The new album "Best Of Friends" on a double LP in a deluxe gatefold sleeve with bonus material.
SPARKLE*JETS U.K. (Long Beach, CA)

Big Stir Records is thrilled to announce the return of Orange County, CA pop legends SPARKLE*JETS U.K. with their first full-length album release in over 20 years... and that's just the start of a new renaissance for the band that will play out over the next two years (and beyond). There will be covers, there will be originals, there will be podcasts and double-LP colored vinyl, there'll be nods to the past and sounds from the future, and, most importantly, the hooks, harmony, power, and quirk for which the band is beloved. Having issued the band's delightful 2019 one-off 7" single of Big Star and Chris Bell covers (recorded with Jody Stephens at Ardent Studios) and collaborated with SJUK's Michael Simmons on more projects than you will ever know, Big Stir is in the enviable position to be the new natural habitat for sparkle*jets u.k. as they kick off a new era, and we can promise you it's going to be something special.
It's a welcome return for sparkle*jets u.k., remembered as “one of the most adored bands in the power pop movement of the late '90s and early 2000s", according to Jason Damas from All Music Guide. Their adorably geekly sensibility and their sound – a distinctive marriage of '60s and '70s rock and whimsical guitar pop -- set them apart, then and now. Founding members Michael Simmons, Susan West, and Jamie Knight first met in 1995 at an open mic show in Fullerton, CA. They were in three different bands at that time, and within a year had merged the bands into a single entity, blending their songs together. The group, which was initially dubbed Happy Birthday!, was renamed sparkle*jets u.k., including the very 80’s "U.K." tag as a gag. The three band members also shared a lot of musical common ground, starting with the Beatles. Their musical courtship engendered a love for ELO, Beach Boys, Jackson 5, Stax, and Big Star. They listened to Jason Falkner and Sugarplastic while engineering their own splash in the LA Pop scene.
S*JUK recorded their 1998 debut In, Through and Beyond and pressed just 1,000 CDs. In the true spirit of DIY, Knight placed the band’s first CD on consignment in a display next to the cash register at Pepperland Music record store where rock journalist John Borack (Goldmine Magazine and the Shake Some Action power pop guidebooks) bought a copy, his decision based only on the cover art and 3.99 dollar price. It was only a matter of time before sparkle*jets u.k. were inducted into the close-knit family of Los Angeles-based power pop acts -- think Wondermints, The Sugarplastic, The Negro Problem, The Masticators and Cockeyed Ghost -- and their fans on a vibrant scene then in its fondly remembered heyday. Although SJ*UK would go largely dormant after the followup LP Bamboo Lounge (2001), they'd made their mark on the LA scene, and to that scene they return with the first in their salvo of new releases: BEST OF FRIENDS , a loving and lavish tribute to their fellow travelers of that time. It's a treasure trove of fresh takes on the best tunes and artists from a nearly forgotten scene for those who remember, but for those who missed it all, the record is also an astonishing collection of perfect, punchy pop-hits-that-should-have-been, served up fresh in all-new versions by a band who knows them by heart. And that's just the jumping off point for the new era of sparkle*jets u.k.: there's already an all new album of originals waiting to pick up the threads from the turn of the century and show that the band can still write 'em just as well as they can deliver them. But don't take our word for it... just listen.
The full double album "Best Of Friends" on one CD in a DigiPak.
Limited Edition CD Reissue of the 1998 debut album from sparkle*jets u.k., remastered and including bonus tracks for the 25th Anniversary Edition.
This t-shirt is everything you've dreamed of and more. It feels soft and lightweight, with the right amount of stretch. It's comfortable and flattering for all.
• 100% combed and ring-spun cotton (Heather colors contain polyester)
• Fabric weight: 4.2 oz./yd.² (142 g/m²)
• Pre-shrunk fabric
• Side-seamed construction
• Shoulder-to-shoulder taping
• Blank product sourced from Nicaragua, Mexico, Honduras, or the US
The 100% cotton men's classic tee will help you land a more structured look. It sits nicely, maintains sharp lines around the edges, and goes perfectly with layered streetwear outfits. Plus, it's extra trendy now!
