#90

Drifting away from the all Aussie vibe this week, though As Clear As Day were one of the great roster of bands on Rampant. After which we have the original Comsat Angels ( well before the later US/Howlett version ), the 3rd single from Jasmine Minks, Ye Olde Moz & Co, Ye Olde Weller & Co, a very Martin Hannett sounding Magazine, some Japan from a double pack 7 ( where I guess the "real" single is Cantonese Boy ), the UK release of Modern Girl, credited only to "James Freud", scandalously no credit given to the Radio Stars ( or Berlin as they had to change their name to in the UK ), and rounding it out with the 3rd Raw Herbs single and some latter day soft-as-marshmallows Housemartins.

Speaking of James Freud, here's a great account of his time spent in the UK with Gary Numan - it's all there, the caravan, the cups of tea, the farting...a very funny read.

Podcast 90 link for mp3

Sideroom 7 Inch Singles Podcast #90
1. Some Excited Feeling - As Clear As Day ( Rampant Recs Aust 1985 )
2. Independence Day - Comsat Angels ( Polydor 1980 )
3. What's Happening - Jasmine Minks ( Creation 1985 )
4. Ask - The Smiths ( Rough Trade 1986 )
5. Money Go Round ( Pt 1 ) - The Style Council ( Polydor 1983 )
6. A Song From Under The Floorboards - Magazine ( Virgin 1980 )
7. Gentlemen Take Polaroids - Japan ( Virgin 1980 )
8. Modern Girl - James Freud ( Carrere 1982 )
9. She's A Nurse But She's Alright - The Raw Herbs ( Medium Cool 1987 )
10. Build - The Housemartins ( Go! Discs 1987 )
( duration 35 mins, vbr lame mp3 )

#89 - need some obscure early 80's Aussie tracks??

Then you're definitely in the right place !

Let me start by pointing out that single today by The The is NOT by the latter Matt Johnson UK outing, the band here today is the Sydney band, kicking around the inner city at the time, when young Matt was a mere slip of lad, a twinkle in the eye of his old Burning Blue Soul megaphone. "Living In Darlinghurst" a grinding rock tale of life in the dark reaches of urban life ( somehow managing to get a cheap dig in at French's in Darlinghurst among other things ).

We start with a track engineered by Clive Shakespeare ( he of ex-Sherbert fame ), by Trans 262, who if memory serves me correctly started life as ME 262, but with the advent of good ol' MEO 245 they changed their name, the reason given "to avoid confusion". So, um ...er...perhaps making a tacit statement that the punters of the time were perhaps too dumb to pick the difference...???...dunno...

Following hot on their heels is the highly produced ( yet strangely infectious - even 31 years later ) single by Dallimore - featuring Newcastle legend ( Newcastle, NSW that is, not the Alan Shearer territory ) John Dallimore, a former Zoot man.

The another legend - totes legend - Peter Dawkins - in the producer's chair for Sydney band Ves 8, one of their 2 singles ( yes the other one "Ritz Rock" is somewhere around the house ). By the way, speaking of Peter Dawkins, this website outlines Peter's book "The Ice Cream Boy", an autobiography and an accompanying CD "For Pete's Sake", a benefit CD, the proceeds of which aid Peter in costs for his ongoing treatment for Parkinson's, a more than worthy cause given Peter's great contribution to the Oz music scene.

A couple of songs today from the Result Records label, The Eighty-Eights and The Jukes, those bands one half of the entire stable of the label - The Motivators and Colin Stead being the other releases on this short lived Polygram Sydney imprint. I have all the other singles, which will show up one day eventually, which I hope is good news ( ?? !!?? ).

A couple of Sandgropers too ( um, that's people from Perth ), a totally indie effort from The Dugites from 1979 and The Stockings, featuring Bernie Lynch - later of Euroglider's fame ( in earlier Stockings days travelling under the moniker "Rip Torn" ).

