Do you think of the West Country in the 1980’s as a source of plentiful pop acts? Go on, pull the other one! With the music that’s normally associated with Bristol, Bath and places out west, a number of stereotypes come to mind. That can be down to the known success stories or just plain perception.
There has always been a broad picture of the scope of music that has come out of the west end of the M4 and M5 in general, from the more fundamental areas of rock, indie, reggae, rap, R ‘n B and dance music, through to the more arcane areas of post-punk, jazz, punk-funk, punk jazz, art-rock and even once in a while a moody singer-songwriter.
The boys (and girls) from the region have always made a right old variety of noise! It hasn’t always been accompanied by mainstream acceptance with the resulting sales. That heady creativity included more straight up pop music and the ‘take’ that could be put on it, with the hope that acclaim would follow. Dig a little deeper into the western region’s musical history and they weren’t alone in ploughing a furrow into the field marked ‘80’s Pop’. It was no wonder. The ground in that decade was fertile for sowing the seeds of possible pop perennials.
It maybe didn’t help that down the road in and near Bath, they had plenty of music emigrees who settled there and in the West Country having seen major league national and international success. The likes of Peter Gabriel, Midge Ure and even Stranglers front-man Hugh Cornwall made their homes and mark in the area.
But the most prominent of the acts to have been born, raised and emerged from the city of Bath itself were Tears for Fears in the 1980’s. It begged the question that if Tears for Fears could ‘make it’ big, did any other pop-orientated acts from the region come through, and if so what happened to them? Were they any good? Did they get any exposure and recognition? If not, why not?
This prompted Bristol Archive records owner, Mike Darby, and the long-time music industry creative and journalist, Dave Massey, to go through their extensive archive of local music and see if there was an album that could be compiled of those acts tracks that could be regarded as ‘lost hits’. Darby had done this with ‘lost gems’ by punk, mod and rock acts from the west and released well researched and beautifully presented compilations. Now it was time for the pop acts.
Dave Massey was right in the thick of it when this music was being made in the 1980’s. He was in the fortunate position of covering the many genres of music in his capacity as the Bristol and West country regional correspondent, and as the decade progressed somewhat uniquely for each of the weekly music papers in turn – firstly the NME, then Sounds, followed by Melody Maker.
These papers all had massive readership and circulations at the time. A Wednesday during the week was always the day to buy which paper was your source to find out what was happening to your favourite acts and music!
Massey also had moved to London in the late 80’s to work as an A&R man for a music publishing company. He trawled the whole country for new talent, but always kept a close eye on developments in his former back-yard. The range of music for him to assess was extensive, but the music industry has always regarded pop as a staple ingredient in its cash flow planning. Like it or not, he had to consider that, but he was always a fan of the genre if it ‘said’ something.
From their trawl Darby and Massey uncovered pop gold, and this wonderful compilation demonstrates that to the full. Many of the acts were seen live, reviewed and interviewed by Massey and other local journalists, featured on local, and in some instances national radio, and some made it on to local and national TV. Utilising the industry contacts he had built up through his writing Dave even ended up managing a couple of them briefly.
There was no lack of talent in these acts, or indeed ambition, and in a stylised era there was a keen appreciation of the right ‘look’ too. All kinds of strategies were used to promote themselves. Tracks were circulated on cassette tapes in order to solicit interest from an industry drowning in pop. Some went further and actually got as far as putting out independent releases. Gigs were done in ‘unusual’ venues. Videos were made in whatever surroundings would work.
These acts have stories of ‘got so close’ and ‘what might have been’. Many of the creators of these great tunes have gone on to success in careers that still involved music, whether as writers, producers or session players, or led to them running their own prosperous businesses, and even down to one of their number chairing and running a local Championship level football club!
But in the end the 20 tracks on the compilation do the ‘talking’. They are worthy contenders to be heard on day-time radio, in a top line club, blasting out of a TV screen or from in a car with the windows wound down on a sunny summer’s day, and just listened to by any pop fan through whatever means they choose to enjoy their music.
