A GUEST POSTING by LEON MACDUFF
Had this collaboration never happened, I very much doubt it would be high on anyone’s list of “what ifs”. I mean, I like Oxford effect-pedal enthusiasts Ride, and I like short-lived Edinburgh indie power-poppers The Motorcycle Boy, but it would never occur to me to put them together. Nevertheless, on 1 December 1989 ex-Shop Assistants frontwoman Alex Taylor, at that point plying her trade with The Motorcycle Boy, joined Ride in the studio to lay down a pair of Blondie covers. I would like to tell you how this came about but sorry, your guess is as good as mine.
At this point you could say that the two parties were heading in opposite directions. The Motorcycle Boy were still a going concern, but they had just been dropped by Chrysalis after their singles sales failed to live up to expectations, their debut (and only) album Scarlet left in limbo. It eventually came out thirty years later, but Taylor didn’t live to see it. In contrast, Ride were very much on the up, having recently signed to Creation and about to release their debut EP, in the process giving Alan McGee’s previously cult-ish label its first proper chart action.
So Ride at least had something to celebrate when they played a hometown gig at Oxford Jericho Tavern on 22 December 1989. They then stayed on for a private party at which Taylor joined them for a covers set, and from which guests were sent home with a tape of their collaboration under the name of (what else?) Motorcycle Ride. In 1993, Fierce Recordings issued the songs on 7″ and as you can tell from the minor surface noise, it’s via that release that you get to hear them today.
And are they any good? Well… not especially, but who cares, it’s Alex Taylor and Ride doing a Blondie… um, tribute? I would never have put them together, I don’t know how it happened, and the result is a pair of covers that could obviously never live up to the originals… but I’m glad they did it.
mp3: Motorcycle Ride – Union City Blue
mp3: Motorcycle Ride – Atomic
THE NEW VINYL VILLAIN 
This and many other posts are why I pop my snout into the enjoyable world of TnVV – treats.
I hadn’t ever heard of this (or if I had I’ve completely forgotten).
I loved both tracks. Not liked, loved.
I am an avid Shop Assistants fan, I love that period of Ride and I was enamoured with Motorcycle Boy.
Union City Blues I would have played at an indie disco – no questions. It’s just fantastic. Atomic – heavy on guitars – is just smashing. Alex does a great job. I’ll be listening to these a lot more today – sssshhhhhh, I downloaded them.
Alas, Motorcycle Boy’s Scarlet left me a little deflated. I’d really been looking forward to it, however, I just couldn’t connect with it. Shame.
Still, I have these two beauties.
Cap doffed, Mr MacDuff.
Flimflamfan
These cover versions are new to me and I love them. It is a collaboration I never expected and therefore many thanks for brighten my day.
Methinks the last paragraph may be intended for tomorrow.
Wow. Talk about a blast from my past I remember seeing a viddy for Motorcycle Boy’s “Big Rock Candy Mountain” on SNUB-TV [which actually got played on Night Flight in America!] and liking them! But after that blip in 1987…crickets. I didn’t even know about the aborted Chrysalis era of the group. I actually played these two songs. Two absolute peak Blondie moments from my favorite Blondie album. I stand awed by the glorious widescreen vistas of the originals, yet I also loved these lower-fi takes on what are absolute favorite Blondie songs. I never much cared for Ride but these worked for me.
Thanks Anon
It was all top do with me calling up an old post and using it as the template for this one, and stupidly forgetting to delete the final para. All sorted now.
I was really excited when this arrived the other day…..it’s the sort of thing I’ve always imagined this blog exists for….a guest posting with outstanding songs that were new to me.
See also, most weeks, Dirk’s series on his favoutite singles. (By that, I mean there’s quite a fews songs I don’t know in among some of my own perennial favourites).
Thanks for this, Leon. And thanks indeed to everyone who contributes here with guest posts, comments and indeed just by dropping by.
JC
What’s not to like about these two songs? New old music, unknown to me and that will be heavily enjoyed!
Thanks,
Darren 157
Wow – these are brilliant, especially Union City Blue. Had no idea about these, covers but awfully glad I do now. Reminds me a wee bit of The Charlottes, who also share a Ride connection. Terrific – thank you, Leon. And you’re right, JC – this is precisely what your blog is made for.
Strangeways
Outstanding. The songs, the collab, the post, and the site.
Never heard of these, never mind heard them before today. Good work.
Lovely Stuff. Two bands I like (with reservations about “Scarlet”) collaborating on two songs I love. And new to me. Magic
DAM
Wow, I had no clue – this is great! Thanks Leon.