Sydney band Tigers ( another oddly catchy thang ) and Brisbane's Mr Meaner are also part of it all today...

as they say in the classics - get it into ya - and enjoy :)

Podcast 89 link for mp3

Sideroom 7 Inch Singles Podcast #89
1. Don't Hold Me Down - Trans 262 ( no label EMI Custom Aust 1981 )
2. We Are The Kids - Dallimore ( EMI Aust 1980 )
3. Radio Love - VES 8 ( Ch 7 Recs Aust 1980 )
4. Living In Darlinghurst - The The ( no label EMI Custom Aust 1980 )
5. She Fell In Love With James Bond - The Eighty-Eights ( Result Recs Aust 1981 )
6. Hit Single - The Dugites ( no label EMI Custom Aust 1979 )
7. Lets Get Started - Tigers ( EMI Aust 1981 )
8. She's A Devil - The Stockings ( Astor Aust 1980 )
9. Don't Put Me Away - The Jukes ( Result Recs Aust 1980 )
10. I Dig The TV - Mr Meaner ( Peanut Republic Recs Aust 1980 )
( duration 31 mins, vbr lame mp3 )

#88

Back again, starting with a US promo 7" of Iris by Split Enz ( from the album "Waiata" aka "Corroboree" depending how you know it ), then Sydney Band the Tablewaiters ( produced by Spencer Lee - as is the later Outline track ). After that it's Magazine's first single, the 2nd single by Au Pairs - in fact the b-side of 'Diet", "It's Obvious" being an early version of song that was on their later 'Playing With A Different Sex" album.

Then it's a Sydney band "Free Kicks" and their one and only single ( to my knowledge ), and I have to admit the "little grey cells" are failing me in the memory dept. on this band, all I can recall is they're from Sydney and I bought the record approximately 80-81. Feel free to let me know anything you may know/remember about the band !

After that it's Sandie and Moz's mates, Ignatius and his mates, the dudes from Heaven 17, Sydney band Outline's 3rd single, and a Side 2 track from a 4 song Ep by The Wonder Stuff.

as always, enjoy :)

Podcast 88 link for mp3

Sideroom 7 Inch Singles Podcast #88
1. Iris - Split Enz ( A&M Promo 1981 )
2. Scattered Visions - The Tablewaiters ( Powderworks Aust 1984 )
3. Shot By Both Sides - Magazine ( Virgin 1978 )
4. It's Obvious - Au Pairs ( 021 records 1980 )
5. Industrial Prisoners - Free Kicks ( Know Records Aust 1980? or 81 ? )
6. Hand in Glove - Sandie Shaw ( Rough Trade 1984 )
7. Products Of Your Mind - Jimmy And The Boys ( Avenue Aust 1980 )
8. The Height Of The Fighting - Heaven 17 ( Virgin 1981 )
9. How Can I Get Out ? - Outline ( Powderworks Aust 1981 )
10. Rave From The Grave - The Wonder Stuff ( Polydor 1988 ) 
( duration 35 mins, vbr lame mp3 )

#87 Vale Martin

Rushent that is, who sadly left us earlier this year, one of the two great "Martin" Producers of the 80's ( the other being Hannett ).

Bit of a shame then that my copy of Love Action is on particularly crappy Aussie vinyl - ie from a period when some of the record companies in Australia were using the thinnest cheapest vinyl they could source.

We start today with Spy v.Spy, and you might be interested to know they are sharing all their albums on their own website - here.

Other than that, it's our usual random collection today - randomness the only way that fate could possibly conceive The Seekers followed by Rockmelons...though in my head I've always had Ray Rockmelon down as a closet Seeker's fan ;}

as always, enjoy :)

Podcast 87 link for mp3

Sideroom 7 Inch Singles Podcast #87
1. Injustice - Spy V. Spy ( Powderworks Aust 1985 )
2. The Sound Of God - Watusi Now ( Hot Aust 1984 )
3. Love Action - Human League ( Virgin 1981 )
4. This Is The Day - The The ( Some Bizzare 1983 )
5. Falling In and Out- Mi-Sex ( CBS Aust 1981 )
6. I'll Never Find Another You - The Seekers ( W&G Aust 1964 )
7. Sweat It Out - Rockmelons ( Truetone Aust 1985 )
8. Look At Me Now - The Mysterons ( no label ( EMI Custom ) Aust 1982 )
9. Talk Talk- Talk Talk ( EMI 1982 )
10. I Didn't Mean To Be Mean - Mental As Anything ( Regular Aust 1982 )
( duration 34 mins, vbr lame mp3 )

#86....er...um that's not C86 though !!

