Compiled by the team behind previous Cherry Red box sets (Scared To Get Happy, Still In A Dream, Millions Like Us, Action Time Vision and Manchester North Of England, the forthcoming release see Liverpool get its turn with this 5 cd deluxe set featuring some of the best from 76-88.
Music has always been a integral part of Liverpool`s history and pre the Fab Four often seen as its kick start into the UK pop music limelight artists like Frankie Vaughan and Micheal Holiday had already brought home number 1`s to the City.
The success of The Beatles The Pacemakers and more in the 60`s to early 70`s no doubt fuelled the cities youth to believe anything was possible, the underground scene flourished and its picked up here from early punk and post punk Liverpool acts to 80`s dance and experimental Mersey beats.
Like the Manchester release we see some of Liverpools bigger names included Echo and The Bunnymen, The Teardrop Explodes, Frankie Goes To Hollywood, The La`s, OMD, Dean Or Alive, but again it’s the less established and unfamiliar which makes these sets.
Suffice to Say by The Yachts and the 77 classic British Refugee by The Spitfire Boys included on CD 1 are a prime example, the drummer from the Spitfire Boys going on to play with The Banshees and guitarist Rutherford later joining Frankie Goes to Hollywood. Also the Chuddy Nuddies Do The Chud is an early punk/electro crossover often overlooked and of course The Yachts under a different name.
There`s some other great stuff here too, Public Disgrace by Toxteth China Crisis debut African and White, Jeans Not Happening The Pale Fountains, Flaming Sword by Care and the wonderful Birds Fly ( Whisper to a Scream) by The Icicle Works.
All in all a very good compilation, however there`s one or two I would certainly drop for the inclusion of a Pete Wylie (Wah, Wah Heat ) composition, one of Liverpool`s finest songwriters imo.
Also included is a 55 page booklet of unreleased images, artists sleevenotes and essays from key observers and participants in the city’s music scene – Bernie Connor, Mike Badger, Yorkie and Joe McKechnie.
8/10
Leggy Mountbatten
DISC 1
- WHAT A WAY TO END IT ALL – Deaf School
2. BIG IN JAPAN – Big In Japan
3. SUFFICE TO SAY – Yachts
4. THE PICTURES ON MY WALL – Echo And The Bunnymen
5. LIL’S GONE TO PARIS – Ded Byrds **
6. BREAKTHROUGH IN GREY ROOM – 0-51 **
7. TODAY’S MYSTERY IS… – The Dance Party **
8. SLEEPING GAS – The Teardrop Explodes
9. FACTION-Faction
10. TOUCH – Lori And The Chameleons
11. BLACK LEATHER – Nightmares In Wax
12. BUNKER SOLDIERS – Orchestral Manoeuvres In The Dark
13. 194 RADIO CITY – Jaqui & Jeanette
14. LONELY EVENING – Clive Langer And The Boxes
15. MORNING, NOON AND NIGHT – Glass Torpedoes
16. COULD THIS BE HEAVEN – Original Mirrors
17. HEADS I WIN – The Moondogs
18. BREAK IT TO ME GENTLY – The Planets
19. DO THE CHUD – The Chuddy Nuddies
20. BRITISH REFUGEE – Spitfire Boys
21. THE DOCTOR – Geisha Girls 22. DON’T STOP THE WORLD – Deaf School
DISC 2
- DALEK I LOVE YOU (DESTINY) – Dalek I
2. TELECOMMUNICATION – A Flock Of Seagulls