• 100% cotton
• Sport Grey is 90% cotton, 10% polyester
• Ash Grey is 99% cotton, 1% polyester
• Heather colors are 50% cotton, 50% polyester
• Fabric weight: 5.0–5.3 oz/yd² (170-180 g/m²)
• Open-end yarn
• Tubular fabric
• Taped neck and shoulders
• Double seam at sleeves and bottom hem
• Blank product sourced from Honduras, Nicaragua, Haiti, Dominican Republic, Bangladesh, Mexico
This t-shirt is everything you've dreamed of and more. It feels soft and lightweight, with the right amount of stretch. It's comfortable and flattering for all.
• 100% combed and ring-spun cotton (Heather colors contain polyester)
• Fabric weight: 4.2 oz./yd.² (142 g/m²)
• Pre-shrunk fabric
• Side-seamed construction
• Shoulder-to-shoulder taping
• Blank product sourced from Nicaragua, Mexico, Honduras, or the US
This t-shirt is everything you've dreamed of and more. It feels soft and lightweight, with the right amount of stretch. It's comfortable and flattering for all.
• 100% combed and ring-spun cotton (Heather colors contain polyester)
• Fabric weight: 4.2 oz./yd.² (142 g/m²)
• Pre-shrunk fabric
• Side-seamed construction
• Shoulder-to-shoulder taping
• Blank product sourced from Nicaragua, Mexico, Honduras, or the US
This t-shirt is everything you've dreamed of and more. It feels soft and lightweight, with the right amount of stretch. It's comfortable and flattering for all.
• 100% combed and ring-spun cotton (Heather colors contain polyester)
• Fabric weight: 4.2 oz./yd.² (142 g/m²)
• Pre-shrunk fabric
• Side-seamed construction
• Shoulder-to-shoulder taping
• Blank product sourced from Nicaragua, Mexico, Honduras, or the US
Big Stir Records is thrilled to announce the addition of Orange County, CA pop legends SPARKLE*JETS U.K. to our roster with their first new release in 18 years: a limited edition colored 7” vinyl single that's of unique significance to both the band and the label. It's a pair of covers related to BSR's namesake Big Star – the band's classic “The Ballad of El Goodo” and the beloved Chris Bell solo cut “You and Your Sister” – recorded at Ardent Studios in Memphis with Jody Stephens on drums. Both the A and B sides will be available digitally ONLY with the physical 45 (until they're collected on the fourth Big Stir Singles CD in late 2019). The single is officially out Friday, July 26 and can be pre-ordered here:
www.bigstirrecords.com/sparkle-jets-u-k
It's a welcome return for sparkle*jets u.k., remembered as one of the most adored bands in the power pop movement of the late '90s and early 2000s and mainstays of the early International Pop Overthrow Festival years. Their adorably geekly sensibility and their sound – a distinctive marriage of '60s and '70s rock and whimsical guitar pop -- set then apart. Founding members Michael Simmons, Susan West, and Jamie Knight first met in 1995 at a gig for Simmons' band at the time, Virgin 7. Within a year the trio's separate acts had merged into a single entity, which included the first writing contributions from Simmons as well as material from West and Knight.
The group, which was initially dubbed Happy Birthday!, was renamed sparklekets u.k., including the "U.K." tag because the name wasn't nearly wacky enough. The three bandmembers also shared a lot of musical common ground, starting at The Beatles and running through Electric Light Orchestra, Brian Wilson, Teenage Fanclub, Pixies, The Jackson 5. SJUK recorded their 1998 debut In, Through and Beyond and pressed just 1,000 copies. Copies of the disc made it into a single store, where rock journalist John Borack (Goldmine Magazine and the Shake Some Action power pop guidebooks) bought a copy, his decision based only on the cover art and 3.99 dollar price. After passing word onto pop fanatic and International Pop Overthrow organizer David Bash, sparkle*jets u.k. were soon inducted into the close-knit family of Los Angeles-based power pop acts and their fans, then in its fondly remembered heyday.