It’s a treasure trove of glorious commercial, but savvy and sexy pop music. Get into the groove of this wonderful west of England sonic pleasure feast!
www.bristolarchiverecords.com
ARTIST: Various Artists
TITLE: “This Is 80’s Pop (Out West)”
RELEASE DATE: 6th October 2017
LABEL: Bristol Archive Records
DISTRIBUTION: Shellshock / SRD
CAT NO: ARC323CD
BARCODE: 5052571072622
released October 6, 2017
Track 1: Hey Belaba - ‘Can’t Stop Running’
Writers: Scott Davidson and Andy Oswin
Publisher: Copyright Control / Archive Publishing Ltd
Recorded: 1985
Engineer: Scott Davidson
Producers: Scott Davidson and Andy Oswin
Where: Home studio
Source: Original demo promoted 1985
Band line-up:
Andy Oswin: Vocals
Scott Davidson: Keyboards / backing vocals
Will Ng: Drums
Charlie Jones: Bass
Simon Gardiner: Guitar
This is a TV video version, featuring Stuart Morgan (formerly of The Escape and who went on to work with U2).
Track 2: Wadi Vision - ‘Forwards Backwards’
Writers: Crossley / Crossley / Cox / Gardner / Macrae
Publisher: Copyright Control
Recorded: 1983
Engineer: Bill Ferrier
Producer: Wadi Vision
Where: Cave Studio, St Pauls, Bristol
Source: Original demo promoted 1983/84
Band line-up:
Dave Crossley: Vocals
Mike Crossley: Keyboards / backing vocals
Simon Gardiner: Guitar
Steve Cox: Bass
Josh Macrae: Drums and percussion
Hilary ‘Bingo’ Kops: Trumpet
Alex Gifford: Saxophone and backing vocals
This is a TV live version -
www.youtube.com/watch?v=0HgIR03wIcw&t=5s
Track 3: Vicious Circle - ‘Sorry’
No Information available save:
Publisher: Copyright Control
Recorded: 1985
Source: Original demo promoted 1985/86
Anyone connected to the band or anyone who remembers them please contact us!
Track 4: Bush and Clarke - ‘I’m Satisfied’
Writers: Steve Bush and Christian Clarke
Publisher: Copyright Control
Recorded: 1987
Engineer: Damien Maertens
Producer: Christian Clarke
Where: Sparkle Studios, Clerkenwell, London
Source: ‘Allergies’ album
Band line-up:
Christian Clarke: Guitar, Bass, Keyboards, Programming
Steve Bush: Lead Vocals
Fokkje Koxakker: Drums
Ted Bayliss: Trumpet
Max Persimmon: Saxophone
Melanie Lister, Fiona Shackleton: Backing Vocals
Track 5: Umo Vogue - ‘Who’s Sorry Now’
Writers: Russ Crook, Debbie Marlow and Stig Manley
Publisher: Copyright Control
Recorded: 1983
Engineer: Liam Henshall
Producer: Liam Henshall / Umo Vogue
Where: Right Track studio, Redland, Bristol
Source: Original recordings promoted 1984
Band line up:
Debbie Marlow: Vocals
Russ Crook: Instruments
Stig Manley: Instruments
Neil Deamer: Bass
Clive Deamer: Drums
Track 6: Frame by Frame - ‘Kill For Less’
Writers: Ballard / Jones / Munday / Smith / Williams
Publisher: Copyright Control
Recorded: 1987
Engineer: Richard Haines
Producer: Frame by Frame
Where: Dungeon Studio, Oxford
Source: Original demo promoted 1987
Band line-up:
Miff Smith: Vocals
Gareth Ballard: Guitar
Dave Jones: Bass
Ian Munday: Keyboards
Martin Williams: Drums
Track 7: Great Naked - ‘Narrow Bed’
Writers: Jon Sheaff and Ella Hood
Publisher: Copyright Control
Engineers: Mark Byrne, Tim Durham and Johnny Schinas
Co- Producers: Jon Sheaff, Ella Hood, Stuart Gordon and Johnny Schinas
Recorded: 1984 to 1986
Where: Home studios in Bristol and Bath, and SAM Studio, Stokes Croft, Bristol
Source: ‘Black Shoes’ album
Band line-up:
Ella Hood: Vocals, backing vocals, keyboards
Jon Sheaff: Basses, keyboards, backing vocals
Rob Allen: Guitars
Andy Price: Guitars, keyboards, harmonica
Clive Deamer: Drums
Will Gregory: Saxophone
Dave Bitelli: Saxophone
Jonathon Impett: Trumpet
Track 8: Kick City - ‘Cover Your Eyes
Writers: Angell / Everett / Everett / Loach.