The cover scans are back now as well :)

Today we kick off with the 4th 7 from The Triffids, the Bad Timing 4-track ep, then there's some kind of trouble up in Slough it seems ( But Mssrs Weller and Co. will talk you through that ), then some Hoodoos ( also their 4th 7" ) ( still back in Ye Olde James Baker dayes ). Bill Nelson I'm sure you know, then it's an all Aussie feast ala Sydney band The Eyes, Perth's The Marigolds, Mr Kelly should be familiar ( as is the very J.Camilleri sounding production ), some Warumpis, a b-side for the Gobs ( the a-side "Cut it Out" isn't exactly their finest work ) and finally Ye Olde Kiddes.

all there to enjoy :)

Podcast 86 link for mp3

Sideroom 7 Inch Singles Podcast #86
1. Bad Timing - The Triffids ( White Label Aust 1982 )
2. The Eton Rifles - The Jam ( Polydor 1979 )
3. I Want You Back - Hoodoo Gurus ( Big Time Aust 1984 )
4. Do You Dream In Colour ? - Bill Nelson ( Cocteau Recs 1980 )
5. City Livin' - The Eyes ( ATA Aust 1980 )
6. Feel Of You - The Marigolds ( Cherrytop Aust 1984 )
7. Billy Baxter - Paul Kelly & The Dots ( Mushroom Aust 1980 )
8. Breadline - The Warumpi Band ( Powderworks Aust 1985 )
9. Time In The Desert- The Go-Betweens ( Beggars Banquet 1987 )
10. Current Stand - Kids In the Kitchen ( White Label Aust 1985 )
( duration 32 mins, vbr lame mp3 )

#85 - This blog is back in full swing !!

After a long break I realised I've still got hundreds of 7-inch records just "lying around" on the floor - like it was way back on Post#1 - so I figured, waaaay time to blog all the rest that I never got around to, so here we go :)

We kick off with a UK release of Jo Jo Zep & the Falcons, which was blogged earlier on #10, but the UK version it is today ( ever so slightly different mastering ), then Melbourne's Serious Young Insects featuring Peter Farnan ( he of later fame in Boom Crash Opera ), a bside to "Way Behind Me" by The Primitives, followed by the dearly departed James Freud, another Melbourne band Wrecked Jets on Au-Go-Go ( a label featured often here ),then the first Allniters single, some Reels, Stars ( single/title cut from the Land Of Fortune album ), another b-side for the Clash ( other side of Clampdown ), and lastly latter-day Creation ala Pacific.

definitely back, heaps more to come, please enjoy -

Podcast 85 link for mp3

Sideroom 7 Inch Singles Podcast #85
1. All I Wanna Do - Jo Jo Zep & The Falcons ( WEA UK 1980 )
2. Trouble Understanding Words - Serious Young Insects ( Epic/Native Tongue Aust 1981 )
3. All The Way Down - Primitives ( Lazy 1988 )
4. Automatic Crazy - James Freud & Berlin ( Mushroom Aust 1981 )
5. The Howling Life - Wrecked Jets ( Au Go Go Aust 1980 )
6. She Made A Monkey Out Of Me - Allniters ( Green Recs Aust 1981 )
7. Shout & Deliver - The Reels ( Mercury Aust 1981 )
8. Land Of Fortune - Stars ( Mushroom Aust 1979 )
9. Guns Of Brixton - The Clash ( Epic 1980 )
10. Shrift - Pacific ( Creation 1989 )
( duration 32 mins, vbr LAME mp3 )

2nd mix up on Everything. Alright!

featuring

Earth First, Sleuth, The Burning Hearts, Arsenic!, Seapony, The Motifs, Zipper, The Church, Liechtenstein, The History Of Apple Pie, Boa Constrictor, The Andersen Tapes, The Haircuts & Everything Gone Green

head on over and check it out :)

#84 - The Rescued 12's Pt 2

Back with part 2 of this series - see last post for an explanation :)

