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Solo Album (Deluxe Edition)

by The Various Artists

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1.
Money Matters 03:55
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2.
Unlucky In Love 02:26
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3.
Hard Luck Stories 03:16
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4.
Paradise Lost 02:41
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5.
Anaesthetic 02:38
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6.
Weekends 05:12
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7.
Stephens Body 02:30
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8.
Time Of My Life 03:59
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9.
Other Peoples Parties 02:15
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10.
Upmarkette 04:15
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11.
She's A Machine 03:40
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12.
Questionaire? 03:56
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13.
Original Mixed Up Kid 03:04
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14.
Unofficial Secrets 03:49
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15.
Own Up 02:26
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16.
I Believe In The Ant (Live) 05:18
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17.
Straight Sex (Live) 02:16
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18.
Questionaire? (Live) 02:11
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19.
Unlucky In Love (Live) 02:47
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20.
Upmarkette (Live) 04:31
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about

THE VARIOUS ARTISTS
‘SOLO ALBUM’

Released 1st October 2012 on CD (Deluxe Edition) & Digital Download,
through Bristol Archive Records / Shellshock and all digital platforms.

NB this is not a compilation album.
20 tracks by the band that confused the hell out of record reviewers everywhere.

SOLO ALBUM originally released in 1980, and now re-released in 2012 rides again with a 16-page booklet entitled 'The true story behind the most confusingly named band of all time'

In 2012 the members of THE VARIOUS ARTISTS may have bought a Band Name Generator App to ensure a name that guaranteed the correct allocation of royalties and an indexing in record shops to aid discovery. Then again, if you made one mistake, you might not add to it by calling your album SOLO ALBUM. But then again, if you’ve been in Bristol for a few years Bristolian irony may just have rubbed off. We have to take some credit because this lot weren't born and bred.

The Key brothers Jonjo (Vocals/Guitars) and Robin (Guitars/Vocals/Keyboard), were originally from Birmingham which perhaps explains a certain TWO TONE reference here and there. They were joined by John Langley a drummer of some distinction, with Christian Clarke providing Bass.

3/4s of THE VARIOUS ARTISTS were simultaneously THE ART OBJECTS, (with original Various Artists member Bill Stair on Bass Guitar) and it was from this 'school' that emerged THE BLUE AEROPLANES. Not that the bands were taking the same subjects and this isn't an album that traces that evolution. Nor do we have to find echoes of the 'Bristol Sound' because it isn't there.
The eclectic mix of tastes that the bands personnel brought with them works; it's an album that feels so familiar that by second playing humming is compulsory. This album is not just a soundtrack to the 80's it feels like an album you've known all your life.

‘UNLUCKY IN LOVE’ and ‘STRAIGHT SEX’ could so easily have been hits for ELVIS COSTELLO, an influence that Jonjo (principal songwriter) acknowledges in the accompanying booklet of the real story behind the album in his own words.

Jonjo’s lyrics are intelligent and their poetry connect them to their ‘school’, ' obsessed by a cure for mortality, caressed by your normality’. There is a history lesson in the clearly enunciated lyrics. ‘UNOFFICIAL SECRETS’ is about sexual oppression in the home. His words tell the story of things that mattered in an era when young people questioned inequality and discrimination. So what's in a name, it could have been worse they could have called themselves THE WHO.

www.bristolarchiverecords.com

credits

released October 1, 2012

Tracks 1 – 12 Recorded at Crescent studios, Bath, 1981

Track 13,14 Recorded at Sarm Studios, London, 1981 and originally released on Fried Egg Records

Track 15 Recorded at Crescent Studios, Bath, 1979 and originally released on Heartbeat Records – Avon Calling

Track 16, 17 Recorded live in Weymouth 14th February 1981

Tracks 18, 19, 20 Recorded live at Cawardines, Bristol 1980

Tracks 1 – 12 and 14 Produced by The Various Artists

Track 13,14 Produced by John Sinclair

Track 15 Engineered by David Lord and Glen Tommey

Tracks 16, 17 Taken straight from the desk

Tracks 18, 19, 20 Recorded by Andy Allen for Cave Studios

All tracks written by Jonjo Key except Tracks 3 and 9 written by Robin Key

The Various Artists;
Jonjo Key. Vocals, guitars
Robin Key. Guitars, vocals, keyboards
John Langley. Drums, percussion, vocals
Christian Clarke. Bass, vocals

Except bass on track 15 by Bill Stair
Lead vocals by Jonjo Key except on Track 3 by Robin Key and Track 9 by Jonjo and Robin Key

All songs copyright control 2012

Track 13,14 included with the approval of Andy Leighton of Fried Egg Records

Track 15 included with the approval of Simon Edwards of Heartbeat Records

Tracks 18, 19 and 20 included with the approval of Thomas Brooman CBE on behalf of The Bristol Recorder 1980

Photos by John Spink and Jo Swan

Thanks to … Alison Clout, Vee Gee, Helen, Art Objects, David Lord, Glen Tommey, Jo Swan, Paul Graham, Steve Street, Steve Byrne, Valerie Hawthorn, Simon Edwards, Gill Loats, Thomas Brooman CBE, Andy Leighton, Bill Stair and Jonjo and Robin.

Mastered by Steve Street 2012

All recordings owned by Jonjo and Robin Key with the exceptions of tracks 13,14,15, 18, 19, 20 and exclusively licensed to Bristol Archive Records

All Rights Reserved.

(P)(C) Bristol Archive Records 2012

Artwork by www.nicholasdarby.co.uk
Original front cover by Jo Swan

This album is dedicated to The Clifton Trendy’s (We were only jealous!)

Mike Darby, Bristol Archive Records (Bristol Boys Make More Noise)

www.bristolarchiverecords.com
Email: info@bristolarchiverecords.com
Cat Nos: ARC259CD

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Bristol Archive Records UK

Bristol Archive Records is a record label dealing in reggae, punk, rock, metal, pop and post punk 1977 onwards.

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