Hi Paul, I'll try to answer some of Your questions here:
- does this CD include the complete released work by KK (incl. 7" B-sides, compilation only releases, etc.)? If not, what tracks are missing?
I believe the only track missing is "Yo Ho Ho" from the "Ho Ho Ho Spice" Christamas compilation (a VV.AA. charity compilation from Volunteer Records, code is VolRec 001) Also There is another version of "Love Lessons" on the album "Live! For Life" but it is performed by Stewart Copeland and Derek Holt from Colts not "Klark Kent" alone so I don't know if it must be classified as a KK song. A quite interesting version though anyway.
- there is an error on my copy of "Kollected Works": the last track is "Office Talk". After this song is over there is an uncredited appearance of the song "Guerilla" (not mentioned on the cover nor label). Is my CD a misprint? Was this corrected on a later pressing?
This is not a mispressing it is a bonus hidden song, You can find plenty of them on other records... An example would be the alternate take of "You Oughta Know" from Alanis Morissette with RHCP Flea on bass on the album "Jagged Little Pill". That song is also not listed on the album cover. In addition to that after the song there is a further hidden song sung acappella... This is a standard release not a rare or mispressed one.
- is it known when the KK songs were recorded? 1978/79/80? The three "previously unreleased" tracks all sound like they were recorded much later (in the 1990s?).
The original KK LP contained the following songs: 1. Don't Care 2. Away From Home 3. Ritch in a Ditch 4. Grandelinquent 5. Guerilla 6. Old School 7. Excesses 8. Kinetic Ritual they all date back from 1978 Produced by Nigel Gray the same one that produced Outlandos d'Amour. - Too Kool To Kalypso was recorded in 1978 and released on a green vinyl 7" single Produced by Nigel Gray. - Thrills - Office Girls these are from the B side of the "Don't Care" green vinyl 7" single dated 1978, Produced by Nigel Gray. - Office Talk this song is from the B side of the "Away from Home" green vinyl 7" single and is dated 1978. - Love Lessons As stated before, this song appears in a different version on the album "Live! For Life" (IRS Records IRS-5731) dated 1986. This is a remixed version dated 1995 on the CD booklet. - Strange Things Happen sounds to me it has been rerecorded for the Kollected Works compilation. I f You listen carefully at the end You can hear the African starting chorus from "Koteja (Oh Bolilla)" contained in "The Rhythmatist album"... I would date this 1995 as stated on the KW booklet. - Stay ready same as above
- are there any reported "guest appearances" from Andy or Sting on any of these recordings?
It seems that initially "Don't Care" was presented to Sting but he couldn't identify with the lyrics. So Stew went to Nigel Gray's studios, Surrey sound, and performed all the songs as a "one man band" singing for the first time. "Don't Care" entered the pop charts selling 35.000 copies and Stew was the first of The Police to be invited on Top Of The Pops. During the Show Stew Miles Copeland and also Kim Turner all were wearing masks like the one Stew wears in the KK photo to keep their identity secret... Hope this helps... If You want further info check www.stewartcopeland.it and ask Giovanni Pollastri to check all these info. He's the Stew "guru" as far as I know! Yo! Ciao from Italy Maurizio.