The delightfully absurd I Love SparkleJets U.K. multi-artist tribute album and the excellent 2001 sophomore album Bamboo Lounge would follow before the group went dormant on the recording front. Simmons would go on play a major role in Popdudes (with Borack, Knight, Robbie Rist, BSR's own Addison Love and many more) and form another multigenerational in the form of Yorktown Lads (also with Love and Cameron Lew). His own solo album First Days of Summer, recently reissued in expanded form on Big Stir, adorned many a Best of 2018 lists. The album, along with occasional and warmly received SJUK reunion gigs, paved the way for the Memphis sessions which yielded the new single.
Along with “El Goodo”, Big Stir Records is making expanded versions of the two proper sparkle*jets u.k. albums available for download, and also offering the 2017 vinyl reissue of Bamboo Lounge in our store. There are rumblings that the much-rumored third LP may see completion and release in the year ahead... stay tuned for further developments, and grab your 45 while they last!
Vinyl reissue of SPARKLE*JETS U.K.'s celebrated sophomore release. Comes with a download of the album and a complete full length bonus disc of exclusive rarities!
The original CD of SPARKLE*JETS U.K.'s 2001 album comes packed with bonus content as CD-ROM content and even a physical cocktail umbrella. Limited supplies remain!
Vinyl LP (orange vinyl) plus CD plus a digital download of the full album and a 20-track collection of remixes, demos, singles, compilation contributions and live tracks!
The 1998 debut from SoCal guitar pop heroes sparkle*jets u.k., remastered and reissued for a 25th Anniversary Definitive Edition and available as a limited edition CD.
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She's My Fave 2:210:00/2:21
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10 Inches 2:340:00/2:34
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0:00/3:51
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Above The Clouds 3:570:00/3:57
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Dat 2:430:00/2:43
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Thirteen 2:420:00/2:42
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Oh Poor Me 3:580:00/3:58
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Haircut Girl 3:140:00/3:14
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Girl Don't Tell Me 2:510:00/2:51
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Space 36 2:500:00/2:50
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She's So Mean 4:230:00/4:23
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Golden 3:230:00/3:23
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Listen To Me 4:180:00/4:18
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Surfin' Monkeys 2:430:00/2:43
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Love Sacrifice 3:190:00/3:19
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0:00/2:31
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Dat (Demo) 2:170:00/2:17
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Waiting 3:300:00/3:30
SPARKLE*JETS U.K., beloved icons of the Turn-of-the-Century Southern California guitar pop scene, are most assuredly back. BIG STIR RECORDS is proud to announce not only the June 30 release of the band's first album in over 20 years, BEST OF FRIENDS, on 2-LP Vinyl and CD in record stores everywhere and streaming worldwide, but a veritable
SPARKLE*JETS U.K., beloved icons of the Turn-of-the-Century Southern California guitar pop scene, are most assuredly back. BIG STIR RECORDS is proud to announce not only the June 30 release of the band's first album in over 20 years, BEST OF FRIENDS, on 2-LP Vinyl and CD in record stores everywhere and streaming worldwide, but a veritable multimedia renaissance for the band throughout 2023. Bringing back not just the vibes of the scene that birthed them but the songs as well, SJUK's jaw-dropping new double album (up for pre-order and pre-save now: https://orcd.co/sparklejets-uk-bestoffriends) is both a love letter of a tribute to the artists with whom they shared stages, and a thrilling revelation of those lost sounds to those who missed them the first time around.
Already heralded by the lead single, a cover of THE MASTICATORS' “He's Coming Out”, BEST OF FRIENDS boasts 21 sparkling, punchy, hook-filled tracks across its four sides of wax, all originally recorded by the band's sterling peers on the late '90s LA pop scene. Think WONDERMINTS, THE ANDERSONS, THE SHAZAM, COCKEYED GHOST and more, with versions of STEW & THE NEGRO PROBLEM's “Mahnsanto” and THE SUGARPLASTIC's “Another Myself” slated for release as subsequent singles. Each track is lovingly served up in the inimitable SJUK style, and the full album is almost dizzying in its rush of pure power pop delight.
