BEYOND THE BLUE / SIDEWAYS LAUGHING / THE TENDERHOOKS

I fell in love with british indiepop back in 1986 and became an collector soon after i left school a year later. Beside all those lovely records i was always into demotapes. To locate those obscure stuff always giving me the biggest thrill. I was getting very nervous the last year when i received an offer to buy an demotape collection from an english ex radio dj who was on air between the mid 80's – early 90's. From the start it was a sure thing for me that i have to buy this amazing collection. I collect nearly 100 hundred tapes from him and it will not surprise you to hear that the lot contains some of the most greatest stuff i've ever heard. I wrote about demos from well known bands as The Jeremiahs or The Rain before but now it is time to go deeper into the more obscure stuff. Some of you may remember the excellent “Beyond The Fence Begins The Sky“ compilation LP released in 1986 on Plastic Head Records. Full of hits there was a band called BEYOND THE BLUE which really kicks me. I once wrote that their song “The Return Of The Prodigals“ is one of the most finest indiepop songs ever written. All the years i've tried to track down this band to get the chance for more recordings by them. Without luck i was an happy man to found one of their demotapes among the collection i've bought. This untitled collection contains six songs recorded back in 1986. i can't stop listening from the start as all of the songs contain some of the most fantastic jangly guitars i've ever heard. How great ! The tape contains an different version of “The Return Of The Prodigals“ plus five other tunes which left me sleepless. I have to think of all those classic bands as The Love Parade, Mighty Mighty or The Aurbisons while listening to those recordings. The tape's tracklist looks as follows:

Beyond The Blue
Time To Smile
The Return Of The Prodigals
A Time In My Heart
The Never Never Girl
Acid Rain

To my surprise i found out that the band's members played in two other band's as well whose tapes were also part of the lot. Although i'm not sure i believe that SIDEWAYS LAUGHING were pre BEYOND THE BLUE. Songs full of love and vocals somewhere between Edwyn Collins and Paul Haig. I received two tapes by them with 12 tracks in total, no filler, hits only ! I really wonder why i never heard about them before ! They should have became huge and i'm more than sure that everyone who is into the first Orange Juice album would have fell in love with them.
As it seem's BEYOND THE BLUE split up in 1987 and members of the band formed an group called THE TENDERHOOKS and tell you what, the band's demotape contain some of the greatest song's i've heard in years. Unfortunately no songtitles were given on the tape's sleeve but can let you know that it contains an new version of one of the SIDEWAYS LAUGHING tracks. Over all those years, some songs became special to me in the likes of Mighty Mighty's “Is There Anyone Out There, Aurbisons “Ring Collector“ or Close Lobsters “Mirror Breaks“. It's that wonderful feeling that hit's me while listening to those songs. Some of Tenderhooks song's now means the same to me and it's not often that i can say something like that. Now it's up to you, try to locate them and when you found them let them know that there is an label who would love to release an retrospective by them !!!!

Vacation 2009 (or should i rather say business...)