3. WHEN I DREAM – The Teardrop Explodes
4. HIT THE MOON – Ellery Bop
5. NUCLEAR SUMMER – The Nice Men
6. HUMAN FEATURES – Black
7. TOTAL RECALL – Systems
8. TOUCH – Freeze Frame
9. SUPERMAN – Attempted Moustache
10. INTERCONTINENTAL – Afraid Of Mice
11. RESCUE – Echo And The Bunnymen
12. PIGGIE IN THE MIDDLE EIGHT – Cook The Books
13. CREATION REBEL – Windows
14. MY MOTIVE – Chinese Religion
15. TOO LATE TO FLY THE FLAG – Hambi And The Dance
16. SOLDIERS – Egypt For Now
17. DOWN AT THE ZOO – Those Naughty Lumps
18. EUTHENICS – Modern Eon
19. LAUNDERETTE – A Formal Sigh **
20. NIGHTLIFE – The Moderates **
DISC 3
- REVOLUTIONARY SPIRIT (STEREO MIX) – Wild Swans
2. AFRICAN AND WHITE – China Crisis
3. DON’T LET GO – Pink Industry
4. OBSESSIONS – Passion Polka
5. I’M THINKING OF YOU NOW – Box Of Toys
6. FLAMING SWORD – Care
7. DORIAN GRAY – The Bamboo Fringe
8. SHE’S LOCKED MY LIFE UP IN HER SUITCASE – Steve Lindsey
9. OCEANIC EXPLORERS – Ex Post Facto 10. SOME ASPECTS –
Chain Of Command
11. HE’S DEAD ALRIGHT – Ambrose Reynolds
12. ART ON 45 – Royal Family And The Poor
13. THEMES FOR ‘GRIND’ SCENE V – Will Sergeant
14. THROUGH THE GLASS – Shiny Two Shiny
15. BIRDS FLY (WHISPER TO A SCREAM) – Icicle Works
16. A GIGANTIC RAFT IN THE PHILIPPINES – It’s Immaterial
17. TOXTETH – Public Disgrace
18. PLAYING FOR TIME – Send No Flowers
19. THINGS HAVE LEARNT TO WALK THAT OUGHT TO CRAWL – The Room
20. SHE KEEPS HER SECRET – The Balcony (Mk I)
21. BURST BALLOONS – The Turquoise Swimming Pools
DISC 4
- TWO TRIBES – Frankie Goes To Hollywood
2. REASONS TO LIVE – Mr Amir
3. EVERY DAY ANOTHER DREAM – Brenda And The Beach Balls
4. THE FIRST PICTURE OF YOU – The Lotus Eaters
5. MISTY CIRCLES – Dead Or Alive
6. ARE YOU READY FOR THAT FEELING? – Virgin Dance
7. VALLEY OF EVERGREEN – Alternative Radio
8. JIMMY’SGRIN–Margox
9. – KARDOMAH CAFÉ (2017 MIX) – The Cherry Boys
10. CONTRASTING STRANGERS – The Light
11. JEAN’S NOT HAPPENING – Pale Fountains
12. IT’S A WONDERFUL LIFE – The Balcony (MK II) **
13. WORKING FOR THE MAN – The High Five
14. JAMES WHERE ARE YOU NOW? – The Press Gang
15. MY WAR – Western Promise
16. DON’T CRY DARLING (DADDY HAD TO DROWN THE CAT) – Old Ma Cuxsom And The Soapchoppers
17. HAPPEN – The Rioutous Hues
18. BOMB SUTRA – Mel-O-Tones
19. HELL – Marshmallow Overcoat
DISC 5
- ALWAYS THE BRIDESMAID – Jegsy Dodd And The Sons Of Harry Cross
2. GET DOWN OVER – The La’s
3. HIP AND HER CHEEK ELECTRIC (DEMO) – Barbel
4. A TRICK OF FATE – Magic Carpets
5. DEVIL LAUGHING – Benny Profane
6. THE TALLEST MAN – Jactars
7. DIDN’T WE HAVE A NICE TIME? (AND ALL MY FRIENDS ARE HERE) – The Tempest
8. PRECIOUS LOVE – The Onset
9. PAT NEVIN’S EYES – The Tractors
10. DANCE – Cyclic Amp
11. WHEN YOU’RE IN – The DaVincis
12. WAY OUT – The La’s
13. TANTRIC WIPEOUT – The Walking Seeds
14. BURNIN’ AND LOOTIN’ – Ministry Of Love
15. BIG BAD MONEY WORLD – A Game Of Soldiers
16. ONLY IN AMERICA – Exhibit B
17. SONS OF – Thomas Lang
18.COME HOLY SPIRIT- Revolutionary Army Of The Infant Jesus
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