aka The Vinyl Villain incorporating Sexy Loser
#059: The Mekons– ‘Where Were You?’ (Fast Product ’78)
Good morning friends,
welcome to part 15.687 of my ever-ongoing series: „bands I missed in the first place“. I understand that young age is one reason for neglecting fine bands, but certainly another one is sheer stupidity – as it is the case here.
The Mekons were always around, fact. Another fact is that their name was a common one in the music papers I was able to read in the early/mid 80’s. Still, I never took the chance to delve deeper, to explore their background. Quite why I never did remains a mystery to me, as I said: they were always present and being mentioned in the papers, so there cannot have been a good reason for me not to care about them.
They first came to my attention with a track from their fourth album from 1984 (‘Fear & Whiskey’) and from then on I was always fond of what I heard from them, some tracks from all of the next albums, let’s say until 1989, were excellent!
But still it took me some more time to realize that their earlier singles were even better: it all started in 1978 with ‘Never Been In A Riot’, but the follow-up from the same year was the real must-have for me: ‘Where Were You?’
It simply is anthem-like for a song written with just two chords and one guitar riff. This and its lyrics about desperation and loneliness make it one of the most outstanding punk songs painting a melancholy picture of a delusional man in love – and there are many of those songs, mind you!
It starts rather emotional, vulnerable, and somewhat pathetic, but when the second verse hits, the sadness and pathos turns to suspicion as the speaker reveals his darker side.
These last lines are sweet, naïve, and devastating as the speaker has brought himself to a new level of dejection while the listener has figured out that this is not the story of star crossed lovers; it’s a one-sided obsession.
Quite magical, at least it is to me!
mp3: The Mekons – Where Were You?
I don’t have the original single, but a reissue from 2018 on Super Viaduct in yellow translucent vinyl … which, for me, is just as neat as the original is!
Take care
THE NEW VINYL VILLAIN 
That was a treat. I’ve never heard the song before – sorry, everyone. Like Dirk what I’d heard of Mekons I enjoyed, but never indulged, till So Good It Hurts due to Ghosts of American Astronauts (I’m all about the ‘hits’).
This has a post-puink swagger and snarl that appeals to me.
I also really like the tie-in with the single vinyl being yellow to match the “yellow hair” – a nice touch that also appeals.
Flimflamfan
All hail the local legend, the High Lord of Newport, Mr Jon Langford. This is a great single, no argument. I’ve always loved this little factoid (copied and pasted here from Wikipedia for ease: “The Mekons’ first album, The Quality of Mercy Is Not Strnen, was recorded using Gang of Four’s instruments, and due to an error by the Virgin Records’ art department, featured pictures of Gang of Four on the back cover.”
Fantastic song! Just two weeks ago I had the good fortune to see Langford/Timms play a small club gig backed by the Sadies. Langford was in top form, as per usual, but as a totally unexpected bonus they closed with ‘Where were you?’ Been to many Mekons/3 Johns/Wacos/Langford gigs since the 80’s and never heard that song played for some reason.
Great Post, Dirk!
Like everyone, I love Where Were You? and Ghosts…. I took today’s post as an opportunity to revisit George Forsyth’s Mekon ICA (#73). It was worth it because I missed Teeth (1980 version) on the first listen.
Thanks again [sk]
An absolute winner from the Sexy Loser! Dirk, one of my all-time favourite singles! So simple and yet so powerful. Loved it from the moment I first heard it on John Peel in 1978 and raced out to get a copy forthwith. Shortly afterwards I was lucky enough to see The Mekons at Clouds ballroom in Edinburgh, supporting The Rezillos. A legendary super-sweaty Edinburgh gig in summer 78. They came on stage and went something like: “SEVENTEEN, EIGHTEEN, NINETEEN, TWENTY!!!” Blam!!!!!!! [dirty big chord thrash]. And then walked off again. Came back on a few seconds later and shouted another sequence of numbers followed by Blam!!!!!!! [dirty big chord thrash]. And then probably a third time before they played their proper set, including Where Were You. I have always preferred the early Mekons to their subsequent alt-country reincarnation and have always regretted not buying The Quality of Mercy… Was surprised to read that Langford has virtually disowned or at least disparaged their early stuff. I think it’s great, the total amateurism of the playing is totally what makes it great, because the feeling and the sincerity and the originality shine through. Punk/post-punk genius. There are things that make you irritated to be as old as you are, like failing knees and unruly bladders, but this single and the memory of Clouds 1978 are things that make you give thanks to be an auld c***.
Great that one of my all time fave appear in this excellent series Dirk. The Mekons were ace at these days and I am glad to see them several times live.