Another summer means another trip to London for me. I've been doing this mix of vacation and business since more than 20 years. I gave up going by plane in 1994, so i took the bus instead since then. This year it took me a lot of good words to convince Marina to hit the road again. In honest the bus-journey is pure horror ! We left berlin on sunday afternoon and reached london in the early hours of monday morning. The tour operator offers an sight-seeing tour before we can check-in into the hotel. No interested in this we left the bus at Elephant & Castle Tube-station around 9.00. It took us another 30 minutes to reach tube-station Oxford Circus. I always enjoy this place in the early hours, the streets are still empty. We first went into HMV to buy some music-magazines. Soon after we moved to Berwick Street, which is still one of my favourite places for record shopping, although some shops were closed down over the last couple of years as Mr. CD which was an amazing place for finding bargain stuff. We spent a while in Sister Ray where i bought the new Rumblestrips EP (just out on that day) plus some bargain cds. Too tired to have a look at all these 7“ boxes we left to enter Revival Records. This shop is around since two or three years. I was too late the other year, so I've never been to this shop before. A friend of mine went in the last year and bought some excellent stuff. To be honest, i didn't found that much, just bought stuff for a friend and the latest Camera Obscura album for cheap money. Next it was our plan to visit Record & Tape Exchange, but normal thing in the early hours, the bargain floor was still closed. Some time left we decided to have a first look at Cheapo Cheapo Records which is just a couple of minutes away from R&TE. To my horror we found out that the shop has finished business. How sad ! This shop was one of my alltime favourite stores. A friend of mine told me later that they have closed down a couple of weeks before.
We moved to Paddington station to get in the bus again. Another surprise hits us when we found out that the hotel was based in Heathrow. Not a good thing. We arrived an hour later. After some conversation with our tour guide we went into our room to fresh up again and left our bags. Only can say great words about the hotel (the breakfast was amazing by the way) but it took us an hour to reach London City each day. We spent the rest of the day at Records & Tape Exchange at Berwick Street. I bought some cool albums from the likes of Montt Mardie, The Answering Machine or Little Jackie for 0,50 pence each. I also found an compilation album called “The Sounds Of The Rhubarb Triangle“ which dates from 2005. It contains favourites Skint And Demoralised with an early take of “It's Only Been A Week“ which will be part of the band's debut album which will see the day of light in october and an great tune by Pavilion whose had an fine 7“ single out the last year. The next day we went to Camden for some clothes shopping. Sure thing, we went to Record & Tape Excance as well. I bought records from Dubious Brothers, Jamie Wednesday or Marden Hill for a pound each. Next up we took the tube to move to Angel. It took me nearly four hours to go through all the boxes at Haggle Records. Marina meanwhile spent the time to check the streetmarket which is nearby. I bought around 40 records from Haggle for 2 pounds each including some nice stuff from bands as Red Harvest, Guernica or Felt. Now it was time for some lunch and we took a bar just next up to Flashback Records for it. While having an cold banana shake i noticed that Christian of Soulboy Collective fame went through the bargain boxes of Flashback. What a surprise ! Christian left Berlin a couple of years ago for living in London. After some cigarettes (my first since we arrived to London!) we've spent some time to going through all the boxes which can be found at the shop's second floor. Nice stuff was found ! Christian offers an pub-session but i rather stayed away as it would have been impossible for me to drive back to Heathrow with having some beer before. How sad ! We spent the rest of the day for clothes shopping around Oxford Circus.
Next day we moved to Covent Garden to visit my friend Stephan (Ship Shape Club) who works in London since last december. It was great to meet him again after all those months. After some drinks we went to Notting Hill Gate to spent the rest of the day at Record & Tape Exchange. I bought around 100 cds / vinyl at the bargain floor plus some more stuff at the regular floor. What kicks me back home was an 12“ by an obscure band named After Tonite which was engieered by John Rivers. The record's a-side leaves me cold but both songs on side b sounds amazing to me. “It's Getting Harder And Harder“ let me think on such fine bands as Fragile Friends, Ade Moose and Walker or Decoy Avenue mixed up with the guitarsound of Archie Bell's “Tighten Up“. How great ! I played this record to death when we moved back home. It's up on places as musicstack, so please feel free to have a look for it !
On thursday it was on the plan to visit Alan's Record shop in East Finchley. I heard great words about this shop from friends of mine. The shop is based 218 High Road. It will took you a 10 minutes walk from the tube station to reach Alan's shop, but do not worry, there are a lot of Charity Shops on it's way which are worth to visit. We've been to four or five of them and found rather amazing stuff. Another copy of that amazing 12“ by swedish band The Hip Horace was found at the first shop. It was only the second copy i ever saw of this unique record. I just bought it from an scandinavian dealer a couple of months ago and i tell you what, this record is more than worth to have. Songs somewhere between late Close Lobsters, The Smiths and vocals ala Grahame Skinner makes this one an big favourite of mine. I also found a copy of the rare 12“ ep by obscure irish band Cuba Dares at the same place. At the next shop i took Trash Can Sinatras deadly rare “Senses Working Overtime“ 12“ plus some regular stuff from bands as McCarthy, Mousefolk or Jim Jiminee. It took us nearly two hours to finally reach Alan's shop only to found out that the shop's owner was on holiday. A letter on the shop's window promised that he will open again on saturday, so no problem. We took the bus and went to Portobello Road where we spent some nice time for shopping as well. I went into Rough Trade Shop only to find out that they now have an second floor which offers second hand stuff. I was surprised about it. They stock some nice stuff, so i can recommend a visit ! I bought some 7“ vinyl at the regular shop as well before we went into Oxfam shop which is just around the corner. Marina went through some books while i was searching for some cool records. I bought the first Pooh Sticks album plus 12“ singles from Boxing Clever, Fallover 24 or The Servants from it. A nice place to go as well !
We took our bus on friday for a trip to Brighton. The tour operator offers the trip for just 12 euro each. I always enjoy this town very very much. Unfortunately i left too much money for an polo-shirt only to found out an hour later that i could have saved more than 15 pounds for the same one from a shop nearby. Anyway, i was an happy man to found some obscure records the next door in the likes of stuff by The Waiting Sound (ever heard ?), The Sardines or that cool EP by obscure Lancashire based Hate Syndicate which were around the early 90's. The next hours we spent some time at the Brighton Beach. How lovely !!
On the way back to the hotel we left the bus in Brixton to walk around the streets over there.
The next day we had to bring our bags into the bus which took me nearly an hour. After we found out that i've bought nearly 400 cds plus 150 vinyl, i decided to left all the cd jewel case in the hotel but it was still a hard walk to transfer everything's into the bus. After work was done we spent saturday morning for some more shopping at camden town before moving to East Finchley again to visit Alan's Record Shop finally. This time he was in ! How great ! It took us nearly five hours to go through all his records, and we only checked the indie and pop section !!! we bought around 30 records and Alan makes us an great discount. I have to say honest, that i've been never into an more friendly shop than this one. I absolute recommed this place. Please make sure to visit his place the next time you're will be in London. It's more than worth !
Still time on our side we went to Covent Garden to visit Fopp Musicstore. We spent the rest of our money for cds from Beautiful South (BBC-Sessions), Lloyd Cole & The Commotions (sessions), Belle & Sebastian (just another BBC-Session Disc) or the deluxe edition of the Housemartins first album which was on my top must-have list for our vacation.
Hours went by and we totally forgot to pick up Stephan who just works around the corner for a “goodbye drink“. Shame on us for it ! We went back home to berlin soon after. It took us nearly 18 hours and costs me 30 euros for an taxi to bring my stuff home from the busstation.



