The Monochrome Set - Jacob's Ladder

The Monochrome Set's 12th single was a 5 track 12" EP. In my opinion there are three standout tracks that are so varied there is something for everyone.

First up is the a-side 'Jacob's Ladder', a brilliant piece of perfect indie/pop (it's the best description I can think of, anyone else got a better one?). You have to love this track. Next up is the second track on the a-side 'Andiamo' which is an instrumental cross of a spaghetti western sound and the Shadows, I love this one so much I've had the guitar tabbed out and I'm trying to learn it (so if anyone is interested in the tab leave a comment). The last track that I rate is 'Le Boom Boom' which has a bit of 'The Cramps' sound about it, another outstanding track. The last two tracks are OK, but I guess it would be nearly impossible to match the first three.

I believe the only track that is readily available from this EP is 'Jacobs ladder' so try the rest out and leave a comment and tell ASFM what you think.

A few etchings on this one, on the a-side "Message to J.P. PTO" and then on the other side "Whip It Out and Give Us A Laugh". Who knows?

Band: The Monochrome Set
Label: Blanco Y Negro
Year: 1984
Tracks:
1. Jacobs Ladder
2. Andiamo
3. Le Boom Boom
4. Yo Ho Ho
5. Starry Nowhere

Ripped from glorious scratched vinyl:


If you like this then buy anyone of their excellent compilations or even better one of there many albums over on Cherry Red then follow this link:

This ones good if you want their earlier singles:

The Independent Singles Collection

This one if you want to try out a more varied sample of their music

The Best of the Monochrome Set

and if you know you like them then buy some of their albums, this ones their excelent third album

Eligible Bachelors

Pauline Murray and the Storm - Holocaust

This one is definitely for Pauline Murray completists, and be warned this is not like her other material, this is more dance/electronic.

There are two sides to this 12", one with Pauline Murray and the Storm, and on the other side Pauline Murray and the Saint, I don't know what the difference is, does anyone know out there?

For me 'Holocaust' is the best track, even though this is not my genre of music, and I admit I bought it just because it was Pauline Murray, so i was very surprised when I played it. So try it out and leave a comment to say what you think of it.

Band: Pauline Murray and the Storm
Label: Polestar
Year: 1984
Tracks:
1. Holocaust
Band: Pauline Murray and the Saint
Tracks:
1. Don't Give Up
2. Aversion

Ripped from glorious scratched vinyl:


If you do like this, I can't find anything else out there to recommend, does anyone know if there is any other material available?

Yeah Yeah Noh - Prick Up Your Ears EP

This was "Yeah Yeah Noh's" third single which was a three track ep released on "In Tape". "Yeah Yeah Noh" based in Leicester have been likened to "the Fall", and you can see why some would say that, but in my opinion they are a bit too upbeat and have their own sound.

The a-side "Prick Up Your Ears" (same name of the Joe Orton film and biography) I assume is all about Joe Orton the British playwright who was murdered by his jealous gay lover (considering there is a picture on the label and his name is mentioned on the back cover). On the b-side is the brilliant "Brown Shirts", a real catchy number that will have you dancing around, last up is a real gem its "Bias Binding" which was a stage favourite but this version is performed by "Terry and Gerry" (the well known alt skiffle band from Birmingham) with "Yeah Yeah Noh" backing them. I alway loved "Terry and Gerry" in my opinion one of the best bands to see live, I have never seen any other band that managed to get crowd participation on every track. I think you can tell what my favourite is here, but don't let it distract from the "Yeah Yeah Noh" stuff which is equally good.

A few etchings on this one, on the a-side "Harry was a Baby Sitter" and on the b-side "For Norman Tebbit"

Try this then leave a comment and tell ASFM what you think of Yeah Yeah Noh (and Terry and Gerry)

Band: Yeah Yeah Noh
Label: In Tape
Year: 1984
Tracks:
1. Prick Up Your Ears
2. Brownshirt
3. Bias Binding (Performed by Terry and Gerry)

Ripped from glorious scratched vinyl:


If you like this then you are in luck, there is an excellent "best of" album, which also has Bias Binding as performed by Yeah Yeah Noh.

Leicester Square: the Best of Yeah Yeah Noh

Also their first official album "Cutting the Heavenly Lawn of Greatness ... Last Rites for the God of Loveover" at the Twilight Zone, then follow this link.

and their first album "when I am a Big Girl", which was a collection of their first three single including this one (apart from the Terry and Gerry version) over at Phoenix Hairpins, then follow this link.
and if you like the Terry and Gerry Stuff, you can get all their material (debut album plus all singles and b-sides) except for this one on iTunes as well as an excellent first album and singles here on CD:

Let's Get the Hell Back to Lubbock

Senate - The Original Sin 12" Megamix

After "The Pack", there was "Theater of Hate".
After "Theater of Hate" there was "Spear Of Destiny". After "Spear Of Destiny" there was "Senate".

Mmmmm I'm not so sure about this Kirk Brandon incarnation. I loved everything Kirk Brandon did and rushed out to buy this 12" Megamix of an old "Theater of Hate" classic "Original Sin". Senate was a collaboration with "Kirk Brandon" and "Rusty Egan" (who was in the Rich Kids, Skids, Visage and DJ'd at Blitz).

I think this was the one and only collaboration of "senate" but if anyone knows of anymore leave a comment. Also leave a comment and tell ASFM what you think of the dance version of Original Sin. if someone had told me that they were going to use this track for a dance song, I would never of believed it. But here it is.

So what do you get? Well two 7 minute plus long versions of "Original Sin" with electronic drumbeats and lots of synthesizer additions which never really worked for me, however the 7" version of this is far better (I will post this next up). You also get a live version of "Theater Of Hates" classic "Do you believe in the Westworld?", I'm not sure where this was recorded (it was in 1982) but listen to the polite clapping at the end, made me smile.

Band: Senate
Label: WAR
Year: 1984
1. Original Sin
2. Original Sin (Version)

Band: Theater Of Hate
Year: 1982
3. Do You Believe In The Westworld? (live)

Ripped from glorious (and a bit too) scratched 12" vinyl

Senate - The Original Sin 7"

So as promised here is the much improved 7" version, this one is just over 5 minutes long and a bit more faithful to the original. For some reason the 7" was released on Burning Rome records.

Not much more to add as it was all in the previous posting. So try it out and see what you think.

The flip side is again the "Theater Of Hate" classic "Do You Believe In The Westworld?", but this time its the studio version (which I can't believe anyone who likes any of Kirk Brandon's incarnations hasn't already got.

So leave a comment and tell ASFM whether you like this version or not.

Band: Senate
Label: Burning Rome
Year: 1984
Tracks:
1. Original Sin

Band: Theatre Of Hate
Year: 1982
Tracks:
2. Do You Believe In The Westworld?

Ripped from glorious scratched vinyl

If you like "Senate", there's nothing left to find, however if you like Kirk Brandon, then I would recommend the following three classic albums. one from Theatre of Hate:

Westworld
and two brilliant "Spear Of Destiny" albums (at last available on CD):

Grapes of Wrath

One Eyed Jacks

Papa Levi - Bonnie And Clyde 12"

I don't know too much about Papa Levi, but I love this single. It's a reggae cover of the 'Georgie Fame' classic 'Bonnie and Clyde. I first heard this version played on a John Peel session, and as soon as it was released it was a must buy.

I've mentioned before I'm a fan of covers especially when they are done differently and this one clearly is. The b-side 'Warning' is all about avoiding catching 'Herpes' lovely topic, but then again it does make sense.

The picture cover is not mine, I found it here (which also giver a bit more background on Papa Levi). My copy just had the standard island cover as per the scans.

So if you know the original 9and if you don't go and find it, its classic, which one do you prefer?

Singer: Papa Levi
Label: Island
Year: 1984
Tracks:
1. Bonnie and Clyde
2. Warning

Ripped from glorious scratched vinyl

If you like this you can either get all of these albums at Amazons market place or on iTunes. I can't comment as I don't yet have any of them.

Code of Practice

Lyrics, Tricks and Politics

Back to Basics

Terry and Gerry - Live At The ICA Oct. 1984 Part 1

This is part one of four posts, all of them live gigs from the ICA in October 1984. I think there was whole week of gigs and these were my favorites. Part two will be 'The Very Things', Part three 'yeah Yeah Noh' and the final part 'Marc Riley and the Creepers'.

So first up the great alternative skiffle band 'Terry and Gerry', I still think these guys were one of the best live bands ever. Their recordings whilst good, never captured that feeling when you saw them live. Gerry was the master of banter and the band managed to get audience involvement on just about every song (which I have never seen again). This was clearly something that developed over the years as this earlier recording does not have so much audience participation as I remember.

Band: Terry and Gerry
Year: 1984
Tracks:
1. The Good, The Bad and The Usherette
2. Wolfman's Request
3. A Thousand Towns
4. Cars
5. Hello
6. Butters On The Bread
7. T.V. Songs
8. Dennis and Brian
9. Wait Until Your Older
10. Pizza, Pies and Junk
11. Clothes Shop
12. Outro

Ripped from FM radio and then ripped from glorious hissing tape (see comments)

If you like Terry and Gerry you won't be disappointed with this brilliant album, buy it here:

Let's Get the Hell Back to Lubbock

The Very Things - Live At The ICA Oct. 1984 Part 2

Formed from the ashes of the brilliant 'Cravats', came the even better and very much stranger 'The Very Things'. The singers strange vocals, warped fairground type music and odd lyrics make them incomparable (anyone know of anyone else that sounds like them? then leave a comment).

All of these tracks are great but my favourite is 'The Bushes Scream, While My Daddy Prunes'
The reason there is two parts is down to my poor ripping, I thought the song had finished.

Ripped from FM radio and then ripped from glorious hissing tape

Band: The Very Things
Year: 1984
Tracks:
1. The Bushes Scream, While My Daddy Prunes Part 1
2. The Bushes Scream, While My Daddy Prunes Part 2
3. Wall Of Fir
4. Shearing Machine
5. Phillips World Service

If you like this then definitely get this (currently only available on download) here:

The Bushes Scream While Daddy Prunes
and you can still get this one on CD here:

It's a Drug, It's a Drug

Yeah Yeah Noh - Live at the ICA Oct. 1984 Part 3

As promised the 'Yeah Yeah Noh' live tracks. Apart from being disappointed that there's only four tracks, you can cheer up by the fact that at least all four are outstanding classic songs. I think I've said everything else I want to say about 'Yeah Yeah Noh' in previous posts, so just enjoy.

Band: Yeah Yeah Noh
Year: 1984
Tracks:
1. Beware The Weakling Line
2. There's Another Side To Mrs Quill
3. Cottage Industry
4. Jigsaw

Ripped from FM radio and then ripped on to glorious hissing tape

I've said it before but if you like this then buy this, here:

Leicester Square: the Best of Yeah Yeah Noh

Marc Riley & The Creepers - Live At The ICA Oct. 1984 Part 4

Last up is the excellent Marc Riley and the Creepers. Riley who was also an ex member of 'The Fall' is most probably better known now for his alter ego 'Lard' who worked alongside ex radio 1 DJ Mark Radcliffe. They both use to host my second favourite radio show (John Peel obviously first) 'Out On Blue Six'.

I always liked Marc Riley and the Creepers and these four live tracks are an excellent sample of their music. My personal favourite is 'Blood From A Stone' which was renamed on the 1985 'Shadow Figure EP' to 'Snipe'.

Band: Marc Riley and the Creepers
Year: 1984
Tracks:
1. Blood From A Stone
2. Location Bangladesh
3. Down In The Bunker
4. Crazy Shirt Scene

Ripped from FM radio and then ripped from glorious hissing tape

If you like this there doesn't appear to be anything commercially available. So you can get most of their singles at the excellent Phoenix Hairpins here and their classic album Rock'n'roll Liquorice Flavour from the equally excellent Rollmops here.