Podcast 84 link for mp3



Sideroom 7 Inch Singles Podcast #84
1. In Spite Of These Times - Close Lobsters ( Fire 1987 )
2. Just For A While ( If Ever ) - Jesse Garon & The Desperadoes ( Speed 1987 )
3. Meet Me On Tuesdays - The Brilliant Corners ( SS20 1986 )
4. Think! - The Jasmine Minks ( Creation 1988 )
5. The Sun A Small Star - The Servants ( Creation 1986 )
6. The Fun Has Arrived - The Dentists ( Antler 1988 )
7. Mary Day - The Razorcuts ( Subway 1986 )
8. Cherry Bomb - The Fizzbombs ( Calculus 1987 )
9. Uptight - The Darling Buds ( Native 1987 )
10. Was There Anything I Could Do ?? - The G0-Betweens ( Mushroom Aust 1988 )
( duration 30 mins, 320kps mp3 )

#83 - "The Rescued 12 Inches Vol 1"

Introducing a new concept today - "The Rescued 12 Inches"....for many many years I had a great deal of my records stored "off site" - in other words not in my house, there were just too many to have in one house and cart around with me when I moved house etc etc. The ones stored elsewhere were all my albums/12 inch singles. Unfortuantely there was an accident in the roof of where they were stored and over 90% of these records got totally waterlogged in recent big rain storms we had in Sydney and ruined beyond use. I lost over 500+ records !!! Yes gone forever and not retrievable. 

I managed to save about 150-200 though, so it's not all bad news.

What's gone to that big turntable heaven is the sky is stylistically pretty much similar to the kind of releases that have featured here as 7 inches.

Hence it's time for the "Rescued 12 Inches"  -

Hope that makes sense !!

So today it's 10 songs from the hearty survivors who made it through the carnage

Ok all that explained - we kick off with The Pastels, obviously the a-side/main track, followed by the Weddoes from the 12 of "Why Are You Being So Reasonable Now". Then it's a track from side 2 of the original Lazy 12/1st version of "Thru The Flowers" by The Primitives, some McCarthy from the 12 of "Should The Bible Be Banned ?".

After that it's some David Westlake ( teaming up with some Triffids ) on his so-called "solo mini album" ( post The Servants ), the Choo Choo Train omnibusy type Subway 12, then my old Sydney faves The Lighhouse Keepers second release a 12 called "The Exploding Lighthouse Keepers" - also featuring a much better track "Springtime" but sadly that has a jump/scratch, but it's been on a few of those Aussie comps of the era so not so hard to hear..

An Aussie version of The Railway Children's "Reunion Wilderness" album which featured extra tracks to the UK version, followed by those likeable Irish lads who really do love Penelope, with one of the 4 songs on their ep.

Wrapping it all up with The Wolfhounds and the A-side of that particular 12, it was a toss up between "Cruelty" and "I See You" from side 2...

ok, the good thing is these records still exist in my collection so especially..please enjoy !!!! -

ps my scanner is still wobbly - ie the Hey Paulette 12 isn't two-tones of white....yet that's how it shows up via my scanner..

Podcast 83 link for mp3



Sideroom 7 Inch Singles Podcast #83
1. I'm Alright With You - The Pastels ( Creation 1985 )
2. Not From Where I'm Standing - The Wedding Present ( Reception 1988 )
3. She Don't Need You - The Primitives ( Lazy 1986 )
4. Saint Francis Amongst The Mortals - McCarthy ( September Recs 1988 )
5. The Word Around Town - Westlake ( Creation 1987 )
6. Big Blue Buzz - Choo Choo Train ( Subway 1988 )
7. The Beat ( I Want My Loving Back ) - The Lighthouse Keepers ( no label Aust 1983 )
8. Careful - The Railway Children ( Factory Australasia 1987 )
9. Commonplace - Hey Paulette ( Mickey Rourke's Fridge 1990 )
10. Cruelty - The Wolfhounds ( Pink 1987 )
( duration 29 mins, 320kps mp3 )

#82 - some more flexis

A couple of Sha La La flexis today, so forgive the noticeable quality, especially The Siddeleys, though Baby Lemonade is nice a fuzzy and maybe gains from the flexi surface...dunno...

