Please describe ACR

I'm a relatively recent convert to NO and a newcomer to this site and I've noticed that there are quite a few references to ACR on it. I know a bit about the band but the only tracks of theirs that I've heard are the two in this site's archive because they were a bit before my time (I heard a lot of the music that was in the Top 40 in the late 70's and the early-to-mid 80's but I only started listening to other types of music in the late 80's). Could someone please describe their music to me, preferably by telling me what other more recent bands they sound like (i.e. if you like X, Y or Z you will probably like ACR).

Thanks, Fingers

Whistles...samples....funk...trumpets...sax. That about sums up ACR for me. I really can't think of another band that sounds like them.

You should try getting hold of acr:mcr for an intro or a previous compilation called the Old And The New.

They do have another retrospective out this week I believe which is called 'Early'.

Though the best thing to do is check them out live. They are playing in London this Friday in Islington and on Sunday in Manchester. I would imagine you can still get tickets.

"take a chance and dance"

DITTO THE ABOVE...THEY ARE PRETTY AMAZING LIVE...DIFFICULT TO MAKE PRESENT DAY COMPARISONS JUST LISTEN,GO SEE AND BECOME CONVERTED....P.S HOW MANY PEOPLE ARE GOING TO THE 1977 NIGHT IN ISLINGTON????

Thanks Mickey and Paul. When I searched for ACR on HMV's website the only album of theirs that was listed was the forthcoming "Early" compilation and another online music shop had a listing for an album "Looking For A Certain Ratio" (which is a remix album, isn't it?) but when I tried a music directory site there were 18 items listed. Were they on Factory, hence the difficulty in getting hold of their albums?

My faves are To Each.. and Force (even if it did spawn the abhorent Swing Out Sister!), and The Graveyard And The Ballroom is pretty good too, featuring a killer live version of All Nite Party.

Fingers, if your still having trouble getting stuff, mail me 29anne@madasafish.com and I'll send you something.

Thanks very much, Old Blue!!! I'll have a look in a few good record shops in good places first but if I can't find any I may get in touch.

Originally posted by Allen Jarvis There's a pic of ACR in City Life this week - Jez Kerr looks a bit haggard but does sport a grey "Get Ready" T-shirt. For some reason though, they keep referring to Don Johnson as Don Harrison? I'll scan the pic/article when I get home...And I'm going to the 1977 do in Islington too - as is Mickey Way and Johnny Giles, and a few other New Order Heads we know. Me and the Mrs are also coming up for Band on the Wall next Sunday too. ..

HAVE YOU MANAGED TO SCAN THE PICTURE YET...I WOULD BE INTERESRTED TO SEE WHAT MR KERR LOOKS LIKE NOW!!!

Who's actually in ACR these days ? Does anybody know what Simon Topping is up to these days ?

[Content deleted by Old Blue on 3/26/02 11:12:36 AM EST]

Originally posted by PAUL TROWELL

Still very much like the FA Cup I expect.

Did not one of them go and join "Swing Out Sisters"?

Originally posted by Allen Jarvis > Originally posted by Huber> Did not one of them go and join "Swing Out Sisters"?>

Yep, Andy Connell.

And the bird from SOS sang backing vocals on ACR's "Force" album.

Corrine Drewery sang on Bootsy.

Swing Out Sister are still recording and are very popular in err....Japan. Along with 90's flop bad grrrls Shampoo. Best place for the lot of them!

Originally posted by bill poster Who's actually in ACR these days ? Does anybody know what Simon Topping is up to these days ?

Last I heard was that Simon Topping was doing two things: he'd gone to New York to study Latin / Cuban music/percussion, and as recently as two years ago, he was still a key member of a 10-member-strong Manchester-based Latin-Cuban salsa outfit APITOS, led by percussionist Dave Hassall. Topping played various instruments like bongos, timbales, hand-held percussion, etc.... I know this because our own Latin/Samba band from 1997 supported Apitos at various gigs in the north-west over the course of the previous 5 years, even playing alongside them (Topping's mob) on the same stage at the annual Salsa Dancing competition held every June in Blackpool - so I can now blag that I've banged my drum alongside Mr Simon Topping....cool!

As for whether or not Apitos are still going, there is every chance they are, probably with a slightly different line-up, though I haven't seen much of them in action the past couple of years since I left our band. Anyone here who is familiar with the stuff of QUANDO QUANGO ( mid-80s Factory act featuring Topping and Mike Pickering amongst others ) and their first album "Pigs and Battleships" will therefore get a good idea of what Apitos sound like - they are a good live band and I recommend them to all of you with an interest in Cuban music..... :)

Originally posted by Old Blue > Originally posted by Allen Jarvis> > > > Originally posted by Huber> > Did not one of them go and join "Swing Out Sisters"?> > >

Yep, Andy Connell.

And the bird from SOS sang backing vocals on ACR's "Force" album.

Corrine Drewery sang on Bootsy.

Swing Out Sister are still recording and are very popular in err....Japan. Along with 90's flop bad grrrls Shampoo. Best place for the lot of them!

What's wrong with Swing Out Sister?? They did some good tunes! "Breakout" is a top pop song! And their version of Dusty Springfield's "Am I The Same Girl" was just as good as the original. Well, I liked it anyway!! They were a damn sight better than their revolting mid-late 80's "yuppie-pop" contemporaries at the time: I mean, Curiosity Killed The Cat, Brother Beyond, Johnny Hates Jizz, Wet Wet Wank ferchrissakes!! - yeuucccch!! Yeah - I also knew Corrinne Drewery sang on "Force", and Andrew Connell played on it too. Stranger things have happened - and Swing Out Sister copping a number 1 debut album is probably the least of them....hmmmmm... ;)

Originally posted by Allen Jarvis As promised ... ACR article in City Life

THANKS....YOU ARE RIGHT A FEW HOT DINNERS WOULDNT GO AMISS

Originally posted by Oh Look! There Goes The Laughing Martian Again!! > Originally posted by Old Blue> > > > Originally posted by Allen Jarvis> > > > > > > Originally posted by Huber> > > Did not one of them go and join "Swing Out Sisters"?> > > > > >

Yep, Andy Connell.

And the bird from SOS sang backing vocals on ACR's "Force" album.

Corrine Drewery sang on Bootsy.

Swing Out Sister are still recording and are very popular in err....Japan. