Tuesday 5 August 2014

The Boomtown Rats - Mary Of The 4th Form

Another band a bit like 'The Radio Stars', that if you were a punk you were not supposed to like. But confession time now, although I didn't admit it at the time, I did buy all of their early singles and loved them.

The reason I am posting this is for the b-side 'Do The Rat', even though everyone knows 'Mary Of The 4th Form' is the standout track. The only place you can get 'Do The Rat' is on the iTunes version of 'Tonic For the Troops' their second album which is a shorter version of this the original and therefore doesn't have the ridiculous beginning and the excellent ending, try it and see what you think. You will notice that on the cover 'Mary of The 4th form ' is an alternative version, which was not on the original release of their debut album, but has now been added.

Does anyone remember the video as well?, haven't seen it for years, but I know I used to like it.

So come on, who else is going to admit that they liked the Boomtown Rats? Leave a comment and tell us what your favourite song was.

Band: The Boomtown Rats
Label: Ensign
Year: 1977
Tracks:
1. Mary Of The 4th Form
2. Do The Rat

Ripped from glorious scratched vinyl:

If you like this then buy their debut album and get both versions of 'Mary Of The 4th Form ' plus their debut single 'Lookin' After No1' plus more:
The Boomtown Rats
The Boomtown Rats

or if you want the singles then get this at £3 you can't really go wrong:
Loudmouth - The Best Of Bob Geldof & The Boomtown Rats
Loudmouth - The Best Of Bob Geldof & The Boomtown Rats

17 comments:

Unknown said...

I love this one ! I was 15 when this came out (yeah I'm old !).
I went off them a bit when their sound got more 'poppy'& at that time there were still tons of exellent bands around releasing brilliant records & I was struggling to extend my pocket money to try to buy them all.
Great memories this brings though, thanks !

Anonymous said...

Saw them in 78 and they were total and utter shite. But at the time I loved their singles (I was 15 as well). The '12 inch of Looking After No1 was awesome so was it's b side Born to Burn.

Anonymous said...

Would be nice to see lookin' after no:1 here too! Cheers!

Anonymous said...

Would be nice to see lookin' after no:1 here too! Cheers!

Anonymous said...

Would be nice to see lookin' after no:1 here too! Cheers!

Anonymous said...

Would be nice to see lookin' after no:1 here too! Cheers!

Anonymous said...

Would be nice to see lookin' after no:1 here too! Cheers!

Punkzer0 said...

Hi Longcigarette thanks for the comment. I was 16 (old as well) and I also gave up around 'like clockwork' although I did like 'Diamond Smiles'

Punkzer0 said...

Hi anon, I never saw them but I also bought the 12" Lookin' for No1. although I can't find it at the moment, that was the one I planned to post.

arstider said...

Hello again.

I remember a red sleeve.
This is a nice one.
Saw them here in Stockholm
autumn 77 if I remember right.
(I was 18.......)
Someone throw a pintglass and hit the drummer, no encore...

Best wishes from Sweden

Anonymous said...

Yeah, the odd thing about the ‘12 of Looking After No 1 was that it was one of those singles that was ‘Cut’ really loud.
I don’t understand the technicalities at all, but if you put it on the turntable it was twice as loud as all your other singles. Weird. Also had a live version of Barefootin’ on the b side along with Born To Burn.

I clearly recall Peel playing it for the first time and saying something like ‘I was walking around Beaufort Market this afternoon and this was playing over the speakers and it sounded so good I thought I’d play it tonight’.

Anyway like I say, IMHO and experience great singles, shit live.

Punkzer0 said...

Hi arstider, not surprised at the no encore.

Punkzer0 said...

Hi anon you have just reminded me about the loud recording, I hadn't remembered it till you mentioned it, you always had to adjust the volume if you played it.

Anonymous said...

I saw them in Barbarellas Brum 77 and the next week Generation X . The Rats were great and the X were not much cop.

Punkzer0 said...

Hi anon thanks for the comment, I went to Barbarellas in Brum once, can't remember who we saw, but I think I still have the poster in the loft. I'll have to check them out one day.

GraemeSTL said...

Hi Gary, Any chance of posting all 3 tracks from the 'Looking After No.1' single? I've got the A-side on the 'Best Of' CD but can't find the B-side tracks anywhere! Cheers.

Punkzer0 said...

Hi GraemeSTL, I'm afraid I can't find my copy, I will have another look but have a feeling I flogged it in a job lot a long time ago. If I find it, I will post it. All the best.