Last time out, via Sign On The Line by The Fizzbombs, I gave a glowing reference to Edinburgh-based Nardonik Records. Well, here’s the very first single ever released by the label:-
mp3: Splashing Along – Jesse Garon and The Desperadoes
Track 4, Disc Two of C86 The Deluxe 3CD Edition
Jesse Garon and the Desperadoes were a big part of the Edinburgh music scene in the second half of the 80s, with almost all of their members being involved with other local bands at the same time. The debut appeared in 1986 and was followed in 1987 by two further singles for Nardonik before the label folded. The band decided to go DIY and set-up their own Velocity Records, on which there would be three singles in 1989, along with a compilation album, A Cabinet of Curiosities, which brought together all the songs thus far in one handy place.
A new Edinburgh label, Avalanche, which was connected to three independent record shops in the city, was established in 1990, and Jesse Garon & The Desperadoes gravitated towards it, releasing what turned out to be their final two singles and their sole album on the label in 1990 before deciding to split up.
I’ve long been fond of that rather wonderful jangly debut 45.
Miaow were from Manchester who released three singles between 1985 and 1987, and also recorded two sessions for John Peel. The debut, Belle Vue, on their own Venus Records, led to a couple of things:-
Track 3, Side 2 of the C86 cassette and Track 11, Disc one of C86 The Deluxe 3CD Edition
The appearance on C86 further stirred up interest from Factory Records, although the irony being that if Miaow had been on the label prior to C86 being released, then it’s unlikely they would have made it onto the cassette given Factory’s reluctance to get involved.
Miaow signed to Factory in late 1986, but there would be just two singles – When It All Comes Down (FAC 179) in February 1987 and Break The Code (FAC 189) in October 1987. All the songs on the three singles, along with Sport Most Royal, the two Peel Sessions and two demo songs for an intended album, would be rounded up and released on the compilation, When It All Comes Down, released on the boutique label, LTM Recordings.
Lead singer Cath Carroll would embark on a solo career in the 90s, with her first two singles and debut album being released on Factory.
Part of what I found when I was researching this one took my breath away.
Episode Four were a very short-lived quartet from the market town of Princes Risborough in Buckinghamshire, some 40 miles outside of London. There was one 12″ single, released in 1987, on their own label which they named Lenin And McCarthy Records. This was the lead track:-
mp3: Strike Up Matches – Episode Four
Track 7, Disc Three of C86 The Deluxe 3CD Edition
Almost immediately after the release of the single, the band renamed themselves East Village, relocated to London and embarked on a career that would see five singles and an album released between 1988 and 1993.
The breathtaking moment? Seeing that the Episode Four 12″ single has an asking price of upwards of £300 on Discogs. Seemingly, there were just 500 copies pressed and it is much sought after.
And completing what I think have been four excellent songs today:-
mp3 : The Sun, A Small Star – The Servants
Track 2, Disc 1 of CD86.
The Servants, from Hayes, just outside of London, went through three different line-ups in the six years they were together between 1985 and 1991. The one constant was their singer, guitarist and principal songwriter, David Westlake.
They were picked up by Head Records, a new label in London, and debut single She’s Always Hiding was released in March 1986. An immediate invite came to contribute to the C86 cassette, and while the band, and in particular David Westlake wasn’t that keen, the label bosses were, particularly as it was such a new venture – The Servants debut 45 had also been the first release by the label. The compromise was that the b-side would be included on the cassette – so watch out for that in due course.
The band’s second single was The Sun, A Small Star, released in August 1986, and if you want my tuppence worth, it is one of the finest of the era.
Shortly afterwards, in December 1986, Luke Haines joined The Servants, and he would remain with the band until its eventual demise in 1991. He would play on two singles, It’s My Turn (1989) and Look Like A Girl (1990), and on the albums Disinterest (1990) and Small Time, recorded in 1991 but not released until 2012.
David Westlake would later release three solo albums in 1987, 2002 and 2022. I’m not quite sure what happened to Mr Haines…..
JC