My Top 11 list of songs from the records i bought:

Answering Machine – Another City, Another Story
After Tonite – It's Getting Harder And Harder
Skint And Demoralised – It's Only Been A Week
Pavilion – Lost In The Moonlight
The Northwestern – All The Ones
Tim Yen Yen – When The Song Applies To You
The Twang – Barney Rubble
Rumblestrips – Not The Only Reason
Beautiful South – BBC Sessions
The Hip Horace – Local Cornershop
The Steeples – Loosy Lucy

THE RAIN – DEMO TAPES

Hailed from Basingstoke, this great three piece released a couple of singles and one sole album between 1984 – 1990 before decided to change their bandname into Clark Springs. Another two singles were released before the band finally called it the day.
Always big faves of mine i was more than happy to receive some of the band's demo tapes a while ago.
First up we have an three track tape which i believe contains some of the band's earliest recordings.
Although no recording date is given on tape's sleeve, it contains the cataloguenumber JA 002, the same which can be found on their debut 7“, released in 1985. The tape kicks of with one of their greatest tunes ever, the elsewhere unreleased “Feet Turns To Clay“. Everything on this song sounds perfect to me, Clive sings like an young god and the guitarsolo sounds amazing to me. I played this tune to a couple of friends and everyone wonder why this track never found it's way on the band's vinyl releases. Next up we have an cool version on the rare “Money Man“. The tape end up with another pearl. “These Feelings Will Pass“ is one of those songs you will never forget about the first time you was listening to it. It was released later on one of Dave Driscoll's legendary compilation tapes .
The band released at least one other demo in 1984 contains this tune plus the unknown song “Parliament Hill Fields“. The tape's sleeve is shown on the band's myspace. It would be a great thing to hear it !
Next up we have another three track demo which contains songs whose later versions ends up on the band's album “To The Citadel“.
Tracklist for it as follows:

Hi There 1986
St Martin's-In-The-Field
Down Here

The last tape of the bunch i received is much more of interested as it contain an elsewhere unreleased coverversion of “She Don't Care About Time“ which was originally written by Gene Clark plus early versions on “First Of May“ and “Bright Pavilions“.
The lot i bought has also an demo by THE SOUND ACADEMY which contains the Rain's Nigel Rivers who teamed up with Jo Burgees on this. Unfortunately the tape didn't contain the band's songs, instead i have the pleasure to listen to an radioshow. I nearly went crazy when i found out about it !
The tape's sleeve lists four songs, anyone out there who has further infos about them ?
Back to The Rain, Clive once passed me another great unreleased tune which i will not forget to mention. “And The Leaves Circled Like Birds 'round Her Hair“ seems was recorded during the band's final days and shows once again how special they were !

JIM JIMINEE – EARLY DEMO TAPE

JIM JIMINEE – EARLY DEMO TAPE

OH, how i love this band ! It was the summer of 1987 when me and my old mate Stefan spent holidays in Hastings. There was a club whose name i have forgotten about which we went to every night. Great music was played and beside classic tracks from The Smiths or New Order there was a song we never heard about before. To shy to ask the DJ about it we just found ourself on the dancefloor. Shortly before leaving Hastings we're listening to an radioshow which plays this tune as well. We found out that the band's name was Jim Jiminee which just released their first single called “Do It On Thursday“. We went to the next recordshop but couldn't find the record. Back at home it took us months to locate the record finally. I will never forget the day i first played it on my turntable. After playing the record an hour or so, my neighbour came by to ask me if there would be a chance to stop this nonsens. I just closed the door and was listening again. He moved house soon after.
Over the years the band became a part of my life, i bought their records and saw them playing live a couple of times. “Town & Country Blues“ became an alltime fave at the ship shape club. Split much to early the band released two retrospective albums on Vinyl Japan and i was nearly sure that i never ever would hear any other songs by them. Gladly i became the chance to buy an early demo tape by them and tell you what, i nearly start crying while listening to it. No idea about it's recording date it contains four tracks, three of them unreleased elsewhere and i really wonder why. “Sleeping Once Again“ and “Centre Of Attention“ would have made perfect hits on the band's sole album “Welcome To Hawaii“. Beside those songs the tape contains an early version of “Snap Me Up“ plus an fine tune called “Time On My Hands“. Check out their video on Youtube and remember yourself how great they were !!!

THE BERNARDS – DEMO TAPE

THE BERNARDS – DEMO TAPE

Ever heard about The Bernards ? Do not worry if not, i have to say honest that they were unknown to me as well until a couple of weeks ago when i received the band's three track demo tape which was titled “Nutmeg“. I first played their songs while prepared some boxes for the next record fair, so i did not looked on the tape's sleeve carefully. While listening to the tracks i was nearly sure that i just found out about another long forgotten indiepopband from the late 80's. To my surprise i noticed later that the band was around in the mid 90's. Based in Birmingham, the line-up shows us the following bandmembers:
Danny Bernard, Carl Brett, Alex Martin and Bobby Tofu.
Full of jangly guitars, all three tracks let me think on the first 7“ from Action Painting. Without a doubt, this band would make an great job on the Sound Of Leamington Spa compilation serie. Anyone out there who has any further infos about them ?

Tracklist:

Rah Rah Rah
The Ugly Boys
In The Village

THE JEREMIAHS – DEMOS & LIVE-RECORDINGS

Basingstoke four-piece The Jeremiahs released one mighty EP back in 1988 on Abstract Records and had two songs on compilation-LPs, not much more is known about them. The band released a handful of demotapes as well. The first one dates from 1985 and it contains the well known “Never Come Back“ from legendary “Beyond The Fence Begins The Sky“ compilation LP. As it seems the tape contain an early take of this song. Much more of interest without doubt is the second song called “Bluer Days“, a great bassdriven tune. The tape's sleeve is handmade, so i think that the band didn't pressed that much copies of it. Next up we have another two track demo which contains an early version of the EP-track “Whipe Away The Tears“ plus the unreleased “Over The Shove“. The sleeve contains handwritten songtitles on it and comes with sticker which lists the recording studio's address.
The third tape has three tracks, including early versions of the well known songs “Far From The Maddening“ and “Honeysuckle Love“. Apart from those it contains an amazing unreleased tune. This untitled song blows me away every time i listen to it. What a shame that the band never released it proper. There is even a girl singer which shares vocals in the refrain. The tape contains no tracklist, just comes with an sticker.
The band recorded at least one more demotape which once was sold on ebay. It's list on Twee.net. No idea if the versions on this tape are any different from the ones which end up on the EP or which can be found on the other demo tapes.
In 1986 the band recorded an four-track live tape which contains otherwise unreleased songs. The soundquality is perfect. It was recorded at Paradise Club. The first song from it remains their best ever in my opinion ! “Satin Shoes“ let me think on the highlights from Lloyd Cole's “Rattlesnakes“ and would have made the perfect indiepop-single. “Return Of The Spirite Stones“ and “The Daffodil Fields“ shows the band on their highest as well.
Hopefully they will come by some day as i would love to release all those wonderful songs proper. What a great band they were !

Those Happy Feelings

Between Firestation Records (Germany) and Plastilina Records (Peru) we’ve been planning to do a compilation of the great sounds and bands that happened in Greece during the late 80s and early 90s. We’ll call it “Those Happy Feelings” in honor of the best label to come out from the Hellenic country: This Happy Feeling! We know there were many great bands at the time some of them more known than others. We want to make some of these names more familiar and give a chance to people to listen some of these sounds without paying high prices on eBay. We also know that some of these pop gems are so obscure that this could be a nice chance for them to see the light of day.

The idea is to make it into one fantastic CD with a booklet that includes photos and bios of these bands. I hope we can track down many of these bands and have the release out soon! Would be so fantastic! Watch this space for more updates! Any help would be greatly appreciated!!

Bands we are looking forward to be in touch with:

* Costas
* Sensitive Painters
* Sad Candy Lilies
* Next Time Passions
* Groovies In The Heart
* Sensitive Painters
* Protest March
* Verden Fell
* Blossoms
* One Night Suzan
* Groove Machine
* Kissamatic Lovebubbles
* The Crooner
* Impossible Tymes
* Fantastic Something
* The Jaywalkers
* Love Exotics
* Who The Dickens?
* Pillow
* Sound Devise
* Raining Pleasure
* Seaside
* The Wish
* Pledge
* Starblind
* The Mute
* Common Sense
* Sanders
* M.C.S.
* Bella Union
* Sleeve
* Suave Gap
* The Point For

SOMETHING TO LOOK OUT FOR (PART 2)

I will write some lines on the rather obscure bands which appears on the future “The Sound Of Leamington Spa“-list in the near future, but meanwhile it's time to have some words on bands which still makes it on the list yet for various reasons. The main reason is simple, we haven't update the list since 2007. During the last two years “new“ bandnames appears on the scene which have to be include on the list soon. Also, I found a list of bandnames which i put together back in the early 90's. I haven't heard any songs from most of the bands, but reviews from the past makes me very curious about them. If anyone out there has any infos about the following bands, please get in touch !

THE WILSONS
i once read about them in an fanzine whose name i totally forgot about. Band was around the early 90's and recorded at least one demotape. It's said that they mixed early Aztec Camera with “Luck“-period Style Council. I can't believe and would be a happy man if someone could pass over more infos about them.

AVANTI
Another Aztec Camera-styled band which seems was around the late 80's. No further infos.

HOBGOBLINS
Highly praised by the UK Fanzine scene of the late 80's, i have to say honest that i never heard any songs by them.

TIDDLEY WIDDLEYS
It's said that they once had a flexidisc called “You Just Poured Soup On My Pyjama Top“ released in the late 80's. A fake ? I really wonder why i never saw this record although i've been looking for it since nearly 20 years.

I KNOW A GONDOLA PANDA
Once released a fine 10“ back in the late 80's. Songs like the Haywains on acid makes this one a pearl. Band appears on myspace, but haven't signed in since a year.

HELLO SUNSET
Oh, how i would love to hear their recordings. Feat. Tommy Scott of Space-fame who fronted also great bands as The Australians or The Substitutes. Around in the mid 80's.

HILLSTORMERS
Great name, but never heard any of their songs.

THE GLASS HAMMERS
Sheffield-based four-piece. I once read that they mixed Haircut 100 with the soul of Dexy's Midnight Runners. A good thing !

