Let The Day Begin...Let The Day Start!: Day 344 - The Chords

(Chris Pope, Brett "Buddy" Ascott, Billy Hassett and Martin Mason)

Between 1978-81 one of the hottest live bands in London were the Deptford (South East London) lads, The Chords. They were one of the really great bands to come out of the whole Mod Revival. they only released one album (and one of the finest debut albums in my book) and seven singles, but each release was quality product. The original line-up got back together in 2010 for a tour. Nowadays the legacy of The Chords is continued by Chris Pope under the banner of The Chords UK.

Captain Mod (sister label to Captain Oi) released this great compilation of all their singles with a few bonus tracks thrown in like the free single that came with the Debut Album So Far Away for a limited time (Things We Said/Now It's Gone - 1980 Version) and the unissued single of So Far Away (I have no idea why it went unreleased). Along with all the B-Sides here's The Chords at their superb best.

Why some of these singles were not bigger hits I do not know but if I were to hazard a guess it was because Polydor Records just didn't put the same energy into them that they were doing with the likes of The Jam (that's understandable) and maybe even new boys at the time The Vapours (who whilst good were not a patch on The Chords!).

 The Mod Singles Collection - The Chords

Captain Mod

Released 2008

 Track List
1. Now It's Gone (Single Version)
2. Don't Go Back
3. Maybe Tomorrow
4. I Don't Wanna Know
5. Hey Girl
6. Something's Missing
7. This Is What They Want
8. Now It's Gone (1980 Version)
9. Things We Said (Free Single with So Far Away Album with Now It's Gone 1980 version on B-Side)
10. The British Way Of Life
11. The Way It's Gonna Be
12. In My Street
13. I'll Keep Holding On
14. One More Minute
15. Who's Killing Who
16. Turng Away Again
17. Turn Away Again Again
18. Empty Dreams (Unissued Single)
19. So Far Away (Unissued Single Edit)
20. Now It's Gone (Unissued 1979 12' Single)

 Notes on Singles

Now It's Gone / Don't Go Back 

September 1979 

UK #63

 

Maybe Tomorrow / I Don't Wanna Know / Hey Girl 

January 1980

 UK Chart #40

Something's Missing / This Is What They Want

April 1980

UK Chart #55

The British Way of Life / The Way It's Gotta Be 

July 1980

 UK Chart #54

  

In My Street / I'll Keep On Holding On October 1980

UK Chart #50

One More Minute / Who's Killing Who May 1981

UK Chart #87

Turn Away Again* / Turn Away Again, Again 

August 1981

UK Chart #139

*Features Kip Herring on vocals 

****************************

Let The Day Begin...Let The Day Start!

45RPM: #47 In My Street - The Chords (1980)

Fifth single from The Chords and the last one to feature Billy Hasset and their last to reach the charts, albeit at #50.

I love the B-Side of this. A great cover of I'll Keep On Holding On which had been done by The Action but the original was by The Marvelettes.

In My Street (Chris Pope) / I'll keep on holding on (Ivy Hunter / William Stevenson) - The Chords
Polydor POSP 185
Released: October 1980

UK Chart #50

45RPM: #26 Now It's Gone - The Chords (1979)

Next to The Jam one of the most vital bands to be a part of the whole Mod Revival (though it should be noted that The Jam were not really part of the scene since they had been on the go for a good few years prior to it) of the late 1970's were The Chords.

 The Chords Left to Right:

Chris Pope - Guitar and Vocals, Brett "Buddy" Ascott - Drums, Martin Mason - Bass and Vocals, and Billy Hassett - Guitar and Vocals

First time I ever saw them live was at The Wellington in Waterloo, before they had signed a deal with anyone and they were truly outstanding. There was an energy to their performance that you didn't see in the likes of Merton Parkas or Squire shows. The only other band I thought came close to matching their intensity at the time were The Purple Hearts. Click on the link below to get the story of the band's beginning, Chris Hunt did a fine job writing that.

