Gems From My Collection: The New Favourites Of... - Brinsley Schwarz (1974)

The New Favourites Of... is the sixth and final album by Brinsley Schwarz and is one that I've only recently got digitized and on the computer. It's a real cracker that includes the first recording of Nick Lowe's What's So Funny 'Bout) Peace, Love & Understanding.

It has been released in CD before, back in 2001(I don't have a copy of it at all) and that was by a German label Repertoire Records (they included a number of bonus tracks: I've Cried My Last Tear, (It's Gonna Be A) Bringdown, Everybody and There's A Cloud In My Heart).

After their demise Brinsley went to play on the final tour for Ducks Deluxe and then he, Bob Andrews and Martin Belmont of Ducks Deluxe joined up with Graham Parker to play in his backing band The Rumour.

Nick Lowe teamed up with producer of the last album, Dave Edmunds, and they formed Rockpile. Lowe would also go on to have some minor success as a solo artist and also as a producer for Stiff Records and in particular Elvis Costello. Lowe's 1979 hit Cruel To Be Kind was originally recorded for a final album that went unreleased by Brinsley Schwarz.

 The New Favourites Of... -  Brinsley Schwarz

United Artists

Produced by Dave Edmunds

Released 1974

Personnel
    Brinsley Schwarz - Guitar, alto and tenor sax, vocals
    Ian Gomm - Guitars, vocals
    Billy Rankin - drums
    Bob Andrews - Keyboards, alto sax, vocals
    Nick Lowe - Bass guitar, acoustic guitar, vocals
    Carlos Luna - Harmonica

A1     (What's So Funny 'Bout) Peace, Love & Understanding
A2     Ever Since You're Gone
A3     The Ugly Things
A4     I Got The Real Thing
A5     The Look That's In Your Eye Tonight
B1     Nows The Time
B2     Small Town Big Guy
B3     Trying To Live My Life Without You
B4     I Like You, I Don't Love You
B5     Down In The Dive     4:52

Gems From My Collection: Pauline Murray & The Invisble Girls + More

Pauline Murray is best known as the lead vocalist of Penetration (more of them later), but once the band had finished she immediately launched into new musical territory backed by The Invisible Girls (who had been the backing band for John Cooper Clarke's studio albums).

She has also released music under the names Pauline Murray and The Storm, Pauline Murray and The Saint, and just as Pauline Murray. Hopefully if I can find links for each of these projects I'll include them here. Click on the links to enjoy the music.

 Pauline Murray and The Invisible Girls - RSO 3rd October 1980

Tracklist:
 1. Screaming in the Darkness  (3:37)
 2. Dream Sequence I  (3:20)
 3. European Eyes  (3:21)
 4. Shoot You Down (not album bersion but Peel Session Version)  (2:07)
 5. Sympathy  (2:48)
 6. Time Slipping  (4:04)
 7. Drummer Boy  (3:04)
 8. Thundertunes  (3:23)
 9. When Will We Learn  (3:35)
10. Mr. X (this is the 7" Single Version)  (4:27)
11. Judgement Day  (4:26).

Singles

Dream Sequences - 1980 Illusive Records.

A. Dream Sequence I

B. Dream Sequence II.

Mr X - Illusive Records 24th October 1980

  A. Mr X.

B. Two Shots.

Searching For Heaven - Illusive Records 3rd April 1981

Searching For Heaven.

Animal Crazy.

The Visitor.

John Peel Session 19th March 1980.

Pauline Murray and the Invisible Girls - Live on Belgian TV 1980.

Shadow in My Mind/When We Were Young (Acoustic) - Live Stockton 14th November 2013.

Dream Sequence (Acoustic) - Live Stockton 14th November 2013.

Dream Sequence (with Band) - Live Newcastle 15th November 2013.

Time Slipping - Live Newcastle 15th November 2013.

When We Were Young (Acoustic) - Live Newcastle 15th November 2013.

Sympathy - Live Newcastle 15th November 2013.

Searching For Heaven - Live Newcastle 15th November 2013.

