My Life's a Jigsaw

The Students - Sunday Afternoon (1980)

2012-03-10T04:57:00.009-08:00

b/w - Somebody New Every Day

Cool sounds outta Cambridge (I guess they'd been to a few Soft Boys gigs)

Guy Rackham (voc guitar)
Jon Lewin RIP (voc guitar) - later in Perfect Vision
James Daniel (bass voc) - - later in Perfect Vision
Tony Shepherd (drums) - later in Telephone Bill and the Smooth Operators //Duncan & the Darts // The Wobbly Jellies & The Bible (keyboard / percussionist )

The 45 was produced by Marc Noel-Johnson at The Spaceward Studios (who incidentally was also a stalwart of the Cambridge scene being a member of many bands. Including - Cops // Telephone Bill and the Smooth Operators // Duncan & the Darts //Andy Goes Shopping // Rob Appleton Band // The Lonely // Rock Island Rebels // Radio cowboys & Now in the New Essex Bluegrass Band)

Useless fact - Whilst trying for stardom James Daniel never gave up his day job at the Cambridge Computer Store.

If you want to know a bit about the Cambridge Rock Family tree (late 60's - Early 80's) have a look here

If you're interested; I prefer the B-side but "Sunday Afternoon" grows on you after a few listens!

Sounds & scans below

http://www.mediafire.com/?u9mfw8czp9x3uz8

Joe Public - Champagne Charlie (1985)

2012-03-02T09:56:00.013-08:00

b/w - Anti C.N.D.

Nice bit of Mod / powerpop that didn't get a proper release (only white labels seem to exist)

Joe Public was billed as Tony Feedback & Cindy Jackson [Pre plastic surgery days] but if you've followed the link you will know Tony Feedback was Tony Morrison AKA Tony Perfect. As Anti CND was an old unrecorded Long Tall Shorty track*, is it safe to assume he had help from at least some of the then disbanded group.

Steve B Moran (guitar) - ex-Reactions , also in The Rage
Derwent Jaconelli (drums/voc) - also in The Rage & Case briefly in Angelic Upstarts with Tony
Ian Jones (bass) - ex-Reactions
Mick Donnelly (sax) - also 1 of 2 sax players in Case ("wheat from the chaff" EP on SUS - 1982) pre Spear Of Destiny

*More on Long Tall Shorty here who have now recorded Anti CND - get it Here
Follow the links for some nice pics on You Tube of Champagne Charlie & Anti C.N.D

There was a 2nd 45 Joe Public presents Wild Thing (Limey Records) which seems to have been more of a vehicle for Cindy Jackson - tracks were Wild Thing (with Reg Presley) / Glad All Over (with Rick Hukley of DC5) // Talkin' About The Weather / Gudbuy T'Luv.

Sounds & scans below

http://www.mediafire.com/?qn4hxyabgak8b4p

Elti Fits - Elti-Fits EP (1980)

2012-02-21T10:38:00.000-08:00

A - Their Grip
AA1 - Going Straight
AA2 - Letterbox

Post Punk From this Manchester based Band (I say Manchester based; as the only actual Mancunian was the Drummer. The Singer was from Loughborough & the other 2 from London)

Sarah Keynes (voc)
Graham Elis (guitar 2nd bass keyboard voc) later in momo & The Dodo's & life
Nigel Ross (bass)
Karl Burns (drums) ex -Fall (apparently he has left & rejoined them a mind boggling 9 times) + playing with P.I.L. / the Teardrops / Bok Bok , seemingly concurrently with Elti-Fits & live with ex-Fall members Blue Orchids in Mid '81 when they were support to Echo & the Bunnymen.

The band's short lifespan appears to be Mid '79 - Early '81 although don't hold me to that! - During that time they played some pretty prestigious gigs including "Stuff the Superstars" at the Mayflower

This was their sole 45 (recorded at Rochdale's Cargo Studios) but there is more recorded output if you dig deeply:
Peel Session 04/09/1979 - Factory Room / Letter Box / Reject / Song - recorded at Maida Vale studio 4, produced / engineered by Bob Sargeant & Mike Robinson (Aired 29/09/79)
30 Miles Of Torment availabe on the Live At Leigh Rock Festival 27/08/79 Bootleg
Rebel Rebel availabe on Deeply Vale Festivals DVD

Useless information 1 - The photocopied sleeve is of the Charles Barry Crescent Estate in Hulme which is the address on the back of the sleeve - so I guess they lived (squatted?) there!

Useless information 2 - Their manager Paula Cooke (née Greatbatch) worked under the name of Ruth Putrid

Can anyone tell me why John Robb's book - The North Will Rise Again (Manchester Music City 1977 - 96) completely ignores this band?

Sounds, Scans & other goodies below

http://www.mediafire.com/?d7237887xhfu9r9

Joni Dee And The Times - Here Come The Holidays (1982)

2012-02-18T07:41:00.000-08:00

b/w - Three Cheers For The Sun

Cool Mod pop with the right amount of bubblegum to stay just on the right side of Cheesy.

Why of all The Times 45's choose this one? I hear you ask.
Well let's face it, there's so many tracks by Mr Edward Ball & friends to choose from + you can get loads of info on him & the band I thought I'd try to add something! rather than regurgitate.

The music to both tunes were written by Ed Ball but the lyrics to Here come the Holidays were penned by his old school chum John Bennett. Who was also a member (Drummer) of:
The Television Personalities (on 14th Floor/Oxford Street - srts records)[AKA Hughie Green]
O level (on East Sheen EP - psycho records)[AKA Jim Horne]
Reacta (on Stop The World/sus – battery operated records)

Now on to Joni Dee Sackett; she seems to first crop up in Ed's life in early 1980 with the band Dry Rib & later also added backing vocals to his 1984 LP Hello Europe. (the pic on the left is of her & Ed Ball, summer 1982)
1983-84; saw her collaborating with Frank Tovey (Fad Gadget) as singer & Viola player.
1986; with I start counting.

BTW this 45 was recorded Easter 1982 & the Times were

Ed Ball - guitar
John East - bass
Paul Damien - drums
Ray Kent - keyboards

I believe the second sleeve with The Times sticker over Jonie Dee's name was used to re-promote the 45 after the minor hit of the This Is England LP in Late 1983.

Sounds & scans below

http://www.mediafire.com/?q7m92n83pd0fpa3

Boys In Darkness - Back To France (1981)

2012-02-12T05:40:00.000-08:00

b/w - A Man An Island

2 tracks of Post-punk (more New wave with prominent Synth) from this Scottish [Bathgate] band

Dave Gilhooly - (Voc)
Richard Wade - (Guitar)
Mike McCann - (Bass) - same guy that played with Hey Elastica! ?
Colin Laverty - (Drums)
Dave Milne - (Keyboards)

This 45 was released twice in '81 - 1st in October on the Bid for Freedom label [7" & 12" format - no p/s]. Then again in late November on the E.D.M. Champagne label [7" & 12" format - with p/s] - (Although their names on the label Of the EDM pressing are D Gillhooly (voc) G Wade (guitar) M McAneny (bass) C Laverty (drums) D Milne (keyboards)

Dave Gillhooly (An Art lecturer) wrote - "Back to France was written about a late night return to a Paris hotel. The Blackened tongue referred to, was after a night of drinking red wine and arguing about the impact of colour in Scottish Landscape painting."

Just speculating; but I suspect the 2nd pressing was to coincide with them scoring the support slot on the 2nd leg of the Stranglers La Folie Tour

21.01.82 Sheffield Polytechnic
22.01.82 Aberystwyth University
23.01.82 Leicester University
24.01.82 Day Off
25.01.82 Brighton Top Rank
26.01.82 Guildford Civic Hall
27.01.82 St Austell Colliseum
28.01.82 Hemel Hempstead Pavilion
29.01.82 Hanley Victoria Halls
30.01.82 Swindon Oasis
31.01.82 Poole Arts Centre
01.02.82 Bristol Locarno
02.02.82 Day Off
03.02.82 Derby Assembly Rooms
04.02.82 Warwick University
05.02.82 Ipswich Gaumont
06.02.82 Portsmouth Guildhall
07.02.82 Leeds Tiffanys
08.02.82 Hammersmith Odeon

Discography
Back To France / A Man An Island - Bid For Freedom Records - 7”/12” (1981)
Back To France / A Man An Island - EDM Champagne Records - 7”/12” (1981)
Heart Of Darkness / Under the Bridge - Parlophone Records - 7”/12” (1984)

Sounds & scans below

http://www.mediafire.com/?weggxejgu3aw0d2

Commuter - Dear Marge (1982)

2012-02-10T07:51:00.000-08:00

B1 - Dear Marge (Dub)
B2 - You Don't Get Crispy Chips From New Potatoes

I don't think much of the Instrumental version Of Dear Marge (which incidentally is not indicated on the labels) but the other 2 tracks fall nicelly into the Mod / powerpop sound bracket.

I was hoping to have more information than the below but hey ho!

The band (4 piece?) were from the Hatfield / Welwyn Garden City area.

John Erentrauts (voc, harmonica) RIP ex Albert Monk
Boon (guitar)
Mansfield (Bass)
Paul Turley (drums / keyboards) later in Classix Nouveaux (84 -85) / Smalltown Elephants (86-88) / Christmas Island (90-91) / Baby Boomerang (92-94)

All tracks were produced by Phil Nash at the 24 track Wickham House Recording Studios in Croydon

Sounds & scans below

http://www.mediafire.com/?o5xo9646hem5lpf

The Intelligents - Take It From The Top (1979)

2012-02-05T05:27:00.000-08:00

b/w - Superdrain

OK - First off, Ignore the A-side & listen to the flip. It's decent New wave in a sort of Buggles meets BA Robertson way.

I know nothing about the band, I think they may have been led by Alan something or other.

There were as far as I know 2 other 45's but if they're like the A side they are probably going to fall into the "Pop trying to be Disco by a person that knows New Wave is all the fashion"

Discography (as far as I know)

Rocking Band / Wardance - Atlantic K11162 (June 1978)
Take It From The Top / Superdrain - Atlantic K11292 (May 1979)
Sorry / When We Dance - Atlantic K11408 (November 1979)

Sounds & scans below

http://www.mediafire.com/?mns377j029b2700

The News - Trying To Ride The New Wave (Unreleased)

2012-02-01T11:59:00.000-08:00

b/w - Stereo Generation

Again 2 more Mod /Powerpop tunes from this Rock Springs, Wyoming 3 peice.

This was to be the follow up (their 2nd release) to the Spread The News EP but for some reason the tracks never made it to vinyl.

The Band were

Eddy Delbridge (Voc Guitar).
Mike Fitzgerald (Bass)
Billy Dolence (Drums)

Both tunes were written by Mr. Delbridge & were again recorded at Colorado Sound Studios, Denver, Colorado (probably in '79 or it could have been 1980 - Eddy was unsure)

Big Thanks to Eddy Delbridge for sharing these tracks with us.

Sounds & scans below

http://www.mediafire.com/?1bp55gg29ld1n8c

The Paranoids - The Love Job (1980)

2012-01-28T02:37:00.000-08:00

b/w - Theme From Gravity's Rainbow

Request Time

Nice 60's influenced powerpop from this Ruislip Area band. (1978-80)

Nigel Normal (voc guitar)
Ricky Rickenbacker (guitar)
Dave Campbell (bass)
Graham "Coggs" Campbell (drums)

This was the band's 3rd & final 45 with Roy Wood taking the Producer's chair

Their earlier 2 being

Anticipation / TV Heroes - Hurricane Records (1979)
Stupid Guy / Road To ruin - Hurricane Records (1979)
[Stupid Guy was also Released in Germany (Strand records) & Holland (GIP Records, dated 1980)] and has made it onto at least 2 compilations Pure British Pop For Raw People 1 & Shake Some Action Vol 1

Useless info - the sleeve pic is taken from the 1963 Movie Beach Party & is of Frankie Avalon & Annette Funicello.

Sounds & scans below

http://www.mediafire.com/?4w2s00enrswwc49

Average Buss Cue - Whenever I'm With You (1984)

2012-01-23T07:17:00.000-08:00

b/w - Now You See Me

Here's a 45 I picked up a few months ago & it's been residing on the I'm not sure about pile until I gave it another listen yesterday.

It has an interesting DIY vibe to it that I'm pretty sure NWOBHM fans will also like.

I know nothing about the band except both sides were penned by Collins / Yeulet & it was pressed through the Lyntone plant

As usual if anyone knows anything please leave a comment!!

Sounds & scans below

http://www.mediafire.com/?g2sllcubfs4i06z

The Hollywood Killers - Goodbye Suicide (1978)

2012-01-19T07:06:00.000-08:00

b/w - The Tramp

To fulfill a request from some time ago here is the 2nd 45 (glam / powerpop / punk) from this then Hastings based band.

From L to R in the photo below

Bernie Smirnoff (Drums) pre The Vipers
Pete Poodle (Bass)
Jim Penfold (Voc Guitar)
Alexander Moylegrove III (Saxophone)
Neil Aplin (Lead Guitar)

For a really informative bio go to the Hollywood Killers site

There's also a myspace here

Also go here to listen to Jim's theme for Charley Boorman's Race To Dakar

Sounds & scans below

http://www.mediafire.com/?ol9qbgd0tg7vs6d

Herod's Race - Something's Not Right (1980)

2012-01-16T07:42:00.000-08:00

b/w - Wind Me Up

Nice punk powerpop tunes for the sole release of this band from Ely.

