The Primitives, from Coventry, were first active between 1984 and 1992, before reforming in 2009.
The initial singles/EPs, the first of which, Thru The Flowers, came out in early 1986, were released on their own label, Lazy Records. This would eventually change in late 1987, when they signed the label over to RCA Records, which released the band’s material from then until their split.
Track 3, Disc Two of C86 The Deluxe 3CD Edition
One of four songs that made up the debut EP. The most noticeable thing is that the lead vocal is not taken by Tracy Tracy, but is delivered by guitarist and main songwriter Paul Court. It’s one of those songs that I’m always tempted to play and ask folk to identify the band….I would think only the hardcore fans would get it right.
As the Primitives will return later in the series, I’ll leave the rest of their narrative until then.
Last time The Mighty Lemon Drops featured in this series, the narrative took us up to the point in October 1986 when their debut album, Happy Head was released by Blue Guitar/Chrysalis in the UK while Sire Records were looking after their interests in the USA
1987/88 saw three further singles and the release of a second studio album. 1989 saw two singles and an album, albeit these were solely on Chrysalis as the Blue Guitar imprint had been closed down. Nothing was selling well, and unsurprisingly the band was dropped after the third album. But Sire Records kept faith, and this led to two further albums and various supporting singles via that label being released in 1991 and 1992, with everything being made readily available in their home market; but still there was a severe lack of commercial success. In 1992, the towel was thrown-in, albeit there would be a live album released vis the Newcastle-based Overground Records in 1993, while in 1997 Chrysalis would issue Rollercoaster: The Best Of 1986 – 1989 on CD only, probably in the hope that fans who had all the old vinyl, but possibly nothing to play it on, would shell out.
And with that, we will now go back in time:-
mp3: Like An Angel – The Mighty Lemon Drops
Track 22, Disc 2 of CD86.
The debut single from 1985, released on Dreamworld Records. The one which began all the fuss. A fuss that in the end never delivered much, but I do wonder just how much money was spent on The Mighty Lemon Drops by various labels over the years.
The Weather Prophets, from London, were active between 1985 and 1988. They emerged after the break-up of The Loft (who will, I promise, feature eventually in this series), and were immediately signed by Creation Records. There were two singles for the label in 1986.
mp3: The Weather Prophets – Like Frankie Lymon
Track 15, Disc 1 of CD86.
Bob Stanley, who curated CD86, made something of a strange decision to go with a b-side from the 12″ release of the debut single. It’s probably a lot to do with his personal taste, but Like Frankie Lymon is not at all typical of the music that The Weather Prophets were best known for. It’s not that it’s a bad song, but it is far slower and more gentle than most of the band’s other tunes.
As with The Primitives, I’ll return to the extended story of the band when they make a second appearance later on.
One Thousand Violins, from Sheffield, were active between 1985 and 1989 during which time there were seven singles and three albums released across a number of different indie labels.
They were one of the first bands signed by Dan Treacy of The Television Personalities to his Dreamworld Records, with their debut single, Halcyon Days, on 12″ only, becoming just the second record to be issued by the label back in 1985.
mp3: One Thousand Violins – Like One Thousand Violins
Track 8, Disc Two of C86 The Deluxe 3CD Edition
One of the band’s best known tracks, despite it being a b-side. It was, in fact, so popular that it got voted in at #49 in John Peel‘s Festive 50 at the end of 1985.
One Thousand Violins had some contractual flexibility with Dreamworld and a number of their early releases, including a mini-album in 1986, the splendidly named Please Don’t Sandblast My House! came out on Constrictor Records which was based in Dortmund in Germany. Throughout 1987, singles and albums would be released on both labels, and then in 1988 the band made a move to London-based Immaculate Records, for whom there would be two singles and one album before the band decided to break-up.
THE NEW VINYL VILLAIN 