Much-missed/Underrated Bands (Especially for Klumpy)

Originally posted by Big Boy Tomato Campag Wall'o'shite? Oh dear...oh dear dear dear.....

C U N T

Do I look like a gimp if I say I miss the late, great Band of Holy Joy? And The Sundays? And the Cocteaus.....

Sob!

M.

Originally posted by martin fradley Do I look like a gimp if I say I miss the late, great Band of Holy Joy? And The Sundays? And the Cocteaus.....Sob!M.

Nope. The Cocteaus often touched genius. Blue Bell Knoll & Heaven Or Las Vegas remain both important and beautiful.

• there was always something about Liz,do you not agree?

But of course! Liz Frazer was both dinky and otherworldy, and sexy in an weird sort of way. I remember reading Hooky whinging about how Simon Raymonde had ripped off "his" bass sound, though I can't hear it myself. "Victorialand" is my personal favourite. Always one of my favourte bands.

M.

Nice to hear from you again Martin - are you going to the Everton game ?

Alright Broughie: yes I am. That is, if I survive tonight's little fixture.....

M.

Originally posted by martin fradley Do I look like a gimp if I say I miss the late, great Band of Holy Joy? And The Sundays? And the Cocteaus.....Sob!M.

GASP!! ....THE.... BAND.... OF.... HOLY.... JOY!!!!!

Now we're REALLY TALKING!! MY GOD! I NEVER IMAGINED ANYONE ELSE ON THIS BOARD WOULD HAVE HEARD OF THEM - LET ALONE REMEMBERED THEIR NAME! That's why I never bothered to mention them should i be greeted with blank looks... Fuck me - the great lost band of the late 80s/early90s.... Whatever the fuck happened to them? Truly one of the most underrated bands of their time - thought they were briefly on the weeklies due to being lazily lumped in with the Pogues and Men They Couldn't Hang. Johny's words border on true poetic genius - and he's a top Geordie geezer as well - having met him and hung round with the band socially on several occasions over that time. Their sublime music soundtracked much of my early 90's moments - and seeing them supporting James at Blackpool in 1990 when both bands probably had their highest ever profile (Positively Spooked - what a record! - ah...them were the days...) was just PURE BLISS! What are your favourite records by them Martin (Fuck me - we're agreeing on something for once!!!) - if not everything they've ever done??? :)

(Bloody hell - I really can't get over this shock - someone else here remembering The Band Of Holy Joy....!!!)

So is it official then that the mighty Cocteaus have now split for good?

Originally posted by Martian Gray So is it official then that the mighty Cocteaus have now split for good?

I think so, Martin.

That reminds me of a strange anecdote.

I did an interview, some years ago with Liz Fraser (it was for Four-Calendar Café). It was really strange because she wasn't used to talk much to the press.

And there, she started talking to me as if I was her shrink or her conjugal consellor, talking of the flaws in her relationship with Robin Guthrie...

I felt a little embarrassed, wondering what I could print ol all that she told me...

Well, now that they've split up, can you tell us ?

I reckon she probably got bored of him sitting there at home thinking of ever-stranger song titles, like Frilly Doilly Oily when he was setting the table, that kind of thing

The Cocteaus "split" was announced in a very low-ley way around '98, though I think it was effectively over by the end of 96 when they finished the "Milk & Kisses" tour. Just fizzled out 'cos Robin and Liz were sick of each other. (Liz was seeing Jeff Buckley for a while, fact fans). To accompany Buster's little anecdote, I met Robin Guthrie on a Labradford tour in summer 2000: he too was incredibly earnest, and put up with my drunken queries with astonishing honesty, talking about the reasons for the Cocteaus demise, the failings of his & Liz's relationship, and his rampant substance abuse (which I think was the primary reason for end of said coupling). Really nice bloke to boot. Check out his new band Violet Indiana: Cocteaus ambience with new pop direction. His & Raymonde's label, Bella Union, are also a quality outfit. He also told me that there are various Cocteau bits & pieces that will come out at a later date. Liz Fraser solo record due out this year, apparently....