The Reissue - 1993

Tracklist for Reissue:
 1. Screaming in the Darkness  (3:37)
 2. Dream Sequence I  (3:20)
 3. European Eyes  (3:21)
 4. Shoot You Down  (2:07)
 5. Sympathy  (2:48)
 6. Time Slipping  (4:04)
 7. Drummer Boy  (3:04)
 8. Thundertunes  (3:23)
 9. When Will We Learn  (3:35)
10. Mr. X  (4:27)
11. Judgement Day  (4:26)
-Bonus Tracks-
12. The Visitor (Searching for Heaven EP)  (3:44)
13. Animal Crazy (Searching for Heaven EP)  (3:17)
14. Searching for Heaven (Searching for Heaven EP)  (2:59).

You might be interested to know that tracks 12-13 a certain guitarist named Wayne Hussey plays on them.

On track 14 Bernard Summer of New Order plays guitar.

Drums on all tracks by John Maher of Buzzcocks.

I was delighted to read that the album is getting a further reissue on 7th October 2014 with a Double Album/CD version.

"It's a bit of a missing link album," says Pauline today. "Written and recorded after punk, but before Martin Rushent and the Human League made airy pop respectable again. We chose the other Martin in 1980 because we wanted the incredible sounds he achieved for Joy Division and Magazine. Thundertunes, basically."

The Tracklist for the 2CD set is as follows:

Disc 1:
1. Screaming In the Darkness
2. Dream Sequence
3. European Eyes
4. Shoot You Down
5. Sympathy
6. Time Slipping
7. Drummer Boy
8. Thundertunes
9. When Will We Learn
10. Mr X
11. Judgement Day
12. Searching for Heaven
13. The Visitor
14. Animal Crazy
15. Dream Sequence II
16. Two Shots
17. Shoot You Down (Peel 3/1980)
18. Sympathy (Peel 3/1980)
19. When Will We Learn (Peel 3/1980)
20. Dream Sequence (Peel 3/1980)

Disc 2:
1. Screaming In the Darkness (live 1981)
2. Searching for Heaven (live 1981)
3. Time Slipping (live 1981)
4. Dream Sequence (live 1981)
5. Two Shots (live 1981)
6. When Will We Learn (live 1981)
7. Mr X (live 1981)
8. Animal Crazy (live 1981)
9. European Eyes (live 1981)
10. Thundertunes (live 1981)
11. Animal Crazy (live 1981)
11. Time Slipping (live 1981)
12. Dream Sequence (live 1981)
14. Two Shots (live 1981)
15. Sympathy (live 1980)
16. Dream Sequence (live 1980)
17. Time Slipping (live 1980)
18. Drummer Boy (live 1980)
19. European Eyes (live 1980)
20. Thundertunes (live 1980)
21. Shoot You Down (live 1980)
22. Judgement Day (live 1980)
23. When Will We Learn (live 1980)

For more information on the 2014 Reissue click here.

Pauline Murray and The Storm

New Age - Polestar, November 1986.

(This also had The Saint on it)

Holocaust.

Pauline Murray

This Thing Called Love/Mr Money/Pressure Zone 12" - Cat and Mouse Records 1989.

Released on Cat and Mouse Records in 1989.

Tracklist
This Thing Called Love (3:34) / Holocaust (2:19) / Soul Power (3:10) / No One Like You (2:57) / Another World (3:03) / Don't Give Up (4:58) // Pressure Zone (4:23) / Close Watch (3:07) / Everybody's Talking (3:06) / New Age (3:51) / Time (4:52).

Penetration

Don't Dictate 1977 Virgin Records

 Don't Dictate / Money Talks

Firing Squad - Virgin Records 1978

Firing Squad / Never

Life's A Gamble - Virgin Records 1978.

 Life's A Gamble / V.I.P.

Moving Targets LP - Virgin Records 1978

Listen to Moving Targets Album Here.

Danger Signs 12" - Virgin Records 1979.

Danger Signs / Stone Heroes (Live) / Vision (Live) 

Come Into the Open - Virgin Records 1979

Come Into the Open / Lifeline

Coming Up For Air LP - Virgin Records 1979

 Listen to Coming Up For Air Album Here.

