IT was such a labour of love for The Wedding Present's David Gedge that the deluxe reissue of eight of the Leeds indie stalwarts' albums arrived pretty much a year late.

Here they are, however, and well worth the wait after the initial announcement that the Demon Music/Edsel Records series would be issued last autumn/winter.

The 1987 debut album George Best, 1988's Tommy, 1989's Bizarro, 1991's Seamonsters, 1992's The Hit Parade, 1994's Watusi, 1995's Mini and 1996's Saturnalia all receive the 3CD and DVD treatment, including the original album, previously unavailable audio, BBC sessions, promo videos, TV footage, original artwork, new packaging, new sleevenotes and ephemera from Gedge’s extensive collection and new interviews with the band's one constant member.

Again, the initial announcement had indicated not all the reissues would have three discs and a DVD, but Gedge was on a roll, and the Wedding Present devotee is the beneficiary.

"When we had the first meetings, it was summer last year and they were looking to release them for The Hit Parade tour last November and I thought, 'good luck with that!'," recalls David, who now lives in Brighton. "You'd think a record company like that would be experienced enough to know how long it would take because of the licences involved."

Put it down to enthusiasm, David, and besides, the subsequent change of dates through this year until October's new dawn for the magnificent eight only added to the anticipation.

"I kind of enjoyed doing it but I'm the only person who can do this reissue programme as I'm the only one who can definitively say what came from which session," he says.

"I wanted to make sure it was done properly as I'm like that; quite meticulous, though I'm sure there'll be mistakes that have slipped through the net."

In addition to the standard reissues, David has helped to put together specially priced bundles with the reissues and specially recorded seven-inch singles.

"It's a nice thing to have been involved with, but it's also been a bit infuriating because it's taken up a lot of my time, when I want to be doing my songwriting, as well as playing gigs and festivals, running my mini-festival in Brighton and my comic."

Nevertheless, the results are supreme, and Edsel and Demon Music are to be congratulated on their initial suggestion of repackaging the Wedding Presents of the past, complemented by new sleevenotes by Keith Cameron from interviews conducted with Gedge.

"It's a substantial project that has gone as far as it can. There won't be another version of this," says David. "That's it for these reissues."

News flash: The Wedding Present are to play Deer Shed Festival 6 at next summer's July 24 to 26 event at Baldersby Park, near Thirsk.