Publisher: Copyright Control
Recorded: This version with vocals by Richard Angell was all played and recorded by Geoff and Sally Everett in their north London home studio.
Source: Version of original 1983 composition
Band line-up:
Richard Angell: Vocals
Sally Everett: Keyboards
Geoff Everett: Guitar
David Loach: Bass
Various drummers!
www.youtube.com/watch?v=u-beU1GKFQM
Track 9: The Works - ‘When The Glitter Fades’
No Information available save:
Publisher: Copyright Control
Recorded: 1985
Source: Original demo promoted 1985/86
Anyone connected to the band or anyone who remembers them please contact us!
Track 10: Paul Sandrone (Pola) - ‘I’m Alone’
Writer: Paul Sandrone
Publisher: Copyright Control
Recorded: 1989
Engineered and Produced by Steve Street
Where: SAM Studios, Bristol
Source: Original demo promoted 1989
Band line up:
Paul Sandrone: Guitars and vocals
John Tuff: Keyboards
John McSkimming: Bass
Eddie John: Drums.
Track 11: Umo Vogue - ’Make It Real’
Writers: Russ Crook, Debbie Marlow and Stig Manley
Publisher: Copyright Control
Recorded: 1983
Engineer: Liam Henshall
Producer: Liam Henshall / Umo Vogue
Where: Right Track studio, Bristol
Source: Original recordings promoted 1984
Band line up:
Debbie Marlow: Vocals
Russ Crook: Instruments
Stig Manley: Instruments
Neil Deamer: Bass
Clive Deamer: Drums
www.youtube.com/watch?v=0hcKCmgSUnU
Track 12: Snapshot Parody - ‘Money Makes Money’
Writers Siefert / Vernon
Publisher: Copyright Control
Recorded: 1985
Engineer: Nick Allen
Producer: Snapshot Parody
Where: Holt Studios, Wilts
Source: Demo promoted in 1985
Band line up:
Shaun Smith: Bass
Bruce Vernon: Vocals
Steve Turner: Guitar
Mathias Seifert: Keyboards
Tim Odam: Drums
Track 13: Vicious Circle - ‘Temptation’
No Information available save:
Publisher: Copyright Control
Recorded: 1985
Source: Original demo promoted 1985/86
Anyone connected to the band or anyone who remembers them please contact us!
Track 14: Great Naked - ‘Hanging Around my Door’
Writers: Jon Sheaff / Ella Hood
Publisher: Copyright Control
Engineers: Mark Byrne, Tim Durham and Johnny Schinas
Co- Producers: Jon Sheaff, Ella Hood, Stuart Gordon and Johnny Schinas
Recorded: 1984 to 1986
Where: Home studios in Bristol and Bath, and SAM Studio, Bristol
Source: ‘Black Shoes’ album
Band line-up:
Ella Hood: Vocals, backing vocals, keyboards
Jon Sheaff: Basses, keyboards, backing vocals
Rob Allen: Guitars
Andy Price: Guitars, keyboards, harmonica
Cliver Deamer: Drums
Will Gregory: Saxophone
Dave Bitelli: Saxophone
Jonathon Impett: Trumpet
Track 15: Wadi Vision - ‘This is Ha Ha’
Writers: Crossley / Crossley / Cox / Gardner / Macrae
Publisher: Copyright Control
Recorded: 1983
Engineer: Bill Ferrier
Producer: Wadi Vision
Where: Cave Studio, Bristol
Source: Original demo promoted 1983/84
Band line-up:
Dave Crossley: Vocals
Mike Crossley: Keyboards / backing vocals
Simon Gardiner: Guitar
Steve Cox: Bass
Josh Macrae: Drums and percussion
Hilary ‘Bingo’ Kops: Trumpet
Alex Gifford: Saxophone and backing vocals
The track is featured in this HTV (ITV West Country) ‘yoof’ programme ‘Side Step’ where the band are interviewed –
www.youtube.com/watch?v=wVomkCsi0z8&t=3s
This is a TV live version of another brilliant song ‘Holding Me Down’ available on the
www.bristolarchiverecords.com site
www.youtube.com/watch?v=kDjbhS66hAU
Track 16: The Big Outdoor Type - ‘Don’t Be a Stranger’
Writers: Davidge / Dew / Fuller / Wilmott
Publisher: Copyright Control
