Jon Eden - Top Of The Pops (1980)

b/w Concrete Dreams

Nice New Wave / Ska released On Imperial Records [IMP 1] Produced by Chuck Mace & with help from Duncan Bridgeman, Bob Kraushaar, Phil Smith & Mark King.

It was then re-worked & re-released a few months later [August 1980] as Working On The Land / Concrete Dreams [MCA 627] this time with the production duties from Nick Launay.

I'm not sure who Jon Eden was but he could of been the Actor [wearing the 2 cowboys T-shirt] who played in the 1980 Film Short "Knights Electric" - not the best plot-line but worth 25 mins of your time

Jon Eden

Useless Info - Charles Mace (voc,bass), Duncan Bridgeman  (keys) along with Richard Johnson (guitar) and Howard Tibble (drums) were the band Public Skool who had a hit around the same time [July 1980] with a cover of the Equals tune - Baby Come Back  

If anyone can add any info please leave a comment

Sounds & Scans

Blasé The Band - Breaking Out (1982)

b/w I'm Your Man

Released on (BAM-BAM) Muzik [BB 001 / BB002]

The 45 is a Double A Side with the Dead Wax Matrix being
Breaking Out - BRS 013 S 82 CUS 1630 A
I'm Your Man - BRS 013 S 82 CUS 1630 B

I'm presuming due to the BRS prefix code [probably meaning it was recorded at Quest Studios In Luton] that the band were from the Bedfordshire/Hertfordshire area.

The Breaking Out label has "Many Thanks Viv & Barb" printed on it

That is pretty much I can tell you about the 45 apart from I'm Your Man is a great slice of 60's Garage RnB that sounds like early Inmates or The Cannibals at their wildest.

Any info about the band that can be added please leave a comment.

Sounds & Scans

Pseudonym - Brief Asides (1984)

b/w The Piper Calls The Tune

Nice Psychedelic Mod/Pop from this Portsmouth based 3 piece

Tony Dart (Voc Guitar)
Peter Gates (Voc Bass)
Dave Pilbeam (Drums)

with Additional Keys from Peter Robson

Peter, Tony & Dave

Released on their own PS Records [PSR 001 - SRT 4KS 219]

Engineered By Nick Wilde & cut at EMI Abbey Road By Harry Moss

As always if anyone can add to the post please leave a comment

Scans & Sounds

Zoom Club - I Can't Compete (1980)

b/w It's Not Fair

Sole 45 release for this Northampton band 

Before Zoom Club there was The Zipppz whose line up was

Wilf Woods (Voc Guitar) 
Martyn Smith (Guitar) Pre The ReTreads
Dougie Nichols (Bass) 
Neil (Jack) Arrowsmith (Drums)

Sometime mid 1978 Martyn left & was replaced by Reggie Cox (Guitar) & with Bertie Brown (Keys) joining a bit later, plus a name change they became the Zoom Club that released this powerpopper.

Other Members included at various times in the Zoom Club ranks were Dave Henderson, (Bass) Steve Musgrove, (Bass) Rob Coles (Guitar) Coach York (Drums) Chris Stiles (Drums) Alex Green (Sax Who also played in The Army)

 Reggie, Wilf , Chris Stiles (Jacks replacement), Dougie, Bertie

Useless info - Wilf worked at clothing emporium Acme Clothing Co [3 Wellingborough Road Northampton] & was later in The Gunslingers

Sounds & Scans

Arctic Raiders - Clockwork Boys (1981)

b/w Gentleman Jim

Here's some great New Wave on the sole release from this Hull 4 piece (1980-82)

Geoff Appleby (Voc Bass) ex Buzz / Screen Idols  
Keith 'Ched' Cheeseman (Guitar Voc) ex Buzz / Screen Idols   
Mick Greaves (Guitar Voc) 
Brian Chapman (Drums)

Produced at Fairview Studios in Hull by Roy Neave & the band.