The band were (L-R in the photo below)

William Clarke / Barnes*
Michael "Mick" Gillett (guitar) RIP
Lee Gillett (voc)
Alan Bailey
Andy Clark

*I'm not sure about the surname as one source puts it as Clarke yet the autograph here looks very much like Barnes

Both tunes were recorded at Spaceward Studios under the watchful eye of Gary Lucas

Other later bands Lee & Mick were in include Wild Party Productions & Ca$hback

There's load of stuff here from a charity concert celebrating the life of Mick Gillett.

Something's Not Right also managed to make it on to this 2003 compilation

Sounds & scans below

http://www.mediafire.com/?htb4erhn8nlwkcy

Yellow Bell - Don't Go Breaking Down (1984)

2012-01-07T02:37:00.000-08:00

b/w - Getting My Heart Back Together

Cool Pop Rock for the New Year - If this had been released 10 years earlier, you'd be seeing it on all the Pub Rock compilations that are starting to spring up.

The flip seems to be a live cut (it's a bit weak if you ask me!)

I can't tell you much about the band except the tunes are written / produced by Steve Laffy & B. Canty.

They were possibly London Based as:
"Harmony Records" appear to have a St John's Wood phone number.
The dead wax has ORLAKE inscribed in it (Now defunct Orlake records pressing plant in Dagenham)

Sounds & scans below

http://www.mediafire.com/?4xff0eewsg47j7d

The Same - I'm A Face (1980)

2011-12-30T05:33:00.000-08:00

b/w - 1918

Canadian Only release for this U.K. South Coast (Bexhill / Eastbourne) Area Mod band.

Band members (1979 -'80) were

Mark Poole (voc)
David Blundell (guitar)
Rod Morrison (bass)
Alan Dickens (drums)

Not to be confused with these guys who were also active at this time.

In the UK, these tracks were only available on the Uppers On The South Coast - Various Artists LP (Both Versions). Both sides being produced by Ray Fenwick who at the time, was a member of another band on the LP ((The South Coast Ska Stars)

Coincidentally (or not!) this release (Gamma GA5055) followed The Teenbeats - I Can't Control Myself / I'll Never Win - Gamma GA 5054) both tracks also being from the afore mentioned VA LP & a minor hit on the Canadian billboard.

For the eagle eyed the labels say - From the Album : I Can't Control Myself - Again this is the same VA LP (Canadian name for the 1st press without the Purple Hearts - pics here [scroll a bit])

Sounds & scans Below

http://www.mediafire.com/?hxj661hlfa8zhlu

The Tigers - (Walk Tall) Do The Crawl (1980)

2011-12-24T06:15:00.000-08:00

b/w - Go For It

The final offering from the Ska/New wave band The Tigers that got a promo release just before Christmas (I think it had a general release in Jan '81)

Tony Jacks (voc. guitar)
Ross McGeeney (guitar, voc)
Nic Potter (bass)
Pete Dobson (drums)
Nick Cola (keyboards, voc)

For a decent bio (which I refuse to plagiarize go here)

In an interview (Oct '80) Tony stated he (& Nick Cola) was working with a couple of young guys called "the Dynamites" (well in Feb '81 this same 45 got a release on the logo label under their name - it's in the download so you can compare & contrast)

Strike Records UK Releases (up to 1981)

STEP 1 - TONY JACKSUN - Night time Games EP - 7" June 1978
STING 1 - THE TIGERS - Savage Music / Jack It Up - 7" Nov 1979
STIK 2 - THE TIGERS - Big Expense, Small Income / Kidding Stops - 7" Dec 1979
STAB 1 - THE TIGERS - Savage Music - LP Jan 1980
KIK 1 - THE TIGERS - Kidding Stops / Big Expense, Small Income - 7" Feb 1980
KIK 2 - THE TIGERS - Ska Trekkin / Religion Fot The Hungary - 7" 1980
KIK 3 - THE TIGERS - Promises Promises / Ska Trekkin - 7" June 1980
KIK 4 -THE TIGERS - Savage Music / Ice Cold In Fulham - 7" Oct 1980
KIK 5 - THE TIGERS - (Walk Tall) Do The Crawl / Go For It - 7" - Dec 1980
KIK 6 -TONY JACKS - I Hear A Heartbeat / Wild & Free - 7" - Nov 1981

Logo Records (Strike Records Productions)

GO 396 THE Dynamites - (Walk Tall) Do The Crawl / Go For It - 7" - Feb 1981
GO 399 THE Dynamites - Let's Do It Tonight / The Way That I Feel - 7" April 1981

NON UK Releases

WEA 18159 (France) THE TIGERS - Kidding Stops / Big Expense, Small Income - 7" 1979
WEA 18159 ? (Japan) THE TIGERS - Kidding Stops / Big Expense, Small Income - 7" 1980
WEA 18260 (Italy) THE TIGERS - Ska Trekkin' / Religion Fot The Hungary - 7" 1980
WEA 18272 (Germany) THE TIGERS - Ska Trekkin' / Promises Promises - 7" 1980
WEA 18272 (France) THE TIGERS - Ska Trekkin' / Promises Promises - 7" 1980
WEA K 58163 (Italy) THE TIGERS - Savage Music - LP 1980
WEA WEA 58163 (Germany) THE TIGERS - Savage Music - LP 1980
A&M SP 4817 (USA / Canada) THE TIGERS - Savage Music - LP May 1980
A&M 2266 (USA) THE TIGERS - Make-Up Girl (Mono) / Make-Up Girl (Stereo) 7" July 1980

See the download for a more in-depth & extended Strike Records discography...... (if you can add to this please leave a comment)

Sounds & scans below

http://www.mediafire.com/?4qoi1xtdm1ylg1z

The Kitchens - The Death Of Rock N Roll EP (1979)

2011-12-21T09:19:00.000-08:00

A - The Death Of Rock 'N' Roll
B1 - Lies
B2 - 'A' Bomb

Duncan Fulton (voc guitar)
Andy "Sprog" Ford (guitar voc)
Ruth Jones (bass)
Andy Lovelock (drums)

Salisbury's first punk band was formed early 1977 with an original line up of Duncan Fulton (bass voc) Fred Philips (guitar) [both ex Shining Hearts Band] & Andy Lovelock (Drums) this was the augmented by Paul Kelly (guitar) & [briefly] Colin Holton (bass). Paul then left, Duncan switched to guitar & Gavin Lear (rhythm guitar) & Ian Stramm (bass) joined. These 2 then also left & with the addition of "Sprog" Ford, the band for a while became a trio. Ruth then joined on bass to make the classic line up that recorded this cool slice of New wave.
Sprog left the band in early 1980 to join the QT's & the remaining 3 continued for a few months (supporting the Martian Schoolgirls on a mini tour - who coincidently Ruth later played with) before calling it a day.

Fore more info on the many bands these guys were in, I suggest buying this:

Endless Beat - Voices Of the New Sarum Sound 1970-1999

BTW - Andy Lovelock is the son of James Lovelock (originator of the Gaia theory)

Here's a review of The Death Of Rock N Roll EP by Perry M, from Vague 3, 1980:
'Salisbury band the Kitchens recently got some money together and had this record pressed. The A side is one of their more recent songs ‘The Death of Rock’n’Roll’, and is quite a slow and vaguely blues song. The B side has two tracks, ‘Lies’ and ‘A Bomb’. The best track is ‘A Bomb’ which has a great introduction, Andy Ford - no longer with the band - plays guitar, and some good bass beats come through. The record was a good effort, but it doesn’t show the band’s full talent, as Andy Lovelock is a fantastic drummer, and Andy Ford is/was a better guitarist than can be heard on this record.
The Kitchens didn’t seem to have the production trouble that the QTs had with their EP, and of the two the Kitchens’ is the better record.

Sounds & scans below

http://www.mediafire.com/?ssfh8svhg42f12e

Meadow Mist - Christmas Isn't Christmas (When You're Not There) (1981)

2011-12-17T04:57:00.000-08:00

b/w - Love Your Neighbour

Well it's that time of year again & I've noticed my Xmas posts from last year are getting quite a few hits, so here's a new one.

For a decent new wave track really it's the B-side you'll want to listen to (Love that bass guitar)

I can't tell you much about the band except both sides were penned by possible siblings C. Laurent & T. Laurent

They could've been London based. This is due to the dead wax inscription - "Graeme - Sound Clinic" which means it was mastered by Graeme Durham at the Sound Clinic (based at 20A, British Grove, Chiswick, London W4 - an Island Records owned Mastering / cutting studio handling both "in-house" and "3rd-party" work until it's 1987 closure)

Sounds & scans below

http://www.mediafire.com/?6fm1d155llx97xx

Naughty Boys - I Can't Explain (1981)

2011-12-09T05:51:00.000-08:00

b/w - Nite Fight

I'm posting this more for the interest value than the sounds (It's more progressive / Folk than New wave - however I still like it!)

I found it hard to find any info about the band (the tracks are penned by Birks & Priester)

Bill (Bilbo) Birks is Canadian born, moving to the UK in the 70's and seems to have worked with everyone & his dog.
What will interest most New wave collectors is the fact his co-producer (& possible band member) is Glen Tommey & that both of them played together as session artists on the first Korgis LP.
I suspect this was recorded at The Crescent Recording Studios in Bath as Glen was an engineer there.
Around the time this 45 was released Bill was also commissioned by C.B.S Germany to write some music for a film soundtrack (Piratensender Powerplay) using the name "Contraband". Culminating in a Germany only 45 Radio Powerplay / Didn't Mean It - CBS 2108 [1981]

Check out what Bill is doing now here

Sounds & scans below

http://www.mediafire.com/?agktywyagtzo1q7

Tony Koklin - Claude Monet (1980)

2011-12-04T01:13:00.000-08:00

b/w - Lucky Man

Two New Wave / Powerpop tunes from Dublin based Tony (Coughlan) Koklin (R.I.P.) with Lucky Man being my pick of the two (Nice touches of Roxy Music).

Tony (voc guitar) was helped on this 45 by
Phillip Cullen (bass voc)
Ronnie Fitzpatrick (drums)
Brian Brady (keyboards)

This was the 2nd of 2 45's, released to, pretty much an uninterested "general public" in January 1981, the 1st was Cinderella / Living With The Times - Mulligan Records [1979]
If you want to read a biography of Mr Coughlan pop over to IrishRock.Org (This covers the recording of the LP & the aborted 3rd 45 pretty well)

Sounds & Scans below

http://www.mediafire.com/?0t620rm8ttv6as8

The Bodgers - Stutter (1982)

2011-11-30T07:09:00.000-08:00

b/w - I Hate Phoning Girls

Firstly; I know this has been posted elsewhere but it's a great 45 (admittedly not very PC - but how many records do you know that rhyme sediment with impediment)

Secondly; I'm having trouble uploading to my mediafile account, so for a while I'll be pretty much only posting things that are already there.

The band (Comedy Troupe) were 4 student friends from George Watson's College, Edinburgh & were

Pete Baikie

Moray Hunter

Jack (AKA John) Docherty

Gordon Kennedy

They had a sketch show that performed every year (1980-'85) at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival & were then commisioned by BBC Radio 4 for a show (In Other Words....The Bodgers) that became Bodgers, Banks and Sparkes with the addition of Morwenna Banks and John Sparkes.

The team later became more famous for the Channel 4 Television sketch show Absolutely

http://www.mediafire.com/?70ohjocm0721oh7

V/A - Swindon, This Is Swindon EP (1980)

2011-11-20T06:20:00.000-08:00

A1 - Narrow Feint :- Saturday Night
A2 - Wheelz :- I Can See Everything
B1 - Bantu :- This Time Around
B2 - The Early Bathers :- Impact Adhesive Man

Interesting EP from 4 (out of apparently around 30 hopefuls) New Wave / Post Punk Swindon Bands. (1000 pressed)

Narrow Feint
Jerome Travis (voc lead guitar) ex Justin Case band
Steve Degutis (guitar voc) ex Le Metro*
Malcolm Thorn (bass)
Anton Henley (drums) ex Justin Case band
Pete Morse (ex Justin Case Band) also helped out on bass but is not on this recording.

* More Le Metro stuff here & here & a great interveiw with Jerome & Steve here

Wheelz
Kevin Packer (voc)
Derek Thomas (lead guitar voc)
Tony Gregg (bass voc)
Danny Archer (drums) now in Built For Comfort
Mike Durrant (synth guitar voc)

Bantu
Clarry Bean (voc) now
Tony Knill (lead guitar voc)
Leigh Bruin (rhythm guitar)
Steve Long (bass)
Peter O'Driscoll (drums voc) now in The Pignose Band

The Early Bathers
Paul Burgess (voc bass) ex Jelly Tots
Mick Winning (guitars) ex Jelly Tots
with thanks to
Stratofortess (drum machine)
Johnny Stephens later in Meat Beat Manifesto
Kev Read

There's an interveiw with Mick, Paul & Mick (?) here

The tracks were recorded at the 4 Track "Redbrick Studio" [which was built in the basement of the Swindon Town Hall] during January 1980
The EP was produced by Dave James (You can see him being interviewed about the release here) & had its official release on April 1st with all four bands playing at the Brunel Rooms. (each having a 30 minute slot).

Sounds & scans below

http://www.mediafire.com/?v8295gpi0qj7949

Dealer - On The Street (1981)

2011-11-18T09:51:00.000-08:00

b/w - Give You My love

Nice, if not a little bit whimsical; 60's flavoured powerpop / pop rock from this (I'm guessing) Leeds based band.

Another 45 I know next to nothing about.

