Company
(Except where stated)

12th April 1986. Recorded live at the campus of UCLA, Los Angeles, California, USA
Band Line up : Mike PetersDave SharpEddie Macdonald and Nigel Twist
Produced by Mike Peters, Paul Sutherland & Rob Spaull
Released on CD/DVD package in 2007 as The Alarm Spirit of 86 as remastered audio with photo montage present on the DVD. Catalogue number 21C DVD011

17th December 1993. Recorded at The Gathering 2, The Town Hall, Rhyl, Wales
Mike Peters solo acoustic
Released on VHS Video in 1995 – Mike Peters – The Gathering 2

26th January 2013. Recorded at The Gathering 21, Venue Cymru, Llandudno, Wales
Band line-up : Mike PetersJames StevensonCraig AdamsSteve “Smiley” Barnard and Mark Taylor
Released on CD/DVD in 2013 The Alarm – Abide With Us – Live at The Gathering 2013 Catalogue number 21C063

1st February 2014. Recorded at The Gathering 22, Venue Cymru, Llandudno, Wales
Running length : 0:32
Band line-up : Mike PetersJames StevensonCraig AdamsSteve “Smiley” Barnard and Mark Taylor
Released in 2014 : The Alarm – No Barriers The Gathering 2014, catalogue number 21CDVD018 (CD/DVD)

5th April 2014. Recorded at The Deaf Institute, Manchester, England
Running length : 0:48 Mike Peters acoustic
Released in 2014 on DVD – Declaration – Live From The Deaf Institute, catalogue number 21CDVD017

31st January 2015. Recorded at The Gathering 23, Venue Cymru, Llandudno, Wales.
Band line-up : Mike PetersJames StevensonCraig AdamsSteve “Smiley” Barnard and Mark Taylor.
Released in 2015 on DVD – The Alarm – Hands Held High – Saturday Concert Act 1, catalogue number 21CDVD018

2nd May 2015. Recorded at The Globe, Cardiff, Wales
Mike Peters solo acoustic set
Released on CD on 7th December 2015 – Mike Peters presents The Alarm – Live At The Globe 2015, catalogue number 21CDVD019

10th October 2015. Recorded at Wales Millennium Centre, Cardiff Bay, Cardiff, Wales
Band line-up : Mike PetersJames StevensonSteve “Smiley” Barnard, Robin tbc, The Welsh Pops Symphony Orchestra conducted by John Quirk, Acquire Choir under the Musical Director Leslie Churchill Ward.
Released on DVD in 2016 – Mike Peters & The Alarm – Poppies Falling From The Sky, catalogue number 21CDVD020

Radio Sessions, TV Appearances, Podcasts and Multi-media


31st December 1983 : Saturday Live with Richard Skinner – Recorded for BBC Radio One
First transmitted on 31st December 1983
Running length : 4:27 (Declaration/Marching On combined)
Performed by The AlarmMike PetersDave SharpEddie MacdonaldNigel Twist
Released in 2008 on CD – The Alarm – Radio Sessions 1983-1991 BBC on Twenty First Century Recording Company, catalogue number 21C045

23rd March 2014 – Mike Peters – The Dressing Room Sessions live at The cavern, Exeter, England
Performed by Mike Peters acoustic
Downloadable stream via a special code handed out at the gig

Lyrics ~ Declaration Album

Take this song of freedom put it on and arm yourself for the fight
Our hearts must have the courage to keep on marching on and on

Audio & Visual sources

(Page updated 17/07/2022)

Leave a Reply