Category: Department S

Back in August 2013, I pulled together a posting on Is Vic There?, the 1981 hit single for Department S.  I lavished all sorts of praise on it, but in describing the b-side, a cover of Solid Gold Easy Action that had been a hit for T.Rex back in 1972, as a ‘clunker’, I put forward the view that it was fair to assume that Department S. never did anything memorable beyond ‘Vic.’

I was taken to task by Crinan Dunbar, who offered the following view via the comments section:-

“Although ‘Is Vic There?’ is great, the later single ‘I Want’ is superior and worth a listen”

mp3: Department S – I Want

A complete flop which certainly deserved a better fate.   And is that a trumpet I hear getting played as the tune motors along at a frantic pace?  If so, over to you Jonny as you contemplate the next volume of a certain ICA.

I’ve tracked down the two b-sides which appeared on the 12″ release of I Want, and I think it’s fair to say that I was very wrong to say the band had done nothing memorable beyond one hit 45:-

mp3: Department S – Monte Carlo or Bust
mp3: Department S – Put All The Crosses In The Right Boxes

The second of these b-sides is ridiculously jaunty and upbeat, given that its subject matter is suicide.  Vaughan Toulouse‘s vocal delivery sounds like a cross between 70s era David Bowie and Richard Butler of The Psychedelic Furs.

Seems only right to finish things off today with another chance to hear the hit.

mp3: Department S – Is Vic There?

As I said back in 2013, this remains one of the most unique and catchy singles of the new wave era, It still sounds wonderful more than 40 years on.

JC

Department S were a short-lived post-punk band from London.

They formed from an outfit called Guns For Hire who began as an imaginary band – one that existed only in the form of badges and posters and hype in some papers.  Eventually, with that joke beginning to backfire (i.e. hipsters extolling their virtues and abilities), those involved did pick up instruments and learn to play.   A record was released and gigs were played – and to the amazement of all concerned the reviews were almost universally positive.

Deciding it was time to get serious, the band changed name to Department S and decided to have a go at become famous and rich.   A deal was inked with Demon Records and debut single Is Vic There? was released in December 1980.  The band was being talked about as the next big thing by the likes of Paul Weller, all on the basis of a stand-out debut single which was re-released a few months into 1981 when it climbed the UK singles chart all the way to #22.

mp3 : Department S – Is Vic There?

Just the other week I got my hands on a good quality vinyl copy of the 1980 release.  The b-side was a cover of a T-Rex song:-

mp3 : Department S – Solid Gold Easy Action

Listening to the b-side you get an idea of why the band never did anything memorable beyond the debut single – where the a-side was a classic, the b-side is a clunker and betrays all too easily their joke beginnings just a few months previously.

History records that Department S would release two subsequent singles in 1981 and while a debut LP would be recorded it would be unreleased for more than 20 years, an event that wouldn’t be experienced by Vaughan Toulouse, the man who supplied the distinctive vocals, as he died of an AIDS-related illness as long ago as 1991.

Not withstanding there might not have been much more to them, Is Vic There? remains one of the most unique and catchy singles of the new wave era and still sounds wonderful more than 30 years on.

Enjoy!!