Both sides are credited to

Butler,
Pullan,
Butler,
Davies,

were recorded at Leeds Ric Rac Studios & are on the Luggage Label (which to tell the truth is why I picked this up. See here for the reason)

If anyone has some info please leave a comment

Sounds & scans below

http://www.mediafire.com/?rs1tg0ifoas38as

Ada Wilson And Keeping Dark - Head In The Clouds (1980)

2011-11-14T09:00:00.000-08:00

b/w - It Doesn't Have To Be

Great Mod /Powerpop from the Ex frontman of "Strangeways"

The lad from Wakefield was helped out on the record by

Steve Smith (Bass)
Pete Morton AKA Peter "Ringo" Higginbottom (Drums)
Ian Nelson (Alto Sax)

Both Steve & Pete were Ex "Just Frank" Pete also having been in Strangeways with Ada.

The 45 was produced by Gough Snape AKA Mike Switzerland AKA Rob Worby

If you like this, there was an earlier 45 (In The Quiet Of My Room / I'm In Control Here - Ellie Jay [1979] & re-released on Barn records [1980]) - Be warned this 45 is more experimental.

He had also been part of Tattoo Hosts Vision On who released quite an interesting LP in 1980

Head in the Clouds was also included on The Hicks From the Sticks Compilation (1980) - as was Gough Snapes (The Distributors) T.V. Me.

In The Quiet Of My Room was also re-recorded in 1984 & released on Thin Sliced Records

Useless Info - Ada Wilson claims that he inspired 'Brass in pocket' by the Pretenders.

Sounds & scans below

Sorry No Download - I've been "asked" to take it down

Oenix - Ils Veulent Coucher Avec Sheila (1980)

2011-11-11T08:59:00.001-08:00

b/w -Melodie Qui Sonne

1st of only 2 releases for this Rouen 4 piece.

Anne-Marie Monville (voc)
Richard Alexandre (guitar)
William Foyé
Alain Mercier

This is a cool punk / powerpop tune that was privately released on the Ponce Pilate label & was aledgedly so disgusting that it had to be censored & re-released on Virgin. (both versions are in the download) Depending on what you want to believe this could be true or just a bit of "Branson Hype"

Saying that, if your French is any good you will note that the lyrics are a bit risky for the early 80's

Sounds & scans below

http://www.mediafire.com/?6aqjromgy9oq1ps

BTW - I'm presuming as the tune has a 60's "ye ye" feel to it that they are refering to the 60's icon SHEILA (Bit of A guilty pleasure this song)

Misspent Youth - 17 Forever EP (1979)

2011-11-06T07:01:00.000-08:00

A1 - Optimistic
A2 - Ghost Of Peggy Sue
B1 - 17 Forever
B2 - Immortal Teenager

Great DIY Powerpop EP (gotta love those handclaps on Ghost Of Peggy Sue) from this West London based band (1976 -'80).

Chis Ransome (Voc Guitar)
Ian "Mog" Hawkridge (Bass)
Bron Buick (Drums)
Dave Baby (Sax Voc)

The bands sole EP was recorded on June 23rd at Mike Kemp's Spaceward studio, Cambridge & released in September on the Sequel Record label.

At the same time, Ian Hawkridge & Dave Baby Along with the producer of this record (Michael Ikon) were also members of Missing Presumed Dead. - Michael Ikon also being in Fish Turned Human.

BTW - There was another band called Misspent Youth operating in the Birmingham area around the same time.

Sounds & Scans below

http://www.mediafire.com/?e3l97ndcjv16pcg

The News - Spead The News EP (1978)

2011-11-04T06:46:00.000-07:00

A - She's So Square
AA - The Kids Are Dancing

Cool Mod /Powerpop from this Rock Springs, Wyoming 3 peice.

Eddy Delbridge (Voc Guitar).
Mike Fitzgerald (Bass)
Billy Dolence (Drums)

Their other release was a track (Bring On The Night) on the 1981 Compilation LP Declaration Of Independents - This is included in the download.
The band also recorded (but unfortunately it remains unreleased) a 2nd 45 "Trying To Ride The New Wave / Stereo Generation" which utilised the talent of a new drummer Dan Postma.*

"The Kids Are Dancing" can also be found on Powerpearls Vol 1

Various Press Reveiws

Goldmine
Proof positive fanzines are spreading the good news. How else could he have created such promising pop tunes?

Trouser Press
The singing's good and the songs are promising.

New York Rocker
From Rock Springs Wyoming, the nation's most violent municipality, The News deliver an irresistable rocker.

* Thanks to Mr E Delbridge for the extra info

Sounds & scans below

http://www.mediafire.com/?rx43m9tkvqks6np

Date-X - Trappuppgång (1981)

2011-10-30T06:34:00.000-07:00

b/w - Blinda Romanser

Great Pop-punk form this Swedish (Eskilstuna) Band (1981-'83).

Bengt Eklund (Voc, Guitar)
Benny Eriksson (Guitar)
Magnus Adolfsson (Bass)
Mats "Masken" Jonsson (Drums) Masken = Worm

When Schoolband Råttgift disbanded in 1980, two bands formed from the ashes Memento Mori and Date-X (apparently they wanted to be Melody but the name was taken)

From what I've read (press clippings* in the download) it seems the band had a couple of lucky breaks.
1. They came to the attention of & were contacted by Billy Madden (owner of Adventure Records) &
2. They scored an appearance on top Swedish TV show "Måndagsbörsen" (28/09/81) - other bands to do this included Gyllene & Noice. (tracks played included ; Trappuppgång , Ce Soir & Svärd Och Rosor ).

Unfortunatly in the fall of '82 Swedish Army National Service called for Bengt, Benny & Magnus.

*clippings from Punktjafs

Discography

- Let It Out Vol.2 Compilation LP (Adventure Records ADV LP 101 - 1981) 2 tracks - "Room 21 / Crying Girl"
- Trappuppgång / Blinda romanser 7" (Adventure Records ADV SP 102 - 1981)
- Date-X LP (Adventure Records ADV LP 103 - 1981)
- Brinnande Liv / Simmar lätt 7" (Adventure Records ADV SP 105 - 1982)

Sounds & scans below

http://www.mediafire.com/?xie5ywl4cu0s1mn

Lucky Numbers - Bring It On Home To Me (1980)

2011-10-28T10:10:00.000-07:00

b/w - Back To Rock And Roll

Great Pop Rock / powerpop cover of a Sam Cooke classic from this Limerick band (1978 - ?). Led by Shay Fyfe & managed by Noel Carty

This was possibly the bands 6th release for Play Records (Back To Rock And Roll had already graced vinyl by being a B-side for their 1st 45 (Hey Rock 'n' Roll - Play Records PLAY 109 - 1978)

For more info pop over to Irish Rock.Org

N.B. - Mike "Doc" Horan was the Drummer in this band before moving to The Conquerers in 1979.

Sound & scans below

http://www.mediafire.com/?fyvahszbsh3cbdd

Reasonable Man - Public Army Policeman (1981)

2011-10-23T07:42:00.000-07:00

B1 - Snakebite
B2 - Economic Sense

Nice 45 full of socially aware New wave / Ska with a bass line that screams of listening to too much Dub (this was recorded at the now defunct Starforce Studios, Clapham South London.)

The London based 4 Peice that went into the studio on 9 & 10/05/1981 were;

Tony Payne (voc, Tambourine)
Steve Pugh (guitar voc)
Kev Taylor (bass & lead Guitar)
Colin Hakin (drums, voc)

Have to admit to having a preference for Snakebite - that's the tune & not the beverage. Unfortuately, I'm afraid to admit there was many a lost teenage night on that stuff (1/2 a pint of strong cider, 1/2 pint of strong lager & a dash of blackcurrent juice, if we were feeling posh).

Sounds & scans below

http://www.mediafire.com/?95bbxsfxeb2a3ml

Jim Power And Taurus - Only Yesterday (1978)

2011-10-20T08:08:00.000-07:00

b/w - Night Has The Habit Of Dragging On

Double A side, with Only Yesterday being a nice slice of 60's influenced powerpop & the flip being a bit too Country for my taste (An unfortunate drawback of buying these private pressings does mean that you unwittingly end up with a large amount of Folk/C&W on the shelves).

Both Sides were penned by Norman Teeling / recorded at Dublin's Trend Studios & released on Jim's Self funded Power label.

There's more Info on Norman Teeling here

Sounds & scans below

http://www.mediafire.com/?blxpp47pid3y8ps

Gaffa - Normal Service Will Never Be Resumed EP (1977)

2011-10-16T02:43:00.011-07:00

A1 - Normal Service Will Never Be Resumed
A2 - Married Men
B1 - Several Grabs (At The Empty Holdall)
B2 - Stage Gear (Live)

Here's the 1st 7" from this Nottingham Band (1973*-80) - their only previous recording is "Playing At Love" on the compilation "Nottingham Castle Rock" - PRIVATE FEST 002 (1973 - 500 pressed)

The EP's a mixed bag, but good enough for NME to make it "single of the week" & call them "Art college clever dicks who have earned their precocity"

The Band began life as
Wayne Evans (voc bass)
Paul Cronk (guitar)
John Herod (guitar)
Mick Baratt (drums)

But by now were
Wayne Evans (voc bass)
John Maslen (guitar)
Clive "Myph" Smith (guitar)
Mick Barratt (drums)
Brendan Kidulis (keyboards) left the band early '79 & made a pretty good 45 in 1980

Discography

7"
-Normal Service Will Never Be Resumed EP - Cleverly Bros CBM-002 (1978)*
-Hearts Of Stone/ You Know I Love You (But I Don't Know How I Know) - Gaffa'n' Product ZZZZ-S001 (1979)*
-Attitude Dancing (Land of 1000 Dunces)/ Long Weekend - Gaffa'n' Product ZZZZ-S002 (1979)*
-Man With A Motive/ Your Side My Side -Gaffa'n' Product ZZZZ-S003 (1980)
* these recordings have many sleeve variations, many hand made by the band
-According to 45 Revs there was also a recorded but unreleased 4 track 7" EP, (working title of "Firm Favourites" - Use Your Imagination / Feeble Without A Pause / Parish / The Raver) that was due to be their 2nd release in early '78 on the Croydon based Next Records.

LP
Neither Use Nor Ornament - Gaffa'n' Product ZZZZ-001 (1979)

Peel session (unreleased)
Baby Sitting / Anna Nervosa / White But Not Quite / The Rota / Gangster Tendencies - (produced/engineered by Trevor Dann & Mike Robinson in Madia Vale studio 4 - recorded 20.03.1979 & aired 04.04.1979)

Wayne Evans played in many Nottingham based bands after the band demise, the latest being The Last Pedestrians

Gaffa It seems have returned go here for some footage of the gig (Review here) or follow the links to hear their Peel Session & LP

Sounds & scans below

http://www.mediafire.com/?xnb9y8ji21mhlz2

Roquivários - Totobola (1981)

2011-10-14T01:38:00.000-07:00

b/w - Ela Controla

Rock & Various (Roquivários) were a Portuguese (Lisbon) Pub Rock band (1981-83) who embraced the New Wave & Ska sound (Seemingly Totobola is the most Ska sounding)

Mario Gramaço (Voc Sax )
Jorge Luis Loução (Guitar)
Midus (Bass Voc)
Paul Corval (Bass)
Rabanal (Drums) ex Aranha

Discography
(Midus plays the Bass on the EMI recordings as Paul Corval leaves)

Pronto a Curtir - RT (1981) LP*
Totobola/Ela Controla - RT (1981) 7"
Cristina (Beleza É Fundamental)/Disc-Jockey - Valentim De Carvalho (EMI) (1982) 7"
Roquivários - Valentim De Carvalho (EMI) (1982) LP

* All the reveiws I've read have said this LP was very rushed & has very poor production

More tracks Here

Sounds & Scans below

http://www.mediafire.com/?97ov5asr175t51j

Stevie Sharp And The Clean Cuts - We Are The Mods (1980)

2011-10-02T02:20:00.000-07:00

b/w - He Wants To Be A Mod

Was this a genuine calling or just cashing in on the Mod Revival?

I prefer the B-side as I find "We Are.." a bit annoying. However, it's a rarity that doen't turn up that often (300 - 500 pressed) & as I've had it requested you can make up your own minds!

Released on Happy Face (& recorded at The Old Smithy) so I'm assuming the band were from the Worcester Area.

It has been reputed (& refuted) that Stevie Sharp was the ex guitarist of Satan's Rats & The Rowdies
(As they were from Evesham I can see why the link was made but the band's title is more than likely just echoing the "Mod ethos")

"We Are The Mods" can also be found on the awful We Are The Mods! LP (most of the tracks are low budget live recordings of admittedly mainly otherwise unavailable great tracks)

Sounds & scans below

http://www.mediafire.com/?763lkd51gl72rjr

The Flames - Your Love Is Slippin' Away (1982)

2011-09-25T04:51:00.000-07:00

b/w - That's What You Told Me

Once again I direct you to the catchy as hell B-side. Not that there is anything wrong with "Your Love..." it's just a bit too cutsey in an Everly Brothers sort of way!!

The 4 Piece were from the West London area & had this record written/produced for them by Eric David Holland
(who in the...
- 70's was a recording engineer in London at Recorded Sound Studios and Nova Sound Studios, Responsible for many of The Sweet 45's
-80's amongst other things worked in A&R at RSO Records. Was a singer songwriter at Jet Music for Don Arden & wrote / performed jingles for Radio 1's Mike Read Breakfast Show)

The 45 was released twice in a matter of months (1st on Thrust Records, RUFF 3; then on Masquerade, MASQ 2 - both subsidiaries of Chiswick records) - scans for both are in the download
The Massquerade disc has DICE 13 scratched in the dead wax which was also a catalogue prefix used by Chiswick

Sounds & scans below

http://www.mediafire.com/?6yreqgtvlq1mpoj

Nattkräm -Trampa På (1980)

2011-09-23T09:51:00.000-07:00

b/w - Varför Gör Ni Så Här

Another great punk / powerpop 45 from Sweden. This time from Åkersberga.