Clockwork Boys was written by Brian Chapman, and the flip was written by Mike Greaves. During a radio interview of the band, Mike explained the story behind his song. 
"There was poor girl on a documentary, who was married with a couple of kids. The whole documentary was devoted to this family. The woman was just obsessed with Jim Reeves. She had the whole room decorated in pictures of Jim Reeves, she spent the whole family's income flying to the States to lay flowers at Jim Reeves' grave. She also reckoned that when she slept with her husband on a night she'd pretend that he was Jim Reeves!"

Geoff Brian Mike Ched

The 45 also had a Portuguese release 
Jim Reeves / Clockwork Boys [RCS – SPE 003]  

Arctic Raiders ceased to exist in '82 after Mick Greaves left. However the remaining 3 formed The MGBs primarily becoming a covers band. 
They recorded their own independent cassette Sweet and Sour to be distributed at gigs. 
Sweet n' Sour / Burn It / I Can Hear The Grass Grow / Hanging Around / I Fought The Law / Shove It / Working Class Hero / Got To Get Away / Here Comes The Sun / Bo Diddley Medley

Useless Info - Mick Greaves has more than a few song writing credits for the Beautiful South (Diamonds /Frank And Delores /One Man's Rubbish /A Way With The Blues /Nearer To God /A Piece Of Sky /Why Can't I /Missing Her Now)

Sounds & Scans

Y Ficar - Byw Mewn Cwt Yng Ngwaelod Yr Ardd (1982)

b/w Cysgu'r Nos

English Translation : Living In A Hut At The Bottom Of The Garden / Sleeping At Night

Y Ficar (The Vicar) were an 8 Piece Welsh Ska/Pop band from Felinheli, North Wales (1981-87). 

  

Ficar At A Screch Awards Night 

Gwyn "Dan" Roberts (Voc)
Dylan "Dygs" Huws (Guitar Voc)

Emyr "Himyrs" Roberts (Bass Voc)

Aled "Ali Bongo" Williams (Drums)
Geoffrey "Jiffar" Jones (Keys)
Gwilym John (Sax)
Wyn Williams (Trumpet)
Martin Fearn (Trombone)
     
With help along the way from 
Richard Morris (Spanish Guitar), Einon Williams (Bodhrán, Congas), Bill Evans (Violin), Elfred Williams (Tuba) & Gwawr Ceiriog (Backing Voc) 

Discography
1982 VA LP Gorau Sgrech Sgrechian Corwen - Seibiria Serenêd {Live 23/01/82}  [Ty Gwyn TG 001S]
1982 7'' Byw Mewn Cwt Yng Ngwaelod Yr Ardd / Cysgu'r Nos [Recordiau Sain SAIN 97S]
1982 VA 7'' EP Gyda Chymorth C.A.C - Ŵ Cyrnol [Recordiau Fflach FFLACH 004]
1982 7'' Cei Felinheli / Annwyl Mr Atlas, Hirodîn [Recordiau Fflach, FFLACH 006]
1983 LP Allan o Diwn {Y Gegin A Ddiflannodd / Cysgod Lleidr / Seibiria Serenêd / Nos Lun Yn  /  Rio / Nos Lun Yn Rio / Clint (Yr Iaith Ar Y Paith) / Rhywbeth I'w Ddweud / Diwrnod  / Marchnad / Diti (Dygs) / Y Ficar Tŵ Tôn / 'Sgidiau' Newydd / Amser Cau} [Recordiau Sain SAIN 1271M]
1983 7'' 5 Diwrnod / Aberdaron [Trons TRONS ‎001]
1984 LP Yn Dal i Gredu {Perlau / Troi'r Olwyn / Y Gwenith Gwyn / Oddi Fewn / Be Sy'n Mynd / Ymlaen?  / Propaganda / Rhy Hwyr / Lliw Haul} [Trons TRONS 002]
1984 VA Cassette Teulu Huw Tan Voel - Bŵts [Recordiau'r Felin]
1885 Cassette Saith Norman (Ar Lan Y Mor) {Fel Cyffur / Taro Bargen / Tynnu Lawr / Pethau Cain /  Fel Yna Mae /  Hi Weithiau / Cei Felinheli / Lawr Ar Y Cei (Megamix) [Trons TRONS 003]