A BAND CALLED JEFF
Early 90's outfit which once released an ep called “Hope“ on the Horizon label. Never saw it in the shops.

GO BUGGY BABIES
Female six piece from London, released one record on Ugly Records the late 80's. It's said that they mixed up early Everything But The Girl with The Specials.

FIVE GO OFF TO PLAY GUITAR
Short-lived Manchester based five piece feat. then named Johnny Dangerously (now I AM KLOOT) and Penny Priest (remember Manchester North Of England compilation). There was once a single release by them called “Black and Blue“. No idea about it's label.

THE CONSULTANTS
Once had a tape-release on Timebox Records. Not much more is known about them.

INNOCENCE
Jörg Winzer found the band's (as it seems) sole 7“ release a while ago. Five piece from Kent whose songs will let you think on such fine bands as The Waltones or Summerhill. Thanks to Jörg for the photo !

11.59
I once saw them live at Covent Garden back in 1992. Three piece whose songs were not a millions miles away from East Village. Great !

THE POPPYFIELD
Liverpool-based. No further infos apart from an review which describes the band's song's somewhere between Orange Juice and The Monkees.

PRETEND FRIENDS
Oxford based. Once too jangly for the Melody Maker.

SUGARTRAIN
No Idea. It's said that their played songs between the Style Council and The Milltown Brothers.

THE FAMILY WAY
Short-lived band fronted by Graig Gannon (Aztec Camera, The Smiths). I never heard any of their songs. Around in the early 90's.

More obscure stuff to follow soon !

SOMETHING TO LOOK OUT FOR (PART 1)

While having a look on some old wantlists of mine i noticed that there are still a lot of records or bands which i still can't locate. Just found some of those lists in my bedroom the other day and was surprised that the last wantlist i put together dates from september 1997. Over the years i found out that some of the list's records never came out or were withdrawn from it's release.
For the next weeks i will write some words about “lost“ indiepoprecords from the past or bands we're still looking for. First up I put together an list of withdrawn records which i found on my old wantlists. If someone out there as any further infos please feel free to drop us a line !

Here we go:

1. East Village – Break Your Neck 12“ (Label: Head, cataloguenumber: Head 9)

Planned for april 1988. Head Records turned into Sub Aqua soon after. Would have made another classic ! No idea about tracklist.

2. The Company She Keeps – Amanda LP (Label: Cold Harbour, cataloguenumber: Cold 8)

Planned for late 1988.

Tracklist:
What A Girl Wants
Express Interest
Recording Angel
Amanda
Touch On My Emotions
A Little Madness
How The Film Began
A Day In A Balloon
Accolade
The Men Responsible (original version)

Definitely unreleased !

3. The Bloody Marys – Stain LP (Label: Mess, cataloguenumber: Joss 2)

Planned for January 1987. Not so sure about the tracklist, but most of the songs should have end up on FST 057 – Sixteen Hail Marys.

4. Treebound Story – Butler's Cafe LP/CD (Label: Native Records)

Planned for 1989. Adverts for it were placed in the british musicmags back then, unfortunately it never saw the day of light.

5. Kill Devil Hills – Here We Go Again (Label: Roustabout, cataloguenumber: RST005)

Planned for october 1988. Unfortunately the label broke down soon before the record came out. No idea about the tracklist.

6. A Riot Of Colour – Should've Listening To Me 12“ (Label: Play Room Discs, cataloguenumber: PLAYD 004-12)

Planned for march 1988. “Sign Of The Cross“ was recorded as the record's b-side.

7. Bluetrain – LP (Label: Pastell, Germany)

Absolute no idea about this. I once saw an advert in an german mag for this. Was it really ever planned ? Big thanks to Roque and Jalito for release their retrospective cd the last year !

8. Candlestick Park – Re-Invent The Wheel LP/CD (Label: Midnight Music, cataloguenumber: chime 011)

Planned for august 1991. An fine album by ex-The Waltones. Hopefully Cherry Red will release it one day.

9.The Compass Flow – Bush Telegraph LP (Label: Glass, cataloguenumber: glalp033)

Planned for april 1989. Ex The Submarines.

10. The Waltones – Listen To Your Heard 12“ (Label: Medium Cool, cataloguenumber: MC022)
Planned for 1989. Glady these great songs can be now heard on the band's compilation CD, released back in 2007 on Cherry Red.

11. Circus X 3 – Leslie Hope Town LP / CD (Label: Sweatbox, cataloguenumber: SAX 031)
Planned for early 1988. Adverts were placed for it.

12. Circus X 3 – Thunder High 7“/12“ (Label: Sweatbox, cataloguenumber: SAX 033)
Planned for july 1988. It's strange to see that there was even the plan for another single-release although the album never found it's way into the shops.

13. South Of Heaven – Stars Of Heaven Tribute CD (Label: Disques Fridge, cataloguenumber: mrf 14)

No idea about it's planned releasedate. The artwork for this tribute CD to Dublin's finest was created but the record never found it's way into the pressing plant.

Tracklist:

Northern Picture Library – Ammonia Train
Icehead – Every Other Day
Something Happens – All About You
Sean A McDermont & Mary Whelan – Paradise Of Lies
Hey Paulette – Smalltown Reel
Engine Alley – Three Kings' Day
Dr Millar – Leave As You Came
Junkster – 28
Grief – Someone's Getting Tired Of You
Everything But The Girl – Lights Of Tetouan
Baby Snakes – Hey Little Child
Cathal Couglan – Ghost Cars
Screech Owl – Poison River
Muck Savage – Sacred Heart Hotel
7 League Boots – Little England
Peter O'Kennedy – Two O'Clock Waltz
Engine Alley – Before Holyhead
Sultans Of Ping – Never Saw You
Brian – Speak Slowly
The Revenants – So You Know


14. Bradford – Tattered, Tangles And Torn 7“/12“ (Label: Village, cataloguenumber: VILT 104)

Planned for November 1988.
Band signed to another label before this release makes it into the pressing plant. Would be great to find out which other tracks should have been appeared on this withdrawn release.

15. Motorcycle Boy – Scarlet LP / CD (Label: Chrysalis, cataloguenumber: CHR1689)

Planned for september 1989. I heard that there were plans to release it finally this year, so finger crossed !


More to follow soon !

Back in 1991......

In spring 1991 Uwe and I went together with two other friends to Dresden to visit an Indie-Pop-Weekender. We had 40 freshly printed copies of our first fanzine with us. After spending hours in an oldstyle eastern german train, drinking quite some amount of beer, we got lost after arriving at Dresden Main Station as none of us bothered beforehand to investigate the way to the club. Luckily we met Peter from The Legendary Bang, who was supposed to be picked up at the train station, so we joined him. Arriving at the really beautiful space of the club “Die Sekte” we greeted well-known faces of Hamburgs Indie-Pop gang of Marsh Marigold boss Oliver Goetzl. Their current label bands were supposed to play in Dresden. At first performed a really dreadfull band from Dresden but the rest of the weekend was reserved for really brilliant gigs of 5 Freunde, Jesterbells (photo), Red Letter Day or My Guru Says. The party was great, at the last song of 5 Freunde, a cover version of Time Twisters´ hit “Auf Meinem Weg zu Dir”, Uwe and I found ourselves at the microphone suddenly. The after show party was legendary: as I could not find the way to the doss upstairs I partied with Florian of Red Letter Day, Peter Hahndorf (yes, him) and Martin Fuchs (this is a different story) until early morning. Our versions of “Ice Ice Baby”, at that time a hit of the great Vanilla Ice, and “Peter Hahndorfs Dead”, alternatively known from The Golden Dawn, are unforgettable. Finally we ended up in bed for a short 2 hours night. Waking up I could see that Uwe arranged to encounter a 120 cm long doss, his sleep has definitely not been comfortable. The following tour through the city was very interesting and especially for the guys from Hamburg a culture shock as the city of Dresden showed its almost full destruction during 2nd World War drastically. One and a half years after Germanys reunion, hawkers and numerous put down and exploited Trabis, famous cars from eastern Germany, created a special atmosphere, not comparable with Dresden in 2009. The gigs at second night have been as excellent as at first night, I remember most the loads of chats with interesting and charming people from the pop scene. Various friendships were born that weekend. We also could get rid of some of our fanzine copies…