It's a full-circle return for the Long Beach-based trio, consisting now as then of vocalist-guitarist SUSAN WEST, bassist JAMIE KNIGHT, and singer/multi-instrumentalist MICHAEL SIMMONS who also takes most drumming duties for the current edition of SPARKLE*JETS U.K (with Joel Valder sitting in on three tracks). The band has hardly been dormant for the decades since releasing their two widely admired albums In, Through And Beyond in 1998 and 2001's Bamboo Lounge, nor have they ever gone their separate ways. In addition to Simmons' continuing output as a solo artist (the acclaimed 2018 album First Days Of Sumer) and with Popdudes, SJUK joined the Big Stir Records family in 2019 for a special 7” tribute to Big Star recorded at Ardent Studios in Memphis with Jody Stephens on board. And all three 'jets have been a part of creating the extraordinary (and very much pop-rock oriented) music program at Huntington Beach High School. The band's 2023 renaissance, though, is something altogether bigger, and this new collection is just the start, with a full album of SJUK originals already completed for release next year.
But we're here to talk about BEST OF FRIENDS, whose mission is right there in the double meaning of its title: it consists of songs by the band's true friends from the late '90s and early 2000s LA pop scene, and it serves as a veritable “Best Of” collection for those unfamiliar with that era's delights. Destined to have a reach beyond its impact as a superb pop rock record, BEST OF FRIENDS is more of a multi-media event than a simple album release. Along with the singles and their inevitable companion music videos, the album's publicity campaign incorporates a weekly podcast (also entitled BEST OF FRIENDS) which captures SPARKLE*JETS U.K. in candid conversation with the artists covered on the album, bridging the gap between the fondly remembered adventures and recordings of yesteryear and the fresh, bracing versions on the new LP.
And the media itself bears mentioning, not just because this is the first SJUK record to bow in the streaming era. The gorgeous double LP package includes complementary colored vinyl discs in powder blue and tangerine orange. There is of course a CD edition with a foldout replica of the vinyl's gatefold. And copies of both formats purchased via Big Stir's online points of sale (www.bigstirreords.com and the label's Bandcamp site) will come with a genuine vintage treat for fans: the original 2000 CD of the Various Artists Tribute collection I w sparkle*jets u.k., a veritable inverted prequel to BEST OF FRIENDS whereupon the band's millennial contemporaries paid homage to them. It's a lot to take in... best to sit back and watch it all unfold over the course of a pure-pop-saturated summer.
But it is most deservedly sparklejets u.k. who stand tall as the band of the hour on this vital revisitation of these tunes they know by heart. The amazing vocal and all-around instrumental prowess of Simmons has never been more clearly on display, nor West's singing more invitingly impassioned in bringing the belters to life, while KNIGHT owns the low end with the perfect pulses, grooves and tasty fills these sterling songs demand. The songs are such a perfect fit for the SJUK chemistry that if you didn't know differently, you'd think the trio had spent the past twenty years quietly writing the best guitar pop songs ever, until the day arrived when they could be quiet no longer. And the truth is, you wouldn't be wrong, as the future, and another stellar record, will reveal. But that's a story for another day: BEST OF FRIENDS is just the beginning of a new lease on musical life for our heroes, and they can still write 'em just as well as they can play them. For now, though, turn it up loud as SPARKLEJETS U.K. take flight once again, shattering the sound barrier between yesterday and tomorrow and paying loving tribute to their BEST OF FRIENDS.
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Hold On Tight 3:100:00/3:10
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He's Coming Out 2:580:00/2:58
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0:00/3:40
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One Summer Sunday 3:120:00/3:12
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Are We There Yet? 4:360:00/4:36
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Ludlow 6:18 3:390:00/3:39
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Battle Song 3:180:00/3:18
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I Want a Pony 3:220:00/3:22
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Till We Meet Again 2:490:00/2:49
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Come Down Now 4:590:00/4:59
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Automatic 3:170:00/3:17
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Who Can Really Know? 2:540:00/2:54
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Sunshine Tonight 3:020:00/3:02
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Good Sounds 3:110:00/3:11
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0:00/3:34
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Another Myself 2:580:00/2:58
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Right Idea 3:000:00/3:00
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Mahnsanto 4:160:00/4:16
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Probléme Romantique 3:390:00/3:39
BIG STIR RECORDS takes great pride in announcing the surprise return of SPARKLE*JETS U.K. with a new single heralding an upcoming resurgence of new recordings – and much more! -- from the beloved icons of the Turn-of-the-Century Southern California guitar pop scene. “He's Coming Out,” a cover of a tune by underground pop legends THE MASTICATORS,
BIG STIR RECORDS takes great pride in announcing the surprise return of SPARKLE*JETS U.K. with a new single heralding an upcoming resurgence of new recordings – and much more! -- from the beloved icons of the Turn-of-the-Century Southern California guitar pop scene. “He's Coming Out,” a cover of a tune by underground pop legends THE MASTICATORS, is out May 19 on all digital platforms and up for pre-order/pre-save at www.bigstirrecords.bandcamp.com and everywhere now.