Bi-Monthly Welsh Language Music Magazine Sgrech [1978-85] Held an Annual Awards Night. 
All the below were held at the Corwen Pavilion  

Screch Awards '81    Promising Group of the Year:    Y Ficar
Screch Awards '82    Main Rock Group:                     Y Ficar
Screch Awards '82    Best Single Record:                  Cei Felinheli 
Screch Awards '83    Best LP/Cassette:                      Allan o Diwn 
Screch Awards '84    Best LP/Cassette:                      Yn Dal i Gredu

Sounds & Scans

The Stoat - Up To You (1978)

b/w - Loving A Killer

Great Who styled powerpop from this South-West London trio (1977-79)

John Waters (Voc Guitar) 
Richard Wall (Bass Voc) 
George Decsy (Drums)

Discography

11-1977 7'' - Office Girl / Little Jenny - City Records NIK1
07-1978 7'' - Up To You / Loving a Killer - City Records NIK3
10-1978 Peel Session - Escorts /Don't Say Nothing /Tears Run Dry /No Way To Say Goodbye (Unreleased)

Useless info - Loving a Killer is dedicated to Mary Bell who in 1968 strangled two 10 year-old boys. She was also aged 10 & after her conviction of manslaughter became Britain's youngest female killer.

Scans & Sounds

The Burpas - Fat Man (1981)

b/w - Dummies

A nice mix of Ska & New Wave on the only release from this Cardiff 5 piece (1980-81)

Caroline Limmer (Voc)

Matthew Mars-Jones (Guitar)

Chris Honeybone (Bass)

Sian Edwards (Drums Voc)

Michael Kirkland (Sax)

They Began life as ‘Big Daddy And The Burpas’ when formed at the Cardiff Art College but slimmed down to the above line-up after a few gigs.

Off the back of winning the 1980 Welsh Rock and Pop Competition [held at the Top Rank Cardiff Suite], they released this single on the Dutch Dureco Benelux label early in '81. It was produced by Tony Etoria whom they first met in 1980 when Tony was running events at Mel's Club (111 Bute Street) in Butetown.  

Alex Miles (Ex Vaseline Tigers) joined on drums around June '81, leaving both Caroline and Sian to share vocal duties until Caroline left during July.

The band relocated to Brixton, London during September.

Useless Info 1 Caroline used to run the Bar for Art College events.

Useless Info 2 They played along side many bands during their brief tenure including Moira and the Mice, Reptile Ranch, The Riotous Brothers, The Selecter and Misty In Roots.

Scans & Sounds

Thanks to Cardiff Music History for some of the info.

The KGB - The KGB (1981)

b/w See Me

Great Mod/Punk/Powerpop sounds from this Wallingford Oxfordshire Band

 
Bob Nicols RIP (Voc, Bass)
Arpad Toth (Guitar) & song writer
Steve Harris (Drums)

Special guest appearances on See Me from Steve's brother Peter & future wife Lorraine

The songs were recorded at Spaceward Studios, Cambridge. Sept 1981 & the 45 was released on their own A Major label [KGB 001] in Nov 1981.

Useless Info 1 - Some early copies come with a "The KGB" stamped white sleeve (Designed, Commissioned & Stamped [until he got bored] by Steve)

Useless Info 2 - In March 1982 10 more songs were recorded at the now defunct Roxon Studios in Watlington, Oxfordshire for a proposed LP but due to lack of money it was never released.

Sounds & Scans

The Mint - Marlene (1979)

b/w Mediterranean Nights

Written by Parton (M.S.)

Another 45 I know little to nothing about but Marlene is always worth a few listens (nice Folky New Wave)

Due to the catalogue # HT/SPS-1595 we can surmise it was recorded at the Hollick & Taylor Studios 16, Grosvenor Road, Handsworth, Birmingham B20 3NP.

Leading me to agree with 45 Revs that the band were more than likely from the Midlands area.

Useless info - Hollick & Taylor (q.v.) takes it's name from the building/studio owner John Taylor joining forces with Engineer Charles Hollick.

Sounds & Scans