Mark Hollis and Talk Talk rarities

This article compiles the extant rarities from the career of Hark Hollis (1955-2019).

First, if you are unaware of this music, you are in for a rare treat. I am not going to repeat here the story of how a synth-pop group with rare sensibilities morphed into one of the most incredible expressions of pure music imaginable. Instead, just obtain the following catalogue. I've even indicated my suggested purchase order, which defers the first rather slick albums until after you've heard the masterworks.

5. Talk Talk: The Party's Over (EMI, 1982)
6. Talk Talk: It's My Life (EMI, 1984)
1. Talk Talk: The Colour of Spring (EMI, 1986)
2. Talk Talk: Spirit of Eden (Parlophone, 1988)
3. Talk Talk: Laughing Stock (Verve, 1991)
4. Mark Hollis: Mark Hollis (Polydor, 1998)

Two compilations are also valuable:
Talk Talk: Asides Besides (EMI, 1998)
Talk Talk: Missing Pieces (Pond Life, 2001)

If you already have all those records, here are the rarities...



This is a rehearsal cassette from "Eden", posted online by Tim Friese-Green, Talk Talk collaborator and producer.

"Recorded shortly before going into the studio, probably at John Henry rehearsal rooms. This is Mark on guitar, Lee on drums, and myself on piano and organ (the bass was always addressed in the studio once the basic track was down, which is why it doesn't feature here)."

The remainder are all links to music on YouTube, so I won't bother embedding code.

Demo by Mark Hollis, from 1979 (!) Might have been recorded at the time of The Reaction.
Crying in The Rain

The Reaction was a pre-Talk Talk band with radically different arrangements of familiar songs. These three tracks are from a set of nine recorded as a demo at Nashville Rooms Studios, 1979.
Candy
Have You Heard The News
Renée

300 Cubs was another version of the same band. More synths now.
Renée
Strike Up The Band

Further information would be much appreciated in the comments. At least eight additional early demos plus three BBC Sessions are out there somewhere.