aka The Vinyl Villain incorporating Sexy Loser
#042– The Jesus and Mary Chain – ‘You Trip Me Up’ (Blanco y Negro Records ’85)
Hello friends,
yes, to Scotland we go today – to East Kilbride in fact, because this is where The Jesus & Mary Chain come from. By the way, did you know it’s just ten miles from East Kilbride’s town center to Glasgow’s Sauchiehall Street?
Now, the question I have been asking myself for quite some years is (quite a long sentence to follow, so grab yourself a beer and be prepared): how on earth is it possible that Jim Reid, probably one of the world’s most miserable gits, although sulking depressively most of the day, and, but that’s just my personal opinion, by all accounts having had a few too much to drink most of the day, is able to express himself in a tone which is absolutely easily understandable, totally problem-free even (also for me – and English is not my mother language), regardless whether he speaks or sings – whereas you just stand there, perplexed, helpless, because you don’t understand A SINGLE BLOODY WORD whenever JC or Drew open their mouths?! And, believe it or not, those two are a big fluffy bed of roses against Craig from Plain or Pan ….. and, as I said, it’s just ten fucking miles ..wtf!!!
The Mary Chain, well, all has been said about them, right? I won’t bore you with details, so, like their songs, this may well turn out to be a brief post, if you’re lucky. What is important though, I think – and I have been contemplating about this a lot, didn’t come to a different conclusion though – in all of the mid 80’s, there has not been any other band that changed music for me as drastically as The Jesus & Mary Chain have done. Their stuff was so “new” to me, so unheard – I immediately fell in love with them, bought their records and even had the chance to see them live a few times in their early days.
But which single to take for the series? I mean, there are quite a lot to choose from, all very good. And that’s another bonus of the band: they remained being wonderful, at least in my book. Differently, yes, but wonderful (I mean, come on – even ‘Damage & Joy’ had its moments, right?). To be honest I first wanted to include the double 7” of ‘April Skies’ from 1987, a brilliant song by all accounts, no question about this. But then I realized that ‘April Skies’ doesn’t really stand for what made the band so ‘big’ to me back in 1985, so I invested a bit more cash to buy and put this one into the 111 singles – box:
mp3: The Jesus and Mary Chain – You Trip Me Up
I still have the original 12”, you see, but this doesn’t count, obviously. And although the purchase might have been a bit nerdy perhaps, I needed to have it. Why? Well, it always was my favorite track from ‘Psychocandy’ and thus it best represents the musical change that The Jesus & Mary Chain managed to institute with me in 1985.
Enjoy,
THE NEW VINYL VILLAIN 
For me, the problem has never been having a conversation with JC or with Drew. They keep things pretty easy for the rest of us. The real quandary has always been trying to follow a conversation BETWEEN JC and Drew. Of course, the same can probably be said between any two Scots… God love ‘em! Another fine selection today, Dirk. Nearly as good as the Jasmine Minks last time. – Brian
Language has many accents and dialects. Scotland is not unique in this regard. I do however wonder if there is a comparable, small city anywhere that has as many accents and dialects as Glasgow? I guess there must be?
When I was growing up East Kilbride was viewed as ‘posh’. The crowds that the Reids associated with were mostly middle-class or aspiring middle-class. Just listen to the accents of any of the associated bands – few, if any of them, speak in a broad Glaswegian or Lanarkshire accent.
And when friends get together – do they not fall into a kind of short-hand with each other? Our experiences shape us and our accent may change. Mine has. In conclusion… JC is on the right side of polite when he speaks but when all is said and done, he’s still a wee bawbag fae an East End housing scheme.
To the matter in hand. A superb choice of single. A difficult choice with so many to choose from – particularly from that era.
I’d always go for Never Understand (it means a lot to me) but You Trip Me Up is a cracker too. In fact, any single from 1984 to 1989 (and a couple after that too).
A delight, as ever, Dirk.
Flimflamfan
A great choice and, as you say, so many to choose from. My personal pick if I was making my box selection would be the double 7″ of ‘Some Candy Talking’ mostly to get the acoustic Peel session in there too. Splitting hairs I know, as there’s a queue of great J&MC singles sitting alongside the box.
PS. Wee bawbag is intended as a term of endearment – it could read otherwise. Language, eh?
Flimflamfan
FFF……the wee bawbag comment was very much taken as a term of endearment!
Wee bawbag, lol.
I saw theMary Chain do their Psychocandy re- union tour a few years ago. Pleasingly they fucked up the intro to You Trip Me Up Twice. Got there on the 3rd attempt.
Great read, Dirk. You Trip Me Up or Some Candy Talking for me.
But there’s a fair few contenders. Blues From a Gun for one.
Reverence for another. Gosh.
Strangeways