This was the band's 3rd & final 45 & the players on it were

Martin Wallström (Voc guitar keyboard) replaced Michael Enlund after 1st 45
Henrik Möller (guitar voc) replaced Jan Eriksson after 1st 45
Magnus Sverke (bass voc)
Johan Sverke (drums voc)

Discography

1979 - Håll Mej Hårt/Tåget/För stressigt 7" EP - (AMG) BG Records öR-S23
1980 - Romantiska Pojkar/Det Blåser På Månen 7" - Sound of Scandinavia SOS 10-76
1980 - Trampa På/Varför Gör Ni Så Här 7" - Marilla Ma-s 172
1981 - Romantiska Pojkar LP - Sound of Scandinavia SOS 81

BTW - Nattkräm = Night Cream in English (??)

I did read that the band had another reshuffle in '81 & became Hemliga Armem (Secret Army) but I don't know how true that is..........

Sounds & scans Below

http://www.mediafire.com/?zucoh2coho82n79

En Route - Wasting My Time 12" EP (1980)

2011-09-21T00:57:00.000-07:00

A1 - Wasting My Time
A2 - I've Got That Feeling
A3 - I Wanna Talk To You
B1 - Do it The French Way
B2 - It Don't Make You A Woman
B3 - Liar

Here's the second release from this pop/rock band (1977-'80) from the Sevenoaks area. Their 1st being Break Down Your Defences/ Rusty Capri - Barn Records (BARN 006 - 1979)

Ian Sprange (voc piano guitar)
Paul Green (guitar)
Tony Saxton (bass)
Steve Boorer (drums) later in the Drivers
Laurie A'Court (sax)

This was also the 1st release for the Barn offshoot "Six Of The Best Records" (more info here)

Sounds & scans below

http://www.mediafire.com/?rwyuu53q6uf7n2g

Famous Names - Modern Mums (1980)

2011-09-18T02:06:00.000-07:00

b/w - Blind Date

Great Mod/powerpopper on the B-side & another Police type white reggae track on the A.

The 5 piece came from the Shrewsbury area & were

Jim
Mike
Paul
Ian
Ian

I've no idea who played what or even if this 45 had a p/s (if anyone can help - leave a comment)

The songs were produced by the infamous Tony Wilson at the London, DJM studio in November 1979.

Both sides can be heard on You-tube (with a pic of them)

Modern Mums

Blind Date

Before any one leaves a comment

Sounds & scans below

http://www.mediafire.com/?4rsb2alhhgwvq9g

The Escalatorz - Escalatorz 10" EP (1981)

2011-09-15T07:58:00.000-07:00

A1 - Depression
A2 - Goin' Bananas
B1 - On The Scene
B2 - Split

Cool New Wave/Garage Rock debut from This West Berlin 4 Peice.
The Band Ran in name from 1981 -91 although the nucleus of the band Daniels had been a duo With Bauer for a few years prior to this.

The 1st line up was
H.P. Daniels (voc guitar)
Mario 'Bibi' Schulz (guitar voc)
Dietrer Bauer (bass voc)
Hans Wallbaum (drums voc)

Due to internal strife & other commitments (Schulz & Wallbaum being in another band at the same time) the above line up pretty much dissolved after this recording.
later members being:
H.P. Daniels (voc, guitar)
Udo Modin?(guitar, voc) Replaced by Andreas Roemer ('82) ex - Odessa RIP
Rene Engelman (bass' voc) ex Naasti replaced by Hans Moser ('89)
Hans Jurgen 'Otto' Schneider (drums, voc) ex - Odessa replaced by Harry Malloy ('84)
Wolfgang Mueller (guitar voc - Making them a 5 piece in '83) ex - Rozz
with the aid of
Thomas Pflanz replaced by Chris Ashburn (sax)
Bruno Zimmer (trumpet)
Skip Reinhardt (trumpet)
Soren Fisher (trombone)
Danny 'Deutschmark' Dzuik (keyboards)

Discography

5 track demo cassette -
Sordid Collection - Smanx (1983)
(studio side) - No panic, You Can Stop Me, Depression
(live side) -White Shirt & Black Tie, So Fragile .

7" Releases
Rough Stuff/Back On my Feet Again - Berlin Rock News 66.11 477-01 [1000 copies] (1982)
So Fragile/No Panic - SmAnx 12345678 (1982)*
Too Bad/Season Ticket - SmAnx 191157 (1982)*
From The Garage Straight To Your Heart/Commuter Love - SmAnx 87654321 (1983)*
Movin On/ Small Talk - smAnx 3802-391 (1984)*
Contaminated Memories/No Crime - SmAnx 25-485 (1985)*
*private press 300 copies each

LP -
Straight To Your Heart - SmAnx Vielklang Efa 04241-08 (1987) (with re-recorded versions of...)
From The Garage Straight To Your Heart/ Rough Stuff/ So Fragile/ White Shirt & Black Tie/ No Panic/ Movin’ On/ I Need You/ Commuter Love/ Small Talk/ Too Bad

Video -
Recorded 20.10.84 Live at the Latin Quarter

BTW...as well as Roemer & Schneider,the band Odesaa also included Helmut Hirt (voc), Bernd Däumichen (guitar sax), Jürgen Dehmel (bass) Jörn-Uwe Fahrenkog-Petersen (keyboards) - They Recorded 1 LP (Odessa [Good Noise - 1980])

Sounds & scans below

http://www.mediafire.com/?kwz3obd4hp2b5hz

Tot Taylor And His Orchestra - The Choclolate Song (1981)

2011-09-11T08:16:00.000-07:00

b/w - You Little Unidentified Flying Object
(As, Tot Taylor And The Group)

The A-side is typical Tot from this time but I'll direct you to the flip for a cool slice of powerpop.

OK. the thing about Mr Taylor is he's been around the block a few times (always making some wondeful music if sometimes a bit to theatrical for my taste) but my internet searches seem to have come up with some pretty sketchy stuff - so against my better judgement I'm going to try & recify this.
He was born in Cambridgeshire & his first (school) band A Special Moment was signed to Island Records (1975) [one unreleased 45 ‘Let’s Socialize’]. Then we move on to his next band Advertising (1976-'79 more info here). Mid 1979 see's him in "Tot & the Girls From Room 419" (see my earlier posts here & here for info). He's then picked up by GTO records (Tot Taylor And His Orchestra - 4, 45's of which this is the 3rd & an LP which was taken with him when the label drops him).
He then begins his own label (Compact Organization - probably most famous for Mari Wilson {also let go from GTO at the same time & for whom he wrote for under the pseudenym Teddy Johns }) & carries on recording under his own name as well as a stint with The Sound Barrier.
Several film and Theatre assignments followed including ‘Absolute Beginners’ (1986), and the National Theatre production of ‘Picasso’s Women’ (1992, soundtrack released 2001). He also compiled the soundtracks for Mike Leigh’s ‘Career Girls’ (1988), and Mike Newell’s ‘Dance with A Stranger’ (1986), as well as the Italian cult mafia movie ‘Shatterer’ (1986) & Shakespeare's ‘The Tempest’ (1996), & ‘Macbeth’ (1998).
Taylor stopped recording in 2004 to found an art space - Riflemaker - in the West End of London.

Members who have aided Tot (Voc, Keyboards) 1980 -86
Jimi Barber (Guitar, bass)
Johnny Asquith, Guss Goad (bass)
Paul Bultitude (drums)
Carke Mono, Mick Bass (piano)
Rex Dazzle, Edwin Twist, Dave Winthrop, John Wallace (Sax)
Theodore Dreck, Trent L'amour, Chris Smith (trumpet)
Freddie Triangle, Icelyn Terry, Gini Ball, Anne Stevenson, Noel Bradshaw (strings)
Thorpe Cheer (comb)
Sugar Ray (chimes)
Mario Stanza, David Nivea, Talcum O'Neal, Candy Floss (backing chorus)

Discography

TOT TAYLOR AND HIS ORCHESTRA 45's
Offbeat/Hotel Lux/The Man With The Gong - (GTO GT 281) 1980
The Girl with Everything/Main Title From The Paris Man/Love Theme From The Paris Man/Black & white interludes/My Modern Wife - (GTO GT 287) 1981
The Chocolate song/You Little Unidentified Flying Object - (GTO GT292) 1981
I Wanna Play the Drums Tonight/Girls Never Got Me Anywhere/An Appointment With You - (GTO GT301) 1981 Promo Only?

TOT TAYLOR AND HIS ORCHESTRA LP
Playtime (Easy Listeners) 1981, re-released (London Popular Arts) 1988

TOT TAYLOR 45's
Don't Spy On Me/Something For The Home - (Easy Listeners TOT1) 1981
I Wanna Play Drum Tonight/An Appointment With You - (Easy Listeners TOT2) 1982
Poptown/Richard Rodgers - (Easy Listeners TOT3) 1984
Australia/Inside Story - (London Popular Arts TOT4) 1986
Arise Sir Tot/Mr Strings/People Will Talk/The ballard Of Jackie & Ivy - (London Popular Arts TOT5) 1986 (12" only)
It's Good For You/I'll Miss The Lads - (London Popular Arts TOT6) 1987

TOT TAYLOR LP's
The Inside Story - (Easy Listeners) 1984, re-released (London Popular Arts) 1988
Box-Office Poison - (London Popular Arts) 1986
Jumble Soul - (London Popular Arts) 1986
Menswear - (London Popular Arts) 1987
My Blue Period - (London Popular Arts) 1987
Scrapbook - (London Popular Arts) 1988
Encyclopedia Totannica - (Wave) 1990
Treble Tousers - (Sony) 1995
Instumental LP's........
Music For The Left-Handed (with Mick Bass) - (Sony) 1996
Waterland - (Tweed) 1997
PopFolkJazz - (Tweed) 1998
The Early Travellers - (Tweed) 1999 (BBC2 series Early Travellers In North America. The story of the journeys undertaken by British writers to the new world. The series featured candid reactions to America from Charles Dickens, Oscar Wilde, Rudyard Kipling, Robert Louis Stevenson and others.)

SOUND BARRIER 45's
Excerpts From the Suburbia Suite Mornington Cresent/Bank Holiday - (Compact Organization ACT 11) 1983
Fasten Your Seatbelts were Off to Suburbia/Car Scribbles- (Compact Organization ACTX 17) 1984 (12" only)

SOUND BARRIER LP
The Suburbia Suite - (Compact Organization PACT10) 1984

If I've missed anything (I'm Sure I Have) - leave a comment & I'll add it!!!!!!!

Sounds & scans below

http://www.mediafire.com/?s1gt8tt4fbavaag

Arrogant Adams - You Need Me 12" (1980)

2011-09-09T08:11:00.000-07:00

A1 - I'm Good Looking
A2 - I'm Number One
A3 - Good Company
B1 - You Got Me
B2 - Just Talk About Me
B3 - I'm Arrogant

Here's "a bit of fun" for the weekend - I guess this is what happens when a bunch of in demand session players are brought together & told to play some New Wave (with a dash of pub-rock)

The boys behind
Dave Arrogant Adams (voc) were
Chester Kamen (guitar)
Mart Jenner (left handed guitar) RIP
Paul Westwood (bass)
Dave Mattacks (drums)

Unfortunately I couldn't find out both the ladies names but here's a photo of them! (Cheryl Powling is on the right - see comments)

This was the 2nd, of I think only 3, 12" releases for Chas Chandler's "Six Of The Best Records"* (a Barn Records offshoot) There was also a RCA promo only 7" released -I'm Good Looking / I'm Number One- to ( I suspect - unsuccessfully) gain radio play.

* the other 2 releases were
Super 45 no.1 - En Route (Wasting My Time/ I Got That Feeling/ Talk To You/ Do It The French Way/ It Don't Make You A Woman/ Lar)
Super 45 no.3 - Slade (Night Starvation/ When I'm Dancin I Ain't Fightin/ I'm A Rocka/ Don't Waste Your Time/ The Wheels Ain't Coming Down/ 9 to 5 (this also had a promo 7" Night Starvation/ When I'm Dancin I Ain't Fightin)

Sounds & scans below

http://www.mediafire.com/?kcmmb0ah4k2132s

The Exits - Yodelling EP (1978)

2011-09-05T08:13:00.000-07:00

A1 - Apathy
A2 - Glandular Angela
B1 - Going Places
B2 - The Weekend Song
B3 - I Love The Dole

Time For some D.I.Y.

Formed in late 1977 & Split by the end of the school year the Band were all students at the Keele University

Rich Potter (voc guitar)
Gilchrist Reed (bass voc)
Jules "leperd' Smith (drums voc)
David De Mentoid (Violin voc)
Hans Heap (Sax Stylophone voc)

The EP was released on their own Way Out label in a press run of 500 (each individually numbered) & was only available from a few selected outlets - This copy has a Rumbelows, Hounslow stamp on the inner sleeve. Other places were the Beggars Banquet shops (London), Mike Lloyd's Record shop (Hanley, Stoke-on-Trent) or by mail From Way Out Records (Richmond, Surrrey)

Sounds & Scans Below

http://www.mediafire.com/?l3eaizv530luftc

Lip Sevice - Ruby (1980)

2011-09-03T07:04:00.000-07:00

b/w - Jimmy Brown

Lip Service began mid 1980 as the working name for 2 friends Gary Holton & Stein Groven (Casino Steel) as they gigged around London.

