Pavilion Steps

Pavilion Steps is another very early Alarm song that suffered the same fate as “Second Generation”. Lyrically it was about the legendary “Pavilion Theatre” in Rhyl which was demolished in the 1970’s to make way for a car park. Eddie MacDonald and myself actually met, at 4 years of age, on the steps that led to the beach when our mothers took us to play on the sands. The reference is not the version released at as the b-side of Where Were You Hiding When the Storm Broke? but a live arrangement from the Clarendon Hotel, Hammersmith, London (24/05/1982) which, like the Pavilion, was demolished in the 1990’s to make way for a shopping mall. (Mike Peters, Second Generation Album Notes, 1995)

Pavilion Steps was first released as the B’side of the 7″ and 12″ of the Where Were You Hiding When the Storm Broke? single released on 3rd January 1984.

Original 1983 recording details released on the B-side of Where Were You Hiding When the Storm Broke?
Running length : 3:52
Written By: Macdonald/Peters
Musicians
Eddie Macdonald – Lead vocals & electric guitar & backing vocals
Dave Sharp – Electric guitar & backing vocals
Mike Peters – Bass guitar & backing vocals
Twist – Drums, percussion & backing vocals

Recorded at Abbey Road Penthouse Studio, London, England 26th November 1983
Produced by Alan Shacklock.
Engineered by Chris Porter.

This recorded version appears on the remastered version of Declaration 1984-1985 (21st Century Recording Company – Catalogue number 21C011) that appears as part of the Alarm 2000 box set (21C018). This version was remastered by Mike Peters in 2000 and Engineered by Gary Butler at RTS, Liverpool. Revised running time 3:47.

This recorded version appears on the remastered version of Declaration 1984-1985 (21st Century Recording Company – Catalogue number 21C094 (vinyl) and 21C096 (CD). This version was remastered in 2018. Remastering by Pete Maher. Remastering supervised by Mike Peters. Revised running time 3:48.

Other Studio Versions of the Song

Released 1995
Mike Peters – Second Generation Volume 1 – Rare songs of the Alarm revisited (Twenty First Century Product 21C002).
Running length : 4:10
Musicians
Mike Peters – Vocals, acoustic, electric, bass guitar & harmonica
Owen Thomas – Drums
Recorded and mixed at Elevator Studios, Liverpool, England 16th to 18th September 1995.
Produced by Michael Peters. Engineered & mixed by Mark Phythian.

Released 2014
The Alarm – The Peace Trains (The Twenty First Century Recording Company 21C066).
Running length : 3:49
Musicians
Mike Peters – Vocals, acoustic guitar & percussion
Recorded at bethel Chapel Studios, North Wales 16th to 18th September 1995.
Produced by Michael Peters. Recorded & mixed by Mark Warden.

Album Appearances and discography for studio versions

Worldwide Releases
1995 – Mike Peters – Second Generation Volume 1 – Rare songs of the Alarm revisited (Twenty First Century Product Catalogue number 21C002)
2000 – The Alarm – Declaration (1984-1985) – The 1983 recorded version appears on the remastered version of Declaration 1984-1985 CD (21st Century Recording Company – Catalogue number 21C011). Appearing as part of the Alarm 2000 collection box set and then later as an individual disc. This version was remastered by Mike Peters in 2000 and Engineered by Gary Butler at RTS, Liverpool.
2014 – The Alarm – The Peace Train (Twenty First Century Product Catalogue number 21C066)
2018 – The Alarm – Declaration 1984-1985 (Twenty First Century Product Catalogue number 21C094 (Double vinyl) & 21C096 (Double CD). Remastering by Pete Maher. Remastering supervised by Mike Peters. Revised running time 3:48.

Single appearances and discography

3rd January 1984 – B-Side of 7″ and 12″ release of Where Were You Hiding When The Storm Broke? UK release IRS Records IRS 101 (7″) IRSX 101 (12″)
For full worldwide single release discography see Where Were You Hiding When The Storm Broke? (Single) entry

Officially Released live recordings – Audio

24th August 2003 – Mike Peters – Alarmstock, William Aston Hall, NEWI (North East Wales Institute), Wrexham, North Wales.
Running time 4:00 Line-up : Mike Peters – Vocals & acoustic guitar
Appears on Alarmstock – A Road Less Travelled (The Twenty First Century Recording Company, no Cat No. ).

27th November 2011 – Mike Peters – 30th Anniversary Acoustic Alarm Tour 1981-2011 – The Glee Club, Cardiff, Wales
Running time 3.32
Line-up : Mike Peters – Vocals & acoustic guitar
Appears on Mike Peters of The Alarms – 30th Anniversary Acoustic Alarm Tour 1981-2011 (The Twenty First Century Recording Company 21C059).

Acoustic Recordings

1995 – Appears on Second Generation Volume 1 – Mike Peters – Rare songs of the Alarm revisited (Twenty First Century Product Catalogue number 21C002) – Worldwide release available through the MPO and at gigs.

2003 – Appears on Mike Peters – Alarmstock – A Road Less Travelled (The Twenty First Century Recording Company – no catalogue number). Recorded live at Alarmstock, William Aston Hall, NEWI (North East Wales Institute), Wrexham, North Wales on 24th August 2003.

2011 – Appears on Mike Peters of The Alarm – 30th Anniversary Acoustic Alarm Tour 1981-2011 (The Twenty First Century Recording Company 21C059). Recorded live at The Glee Club, Cardiff, Wales 27th November 2011.

2014 – The Alarm – The Peace Train (Twenty First Century Product Catalogue number 21C002) – Worldwide release available through the MPO and at gigs.

Lyrics

Remember the place we used to know all those years ago
Remember the times we used to have there when we were so young
We’d look to the future in our naive way
We’d look from the sands the world seemed far away

So when we heard we tried to save it but we went unheard
And even in the eleventh hour they still said no
Just look at that building it’s just falling down
The cost of repair was too much for this town

Never again will I stand on the pavilion steps
(Never again will I stand on the pavilion steps)
Never again will I stand on the pavilion steps
(Never again will I stand on the pavilion steps)

So on that place there lies a tarmac mat, nothing remains
Ashes to ashes dust to dust we must return some day
They say there’s a fallow field so far away
Where nothing will grow again or so they say

Never again will I stand on the pavilion steps
(Never again will I stand on the pavilion steps)
Never again will I stand on the pavilion steps
(Never again will I stand on the pavilion steps)

Is this the so called modern age that I’ve heard about
With its new age and it’s new cage that we, we can’t escape
The end of the place where our memories are kept
The end of the new way the start of the next
The end of a landmark the end of an era now

Never again will I stand on the pavilion steps
Never again will I stand on the pavilion steps
(repeat)

Never again will I stand on the pavilion steps

Alternative Lyrics

Audio & Visual Sources

Audio FilePavilion Steps on The Alarm Spotify page – Declaration 1984/85 Remastered
Audio File – original 1983 b-side version of Where Were You Hiding When The Storm Broke?
Audio File – 1995 Second Generation Volume 1 version
Video File – 27th November 2011 Live at The Glee Club, Cardiff, Wales

Images

undefinedundefinedundefined

Leave a Reply