The Band of Holy Joy!?!? I knew there'd be another fan out there somewhere!! Yes, they were fantastic. I only own a few early 12" singles, plus the last three albums: the early stuff is impossible to get hold of, though I was told in 92 that much of it was to be re-issued. They are LONG overdue a best-of style retrospective, though cos they recorded for so many different labels, I doubt it will ever happen. I guess the wonderful-but-poorly-produced "Postively Spooked" is my fave: if only it had the prod. values of "Tracksuit Vendetta". This lot should be in ANY "Why weren't they massive...?" list: a great lost cult band. Briefly became a Sixth Form favourite when I played 'em relentlessly when doing my A-levels: probably had more fans in Market Drayton than in the rest of the country put together!! And Marty, we do agree on some things: we bonded over a shared love of the Boo's "Everything's Alright Forever", as well as Laika and the Pale Saints. "Foxbase Alpha" is probably my ultimate summer record too. More in common taste-wise than you think, mate.

And if "What the Moon Saw" isn't the saddest, most bitter cuckold song ever, then I'm a monkey poo.

M.

Pretty interesting too, Martin F...

In fact, I met Robin and Simon for the last Cocteaus album and they were incredibly nice...

Originally posted by Taboo # 7 Ah, Richey Edwards...they STILL don't know what happened (though it's pretty safe to assume he, Elvis, and Jimmy Hoffa share a bungalow in Fort Lauderdale, FLA)

Last seen on Tooley Street about a year ago......

Dear all,

My most underrated bands of our world are:

OMD - beautiful melodies and haunting lyrics Flock of Seagulls - Elegantly written songs Depecehe Mode - Martin Gore is a genius of our time Belious Some - The Eminem of the early 80's Bon Jovi - The masters of rock Alice in Chains - Unbeatable live Soul Asylum - Wrote one of the most piognant songs of our generation 'Runaway Train' Modern Romance - Everything that is good about your British music

'In Jesus's name I command thee to reject Satan and follow Christ'

Yours Jerry

Originally posted by martin fradley The Band of Holy Joy!?!? I knew there'd be another fanout there somewhere!! Yes, they were fantastic. I onlyown a few early 12" singles, plus the last threealbums: the early stuff is impossible to get hold of,though I was told in 92 that much of it was to bere-issued. They are LONG overdue a best-of styleretrospective, though cos they recorded for so manydifferent labels, I doubt it will ever happen. I guessthe wonderful-but-poorly-produced "Postively Spooked"is my fave: if only it had the prod. values of"Tracksuit Vendetta". This lot should be in ANY "Whyweren't they massive...?" list: a great lost cultband. Briefly became a Sixth Form favourite when Iplayed 'em relentlessly when doing my A-levels:probably had more fans in Market Drayton than in therest of the country put together!! And Marty, we doagree on some things: we bonded over a shared love ofthe Boo's "Everything's Alright Forever", as well asLaika and the Pale Saints. "Foxbase Alpha" is probably my ultimate summer record too. More in common taste-wise than you think, mate.And if "What the Moon Saw" isn't the saddest, mostbitter cuckold song ever, then I'm a monkey poo.M.

OH NO!!!... "What The Moon Saw" - please don't get me started - just typing that TITLE gives me fucking goosebumps!! Really. That song! So utterly bewitchingly POWERFUL - aching and emotional! Fuck me - you know sometimes when I sing along to that song (especially the last minute - fucking hell!) I'm reduced to tears? That's how utterly nakedly moving it is. On every level. Bar none. ( And, like you said, so embittered a lyric that it's THE perfect record to put on to holler along to and drown your sorrows after your partner has left you or whatever....). And the parent album "Manic Magic Majestic" (the BEST and Most Apt Album Title In The World Ever (© Martian Gray)) - in my opinion is probably THE definitive BOHJ album - it's recurring suburban themes of dashed hopes, failed relationships, unrequited love, gutter philosophy, petty backbiting, vengeance and inebriated self-absorption make for a truly addictive listen like no other band has ever produced before or since. If the predecessor "More Tales From The City" was a bit draining to sit through in one go for the uninitiated, then "MMM" is just that...Mmmmmm! - so desolate yet so ultimately upliftingly ...joyous(!!)...Honestly, without sounding pretentious I really am at a loss at explaining exactly why their music moves me so much - every song is like a little urban vignette that so perfectly encapsulates what it's like to live in the big bad uncaring city yet still feel a sense of desperate, desolate invincibility coursing thru your veins. Jesus , in light of my recent upheavals, It's all I can do now to bung on said LPs once again and listen to how it soundtracks my life as of now - not that I ever grew tired of listening to them - they, along with only a handful of bands, have the honour of periodically gracing my lugs even to this day - long after they disappeared off the face of the earth.

I have a proud recollection of turning one of my earlier girlfriends on to this band and she promptly was so impressed thru repeated hearings that she rushed out and snapped up what albums and singles she could. Although she found the first song I played her the 1985 debut 12" "Disgust" a bit unsettling to say the least - a psychotic electronic swirl of orchestrated anger and fury that bore so little relation to the sound of the band that followed with "The Big Ship Sails" "Who Snatched The Baby" and "Rosemary Smith" (I still play "Disgust" to this day whenever I'm feeling especiallly pissed off as it articulates my anger and despair so perfectly without myself having to scream at the top of my lungs!).

This band MATTERED to me - I was hopelessly in love with them like no other (yep not even New Order ). and I followed them on tour whenever I could. Then, come 1992, they supported, of all people, Carter USM (themselves not averse to ripping off Holy Joy's epic Brechtian soundscapes on their huge waltz-time show stoppers) on their huge sell-out tour, got a favourable response from the punters and scribes alike, and then promptly disappeared without trace after a well-received Soviet jaunt, where they received wonderful accolades such as being a "truly representative British new wave band" and "our English musical ambassadors and comrades" (!!!). So, where are they now? And what on earth is Johny Brown up to if he isn't writing novels or epic twelve-part urban anthologies? There's no news of any musical activity from them for nigh on 10 years - but I do understand a few of them went into TV soundtracking. Not too surprising considering the eclectism of their final "Tracksuit Vendetta" album.

Well Martin, if you have any Holy Joy singles you should have long done as I did and compile a chronological best-of - taking in their first 1985 stuff to their final Rough Trade singles in 1990. A monster 24-track CD that would make. Fucking hell mate, you've only gone and made me all misty-eyed now for this awesome band. And I won't ever forgive you for that!!!! (only joking!!). :) :) :)

(List of fave BOHJ songs to follow in a later post!!)

As ever, Martin, your impassioned posts render anything I has to say pretty redundant. Will just add that the only time I got to see 'em was supporting Carter USM in Brum (me and about another dozen HolyJoysters going mad; rest of crowd bemused); I try to avoid "What the Moon Saw" cos its a bit too close to the bone; and we'll have to come to some arrangement about getting me copies of the pre-"Manic..." lps: this is rare stuff!!!

Finally, having read your emotive posts on another thread, I can only suggest that you give "Unlikely Girl" a spin.

Let them chase your shadow, mate....

M.

Absolutely spot on matey!! I actually put on two of their albums again last night (...Spooked and MMM) - seeing as your mere mention of them had rekindled such warm memories of twelve years back, and guess what - halfway thru "What The Moon Saw" that lump in my throat came back - jeeezus!! That song still hasn't diminshed to this day!

Yeah, Johnny had a voice not dissimilar to Barney's, in the sense that neither of them can really sing in a technical sense, but its the straining delivery that packs the emotional punch. You can hear JB's voice becoming ever more racked, both physically and emotionally, towards the end of "WTMS" and that's wahte tears at yer heartstrings so effectively....

Originally posted by martin fradley Yeah, Johnny had a voice not dissimilar to Barney's, in the sense that neither of them can really sing in a technical sense, but its the straining delivery that packs the emotional punch. You can hear JB's voice becoming ever more racked, both physically and emotionally, towards the end of "WTMS" and that's wahte tears at yer heartstrings so effectively....

Dead right too - but the most harrowing performance ever from Johny has to be "Disgust" - he's literally screaming his guts out as the song gets ever more fraught, fucking hell, it's a very unsettling track to have to listen to, but it's sheer naked primal power over the whole of its six minutes just stuns you speechless.

Some of his sadder songs - like "The Tide Of Life" (opening line: "I rue the day I met you....") and "Leaves That Fall In Spring" - both off their first LP proper "More Tales From The City" still hit you on an emotional level like no other, but then Johny's unique untutored keeling voice has that unhinged vulnerability about it that even Barney can't muster in a million years (the odd moment excepted of course). Band Of Holy Joy - a truly godlike group.

If you want, let me know which records of theirs you DO have and I will try and fill in the gaps by sending you a tape compilation of their rarer, earlier stuff and singles, including their first couple of LPs (the other was a 1987 live one called "When Stars Came Out To Play") . I also wish their stuff would be reissued on CD just for the benefit of those who may have missed them first time round. But then how long's a piece of string (typically..) ?

I think I should give a try to The Band Of Holy Joy... Only know them by name...

Martin, I feel weird...

It's been too long we haven't talked about The Boo Radleys.

You can't believe how much I miss them. I'm not even sure I would New Order miss New Order as much...

What about The House Of Love... The early stuff, of course, although there were some beautiful songs later ('The Girl With The Loneliest Eye')...

Well , once we've cleared the decks of our Stereolab anecdotes or recollections, then I suppose I can always set up shop and post a sequel: The Boo Radleys - More Special Than New Order: Official. And then watch the fur and feathers fly as we luxuriate in our controversial little thread.

How about it Buster? Sounds cool to me! :)

Sounds cool to me too !

It's a deal! Coming up soon then!!!!

Just some info Martin, in case ya didnt know yet: i recieved a mail from Vinyl tap and amongst the new records/cd's was......Stereolab. a 7 inch "rare gig only release. Free witch no bra queen b/w speck voice.

HA HA! YEP! GOT IT (Bought TWO copies in fact) when I saw them the other week in Manchester. That's what's so good about Stereolab - you can rely on them to issue one-off tour-only 7" singles for the fans! Nice one.

Yes Mario - indeed I am a sad 'Lab fan!!!

This one is for Martin Fradley - should you next visit this thread - Just a sneak preview of the tracklisting of the two tapes of Holy Joy stuff I will be sending you in the new year: First cassette will feature their first LP proper "More Tales From The City" on one side and the live LP "When Stars Came Out To Play" on the other:

Track listings:

Side One - Who Snatched The Baby? Mad Dot When Stars Come Out To Play The Aspidistra House The Tide Of Life Don't Stick Knives In Babbie's Heads Leaves That Fall In Spring (A Tale Of Two) Cities Fishwives Goodnight, Godbless And Goodbye

Side Two - Don't Stick Knives In Babbie's Heads Mad Dot Janis - this One's For You Nico - this is the Way Out Tide Of Life One Child Amsterdam North Shields Fishwives Who Snatched The Baby? Yo!

The second tape will feature much of their earliest stuff released on Flim Flam records (the first six tracks being their 10" mini-lp "The Big Ship Sails"), plus a few rough trade / singles club oddities that were not available anywhere else.

Track listing -

Prams, Piers and Bitter Tears North Shields [an earlier version of Rosemary Smith] First Hour Of The Day Living Legends The Boy Sailor Maybe One Day Who Snatched The Baby? (original Single version) One Child A Great Binge Route To Love (early 1987 demo version) Tactless (12" version) Butterfly Beauty Burns Zombie It's Lovebite City Sleepy Time Donald

Also, Martin, please let me know whether or not you also possess any of the following singles or tracks: because if you don't have these, then I will add them to the second compilation:

Tactless (roughtrade 7" edit) Chantal Happy Go Lucky Lonely Cottage (instrumental) Claudia Dreams Well You've Met This Boy (first version) Jellybaby

okay, that's yer lot then !! Cheers....! :) Marty.

Marty Gray,

Got none of that stuff, except the "Claudia" single: looking forward with much anticipation....

Back on-topic, I've thought of some other bands:

Felt Moose Faith over Reason Throwing Muses Furniture

Miss 'em all....

Hey...all this talk about Band of Holy Joy.... I actually have 2 of their albums somewhere squeezed in my vinyl collection....I've always remember them as another version of The Pogues ( hope I haven't offended any of you passionate lot )....the thing is if you frequented music shops in Australia in the Eighties, you tend to find lots of Band of Holy Joy LPs in the bargain bins (..sorry ) I remembered what attracted me what their LP covers - one has a bright illustration, very strong lively colour. Oh, and there's always some Miracle Legion's LP to go in the bargain bins as well.