Ruby (produced by Matt Dangerfield, which had already been issued by Safari Records under Gary's Name earlier in the year) is a great cover of the Mel Tillis country classic.
However the Casino Steel penned B-side is the real winner for me. (for an alternative version go here)

The Pair soon relocated to Stein's homeland Denmark & started a sucessful recording partnership as Gary Holton & Casino Steel even releasing Ruby again.

I've included the other 2 mentioned versions in the download so you can compare & contrast (not that there in any difference except the Holton & Steel version [produced by Bjorn Nessjo] is a little clearer) You can hear a 2010 remix of the song here

Sounds & Scans below

http://www.mediafire.com/?x92e9hirf21pntl

Telegrama - Chica Del Metro (1982)

2011-09-01T05:43:00.000-07:00

b/w - Juando Sucio (Playing Dirty)

Great lone 45 from this Catalonian (Llefià in Badalona) Mod /powerpop band

Berto Rodriguez (voc bass)
José Belmonte (lead guitar)
Juan Antonio (rhythm guitar)
Jordi Miró (drums)

The band began in 1980 (all members being 18 & at the Institute of Eugeni D'Ors, Badalona). They gigged constantly though 1981 with the likes of The Sprays, Brighton 64 & Los Rápidos

March '82 : the record was the 1st release for the independent record label Flor Y Nata (initially a 1000 print run) although the video clip wasn't recorded for "Pista Libre de TVE" until May in Madrid.
July saw them begining their Mandatory Army sevice with a short time together in December to record some demos & then a drift in musical taste led them to disband.

The Sleeve was designed by Manolo Garcia from Los Rápidos

Chica Del Metro can be found on Powerpearls 2

Sounds & scans Below (also included in the download are photos & lyrics [English & Spanish])

http://www.mediafire.com/?vgk87g847vf1c4h

Husky - Lay Back (1978)

2011-08-28T03:54:00.000-07:00

b/w - if Dreams Were Made

Well played 60's inspired Modpop with some hints of freakbeat in Lay Back.

This grows on you with playing

Pressing run of 2,000 with only 50 having the "too expensive to print" p/s shown below (alas, mine is one of the 1,950 - apparently most of the 50 were sold during a two night stint at Reculver Caravan Park)

The band were from Herne Bay
Andy Shilling AKA Andy Ferguson (voc bass)
Dave Offredi (guitar voc)
Keith Lambert (drums) R.I.P.
Andy Richardson (keyboard voc)
However the sleeve does credits Jerry Kelk as guitarist. He replaced Dave temporarily after the disc was recorded.

MHA Records was set up by Melvin Harrison (AKA Mel Harris) & Malcolm Anderson & the "Studio" was "Melvin's Mum's House" (Alma Rd, Beltinge) where the band recorded downstairs & the Control Room was upstairs.

Long term friends Andy Ferguson & Dave Offredi met "pre-teen" at an open air gig watching the Rock-a-beats & still perform together (with Andy's Girlfriend Leah) as The Swinging 60's Band

Sounds & scans below

http://www.mediafire.com/?tcmnq1g3z24lz1p

Teaser - First Date (1980)

2011-08-22T08:05:00.000-07:00

b/w - English Garden

(Double A side)

Teaser were a 4 piece from Vancouver (So I guess technically this is a Canadian post).

Brian Konechny (voc guitar)
Randy Burgess (bass voc)
John Cody (drums voc)
Tom Ready (keyboards voc)

The 45's a blend of synth-pop & New wave with a sprinkle of powerpop.
First Date was penned by B Konechny whilst the flip is a pretty good cover of Bruce Wooley & The Camera Club's English Garden.

The 45 as with all of the Harbor 45's (that I know of!) was produced by John Schroeder

Harbor Discography

HRB 1 - Steve Haynes - If This Isn't Love (I Don't Know What Love Is)/Love Don't Grow On Trees 1979
HRB 2 - Richard Stepp - Holiday In Hollywood/Good To Have You 1979
HRB 3 - Hooker - Lady Lady/Indian Nation 1979
HRB 4 - Jupiter 4 - Love's Theme/Beyond The Universe 1979
HRB 5 - Zingo - (Oh No) I'm In Love Again/Sailin'On 1979
HRB 6 - Julian Littman - Give A Little/Roxy 1979
HRB 7 - Steve Haynes - Picture Puzzle/I Get So Lonely 1979
HRB 8 - Teaser - First Date/English Garden 1980
HRB 9 - Zingo - Pepperbox/Beyond The Universe 1980
HRB 10 - Julian Littman - Young Explorers/Have You Got Soul 1980
HRB 11 - A - The Flying Saucers - I'll Never Let You Down/
HRB 11 - B - The Cruisers - Get A Job 1980
HRB 12 - The Flying Saucers - Teenage Boogie/Beer Bourbon & Wine 1981
HRB 13 - Vic & Carol's Crazy Circus - These Boots Are Made For Walking/The French Connection 1981
HRB 14 - Force Major - Put It In Your Pipe/Say What You Feel 1981

Sounds & scans below

http://www.mediafire.com/?wwvpklv1eq8i802

Katz - Talking 'Bout You (1979)

2011-08-20T05:29:00.000-07:00

b/w - I'm So Nasty

Great powerpop / rock crossover from this Swindon based 5 piece

Tim - AKA Kit E Litter (voc) RIP
Malcolm - AKA Junk Bamberger (guitar)
Roger Mann - AKA Lom de Terre
Martin
Chris

The band seems to have it's beginings sometime in 1978 as there is pretty good footage on them on Swindon's local music show Tune-in from October of that year.

The self-financed 45 was recorded in Cheltenham at Dik Cadbury's Millstream recording studios (an old pottery) by Nick Critchley (who it seems still works there) & pressed through London's SRT plant. Available at gigs or from Red Carpet (?) & Kempsters

Other tracks from the above Tune-in session were also recorded & broadcast at different times here here & here with the one above been repeated here.
The programme Beat Town even made a video for this 45 (Aired Jan 11 1980)

If you read the comments on the above it seems there is a strong possibility that the band will soon play again!

Sounds & Scans below

http://www.mediafire.com/?pl548k7c3uaiity

The Drivers - Things (1984)

2011-08-14T06:12:00.000-07:00

b/w - Stolen Treasure

Nice cover version for the final UK 45 from this Sussex 3 Piece (1981-84).

Nick Van Eede (voc guitar)
Mac Norman (bass voc)
Steve Boorer (drums voc) ex - En Route

The Drivers story should start with a background on Nick but I'll point you to the above link as it pretty much says it all, except at 14 he was in a school (Imberhorne) band with Steve called Twice Bitten (other members were Nick Muggridge, George Brinkhurst & Pete Birch)
The Drivers were a pretty tight live New wave / powerpop band & after a gig at the Shelly Arms (c1982) they were approached by Bernie Solomon (Canadian Entertainment Lawyer) Who whisked them off to Toronto to Record an LP ("Short Cuts" with production duty from Terry Brown & mixed at Morin Heights' Le Studio in Quebec's Laurentian mountains)
A 45 taken from the LP "Tears on Your Anorak" broke the Canadian Top 40 & while on a Cross-Canada tour to promote this (supported by a Novia Scotia band "Fast Forward") disaster struck.
The Ontario Government halted a controversial condominium sale by Leonard Rosenberg's GreyMac Development Corporation (a main investor in Dallcorte) Freezing its assets and forcing it into bankruptcy.
The Drivers stranded in Canada with their career in limbo decided to return to the UK & pretty much fell apart.
This did mean Nick was free to contact a member of Fast Forward (Kevin MacMichael) but that's another story

Other Vinyl (All 1983)
Short Cuts LP - Greyhound Records (UK) / Dallcorte Records (Canada)
Tears On Your Anorak/One Kiss 7"- Dallcorte Records
Talk All Night/Sister 7"- Greyhound Records/ Dallcorte Records
Stolen Treasure/Found You out 7"- Dallcorte Records
Apparently there also exists a cassette 'Under The Circumstances' that was sold at gigs (late 83/early '84) - Featuring a live Canadian radio broadcast, some demo recordings made in London and a couple of live tracks also recorded in London.
& For the completest; there also exists 4 Videos, Directed by Rob Quartly of "Found You Out","Stolen Treasure","Talk All Night" & "Tears on My Anorak". Again all 1983

Sounds & scans below

http://www.mediafire.com/?7ilzi8n19q2srvt

Scobie Ryder - Zero (1980)

2011-08-11T06:30:00.000-07:00

b/w - Was That A Take? (Sing It And See)

Great New wave 45 with hints of powerpop & glam.

Scobie Ryder (John Wright) has been around the music business since dropping out of Glasgow Art College and moving down to London at the tail end of the '70's (just Google him & see how prolific his work has been)

Here's a couple of good places to start

If You like this I'd also recommend Radio W.R.O.K./Dream Maker on EMI (1979)

Sounds & scans below

http://www.mediafire.com/?6rigys1mscg18lq

Phase Nine - City Of Nowhere (1982)

2011-08-06T07:31:00.000-07:00

b/w - Back In Life

Great punk /powerpop 45 from this Swedish (Stockholm) 5 piece - I personally prefer the flip but there's not much in it!

Anders Ådén (voc guitar)
Jörgen Holmberg (guitar)
Magnus Nordin (bass)
Leffe Johansson (drums)
Jarl Tungelstedt (Saxophone)

Once again I'm a bit short on info - it was recorded in June 1982 at Humlan (Bumblebee) recording studio in Stockholm & was released on EFMD Records.

EFMD Records (based in Västerhaninge) was run by Mikael Persson and Patrick Ingeson.
The acronym EFMD stood for Enad Front Mot Disco (the united front against Disco).

It seems the label's finances came mostly from concerts that they themselves organized. Money was then lent to a band to record a 45 (usually in a print run of 500 - although it's believed this 45 may have been of a 1000) Once enough records were sold, the band would pay the company back & the process would begin again with another.

Sounds & scans below

http://www.mediafire.com/?1d9diwjma0i0ugd

Deke O'Brien And Sneeker - Wasted (1980)

2011-08-02T04:00:00.000-07:00

b/w - Cool Of the Night

Nice 45 that teeters on the edge of powerpop / pop rock from Ireland

Deke will be known to some as he's a bit of a legend in the Irish music business. (If you don't know him follow the link to Irish rock.org & have a read)

Bands of particular interest Deke was in before Sneeker were Bees make Honey & Stepaside

Players on Sneeker's lone 45 were

Deke O'Brien (voc guitar)
Patsy Tracy (guitar)
Spike (bass)
Fran Breen (drums)

There's a bit more info here

Useless Fact - Deke financed Ireland's 1st New Wave Compilation Just For Kicks & was co-founder of Scoff Records

A big thanks to Irish Rock.org as I've borrowed so heavily from them for this post

Sounds & scans below

http://www.mediafire.com/?shq7s93fdv13e6b

Sue Cuss - Teenager In Love (1979)

2011-07-31T09:30:00.000-07:00

b/w - Physical Love

2nd 45 from Miss Cuss & like the 1st It's a punky cover version (the 1st was You Really Got Me / Physical Love - I've included it in the download & yes it's the same B-side)

I suspect all 3 tracks were recorded at the same session under the production of Tommy Scott.

According to 45 Revs the recording session was in October '79 but the 1st 45 wasn't out until early '80.

Sounds & scans below

http://www.mediafire.com/?3dsaqwh7g8oqdtv

Sirens - It Really Doesn't Matter (1980)

2011-07-30T07:50:00.000-07:00

b/w Rock 'N' Roll Disaster

Great New Wave from Mick Dorey (Voc Keyboards)

This is his 2nd of 3, 45's from this era that are worth looking for.

The other 2 are

Mick Dorey & The Sirens - Paranoid Station / Jacqueline Foster - Illegal Records (1979)

Toltex 9 - Coal Fires & semaphores / Desmond Stoat - EMI (1982)

He had help on this 45 from
David Eppel (guitar)
Hank Young (bass & Falling out of the window)
Paul Hammond (drums)
Ian Hartnell (keyboard & co-credit for writing the A Side)

He has also had the below guitarists helping at time or another
Nick Calvert (guitar)
Terry Wapram (Guitar)

It Really doesn't Matter was produced By Jean-Jacques Burnel - I guess, making this of interest to Stranglers fans

Useless Fact - Apparently Mick sung backing vocals On Blondie's "Eat To The Beat" LP (not that he's credited on the sleeve)

Mick is still going strong as 1 part of a trio called Kamakura

Sounds & scans below

http://www.mediafire.com/?b89b2vdup1k7ksa

Carl Green And The Scene - Record Not Found EP (1978)

2011-07-24T06:41:00.000-07:00

A1 - Click Click Camera
A2 - Rodeo Do-Do
B1 - Fantasy Girls Ain't Real
B2 - There's A Lot Of Sophistication Here Tonight

Great new wave / powerpop EP that owes more than a small debt to the 60's from this Stockton/Teesside 4 piece.

Carl Green (voc) ex Night Class
Andy Davis (guitar voc) ex Night Class
Geoff (Jeff on their later 45's) Sawdon (bass, guitar voc)
Mel Davis (drums voc)

For a full discography pop over to Worthless Trash (the 2nd 45 "All The Tea In China" has a weird thing that both sides appear to have different recording labels A on Bentonfun & B on Ginnis bucka. - I don't actually own this so if any kind person out there would like to send scans/mp3's I'd be grateful)

Their next/final 3 releases were on RCA as a result of winning the "Battle of the Bands" - unfortunately record sales don't seem to have been that great so sometime in early '82 the band changed their name to "Rules Of Croquet".
Then (1986/87) Carl Green along with Andy Davis & wife became "Whirlpool Guest House" (other guises after this were "Shandy Wildtyme" /The Close Ups & Head of Light Entertainment.

