45RPM: #110 The Story of the Blues - Wah! (1982)

The Story of the Blues Part One / The Story of the Blues Part Two (Talkin' Blues)

Eternal

Produced by Mike Hedges

Released December 1982

UK Chart #3

When it came to making Singles there was no one who quite did it like Pete Wylie. Prior to this release he'd already released two legendary 45s with Better Scream and Seven Minutes To Midnight. Whilst they didn't impact the chart (they were "hits" on the Indie chart) I still think they can (and should) be considered Great Singles.

With the release of his sixth single, The Story of the Blues, under the banner this time of Wah! he got himself a "real Hit Record", not just Top 20, or Top 10 but Top 3!

The B-Side, The Story of the Blues Part Two Talkin' Blues is Wylie telling us what we should do in the face of people putting us down and about reclaiming who we are (you didn't hear this kind of thing too much in pop records!):

 I remember how it was, how every medium - T.V. and papers and
radio and all those people were saying:

 "you're on the scrapheap, you're useless"

I remember how easy it was to start believe in that, 

I remember how you'd hear people take it for granted that it was true 

- just 'cause
someone with an ounce of power' said so.

So listen, when the smile, the condescending pat-on-the-back comes and says: "we're sorry, but you're nothing, you've got nothing for us 

and we've got nothing for you", 

you say: "no",and say it loud: "NO!"

John Peel declared that The Story of the Blues was his Single of the Year in 1982.

Basement Blues /Story of the Blues

John Peel Session

First Broadcast 17th September 1984

45RPM: #79-80 A Liverpool Double Header (1980)

Two brilliant singles were released on this day in 1980 both stemming from Liverpool. First up Teardrop Explodes and their third single on Zoo Records - Treason. It was a #3 hit on the Indie Charts and when re-released when they signed to a major label a year later it reached #18 in the UK Charts. The B-Side is absolutely brilliant, Co-written by Julian Cope and Ian McCulloch of Echo and the Bunnymen.

And then Wah! Heat's Debut single on Inevitable Music. I realise I already posted it on The Brits piece I did moments ago but it does sit a whole lot better here.

Treason

B-Side: Read It In Books.

 

Better Scream

B-Side: Hey (Disco) Joe.

45RPM: #48 Seven Minutes To Midnight - Wah! Heat (1980)

The debut single from Liverpool's Wah! Heat, Better Scream (backed by Hey (Disco) Joe) was an absolute belter of a record but with the release of their 2nd 45, Seven Minutes To Midnight, they went a step further and produced what I think is one of the greatest singles on an Independent label ever.

They had recorded the song earlier in the year for their first John Peel Session (see link down at the bottom of the page) and whilst I love the single version of Seven Minutes To Midnight, it is the Peel Session Version that I think stands as the definitive version (not sure that others agree but that's my take on it).

Right Side: Seven Minutes to Midnight...To Be Continued

Left Side: Don't Step On The Cracks

Wah! Heat

Inevitable Records

1980 

(there seems to be some debate as to when this was released, a couple of places have it as a September release, others October and someone else I saw had it as a November release. Seeing that the song is in my mind at present I'll post it today as an October release - I'll see if I can ask Wylie, he'll know best)

Right Side:

 Left Side:

Wah! Heat Peel Session 1980.

Recorded 19th May

Broadcast 10th June

01 Seven Minutes To Midnight

02. Don't Step On The Cracks

03. Some Say

04 Other Boys