I had to do some wonder surgery on The Fizzbombs as there was a scratch - which was causing it to get stuck on a note - interesting loop but by the wonders of a sneaky edit I got around that :) No tricks needed for the Rote Kapelle ( the connection with The Fizzbombs being shared members, also shared members of Jesse Garon & The Desperadoes ).

And yeah, seems to be a run of Strawberry Story and Echo & the Bunnymen lately...whateva treva no complaints I'm guessing...

enjoy !!!! -

Podcast 82 link for mp3




Sideroom 7 Inch Singles Podcast #82
1. Farewell Dear Bonnie - The Orchids ( Sarah 1989 )
2. Sign On The Line - The Fizzbombs ( Narodnik 1986?7? )
3. Sunday - Rote Kapelle ( In Tape 1986 )
4. Jiffy Neckwear Creation - Baby Lemonade ( Sha La La 1987 )
5. Wherever You Go - The Siddeleys ( Sha La La 1987)
6. Go Ahead Cry - St Christopher ( no label 1986 )
7. Foolish Boy - The Jack Rubies ( Lush 1989 )
8. Kissamatic Love Bubble - Strawberry Story ( Daisy Chain 1990 )
9. Map Of The World - The Coen Dollies ( Medium Cool 1988 )
10. Rescue - Echo & The Bunnymen ( Korova 1980 )
( duration 28 mins, 320kps mp3 )

#81 - Greetings West Sussex !!

Starting today with The Friendly Fires circa 1986 from West Sussex....apparentely there's a new artist who pinched the name ( confusing everybody - it should be a floggable offence, taking on as your band name one that's already been used ). Anyhow The Friendly Fires we have here list their address on the back - 12 The Chase, Furnace Green, Crawley, West Sussex - so here's the Google Earth link...

http://maps.google.com.au/maps?f=q&hl=en&geocode=&q=12+The+Chase,+Furnace+Green,+Crawley,+West+Sussex+UK&sll=-25.335448,135.745076&sspn=68.015291,113.203125&ie=UTF8&ll=51.108264,-0.178013&spn=0.012125,0.027637&t=h&z=15&iwloc=addr

Apologies to whoever lives there now but hey it's on the back of the record !!

After that we go Strawberry Story, some Talulah then a flexi from The Haywains ( "The Surfin Towbridge ep " ) ( one of 2 "surf based" songs on today's mix ). Sadly my technical abilities in cleaning up flexis are a bit lacking - crackles and pops on normal vinyl I have a nice little app ( Click Repair ) but removing the all encompassing surface noise of a flexi is a bit out of my league. Could be an issue having had a sneak peak in the pile and seen there's some more flexi's comin thru soon ( Sha La La anyone ? ?? ).

Then I'd forgotten what a great single "Beat Girl" is !! Woohoo.

A second appearance by The Lighthouse Keepers with "Gargoyle", they'd previously popped up with this song on #11, but I think you should know that I have more than 2 copies of this single. I have...wait for it....6 copies !! This is cos they all had individual handmade and coloured sleeves, so I wanted as many as possible. I originally had 7 but gave one away as a swap ( can't remember what for exactly ). Great song though and well worth another listen.

After that it's young Roddy in the driver's seat, a b-side for The Hit Parade, Scottish Surf ala 53rd & 3rd records with The Beat Poets and rounding it out with The Darling Buds ( by the time they'd lost their edge ).

much fun so go get 'em -

Podcast 81 link for mp3




Sideroom 7 Inch Singles Podcast #81
1. Arkansas - The Friendly Fires ( Deadbug 1986 )
2. Close My Eyes - Strawberry Story ( Waaah! 1991 )
3. Bringing Up Baby - Talulah Gosh ( 53rd & 3rd 1987 )
4. Bythesea Road - The Haywains ( Woosh 1988 )
5. Beat Girl - The Wishing Stones ( Head 1986 )
6. Gargoyle - The Lighthouse Keepers ( Gutthaga Pipeline Aust 1983 )
7. Mattress Of Wire - Aztec Camera ( Postcard 1981 )
8. Wipe Away The Tears - The Hit Parade ( JSH Records 1986 )
9. Rebel Surf - The Beat Poets ( 53rd & 3rd 1988 )
10. Burst - The Darling Buds ( Epic 1988 )
( duration 31 mins, 320kps mp3 )