On 14th September 1979 The Chords released their debut single, Now It's Gone, it barely snuck into the charts stalling at #63. Personally I think the B-Side, Don't Go Back, was a far better song (The Chords Fansite said of the song, "The B side is okay" - oh the enthusiasm!).

They would of course go on to make a couple of better singles than this one and for the life of me I cannot understand why some of their singles were not at least Top 20, infact none of their singles even made the Top 30 with only their second single Maybe Tomorrow gettting close at #40.

The Story of The Chords by Chris Hunt.

 Now It's Gone / Don't Go Back

Polydor

Produced by Peter Wilson

Released 14th September 1979

UK Chart #63

 A-Side: Now It's Gone

B-Side: Don't Go Back

The John Peel Sessions 

3rd July 1979.

 Now It's Gone.

It's No Use

Something's Missing

Maybe Tomorrow.

 

11th March 1980.

Tumbling Down.

Happy Families.

So Far Away. 

 

The Remaining 45RPM's of The Chords 1980-81

• Maybe Tomorrow / I Don't Wanna Know / Hey Girl (1980) – UK No. 40.
• Something's Missing / This Is What They Want (1980) – UK No. 55.
• The British Way of Life / The Way It's Gotta Be (1980) – UK No. 54.
• In My Street / I'll Keep On Holding On (1980) – UK No. 50.
• One More Minute / Who's Killing Who (1981) - UK No. 87.
• Turn Away Again / Turn Away Again, Again (1981)* - UK No. 139!
•  *Features Kip Herring on vocals

 

Alphabet Beats #020: The Letter C is for...The Chords

C is for...

The Debut Album

Between 1978-81 one of the hottest live bands in London were the South East London lads, The Chords. They were one of the really great bands to come out of the whole Mod Revival. they only released one album and eight singles, but each release was quality product. The original line-up got back together in 2010 for a tour. Nowadays the legacy of The Chords is continued by Chris Pope under the banner of The Chords UK.

Click On The Links To Enjoy The Music Of The Chords.

Chris Pope, Brett "Buddy" Ascott, Billy Hassett and Martin Mason

In September 1979 they released their debut single, Now It's Gone, it barely snuck into the charts stalling at #63. Personally I think the B-Side, Don't Go Back, was a far better song (The Chords Fansite said of the song, "The B side is okay" - oh the enthusiasm!).

The Chords sounded like a mixture of The Who, The Small Faces and The Action.

Check out the rest of The Chords' story under the Biography Section of the fan site.

Compilation

Listen to 'The Chords Anthology' Here.

Live Albums

 Happy Families.
 So Far Away.
I'll Keep Holding On.
Tumbling Down.
Breaks My Heart.

 Listen To 'It Was Twenty Years Ago Today' Here.

The Singles

• Now It's Gone / Don't Go Back (1979) – UK No. 63.
• Maybe Tomorrow / I Don't Wanna Know / Hey Girl (1980) – UK No. 40.
• Something's Missing / This Is What They Want (1980) – UK No. 55.
• The British Way of Life / The Way It's Gotta Be (1980) – UK No. 54.
• In My Street / I'll Keep On Holding On (1980) – UK No. 50.
• One More Minute / Who's Killing Who (1981) - UK No. 87.
• Turn Away Again / Turn Away Again, Again (1981)* - UK No. 139!
• Another Thing Coming (Live version as can't find studio version) (2010). 
• *Features Kip Herring on vocals
  
   
  The John Peel Sessions 
  3rd July 1979.
  1. Now It's Gone.
  2. It's No Use.
  3. Something's Missing.
  
  4. Maybe Tomorrow.
  11th March 1980.
  1. Tumbling Down.
  2. Happy Families.
  3. So Far Away.
  
  
  The Chords Live 2010
  
  
  
  The Garage, London - 21st August.
  
  
  Rescue Rooms, Nottingham - 24th August.
  Something's Missing.
  Another Thing Coming.
  Maybe Tomorrow. 
  
  
  This Post is dedicated to all who spent a night rocking out at The Wellington in Waterloo and to The Forest Hill and Sydenham Mods

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.