Recorded: 1984
Engineer: Neil Davidge
Producer: Neil Davidge
Where: Home studio
Source: Original demo promoted 1984/85
Band line-up:
Neil Davidge: Bass
Tracey Fuller: Vocals
Steve Dew: Drums
Phill Wilmott: Guitars
This is something a bit more ‘out there’ from the band -
www.youtube.com/watch?v=yf6HmEM39ZM
Track 17: Bush and Clarke - ‘Guru Maserati’
Writers: Steve Bush / Christian Clarke
Publisher: Archive Publishing Ltd and Copyright Control
Recorded: 1987
Engineer: Damien Maertens
Producer: Christian Clarke
Where: Sparkle Studios, London
Source: ‘Allergies’ album
Band line-up:
Christian Clarke: Guitar, Bass, Keyboards, Programming
Steve Bush: Lead vocals
Fokkje Koxakker: Drums
Ted Bayliss: Trumpet
Max Persimmon: Saxophone
Melanie Lister, Fiona Shackleton: Backing Vocals:
Track 18: Hey Belaba! - ‘Call Of The Wild’
Writers: Scott Davidson and Andy Oswin
Publisher: Copyright Control
Recorded: 1985
Engineer: Scott Davidson
Producers: Scott Davidson and Andy Oswin
Where: Home studio
Source: Original demo promoted 1985
Band line-up:
Andy Oswin: Vocals
Scott Davidson: Keyboards / backing vocals
Will Ng: Drums
Charlie Jones: Bass
Simon Gardiner: Guitar
Track 19: Pola - ‘Mistakes’
Writers: Paul Sandrone and John Tuff
Publisher: Copyright Control
Recorded: 1986
Engineer: Steve Street
Producer: Steve Street
Where: SAM Studios, Bristol
Source: Original demo promoted 1986
Band line up:
Paul Sandrone: Guitars and vocals
John Tuff: Keyboards & programming
John McSkimming: Bass
Eddie John: Drums
Track 20: Vicious Circle - ‘Woman’s World’
No Information available save:
Publisher: Copyright Control
Recorded: 1985
Source: Original demo promoted 1985/86
Anyone connected to the band or anyone who remembers them please contact us!
Music and memorabilia compiled from their extensive archives and those of the artists by Dave Massey, with help from Mike Darby, with thanks to Andy Fox as well.
Specific thanks go to Andy Oswin (Hey Belaba!), Josh Macrae (Wadi Vision), Jon Sheaff and Ella Hood (Great Naked), Martin Williams (Frame by Frame), John Tuff and Paul Sandrone (Pola), Steve Bush (Bush & Clarke), Sean Smith (Snapshot Parody), Neil Davidge and Steve Dew (Big Outdoor Type), Sally and Geoff Everett (Kick City) and Russ Crook (Umo Vogue), for the initial ‘yes’ and supply of material which allowed this compilation to take flight. Thanks also to Mike Darby, Steve Street, Symon Bye and Alan Griffiths.
Photos used include those taken by Bob Draper, Nigel Adams and others. Copyright remains on the various photographers great works and we thank them.
Reviews and features used for research include those written by Dave Massey, Mark Ashton, James Belsey, Simon Kinnersley and Campbell Stevenson.
Mastering and superb restoration of source material - all too often from a many generation cassette tape copy - by Steve Street
RIP - Alan Griffiths, Richard Angell and Miguel Kelly
All songs published as stated above
All recordings owned by the artists as named and exclusively licensed to Bristol Archive Records. Thanks to all the artists and writers for allowing their great material to be used.
ARC323CD
Artwork designed by Nicholas Darby
www.nicholasdarby.co.uk
(p)(c) Bristol Archive Records 2016
All Rights Reserved
www.bristolarchiverecords.com
(P)&(C) Bristol Archive Records 2017
www.bristolarchiverecords.com
This album is dedicated to those who dare to be different.
Bristol Boys Make More Noise! – Mike Darby