Our World (Damaged Goods 2008).

 The Feeling (Damaged Goods 2010).

Penetration Live 1978-79 (Easy Action 2008)

'Live 1978-79' is a two disc set consisting of two live shows. The first from The Thames Polytechnic on the 16th December 1978 and the second, their final show at Newcastle City Hall on the 14th October 1979 in it's entirity (previously a few tracks had been released on 'Race Against Time' in 1979 but as far as I'm aware this is the first time the whole show has had a proper release).

The Thames Poly show would have been just as the debut album 'Moving Targets' was released and ten of the tracks represented on the album are part of the set (only 'Reunion' is missing). Two highlights from this particular set are the two cover versions, Patti Smith's 'Free Money' and Buzzcocks' 'Nostalgia' (kind of funny that only a month before the release of Penetration's debut that Buzzcocks had released their second album 'Love Bites' which contained 'Nostalgia').
The second show is their final show (though they did reform in 2001 and are still out and about today) and the spotlight shifts to the 'Coming Up For Air' album. The songs may not be as strong as the debut but the band actually sound much better (the inclusions of Neale Floyd and Fred Purser on guitar after Gary Chaplin departed was really bearing fruit). With the band knowing it was the last gig they seemed to play with greater abandon laying down an excellent 26 song set (that included a final encore of 'Firing Squad', 'Don't Dictate' and 'Danger Signs' for the second time that night).

Read here a great piece from Eccentric Sleeve Notes.

I had the pleasure of seeing them live quite a few times way back when and whilst these two shows are quite different from each other, they are a testament to exactly how good they were when on stage. Not only is Pauline Murray an exceptional vocalist but the band are pretty tight and seemed to be more musically gifted than some of the other bands who were around at the time (the band were Pauline Murray - Vocals, Robert Blamire - Bass, Gary Chaplin - Guitar (1976-78), Neale Floyd - Guitar (1978-79), Fred Purser - Guitar (1978-79) and Gary Smallman - Drums (1976-79). The current line up has only Pauline and Robert as the original members).

LIVE VIDEOS:

DON'T DICTATE LIVE AT ELECTRIC CIRCUS, MANCHESTER 1977. 

LOVERS OF OUTRAGE LIVE AT READING FESTIVAL 1978.

Don't Dictate/Danger Signs - Live at Rebellion 2012.

Re-animated DVD

 Nostalgia.

She is the Slave.

Don't Dictate/Come Into The Open.

Shout Above the Noise.

Stone Heroes.

Firing Squad.

SESSIONS:

JOHN PEEL SESSION BROADCAST 10TH JULY 1978. Contains: Future Daze, Vision, Stone Heroes and Movement.

JOHN PEEL SESSION BROADCAST 7TH MARCH 1979. Contains: Danger Signs, Last Saving Grace and She Is The Slave.

For more information regarding Pauline Murray click here for her official website.

Gems From My Collection: The Mod Revival Part Two

We begin the second part of this reflection of the music of The Mod Revival (and I think I might have to stretch to a third part as well) with a band that I had the pleasure of working with briefly back in early '80's - Long Tall Shorty.

Click on the links to enjoy the music.

Their first single was released on Warner Brothers as part of a collection of bands signed up by Jimmy Pursey of Sham 69 (the others were Angelic Upstarts and The Kidz Next Door), but due some dodgy tactics by the label the single never really got the shot it deserved.

What I liked about LTS was their ability to not only draw upon the great weight of fine 60's tunes but also their nack of writing great songs themselves clearly inspired by the whole Punk scene (something that many a Mod would never admit to!). When they got back together again in 2000 it was not uncommon for them to be playing songs by The Heartbreakers and Angelic Upstarts.

By Your Love / 1970's Boy.

Win or Lose.

On The Streets Again.

Falling For You.

If I Was You.

All By Myself.

Long Time.

Can't Stop Moving.

I Do.

That's What I Want.

Shake.

Promises.

England (Angelic Upstarts Cover).

Steppin' Stone.

The Purple Hearts were another band I really liked and they managed to release a few cracking singles starting with the anthemic 'Millions Like Us'. They were another band who had their roots in the Punk movement, they had formed in 1977 as The Sockets and changed their name and sound in 1978 heavily influenced by The Jam of course.