It wouldn't do to give away everything SPARKLE*JETS U.K. (in their definitive lineup of vocalist-guitarist SUSAN WEST, bassist JAMIE KNIGHT, and singer/multi-instrumentalist MICHAEL SIMMONS) have in store for us this summer and beyond as they enter a new renaissance phase over 20 years after the release of their last album. Suffice it to say that “He's Coming Out” is a terrific core sample of the band's forthcoming deep dive into the '90s/2000s LA pop scene on which SJUK made their name. To the uninitiated, it's quite simply a prime example of the kind of revved-up, anthemically sweet power pop at which the band excels. To those familiar with the original version, from THE MASTICATORS' classic album Masticate!, it's a sort of homecoming, hearkening back to the days when the two bands shared many a stage at LA venues like Mr. T's Bowl and Highland Grounds. “The Masticators became the band we played with more than anyone,” recalls Simmons. “They were so fantastic!”
THE MASTICATORS' frontwoman LISA MYCHOLS – still very much active on the pop scene and currently launching a new band, THE HIGH FREQUENCIES, from her new hometown of Richmond, VA – reminds SJUK that the admiration was and is mutual. “I was so obsessed with you guys back in the day. It's so cool to hear you doing 'He's Coming Out'! I love it, it sounds so good,” she recently told them, offering some insights into the song's inspiration as well. “I was originally inspired by the move Falling Down, but then it took off into a different story. I remember you guys doing it live, so it's amazing to hear it done in the studio. I really miss having bandmates like sparkle*jets u.k., just like having a community and that chemistry... that's part of why I've got a new band coming out.”
Indeed, rumblings of the rebirth of that millennial pop sound seem to be everywhere. It would be more than accurate to call the new SPARKLEJETS U.K. single a sign of things to come. There's not only more of their intoxicatingly punchy pop sound in store for fans, but further fresh takes on the turn-of-the-century sound as well. And before you ask, yes, there's an album on the way. In fact, make that a double album, with dual-colored vinyl as one might expect, to say nothing of a multimedia campaign including more singles, videos, and a podcast series that's a veritable class reunion featuring the band in conversations with many of their peers from the halcyon days of two decades past. But don't mistake it for a pure nostalgia trip: SPARKLEJETS U.K. are very much a band of today, picking up where they left off and taking flight with their pop instincts and boundless inventiveness fully intact. We at Big Stir Records are honored just to be part of the flight crew.
Bamboo Lounge (Expanded Reissue)
sparkle*jets u.k.
Vinyl Download |
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Original Issue CD plus Bonus Content Download |
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The 2001 sophomore record from SPARKLE*JETS U.K. is back on limited edition vinyl with accompanying downloadable super-expanded version featuring an entire disc of bonus tracks from the vaults!
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Monster 3:150:00/3:15
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She May Be Nice 4:020:00/4:02
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Sorry 4:000:00/4:00
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So Gone 3:080:00/3:08
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Real Nice Time 2:380:00/2:38
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Hate Your Hair 0:410:00/0:41
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Beautiful Girl 3:140:00/3:14
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It's Gotta Happen 3:290:00/3:29
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Nobody's Girl 3:410:00/3:41
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Good Morning World 3:550:00/3:55
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A Nice One 3:090:00/3:09
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Bamboo Lounge 1:320:00/1:32
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Monster (Phone Demo) 1:300:00/1:30
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Sorry (Demo) 2:400:00/2:40
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So Gone (Demo) 4:280:00/4:28
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