It was back in January this year that plans were revealed for a new Sunday feature, in which I’d pick out a 7″ single from the now dangerously overcrowded storage area here in Villain Towers.
The idea was quickly shelved and replaced by the weekly series on the Pet Shop Boys singles, but I reckon it’s a good time to bring it back, albeit with a new name. Given there’s so many bits of vinyl to choose from, it’s a real possibility that you’ll be confronted with many a Lucky Dip over the coming weeks and months, especially as I’m really running out of ideas to try and keep you entertained.
Today’s offering was picked up in a second-hand shop a few years back for only a couple of pounds, turning out to be a wee bit of a bargain as it actually contained two pieces of vinyl.
Here’s wiki:-
April Skies is a song by Scottish alternative rock group the Jesus and Mary Chain and the first single from the group’s second studio album, Darklands (1987). The song was released by Blanco y Negro Records in April 1987, reaching No. 8 on the UK Single Chart, No. 6 in Ireland, and No. 16 in New Zealand, making it the band’s highest-charting single in all three countries.
mp3: The Jesus and Mary Chain – April Skies
It is certainly one of the most recognisable and accessible of all the Mary Chain records, and it’s plain to see that it had all the makings of a classic hit single as there is very much a pop side to it, albeit the dark and scuzzy side of pop. If it was the first ever real exposure of the band to a number of folk who bought the 45, I wonder if they curled up and screamed when they played it’s b-side:-
mp3: The Jesus and Mary Chain – Kill Surf City
There was a very fine write-up of the song back in May 2017 on a now defunct blog, Sounds Of The Radio:-
The flipside of April Skies contained the track ‘Kill Surf City’, which was intended to be a parody of sorts of the track ‘Surf City‘, by Jan And Dean. Written by Jan Berry and Brian Wilson of The Beach Boys, the original track is, as you’d probably expect, a stereotypically ’60s track about surf culture.
The Jesus And Mary Chain, however, their track is completely removed from the original version. Musically and melodically, it’s relatively similar, however the original’s lyrics of “You know we’re goin’ to Surf City, gonna have some fun,” are replaced with “I’m gonna kill surf city with a loaded gun, got to hit surf city like a nuclear bomb.” Suddenly, the upbeat positive nature of the original is replaced by the dissonant droning of guitars and violent imagery.
Any ideas of romantic bliss are also completely removed, with the new track featuring lyrics such as “I hate honey and she hates me, but that’s the way it’s supposed to be. I’m gonna run, gonna run till I hit the sun, some evil cunt’s gonna get my gun.” If you were ever going to mix up two tracks on a mixtape you made for your crush, make sure it isn’t these two.
Indeed.
As I mentioned at the outset, the copy of April Skies that I have is the limited edition 2 x 7″ version. Here’s what you’ll find on the bonus piece of plastic:-
mp3: The Jesus and Mary Chain – Mushroom (live)
mp3: The Jesus and Mary Chain – Bo Diddley Is Jesus
The former, recorded at a gig in Nuremberg, Germany in 1986, but I haven’t been able to track down the exact date or venue. It’s a cover, with the original dating back to 1971 when Can recorded it for the album Tago Mago. The Mary Chain played it on most of their live shows in late 85 and early 86.
The latter, with its refrain of “Head To Toe, I’m Dressed In Black” is ostensibly about the Brothers Reid but with a nod to a musician who they long had been in awe of.
THE NEW VINYL VILLAIN 
Now. Two things.
Firstly April Skies is a wonderful record.
Secondly, in about three weeks a similar series involving randomly picked 12 inches will start over at my place. I promise I’m not copying.
The first time I heard The Jesus and Mary Chain I was hooked. The 1st LP is a cracker but the second is a staggering achievement – so different from its predecessor. April Skies is a fantastic single – one I don’t own, surprisingly but thankfully have it via the LP. It seemed to be a time of double 7″ singles – if memory serves?
Do you mean that “Psychocandy” isn’t a staggering achievement??!! It’s merely a “cracker??!!” Sounds like I’ve been missing out on not having “Darklands” for some decades!
Double 7″ vinyl was a great thing- and this was a great single.
@postpunkmonk: Psychocandy was the illuminating introduction to a band and its sound at that time and as such was a cracker of a record. The thing about Darklands is/was that, for me, the ‘difficult’ second LP was a staggering achievement insomuch as it departed from the rawness of Psychocandy but retained all of its excitement. If I had to choose I’d choose Psychocandy but don’t make me choose. Two quite brilliant LPs.