Background
The album consists mainly of previously released material, except for "4 Ever Delayed" (recorded originally for Forever Delayed but unused due to complications), "Judge Yr'self" (a track recorded in 1995 for the Judge Dredd film soundtrack but never used), "Been a Son" (recorded for a BBC Radio One session) and "Last Christmas", which was performed by James Dean Bradfield on the UK TV programme TFI Friday. It also featured a newly re-recorded version of the track "Take the Skinheads Bowling", and not the version that had originally featured on the "Australia" CD single. The reason for the re-recording is still unknown.
The album received a far more positive reception from fans than the Forever Delayed greatest hits album, which was heavily criticised for favouring the band's more commercially successful singles. The only recurring criticism of Lipstick Traces was the exclusion of the infamous fan favourite "Patrick Bateman", from the "La Tristesse Durera (Scream to a Sigh)" single. The band explained that it was excluded mainly because it was almost seven minutes long and simply would not fit on the album. Bradfield has also been very critical of the song in the past, saying that it had great lyrics but the music was dreadful. Fans also missed "Too Cold Here", from the "Revol" single. The song was very successful in fans' voting on the official site.
The sleeve was designed principally by Nicky Wire which contrasted greatly from the simple, graphically precise covers designed by Farrow Design, who have done the majority of design work for the band since 1996. The DIY leopard print cover was symbolic of the band going back to their punk roots. Initial copies came in a gatefold sleeve with a basic inlay; further inserts could be downloaded and printed off from the band's official website.
As part of the promotion for the album, the band did a signing tour around the UK. At the final signing session in London, they also played a short set of tracks from the album.
Read more about this topic: Lipstick Traces (A Secret History Of Manic Street Preachers)
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