In support of their debut single they hit the road with Secret Affair and Back To Zero on 'The March of The Mods Tour'.

Quite a number of the bands from back in 1979-80 are still out playing today, Purple Hearts are among them.

For more information on Purple Hearts check out their Official Website.

A-Side

Millions Like Us.

B-Side

Beat That.

 A-Side

Frustration.

B-Side

Extraordinary Sensations.

 Described by Charles Sharr Murray as - 'the best piece of teenage whingeing since 'Teenage Depression' by Eddie and the Hotrods'. 

A-Side

Jimmy.

B-Side

What Am I Gonna Do Now.

 A Side

My Life's A Jigsaw.

B-Side

Just To Please You / Guy Who Made Her A Star.

Beat That! (Full Album).

Gems From My Collection: The Mod Revival Part One

Bank Holiday Weekends always remind me of times down at a beach town (especially Brighton and Hastings). I found myself there a few times back when I was younger. Firstly for a UK Subs show on Hastings Pier with local Mod band Teenbeats as support. Another time it was Brighton when I accompanied seasoned DJ Jerry Floyd for a huge show on The Lambrettas Beat Boys in the Jet Age tour. Another time it was for a show by The Chords.

The music of the Mod Revival of 1979 is a bit of a pick and mix, not all of it was great but there were a few bands who were fantastic live and just happened to make brilliant records. I thought I'd share a few bits and pieces that I have in my own collection that still thrill me when I hear them today. Click on the links to enjoy the music.

You cannot really focus on The Mod Revival without actually thinking about The Jam. They popped up in the nation's conciousness back in May 1977 with their ground breaking debut album 'In The City' on Polydor records.

Listen to the Album Here.

In The City (So It Goes 1977).

Art School (Promo).

All Around the World (Marc Bolan Show 1977).

All Mod Cons (Full Album).

Just Another Teenage Anthem/Blood on the Knife.

Another band in 1977 who were destined to play an important part in The Mod Revival of 1979 are Power Pop's New Hearts featuring Ian Page and Dave Cairns. They only released two singles on CBS before regrouping and forming what would be one of the stand out bands of the time in Secret Affair.

 Glory Boys.

Time For Action (Top of the Pops 1979).

Let Your Heart Dance ((Friday Night, Saturday Morning BBC2 1979).

New Dance.

Going to a Go Go.

1979 John Peel Session.

My World.

I'm Not Free (But I'm Cheap).

Glory Boys.

Going To A Go Go.

Their debut on I-Spy Records, 'Glory Boys' I still think stands the test of time and is loaded with brilliant songs including the excellent 'Days of Change' and 'I'm Not Free (But I'm Cheap)'. After another two albums they packed it all in back in 1982 but are currently back on the circuit and released a new album 'Soho Dreams' (Listen to 'Walk Away' here) in 2012.

The Chords were another at the forefront of the new Mod movement and they released some cracking material. Their debut album, 'So Far Away' doesn't have a single track on it that you would skip over (the whole album used to be on You Tube but I can't seem to find it now).

 

1979 John Peel Session.

Now It's Gone.

It's No Use.

Something's Missing.

Maybe Tomorrow.

1980 John Peel Session.

Tumbling Down.

Happy Families.

So Far Away.

Now It's Gone (Live 1979).

Don't Look Back (B-Side to 'Now It's Gone').

The British Way of Life.

One More Minute.

Turn Away Again.

It Was Twenty Years Ago Today...The Chords Live.

 

Maybe Tomorrow. 

Lastly for this post one of my favourites from back then and a band I got to see many many times - Teenbeats. Their first single was a cover of The Troggs classic:

I Can't Control Myself.

And probably one of the best singles ever to be released from a band as part of the Mod Revival - Teenbeats' 2nd single on Safari Records:

Strength of the Nation.

Coming up in Part 2: Long Tall Shorty, Purple Hearts, Back to Zero, The Killermeters, and more.

