Orange Juice – The Orange Juice (1984)
There’s a famous quote attributed to John Peel that, when he was asked by a listener which Fall record they should buy, he replied ‘You must get them all’.
It was a similar train of thought that initially led me to consider, in terms of Orange Juice and this rundown, including Coals To Newcastle, the 6xCD box set issued by Domino Records in 2010. After all, having been given a repress, it’s available for £45 direct from AED Records, the enterprise owned by Edwyn Collins, and in return you’ll have 130 pieces of music along with a DVD containing TV appearances, a couple of promo videos and a live gig that was originally released on VHS back in 1985. Click here if you’re interested.
But to have included this box set and ignored others, such as Heart and Soul, the 4xCD Joy Division boxset which dates from 1997, would have been unfair, and so I turned my attention to the rest of the OJ discography.
The final studio album, The Orange Juice, is the one I’ve selected for the rundown. Again, it wasn’t an easy choice, especially as there were options from the Postcard-era together as well as a compilation encompassing the three studio albums and one mini-LP from the Polydor years.
It’s been said, by others, that this record isn’t really that last in the life of Orange Juice, but the first solo release by Edwyn Collins. The group had whittled down to just two members, as indicated by the notes that accompany the album – ‘Orange Juice are Edwyn Collins and Zeke Manyika’. The record was made thanks to major contributions on bass from Clare Kenny (on loan from Amazulu) and producer Denis Bovell on keyboards.
Despite all this, or maybe perhaps because of this, the album proved to the tightest and most consistent that Orange Juice ever released. The history of the band had been littered with fall-outs and departures due to musical differences, but at long last, Edwyn had the final say on everything, ably assisted and advised by an experienced producer whom he liked and trusted. Another factor was that the major label contract signed back in 1981 was coming to an end, and with this almost certain to be the final set of recordings to be bankrolled by Polydor, Edwyn’s waspish sense of mischief meant he was determined to finally make the sort of record the bosses had been after since day one. The bosses, on the other hand, just wanted it done and dusted and weren’t prepared to offer much in promotional support beyond what was stipulated in the contract.
All of which meant that The Orange Juice, and its two majestic singles – What Presence?! and Lean Period – more or less passed everyone by, other than those of us who were paying close attention. Which was a crying shame, as its ten songs really demonstrated Edwyn’s talents as a writer and performer. There’s some jingly-jangly pop, there are soulful, crooning ballads, and there are guitar solos that his great friend Roddy Frame would have been proud of.
It didn’t sell all that well. I’m not sure if it’s an urban myth or not, but seemingly the cassette version sold more than the vinyl. I’m certainly someone who bought the tape, attracted by the fact that it came with seven additional 12″ mixes of singles from across the Polydor era, albeit a much-hoped for extended version of Love Sick, one of the Postcard-era single, turned out to be no more than the re-recorded version that had been made available with the 2 x 7″ release of Rip It Up a few years previously.
I’ve subsequently bought the album on CD and a few years back, as I was rediscovering the love for vinyl as a result of getting this blog up and running, I picked up a cheap second-hand copy of the original vinyl.
And yes, while I would tell anyone who has nothing more than a casual awareness of Orange Juice to buy the box set (and while you’re there, have a scan through the list of ‘thank-yous’ to spot my name!!), you should never miss out on the opportunity to own a copy of The Orange Juice, one of the best and most enjoyable LPs ever to come out of Scotland,
mp3: Orange Juice – The Artisans
At best all the rest are just also-rans………..
THE NEW VINYL VILLAIN 
Burning Desire should’ve been a single and gone on to be one of the biggest selling records ever.
I have a fierce love for all the Postcard singles and an abiding fondness for (Keir Starmer’s favourite LP) You Can’t Hide Your Love Forever. After that I’m afraid diminishing returns for me, although there were a few outstanding songs to come. Nothing ever matched the giddy, intense glory of Simply Thrilled though.
I expected this to be higher. Top 5 at least. Intrigued by what’s still to come.
Thanks for the news that “Coals To Newcastle” had been repressed! I can now buy it for less than three figures!
Superb choice
SC
I call your ‘The Orange Juice’ and raise you with ‘The Esteemed’!!
Let me sell my ‘go-to’ Orange Juice album to you:
1. Not only do you get 7 of the 10 tracks from ‘The Orange Juice’ (or 8 if you buy the cassette version) you also get 15 other superb tunes including ‘Falling and Laughing’, ‘Rip it Up’, ‘Consolation Prize’…..plus the vastly underrated ‘The Day I went to Texas’.
2. It is largely conceived and compiled by Edwyn himself.
3. Liner notes and artwork by Edwyn.
4. The sub-title is ‘….the Very best of’ – and…….it almost is (but no ‘Blue Boy’ or ‘Lovesick’- essential for me)
5. Available for under a tenner on eBay.
6. Guaranteed enjoyment and certain to put a smile on your face 🙂
Ahh, The Orange Juice – sheer class.
I was wondering which OJ album it would be
You might be surprised to learn that by 1984, in the USA at any rate, cassettes generated more income for the record industry than vinyl. The rise of the Sony Walkman can be thanked for that. By the end of the decade they were still holding their own against the rise of the CD. So perhaps the urban myth about sales of The Orange Juice aren’t so much myth after all.
Ah, but did the sceptics ‘get’ Orange Juice? What was big in 84 in the States? Nothing great as I recall but then I do have a massive aversion to American music, with a few exceptions.