Here's Carl Green doing what he does so well now

Sounds & scans below

http://www.mediafire.com/?mp7oaax9somuen3

Double O's - He's Not There (1984)

2011-07-20T02:27:00.000-07:00

b/w Standover

Nice female vocal led, surf / 60's nuggets / ska sounding 45

The "Darlings of the Northern Beaches" Sydney band were

Louise Beckett (voc)
Ian Harding (lead guitar)
Hayden Horne (rhythm guitar) left before this 45 was recorded
Dave Stoneman (bass)
Ronnie Welsh (drums) later, replaced by Scott McRae
Meg Brainsky (keyboards) joined sometime after this 45

This; their 2nd of 3, 45's gives us 2 original tunes: the A side being penned by Harding & Stoneman whilst the B was by Dave Maynard (ex Rhythm guitar - replaced by Hayden) It was produced by Phil Sharrock & engineered by Stuart Peters at Albert Studios, King St, Sydney & was pressed by the EMI Custom Records Plant.

The other 45's were
Music Set Us Free / Point / Why / Surf'n'Stomp - EMI Custom Records (1983)
We Can Overcome/? - ? (1985)

We Can Overcome was also released on the Compilation Sound Of Sydney Vol 3 before it became a 45

Sounds & scans below

http://www.mediafire.com/?apsiz45h7e7kn6a

Thanks to Phil Sharrock for helping with the above info

Stepaside - Yellow Chair (1981)

2011-07-17T05:24:00.000-07:00

b/w Play The Game

Very good powerpop / pop rock from a Dublin based band that had been going in one form or another since 1971 (& still reform on occasion)

Yellow Chair is a re recorded version of a track that first appeared on their Sidestep / Gale records LP from 1980 (the original recording is also included in the download so you can compare & contrast).
It was one of the last records pressed for the bankrupt Louis Walsh ran Spider Records (allegedly the record was never officially released with the discs being dumped "out the back" of the Dublin Warner Bros offices )

The band on this 45 were
Mick O'Hagan (Voc bass)
Brendan "Brenny" Bonass (guitar)
Niall Power (drums)
Dennis Woods (Keyboards)

However the band on the LP version were
Paul Ashford RIP (voc bass)
Brendan Bonass (guitar voc)
Robbie Brennan (drums voc)
Dave MacAnaney AKA Dave Kodak (Keyboards)
Mark Costigan (guitar) - who is ignored on the LP sleeve but credited with writing some of the songs

Stepaside named themselves after a Dublin Suburb If you want to know more about the band (bio & discography) visit Irishrock.org

Sounds & scans below

http://www.mediafire.com/?0jajzs89j99mb6f

Dirty Rust - Gnistrande Snö EP (1981)

2011-07-14T06:40:00.000-07:00

A1 - 4 Månader
A2 - Dirty Rust A Reggae
B1 - Squaller
B2 - I Staden

Welcome to my 1st Swedish powerpop post (there are more to come, most being courtesy of Fredrik. who has been bestowing on me the rich wonders of "Alternative Scandinavia")

The four piece were from a small town called Kisa
Anders E Nilsson (voc guitar)
Pelle Håå (guitar voc)
Thomas Saxon (bass voc )
"Rasta Hunter" Carlsson (drums guitar voc)

I can't tell you much about the band except, if you like this ep there also exists video footage of them from a rock contest in 1982 "I Linköping" on which they play 3 songs including "I Staden".
& to carry on my useless info for at least this post
Anders E Nilsson's Sister was Inger Nilsson a child actress famous for being Pippi Longstocking on the 70's tv show/Films.

Sounds & Scans below

http://www.mediafire.com/?e75g57pfbvn2vqr

The Attractions - Single Girl (1980)

2011-07-13T02:48:00.000-07:00

b/w - Slow Patience

OK, not so rare but definitely overlooked (Why?)
Is it because the boys dared to fly with out Mr Costello I wonder!

Bruce Thomas (bass guitar voc)
Steve "Nieve" Nason (keyboard voc guitar)
Pete Thomas (drums)

produced/engineered by Roger Bechirian

Both sides of the 45 were taken from the LP Mad About The Wrong Boy
Of the 16 tracks on the album, Single Girl & 6 other tracks were penned by Steve (under a pseudonym of Norman Brain) & Faye Hart (his then girlfriend) - 4 as Steve Nieve. The remainder (including Slow Patience) were jointly written By Bruce & Pete Thomas (no relation).

Useless info 1 - Nason received his musical moniker "Nieve" (Naïve) while on the Attractions' first tour for Stiff Records: it was bestowed by fellow tourmate Ian Dury who had been astonished by Nason's innocent query, "What's a groupie?
Useless info 2 - The sleeve was designed by Barney Bubbles - the front being an illustration by himself of little china dogs from his parent’s mantelshelf. Whilst the back echoed the innersleeve of their LP using a trick of highlighting certain letters in the condensed font slogan “FBEAT WHERE THE ATTRACT!ONS IS” to spell out the record company’s west London location: FBeat, Acton (6 Horn Lane W3).

There's the obligatory Myspace if your interested

Sounds & scans below

http://www.mediafire.com/?ipaobux6kt3p0c3

Coil - Motor Industry (1979)

2011-07-10T03:26:00.001-07:00

b/w - Alcoholstark

I believe this Northampton based 4 piece may have listened to a bit of XTC before going into the recording studio (Beck, Wellingborough). - BTW that's a good thing, these 2 tracks are excellent self penned numbers.

The band (who ran from late '78-80 & reconvened in '86 have a site here)
were
Finbar Lilis (voc)
Phil Dann (guitar)
Tony Harrison (bass)
Steve Curtis (drums)

They have a MySpace & are on Facebook if you want to contact them

There's some more info over at Deadbeats (thanks to the person that left a comment about this post)

Sounds & scans below

http://www.mediafire.com/?xc1fapec73jtucu

Diesel - Sound Of The 60's (1984)

2011-07-06T09:50:00.001-07:00

b/w - Workin' Man

Nice 45 from the Dutch band that had already given us this (albeit with an almost completely different line up - the band ran from 1978 -85)

Mark Boon (voc guitar)
Jan Loomans (voc guitar)
Hank Hager (voc, guitar)
Wijnard Ott (guitar voc)
Andre Versluijs (bass)
Ronald Oor (drums)

For the recording of "Sound of the 60's" Diesel were really a trio, utilizing André's bass and Ronald's drums with Mark singing & playing all the guitars, there's also a bit of synth in there too. It was recorded at Rosegarden Studio in Utrecht and engineered by Paul Post.
Jan wrote & sang on"Workin' man" which was recorded at the Stable Studio in Arnhem and engineered by Roel Toering.

For information on the band members & a pretty comprehensive history go Here

Sounds & scans below

Sorry No download - I've been asked to remove the link

Thane - Romance Down The Drain (1981)

2011-07-03T06:46:00.000-07:00

b/w Transparent Love

Cool slice of New wave for this, the bands 2nd (& final) 45. - The 1st being Traffic Jam / Frankie Boy also on Badge records (I've included a badge discography in the download for those interested)

The London based band were
Paul Thane (Voc)*
Neil Fitch (Guitar voc)
Dave O'Willams (bass voc)
Phil Fortesque Longden (keyboards)*
Steve Cussack (drums)

* both were later in "Fear Of Flying"

Traffic Jam was also on the 101 club various LP "Beyond The Groove"

Sounds & scans below

http://www.mediafire.com/?wcvglp06xw4bbwj

The Dials - Get Up And Dance (1980)

2011-06-30T06:30:00.000-07:00

b/w - She Thought Her Nose Was Bleeding But It's Not

It's been a while since I've posted some Ska so let's rectify that with this.

The Second & final offering from this Middlesex (Sunbury) band. Their 1st was way more punk & can be found here.

Personally I really like the instrumental b-side

The Band were
Matt Stokes (voc)
Neil Howes (guitar, keyboards)
Jamie Bolster (bass)
Jeff Hemsley (drums)
Neil Clarke (sax)

Neil Howes & Jeff Hemsley went on to form the synth pop Thirteen At Midnight

What I find strange about this record is that it has a cat #HS404 but the dead wax has HS403 scratched into it (the b-side also has "wipe this on yer sleeve") not that strange you say..... but there are labels underneath the ones shown & you can just make out HS403 / Roy Hill - "From the bottom of my heart/?" (produced by Hill/Acock) - aborted 45 perhaps!

Sounds & scans below

http://www.mediafire.com/?o9b35pzrlhn9vex

The Debutantes - Adolescent Love (1983)

2011-06-28T04:20:00.000-07:00

b/w - Say Hello

Great 60's mod pop sounding 45 from this Australian (All Female) Band - If you like Dolly Mixture, then Give this a go!

The band was formed whist they were still studying at the Pymble Ladies College in Sydney & lasted a few years doing the pub circuit there.

The only member I could find any info on was Merran Laginestra who has had an interesting career & is now living in Madrid (Myspace).

There is a Writing credit for "Say Hello" of Stighardt. (which, by the way has a great kinks guitar sound to it.)

Sounds & scans below

http://www.mediafire.com/?6e8l98nmcd005m3

Trendsetters - Set The Trend EP (1981)

2011-06-25T02:14:00.000-07:00

A1 - We Are Young
A2 - Born To Follow
B1 - Catholic Girls
B2 - Pressure

Great Punky powerpop from this Pennsylvania qaurtet that I'm posting for the Punk Business Manager (It's been on his mp'3 wants for too long)

Ronnie Rock (voc guitar)
Mike Stanley (guitar voc) - good to see he's got rid of that mustache!!
Bill Byron (bass) ? (I think this is him)
Kevin Shire (drums voc)

If you want to see some cool videos of the band & other projects of Ronnie Rock follow the link

Sounds & Scans Below

http://www.mediafire.com/?8yvxcazcs5bhac8

Performance - Sensation Extension (I Need) (1981)

2011-06-22T03:32:00.000-07:00

b/w - Sandman

Another 2 sides of D.I.Y. /Post-punk (& again I'm preferring the flip - the crunching sound at the start is, I believe meant to be there)

The band were from Manchester see here, they began life in 1978 as a trio called "58 Variety" (was there a can of Heinz beans around, when they were looking for inspiration by any chance)

Phil Crompton (voc)
Stefan Korab (Guitar)
Phil Walsh (keyboards)

After placing an ad in NME & other music weeklys in late '79 they became a 5 piece, adding
Kevin Mills (bass)
Bernie (drums)

When they played Live there was also miming from Paul & ballet from Phil C's then girlfriend

Thanks to LDK for the info (see comments)

Sounds & Scans Below

http://www.mediafire.com/?9qax82e4rudv4ew

Exposed - Liberty For All EP (1980)

2011-06-21T08:18:00.000-07:00

Double A side

1. Plastic America
2. You

Nice double sider from this South London (maybe Surrey) based band (You being my favourite of the 2)

The band were

Kevin White (voc guitar synth)*
Scott Moorehead (bass)
Steve Wright (drums)
Kevin O'Rearden (keyboards)
with Helen helping on backing vocals.

*anyone know if this is the same Kevin White that later played with General Public

Sounds & scans below

http://www.mediafire.com/?e771bq595111sm7

Chevy 57 - 57 (1981)

2011-06-19T02:19:00.000-07:00

b/w - Alias Smith & Jones

Another 2 tunes from the pen & label of the mighty Peter Malski.

This was the 1st release (of 5) for his "Maestro Records" label - for the other 3 45's go here, here & here. For the LP you can give it a listen here.

Both sides are decent R 'n' R / new wave tunes although again I prefer the flip (anyone else remember that dodgy 70's western series)

The Band were a trio from Northampton and I believe this was their only release as unfortunately the drummer was involved in a serious car accident.

Gary Hitchcock - (voc guitar)
Mick Gross - (Bass)
John Coles - (Drums)

Sounds & scans below

http://www.mediafire.com/?9iql3gjsgqa37mp

Pointless Exercise - 3 Speed Pain EP (1980)

2011-06-18T04:30:00.000-07:00

A - 3 Speed Pain
B1 - Orange
B2 - Stephen

3 tracks of D.I.Y. / post punk for you from this (I think) Cardiff based band.

It received a play on the John Peel show (28.08.80) which I've given a listen to & unfortunately they neglected to add a cover letter to the record, so no info gleamed there but J.P. did call it "stark".

The band must have been slightly annoyed at having to hand change the misprint on all the labels!! (that was a pointless exercise when they could have got them re-printed)

Sounds & scans below

http://www.mediafire.com/?lxlk2vihnbi62vo

The First Steps - The Beat Is Back EP (1979)

2011-06-16T08:29:00.000-07:00

A - The Beat Is Back
B1 - She Ain't In Love
B2 - Let's Go Cuboids

Time for some Punk / powerpop that's less obscure (i.e. it's been comped - on "Shake Some Action 5" & "Back To Front 3")
This is the 1st 45 from this Bury St Edmunds (Mildenhall) trio (I was going to post their 2nd but on a quick internet search I found it's already available here)

The Band were
Phil Thornalley (voc guitar)
Chris Murrell (bass voc)
Jem Murrel (drums)

Both their 45's were released on their own English Rose imprint (Jam Influence anyone?) for info on the band pop over to Bored Teenagers.