Gems From My Collection: At Filmore East - The Allman Brothers (July 1971)

Recorded over two nights (12-13th March 1971), 'At Filmore East' was the first live album of The Allman Brothers and their third album release overall.

Some critics over the years have considered this New York recorded performance by The Allman Brothers as one of the greatest live albums in rock music ever. The album peaked at #13 on the Billboard Chart and was certified Gold in October 1971.

The band had a history playing at Filmore East. Their first dates at the NYC venue were supporting Blood, Sweat and Tears over three nights back in December of 1969. Promotor Bill Graham liked them so much he promised to get them back again. In January 1970 they opened for B.B. King and Buddy Guy at San Francisco's Filmore West and a month later they were back in New York supporting The Grateful Dead.

The March 1971 shows The Allman Brothers were actually the opening act for Johnny Winter but on the second night of the stand they were closing the show.

"the best damn rock and roll band this country has produced in the past five years" - George Kimball (Rolling Stone)

 Side One
    "Statesboro Blues" (Will McTell) – 4:17
    "Done Somebody Wrong" (Clarence L. Lewis, Bobby Robinson, Elmore James) – 4:33
    "Stormy Monday" (T. Bone Walker) – 8:44

Side Two
    "You Don't Love Me" (Willie Cobbs) – 19:15 ("Joy to the World" medley in the ending portions)

Side Three
    "Hot 'Lanta" (Gregg Allman, Duane Allman, Dickey Betts, Butch Trucks, Berry Oakley, Jai Johanny Johanson) – 5:17
    "In Memory of Elizabeth Reed" (Dickey Betts) – 13:04

Side Four
    "Whipping Post" (Gregg Allman) – 23:03

In October 1992 an updated version of the album was released and titled 'The Filmore Concerts'. "One Way Out", "Drunken Hearted Boy", "Mountain Jam" and "Trouble No More" were added (they were originally included on the 1973 follow-up album 'Eat a Peach'). The songs on the album were remixed and some alternate takes were used thus some of the songs sound a little different to the original release.

September 23rd 2003 saw a Deluxe Edition of the album being released. This time they went back to the Master Recordings from 'At Filmore East'. Only one additional track was added, 'Midnight Rider', but this version was actually taken from a show at Filmore East from 27th June 1971(this was the final show at Filmore East) and not the March shows from which 'At Filmore East' had come.

29th July 2014 saw the release of the complete recordings from the March shows in 1971. Now titled 'The 1971 Filmore East Recordings', it's a 6CD set, it's also released on Blu-Ray and also an edited 4LP set.

The tracklisting for 'The 1971 Fillmore East Recordings' is:

Disc One, March 12, 1971 – First Show

1. Statesboro Blues (previously unreleased)
2. Trouble No More (previously unreleased)
3. Don't Keep Me Wonderin' (previously unreleased)
4. Done Somebody Wrong (previously unreleased)
5. In Memory Of Elizabeth Reed (previously unreleased)
6. You Don't Love Me (previously unreleased)

Disc Two, March 12, 1971 – Second Show

1. Statesboro Blues (previously unreleased)
2. Trouble No More
3. Don't Keep Me Wonderin' (previously unreleased)
4. Done Somebody Wrong
5. In Memory Of Elizabeth Reed (previously unreleased)
6. You Don't Love Me
7. Whipping Post (previously unreleased)
8. Hot 'Lanta

Disc Three, March 13, 1971 – First Show

1. Statesboro Blues
2. Trouble No More
3. Don't Keep Me Wonderin'
4. Done Somebody Wrong (previously unreleased)
5. In Memory Of Elizabeth Reed
6. You Don't Love Me
7. Whipping Post (previously unreleased)

Disc Four, March 13, 1971 – Second Show, Part 1

1. Statesboro Blues (previously unreleased)
2. One Way Out (previously unreleased)
3. Stormy Monday
4. Hot 'Lanta
5. Whipping Post

Disc Five, March 13, 1971 – Second Show, Part 2

1. Mountain Jam
2. Drunken Hearted Boy (with Elvin Bishop)

Disc Six, June 27, 1971 – Fillmore East Closing Show

1. Introduction by Bill Graham (previously unreleased)/ Statesboro Blues
2. Don't Keep Me Wonderin'
3. Done Somebody Wrong
4. One Way Out
5. In Memory Of Elizabeth Reed
6. Midnight Rider
7. Hot 'Lanta
8. Whipping Post
9. You Don't Love Me

The inclusion of the 27th June show is a good move because this final night at Filmore East was an invitation only event. Edgar Winter, Country Joe McDonald and The Beach Boys were on the bill. The Beach Boys were reluctant to play unless they were the headliners but Bill Graham stood his ground insisting that The Allman Brothers would be closing the show and if they disagreed then they were free to leave!

