I decided to write a short article since this week marks both Orinoco Flow’s 25th anniversary and this site’s 10th birthday. I didn’t have to go too far for inspiration since I found this post waiting in my WIP folder. It seems that when I made a poll about what you wanted to read about a year ago, you picked nifty promos. I hope that you still want to read about them, even after this very Enyalike delay.
So here is a completely subjective selection of releases from my collection that do not contain any exclusive tracks, nor are super-rare but look very good. Collected just for their looks. Shallow collecting at its best ;)
Beautiful Cover Design
AND WINTER CAME… A CHRISTMAS SAMPLER
This lovely UK promotional sampler presents five Christmassy songs from Enya’s winter album. Not only is it housed in a cardsleeve (I love cardsleeves!), but the cover is also extremely pretty. Even though it was love on first sight, my quest for the sampler was rather long. I actually completely forgot about the cd for 3 years and then when I finally found a copy on eBay, I forgot to bid on it…twice. So if you want to get yourself one I recommend eBay, a bit of patience and a working brain. Copies go for about 10 EUR including shipping.
Clever Packaging
THE VERY BEST OF ENYA SAMPLER
Another fine UK promo, the TVBOE sampler is wrapped in a lovely cardboard flower. When you remove the sticker, you can open the petals and get to the cd housed inside. I love the idea and just wonder if it is a nod to Enya’s skirt on the very best of cover, the everlasting Amarantine flower or both.
There is also a Korean version that includes an identical tracklist but the cd is packaged in an ordinary plastic slimcase instead. You can get it as a bonus to the Korean TVBOE but it is a lot less fun.
Great Photography
IF I COULD BE WHERE YOU ARE PROMO
My third choice for today comes from Japan. This cd includes just one track, ‘If I could be where you are’ that would later appear on the ‘Songs for Japan’ charitative compilation. I bought the promo purely for the lovely artwork. Sealed copies still show up on eBay from time to time, mine used to be one of them but I thought that the inlay looked too good to be missed (and scanned).
30 October 2013 at 4:49 AM
Gracias por traer noticias de Enya, (thank you for bringing news about Enya) I love her music since many many years ago
12 March 2014 at 11:16 PM
I have been in love with your music for over twenty years. A true story of the effects of your music. I was diagnosed with depression many years ago and was given medication for it. I do not like taking medicine and told my doctor i was not going to take it any more. It is your music that actually changes my thoughts and physical stresses, it calms my soul. Thank you for sharing your talents with the world we live in
30 March 2014 at 8:47 PM
I forgot tje “Only Time Collection Sampler”.
30 March 2014 at 8:50 PM
# sorry: …you forgot the… ( I made a mistake when typing’ )
31 March 2014 at 6:07 PM
I have a copy of the OTTC sampler but I don’t find the artwork nice enough to get into my Top 3 favourite promos :)
22 September 2014 at 8:08 PM
Who was the designer of the sea horse earrings that Enya used back in the 90s? fabulous
4 December 2014 at 6:08 PM
Sorry Elizabeth, didn’t catch your comment. They were designed by Sophie Harley. She still sells some very similar pairs.