"Treason (It's Just a Story)" is a song recorded by Liverpool group

The Teardrop Explodes The Teardrop Explodes were an English post-punk/neo-psychedelic band formed in Liverpool in 1978. Best known for their Top Ten UK single " Reward", the group originated as a key band in the emerging Liverpool post-punk scene of the late 1970s. ...

. The track was originally released as a single in early 1980 and then included on the group's debut album ''

Kilimanjaro Mount Kilimanjaro () is a dormant volcano in Tanzania. It is the highest mountain in Africa and the highest free-standing mountain above sea level in the world, at above sea level and above its plateau base. It is also the highest volcano i ...

'' later the same year. The original version of the song failed to become a hit, but was later re-mixed by Hugh Jones and re-released as the follow-up to the group's breakthrough hit Reward in 1981. This version reached no.18 in the UK Singles charts in May of the same year. The new version was also included on the re-issue of the ''Kilimanjaro'' album, itself more commercially successful than the original album release. On both album releases the song is listed under the title of "Treason".

B-side

The

B-side The A-side and B-side are the two sides of phonograph record, vinyl records and Compact cassette, cassettes, and the terms have often been printed on the labels of two-sided music recordings. The A-side of a Single (music), single usually ...

of the original 1980 7" release was "Read It In Books", the Teardrop Explodes' own version of a song originally co-written by

Julian Cope Julian David Cope (born 21 October 1957) is an English musician and author. He was the singer and songwriter in Liverpool post-punk band the Teardrop Explodes and has followed a solo career since 1983 in addition to working on musical side proj ...

and Ian McCulloch, previously recorded and released by McCulloch's band

Echo & the Bunnymen Echo & the Bunnymen are an English Rock music, rock band formed in Liverpool in 1978. The original line-up consisted of vocalist Ian McCulloch (singer), Ian McCulloch, guitarist Will Sergeant and bassist Les Pattinson. By 1980, Pete de Freita ...

in 1979 as the B-side to their debut single " The Pictures on My Wall". The Teardrops' version was also included on the ''Kilimanjaro'' album, re-titled "Books". The B-side of the remixed single version of "Treason" was a new track, entitled "Use Me", written by

alone.

Other versions

* A

French language French ( or ) is a Romance languages, Romance language of the Indo-European languages, Indo-European family. Like all other Romance languages, it descended from the Vulgar Latin of the Roman Empire. French evolved from Northern Old Gallo-R ...

version of the track entitled "Traison (C’est juste une histoire)" was released as a bonus track on the 12" release of the re-mixed single in 1981. This version was later included on the deluxe edition of ''Kilimanjaro'' released in 2010. * A live version of Treason performed at Club Zoo,

Liverpool Liverpool is a port City status in the United Kingdom, city and metropolitan borough in Merseyside, England. It is situated on the eastern side of the River Mersey, Mersey Estuary, near the Irish Sea, north-west of London. With a population ...

on 25 November 1981 was included on the group's comprehensive 2023 compilation ''Culture Bunker 1978-82''. This compilation also features both single versions and the French version of the song, as well as the two B-sides "Read It In Books" and "Use Me". * A cover version of "Treason" was recorded and released by

Nottingham Nottingham ( , East Midlands English, locally ) is a City status in the United Kingdom, city and Unitary authorities of England, unitary authority area in Nottinghamshire, East Midlands, England. It is located south-east of Sheffield and nor ...

indie pop Indie pop (also typeset as indie-pop or indiepop) is a music genre and subculture that combines guitar pop with a DIY ethic in opposition to the style and tone of mainstream pop music. It originated from British post-punk in the late 1970s and s ...

band Fat Tulips in 1991 as part of their "The Tulip Explodes!" EP, which also included cover versions of Teardrop Explodes songs "Passionate Friend" and " Reward".

References

* *{{Cite web, url = https://www.discogs.com/master/853304-The-Teardrop-Explodes-Treason-Its-Just-A-Story , title = The Teardrop Explodes – Treason (It's Just A Story) - 1981 release, publisher=

Discogs.com Discogs ( ; short for "discographies") is a database of information about audio recordings, including commercial releases, promotional releases, and bootleg or off-label releases. Database contents are user-generated, and described in ''The N ...

, accessdate = 23 October 2023 1980 singles 1981 singles 1980 songs The Teardrop Explodes songs Songs written by Julian Cope Julian_Cope_songs Song recordings produced by Clive Langer Song recordings produced by Alan Winstanley Mercury Records singles