The 36 page Booklet with liner notes, historic photos, and essays is only available with the Blu-Ray and 6CD sets. The Blu-Ray will set you back just under £45 and the 6CD set about £47.99 (those prices are from Amazon UK).

"These shows — recorded in New York on March 12th and 13th, 1971 — remain the finest live rock performance ever committed to vinyl captures America's best blues-rock band at its peak " - Mark Kemp (Rolling Stone 2002)

Gems From My Collection: Stephen Stills - Stephen Stills (November 1970)

Listen to the full Album Here.

Click on the links to enjoy the music.

The latest Mojo Magazine has a huge feature on CSNY (Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young). And it got me thinking about Stephen Stills debut album from 1970. In fact inbetween 1970 and 1971 all members of CSNY would release high profile solo albums: David Crosby - 'If I Could Only Remember My Name', Graham Nash - 'Songs For Beginners' and Neil Young - 'After The Goldrush'.

Stephen Stills released his album in late November 1970, earlier in the year with CSYN he had enjoyed the chart topping release of 'Déjà Vu'. Alongside of that there were also three Top 20 singles ('Woodstock', 'Teach Your Children' and 'Our House').

The album was recorded at Island Studios in London between June and July 1970 and was produced by Stills and Bill Halverson. It would peak at #3 in the US charts in the week of the 5th December 1970.

One of the most amazing things about the album is the vast array of quality musicians that appear on it. Nash and Crosby are of course there but it's a few of the others that have your jaw dropping: Ringo Starr (listed as 'Richie'), Dallas Taylor (Drummer of CSNY), Johnny Barbata (Drummer of The Turtles and Jefferson Airplane), Jimi Hendrix, Eric Clapton, Booker T. Jones, John Sebastian (founding member of The Lovin' Spoonful), Rita Coolidge (who had sung back up for Joe Cocker, Leon Russell, and Clapton - to name but a few), Cass Elliot (of The Mamas and The Papas), and Sherlie Williams (backing singer at Mowtown and a also has worked with the likes of Steppenwolf, The Rolling Stones, Bob Seger, Humble Pie and Ike and Tina Turner to name but a handful).

Starr plays on two tracks: 'To A Flame' and 'We Are Not Helpless' (a response to Neil Young's 'Helpless'). Jimi Hendrix plays on 'Old Times Good Times'. Eric Clapton plays on 'Go Back Home'.

Stephen Stills would dedicate the album to James Marshall Hendrix who died before the album released. Strangely enough four years after the album was recorded Cass Elliot also passed away.

'Love the One You're With' Single (#14 Billboard Hot 100 Chart)

Gems From My Collection: All Those Waisted Years - Hanoi Rocks (1984)

The month prior to the recording of the album it would have cost £1.50 to see the band at the club. On the December 9th show it would be £2.00 to get entrance.

Recorded in December 1983 at The Marquee and released in 1984 on album and video, 'All Those Wasted Years' captures Hanoi Rocks at their very best live and in concert at the Wardour Street, London venue.  

You will notice that the above album cover that 'Wasted' is actually spelt 'Waisted'. When the album first came out the intitial run crept out with that cover, it's a bit of a rare sight to see these days (later releases had the correct spelling). The tracklisting on the Video is a little different to the album. 'Visitor', '11th Street Kids' and 'Lost in the City' are missing from the video and 'Blitzkrieg Bop' (with Razzle on vocals and Michael Monroe on drums) is missing from the album release.

Ever since it's release it has remained as one of my favourite ever Live Albums.