Sounds & scans below

http://www.mediafire.com/?nu7qc9q938m5okw

T 34 - Computer Dating (1981)

2011-06-13T07:25:00.000-07:00

b/w - Mind Your Own Business

1st of (I think) only 2 45's from this London based Rock / New wave band. This was recorded at the Spaceward Studios & engineered by Mike Kemp.

The 2nd being "Rock On/Looking After Me (Looking After You) - Galaxy Records 1982 - Released Feb '83"

The Band comprised of
Colin Stuart
Steve Williams
Mick Clee
John Baker
Wayne Baker

Drummer John Baker can be found playing with The Anthologists

There is a pic sleeve for this but my copy is amiss

Sounds & scans below

http://www.mediafire.com/?w0y8rhaf753b8in

Glass - Tobor Sam (1980)

2011-06-11T06:57:00.000-07:00

b/w - Pseudo Creme

Cool sounds from this Altrincham (Greater Manchester, Cheshire) bunch.
Tobor Sam is post punk but the winner to these ears is the punky powerpop sounds of Pseudo Creme with it's Gary Holton like vocals.

The tunes were penned by Snowdon & Farrington & released on their Own (?) Glass records in clear vinyl.

-Not to confused with the London Based Glass (also on Glass Records)

Sounds & scans below

http://www.mediafire.com/?ad35k6jc3ni4cdx

Dandy - Love Potion No 9 (1979)

2011-06-09T08:55:00.000-07:00

b/w - Anyway You Want It

OK, I'll be honest I bought this on account of it being a cover version (God knows how many covers of the Leiber Stroller hit there are!!).
I'll admit to being mildly disappointed but when I flipped it over all my woes went away as Anyway You Want It is a great teenybopper / powerpopper.

The band were from the Norfolk area (Kings Lynn)

Phil Hammond (voc) - yellow shirt
Jeremy Pictor-Wayne (guitar) - white shirt
Alf Greenfield (bass) - red shirt
Nick Potts (drums) - green shirt
Mark Hayley (also vocalist for band but unrecorded)

After 2 45's for RCA (their earlier 45 was Disco Dancer/Wam Bam Shang-A-Lang 1978) vocalist Kevin Harris ( ex Stevenson's Rocket ) was drafted in & the band changed their name to The Spitfires. (who released another cool powerpop 45 on RCA Friday On My Mind / Can't Get You Off My Mind)
Whereas Mark Hayley went on to release Solo records + tunes under The Hayley brothers & also played with The Kinks, The Monkees & The Rubettes.

production for all their 45's was by Bill Kimber (who also worked on all the Monos! 45's)

Sounds & scans below

http://www.mediafire.com/?g82ie48y4dctej6

The Naturals - Six Girls And Alice (1981)

2011-06-05T07:30:00.000-07:00

b/w - Your Bravery

Cool skinny tie new wave from this quartet

Stu Kinsey (Voc guitar)
Col (bass voc)
Ian (drums voc)
Steve (keyboards voc)

Recorded at the lodge but there are thanks to the Alaska studios so I guess they were London based!

This had a print run of 1000 for "Just For the Record" & was then picked up by "Logo Records" for release late '82

There's some nice band member shots here

Sounds & Scans below

http://www.mediafire.com/?gyechrc1sy23mdl

The Continentals - Fizz Pop (Modern Rock) (1979)

2011-06-02T09:13:00.000-07:00

b/w - (I Lost My Love On A) 747

London based U.S. boys with a UK release - I'm not sure if this 45 or for that matter their 2nd - Housewives' Delight/Thing's That Go Bump (In The Night)* ever got a U.S. release. I know there was a 10" on Epic in 1980 (Available Here) & possibly a 12" release of the same tracks in Canada.

Still that doesn't detract from this being an excellent powerpopper from the Trio
Thomas Doherty
William Holliday
Alan Harris

Both their 45's were produced by Tommy "Ramone" Erdely & their manger at the time was Doug Smith (Motorhead's manager)

As you can see by the labels in the download it was due for a 6th July release but was postponed until the 20th.

Doherty & Holliday went straight on to produce & write for Whirlwind

* I've only ever seen demo's of their 2nd CBS single - anyone know if it got a proper release

Sounds & scans below

http://www.mediafire.com/?nzucdjwo6jhvkvm

The Czechs - Empty In The Glasshouse (1983)

2011-05-30T09:22:00.000-07:00

b/w - Music For Pressure

The A side is pretty good but the Flip blows it out of the water.

The London based trio were

Mike Horak (voc guitar bass)
Andy Ropek (voc bass guitar)
Dom Ren (drums)

& it was produced by Mark Dawson at the Bromley Gold Dust Studios

Sounds & scans below

http://www.mediafire.com/?o2cfalvsa6rn38h

The Peasants - Peasants EP (1981)

2011-05-27T08:15:00.000-07:00

A1 - Here She Comes
A2 - I Care For You
B1 - When I Close My Eyes
B2 - I Can Help

As this blog's now been going a year (!!) let's have some excellent Beatles/60's sounding powerpop from Northern Ireland.

When the 4 school friends' band The Incredibly Boring Band broke up, 2 members (Aiden Murtagh & Owen Mcfadden) went on to start Protex whilst the other 2 formed The Peasants

Brendan Popplestone (voc guitar)
Paul Nesbitt (guitar) later replaced by Garth Craig
Malchy Muinzer (bass) ex I.B.B.
Mike Edgar (drums) ex I.B.B.

The 45 was recorded under the watch full eye of Mudd Wallace at his Homestead Studios (at it's old home of Ahoghill) & released in October apparently having 2 pressing runs of 500 copies a piece.

Their other highlight appears to be the fact that they got paying "Gigs" at the University balls for Nottingham & Leicester supporting "The Jam" & "Q-Tips"

Mike Edgar went on to to be the drummer for Cruella De Ville playing along side Malchy's brother & sister (Colm & Philomena) & is now "Head of Entertainment and Events" for BBC Northern Ireland.

Sounds & scans below

http://www.mediafire.com/?rf237papba56cyu

Dead Cert - Time Bomb (1980)

2011-05-24T03:54:00.000-07:00

b/w - You'd Better Stop

The South London band were active from 1978 (even scoring a support slot to the Cure in '79 --June 1st -- 4th on the bill at an open air concert in Carshalton, Surrey)

The Band were
Trevor Hatcher (voc guitar)
Pete Downham (voc rhythm guitar)
Gordon Harris (bass voc)
Tony McWilliams (drums)
As, it seems with most bands there was a revolving drum stool which was also frequented by Mick Smith & Paul Cannon

These 2 tracks were recorded at R+G Jones recording studios in Wimbledon.

According to their myspace (some interesting photos & flyers there) 2 demo tapes exist

1. Jealous World / Two times / Turn It down / You'd Better Stop ( R+G Jones recording studios in Mitcham 1978)
2. Away In A way / Third Time Lucky / Zodiac (A Recording Studio In Tolworth 1980?)

some of the above can be heard there & others here

Check out the Harry Satcher Trio to see what most of the band are doing now

Sounds & scans below

http://www.mediafire.com/?t0cg2dn4iu0yn7z

Smithereens - Weekend In K.A. (1980)

2011-05-22T05:42:00.000-07:00

A1 - Flat 2
A2 - Too Much Hope
B - Wilfred

This seems to be a vehicle for the 2 Fowler brothers from the Mansfield area to show off their D.I.Y. skills (all 3 tracks will happily fit on a messthetics comp)

David Fowler (voc guitar bass)
Andrew Fowler (drums voc keyboards)

With help from "the rhythm unit", Chris Cook (engineer), Rodney Shutters (photos & sleeve design) & the SRTS pressing plant.

Nice use of a well known Vodka symbol on the back sleeve...

Where's K.A. ?

Sounds & scans below

http://www.mediafire.com/?e7x6gilhywsn8q8

Prefex - Promises, Promises (1980)

2011-05-20T04:10:00.000-07:00

b/w - Tightrope Walking

2 Cool Indie / New wave tracks from this Welsh (Welshpool) 5 Piece.

Julie Wareing (voc guitars violin)
Sally James (voc flute)
Mark Backhouse (guitar voc)
James Stewart (bass)
Chris Fotheringham (drums voc)

It was engineered/produced by Dave Anderson at his Foel studios & released on their own "Legless Records" (nice artwork on the labels)
The Sleeve artwork was courtesy of Stewart James (Bass player ?)

Sounds & scans below

http://www.mediafire.com/?5yxe67x8k34x97p

The Monos! - U.F.O. (1979)

2011-05-19T07:44:00.001-07:00

b/w - Teenage Confessions

I've been asked for this a few times so it's time to honour those requests.

This is the 2nd of 4 releases for this London based band (all produced by Bill Kimber) as with the other 3 it's more than decent powerpop. (well actually 2, their 1st 45 Erica Fire is a bit poor in my opinion)

The quartet ran from late 1978 to mid '80 & comprised

Fran Ashcroft (voc, guitar)
Gez Prior (guitar)
Kenny Jones (bass)
Mick Pearl (drums)

Their other 3 45's are

Erica Fire/Louie - RCA PB 5178 (1979)
Uh Oh Uh Oh/Mad Lover - RCA PB5232 (1980)
Sound Of Your Radio/Don't Take It Too Hard - RCA PB 5254 (1980)

Fran & Mick were then joined by Rose Saddler (bass) & Pete Giles (keyboards) to become The Faraway stars
Whilst Gez & Kenny joined up with Chris Wyles (drums) & Virginia Astley (keyboards) to become Victims Of Pleasure

Fran Ashcroft is now a very successful Record producer

Sounds & scans below

http://www.mediafire.com/?b4kv13e3ch3v2wo

Dave Scott - Strolling Along (1981)

2011-05-15T04:36:00.000-07:00

b/w - Hello Rock 'n' Roll

Once again it's the b-side I'll direct you to (sort of punk n roll with touches of glam & "Mick Green's Pirates")

Strolling along is a "nice" pop song, if not a little tedious (then again if any of you have just sat through the euro-vision song contest you'll know what to expect)

Can't give you any info on Mr Scott but his co producer Jon Kennett was in demand.

Sounds & scans below

http://www.mediafire.com/?9bml4raiq9rbrox

The Norbiton Surfers - Ivor The Engine (1980)

2011-05-13T22:04:00.000-07:00

b/w - My Ego Dies

Time for some D.I.Y. post punk sounds.

I'm afraid I can't tell you much about the band I presume they were from South West London (Norbiton) & they seem to have had a drummer problem.

Adrian Paul (voc)
Colin Campbell (guitar)
Andrew McKay (bass)
Len Davies (guest Drummer)

The 2 tracks were penned by Passion / P. Campbell as well as Paul so maybe one of the first 2 was an ex - drummer.

Sounds & scans below

http://www.mediafire.com/?q9cs8d67g1z536m

Peter Nardini - A Think You're Great (1981)

2011-05-11T01:53:00.000-07:00

b/w - Ma Maw's A Mod

More of a comedy record really! The A side is "interesting" but it's the flip that's worth the time.

Glasgow boy Peter Nardini was responsable for the lyrics Of Andy Cameron's 1977 b-side "I Want To Be A Punk Rocker

Both of these tracks can be found on his 1982 LP "A Think You're Great" (a collection of songs mostly written for Radio Scotland’s satirical / topical series ‘Naked Radio’.)
There's also a 2nd 45 worth looking out for - We Just Might Win/Stop It I Like It -(1982) also on Kettle records.

Website of Peter's work here

A Think You're Great on You tube

Ma Maw's A Mod on You tube

Sounds & scans below

http://www.mediafire.com/?32i3457hznqogbr

The Vampire Bats From Lewisham - Mr Clean EP (1981)

2011-05-10T11:13:00.000-07:00

A - Mr Clean
B1 - Some Some
B2 - 5 O'Clock

New Wave EP from "the sound of young Lewisham" (South London) - This is from their press release, if you read the rest, you'll see why this was never a hit!

The boys were
Laurie Latham (voc)
Steve Bolton (guitar, voc) ex Atomic Rooster
Matt Irving (bass)
Bernie Clarke (keyboards) fresh from playing with Fingerprintz on their Distinguishing marks LP
Mark Pinder (drums)

Most of the band (excluding Bernie) became Paul Young's backing band & some still work with him to this day . All are in demand session players or producers!!

Steve Bolton has a myspace

Sounds & scans below

http://www.mediafire.com/?io184q330e4r8hb

Someone Else - Be My Baby (1983)

2011-05-08T03:51:00.000-07:00

b/w - I Need Your Love

OK I'm sailing dangerously close to 80's pop here -
but, by now you all know I like a good cover version & Be My Baby is just that!

The flip is 80's Jazz funk (not really my thing) penned by Tim Hall

I can't tell you much about the band but the label (owned by Rick Sims & John Dendy) is responsible for the comedy record E.T. Phone Home by Ron Shea [STAG 001](Don't bother looking for it)

Sounds & scans below

http://www.mediafire.com/?50rr7d8k3cmm26u

Twig And The Kicks - I Won't Apologise (1980)

2011-05-06T05:45:00.001-07:00

b/w - The Boy Who Sold His Dreams

Double A side - but there is an A scratched in the dead wax of the I Won't Apologise side. & a B on the other.

Cool D.I.Y Mod / New wave tunes (with a hint of white reggae on the "Apologise" track) from this London based band.

I've put this down as 1980 but I'm not really sure, it could be a little later.

The only band member I know of, is the Singer / guitarist Nicky Ager, who was later in a band called "The Whole Wide World" who morphed into "Company Of Cowards" (also including Ian Montague ex guitarist of Thin Yogurts) I believe Nicky is now living in Coventry with his director/writer wife Debbie Issitt.

Sounds & scans below

http://www.mediafire.com/?kz7ai6gmq52p651

The Form - Watch Out! EP (1980)

2011-05-04T03:17:00.000-07:00

A - Watch Out
B1 - Start Again
B2 - London Underground

Nice Mod / Punk Ep from this South London (Richmond?) Band. It can be found elsewhere on the net but I thought it deserved a place here as well!

Daktari Swets (voc)
Pete Watt (voc guitar)
Nick Calloway (guitar)
Andy Hill (bass)
Big G (drums)

I'll admit to having a preference for "Start Again" over the other 2 but it's only a slight one!

Sounds & scans below

http://www.mediafire.com/?74d48xx9a0t1jaj

Junco Partners - Swinging Sixties Boys (1978)

2011-05-02T07:57:00.000-07:00

b/w - Peepin' & Hidin' (Jimmy Reid cover)

Also included in the download is

Hard Drivin' Man - from the Bedrock radio programme various artists LP "All Together" - originally by the J Geils band

Great Mod / R&B tracks from this Tyneside bunch.

The band had been together in an earlier incarnation (1964 - 71) but re-formed in 1977 to play the Newcastle Bedrock Summer Festival.

John Anderson (voc)
Ronnie Barker (voc, harmonica)
Kenny Barker (guitar)
Dave Sproat (bass)
John Woods (drums)
Neil Perry (Tenor sax)
with help from Gowan Turnball (Baritone Sax) & Ask Roger (Piano) on Hard Drivin' Man & Charlie Harcourt on Swinging Sixties Boys

There is another 45 released in 1981 (Tall Windows / Noizez In My Head - Energy Records NRG4) That's also worth getting hold of.

Junco Partners are still playing & have a myspace here (Go buy their C.D's) & there's loads of you tube stuff

Sounds & Scans below

http://www.mediafire.com/?eg1o2p14eoroew8

B.G. And The Mouse - Breaker One Four (1981)

2011-04-30T03:40:00.000-07:00

b/w - Channel Tunnel

Quirky little tune from the pen of Peter (The Mouse) Malski

I received an E-mail from Peter last week, with the sad news that Barry Gibbons (B.G.) had passed away earlier this month. As I'd obtained a copy of this a few weeks ago I thought it fitting to post it as a (sort of) epitaph.

This is the duo's 1st 45 for Maestro records (2nd here) I'm not sure if there were any session players used but my guess is Mike Fuller (sax) & Mick Jaques (drums) were most likely involved.

According to Peter; the CB jargon was from a "glossary of CB slang" that came with a CB Radio set bought for his then 10 year old son. The tune was hummed into a tape recorder & then sent to Barry, who did the rest.

Sounds & scans below

http://www.mediafire.com/?b6civkg1bsdjoaj

The Official Secrets - Fooling With My Heart (1981)

2011-04-29T05:19:00.000-07:00

b/w - Paradise Time

Nice bit o' Mod / powerpop from this Welsh (Cardiff) band

Christopher Duffy (voc)
Philip Cilia (guitar)
Nick Newman (bass)
Dave Elliott (drums)
Gareth Bond (keyboards)

By the looks of the sleeve / labels I'd hazard a guess that they may have been working under the name "the Secrets" but due to the many other bands using this moniker, lengthened it.

Chris Duffy & Phil Cilia later went on to fame (?) as Waterfront who have a myspace

Sounds & scans below

http://www.mediafire.com/?0h78xqsg98sz108

Frank Xerox And The Copy Cats - Judy In Disguise (1978)

2011-04-27T04:44:00.000-07:00

b/w - Rock Show

Great cover of the 1967 hit from "John Fred And His Playboy Band"

There's already plenty of info on this over at 45 revs

Just In case you can't be bothered to click on the link though....

Frank Xerox was Chris Gent (voc)- later in The Stukas / Autographs / Blue Meanies amongst others
& the Copy Cats were "the Speedometers" - another band he later joined
Ian Taylor (guitar)
Martin Findlay (guitar)
Robbie Watson (bass)
Lol Gellor (drums)

If you like Judy In Disguise there's also an interesting synth-pop version of it by the Silicon Teens or a straight bubblegum version by ?

Sounds & scans below

http://www.mediafire.com/?u950bivhsd4v4at

Eugene And The Syncopaters - The Great Romantic (1980)

2011-04-25T04:35:00.000-07:00

b/w - Kitten Kicker

1st of 3 45's for this "comedy" band on the Bob & John Hardman owned Swamp Records.

The record utilizes the "golden tonsils" of Sir Arthur Throat on The Great Romantic & there is a "vocal extravaganza" from Nigel Nasty Sandwich on Kitten Kicker.

This may have been their most popular release as it managed to be picked up (& released early '81) by Elton John's Rocket record company (XPRES 50)

BTW it's the b-side that's worth a listen - sort of comedy punk 'n' roll

The other 2 releases were:
Keep Your Pecker Up / Gorgeous Girl (WAM 113 - June '81)
Something On Your shoe / Knock Kneed Knellie (WAM 116 - November '81) - I'd only recommend them if you like the A side of this - otherwise steer clear!

For a better 45 on this label go here

Sounds & scans below

http://www.mediafire.com/?7qcau24cy6a3f7y

Eyes - Eyes EP (1980)

2011-04-23T09:55:00.000-07:00

A1 - Is He Your Boyfriend Now?
A2 - Here And Now
B1 - No Woman Of Mine Would
B2 - Dirty Shame

Great powerpop on the 1st track but the other 3 are just good rock tunes.

I've put this down as Dutch but the band was one of many for Canadian born & Californian living Neil Merryweather (voc bass) who was living, working (producing acts for Dureco Records) in Amsterdam at the time.
The story goes that he was friends with Cees Wessels (head of Dutch RCA Records) who wanted him to record some follow up tracks in the same vein as one of his earlier bands (Space Rangers) So he was signed to RCA & brought Michael Willis (guitar, voc also ex Space Rangers) over from Los Angeles. They then augmented the line up with drummer Cees Meerman from Herman Broods Wild Romance & Ken Spence (sax & Rhythm guitar) from Nina Hagen’s band.
In the middle of winter '79, the band left for Northern Holland to record an album “Radical Genes” at the Spitzbergen Studios. All 4 of these tracks are lifted from it.
Once the LP was finished Cees was replaced by Belgian drummer Rogier Wollaert & the band toured the record at small town venues around Amsterdam.
The band folded, as Willis returned to California.

Sounds & scans below

http://www.mediafire.com/?6n2lucn0bl5qmh6

RollerCoaster - Love Of The Loved (1980)

2011-04-20T08:37:00.000-07:00

b/w - (You Should) Forget That Girl

Great Beatle-esque powerpop from this Utrecht area Band.

Paul Stuiver (voc guitar) ex clouds
Henk Hager (guitar voc) ex 909 later in Diesel
Cok Stuiver (bass voc) ex clouds
Tim Rijken (drums) later in The Few

The Stuiver brothers started the band in '77 along with drummer Ronald Visser & a 4th member who tragically died in '78. The band laid dormant until '79 when Hager & Rijen joined. This 45 being released in Feb 1980 (A cover of The Beatles' then-unreleased "Love Of The Loved" financed by the Beatles Unlimited magazine in a print run of 500 numbered copies).
On the strength of this recording they were offered a recording deal by Torso Records (same label as the Rousers) for which there are 4 recorded (June 1980) but unreleased tracks gathering dust on a shelf somewhere.
(The Tracks are Can't Stop / So You're Sorry / Night Of Romance / Come On Home)
The reason they are unreleased was due to an internal argument over another possible deal (Bert Vegter -manager of Teaser and Turbo - was starting his own record label, Pure Gold Records)
This disagreement ultimately led to Henk Hager leaving to start his own band "The Cast" & being replaced by Erik Compeer who is name checked on their 2nd & Final 45
(You Should) Forget That Girl / Come On home (1981 - Pure Gold records).
He apparently never played on the 45 & only lasted a few weeks before being replaced by Peter Alberts (also ex 909)
The Band split in November 1981 when Rijken & Alberts formed "The Few" with ex Rousers Bassist Rob Marienus.

Sorry been asked to remove the link but thanks to Sjef for the extra info

Emanon - Raging Pain (1977)

2011-04-18T09:20:00.000-07:00

b/w - Rip A Bough

Love this 45 - It's taken me ages to get a copy (unfortunately it's without the stamped die-cut sleeve) so now it's your turn to hear & probably want!

If you've followed the link. You'll have read the blurb & as I can't add anything to it it's a short post today!

Sounds & scans below

http://www.mediafire.com/?6gnenippn16pu58

Bonus Boys - Everytime I See A Car Like Yours Go By (1979)

2011-04-17T05:17:00.000-07:00

b/w - Wasting Our Time

This is for Razor over at short sharp kick in the teeth who has just posted their 2nd (& final) 45.
There was a 3rd "So Sad / Head For The Hills" that was recorded but unreleased ( I'm not sure if there are any promo/acetates around)
BTW the 2nd 45 was released due to them winning recording time from a Vancouver "Battle of the bands" contest - beating amongst others the Modernettes (punk Powerpop) / Microwave (Rock) & Volts (Rock)

The Vancouver based Band (1979 - '81) were

Kim Clarke R.I.P. (voc guitar)
Jack Matthews (guitar voc)
Elmar Spanier (bass voc) later in Blue Shadows
Jay "J.B." Johnson (drums voc) later in Blue Shadows

In 1984, 3 members formed Moccasin Telegraph with a new bass player Barry Weih (Wye).

There is a myspace here where you can hear the aborted 45 & get a decent bio on the Bonus Boys.

You can also hear a few tracks from Kim Clarke's 1986 LP "It's A Grey Day" over at Vinyl Obscurity

Sounds & scans below

http://www.mediafire.com/?2eke3qyowk5aj48

The Bees - Leave Willie Alone (1980)

2011-04-16T10:11:00.000-07:00

b/w - Mr Gaynor

Great powerpop from this Letchworth / Hitchen area band
(I know Mr Gaynor has been comped on Powerpearls 10 & I suspect Leave Willie Alone is on something - I just can't be bothered to look)

The Band were
Pete Phillips (voc)
Rick Camp (guitars voc)
Clive Tonkin (bass)
John Wilson (drums voc)

According to the label Owner Terry Friend it was a toss up between signing The Bees or another local band The Varicose Veins. He obviously choose the Bees, who promptly broke up just after the record was released. (For him a regretful choice - For us another great tune)
Coincidentally Terry's label release before The Bees 45 was The Bleach Boys on Tramp records (TRAMP THF002)

Sounds & scans below

http://www.mediafire.com/?f1xwjgfna7db3n6

APB - Chain Reaction (1981)

2011-04-14T07:49:00.000-07:00

b/w - Power Crisis

Time for a bit of Pop Punk from this Scottish (Ellon) Trio.

Iain Slater (voc bass)
Glenn Roberts (guitar)
George Cheyne (drums)

This was the 1st of a bunch of 45's but their best D.I.Y. punk offering.
Their 2nd 45 is much more post-punk/funk & then it's all "funky bass guitar" there-after until their 1987 45 Missing You Already/Best Of Our Love - Red River Records which is pretty good indie

There's loads of info here

& there's a website here

Sounds & Scans below

http://www.mediafire.com/?7xh3ebjzx39xx9t

Mal Cochran - The Girls In Room 429 (1980)

2011-04-13T06:56:00.000-07:00

b/w - Maybe I'm A Fool

Well I guess I'm going to have to start posting some things that I have some info on soon but I couldn't resist putting this cool, pretty much unknown powerpopper out.

I'm not really sure if Mal Cochran is a person Or a band named after a character in a 50's western Series

I do know there was a 2nd 45 after this
How Do You Talk To Girls /Hold Back The Night - EMI (1981)
& the writers for both the B-sides were Corkin & Carpenter. However the A-sides were penned by different people:
The Girls In Room 429 by T Taylor (Tot?) - this 45 also had a release in Holland
How Do You Talk To Girls by S.Kipner (?) & T.Suefert

Both the 45's were produced by Christopher Neil - It's a wonder these 45 weren't hits with all the big guns behind them!

Sounds & scans below

http://www.mediafire.com/?dvxe93mafac41bu

Nessie - Can I See You Tommorrow (1981)

2011-04-12T11:03:00.000-07:00

b/w - Tell Her

Another non starter for information I'm afraid - pretty sure they were from the North somewhere!

It often gets passed off as powerpop (which it sort of, is, I guess)
If you ask me however, I'd say its more of a decent Rock / New Wave crossover tune.

Both tracks were penned by Bar

Sounds & scans below

http://www.mediafire.com/?j95or4udd3kv767

The Dealers - Don't Touch That Dial (1981)

2011-04-11T05:45:00.000-07:00

b/w - Tracey

Double A side from a band which I could tell you nothing about (until LDK's helpful little push in the right direction)

Both side are cool powerpop

Before shortening their name (& their line-up) to "the Dealers" the Birmingham based band were the Mean Street Dealers
They also released (in 1980) the Time Is Tight EP on Inferno records as the Ska City Rockers (If anyone wants this posted - leave a comment!!)

The band were
Mark Bristow (voc guitar)
John Wilson (guitar voc)
Nigel Darvill (keyboards)
JimSimpson (drums) later in Budgie / UFO & a Few other Metal bands

Personally, I prefer Tracey for it's no nonsense pop feel

Sounds & scans below

http://www.mediafire.com/?xa4t7npqf7t43t0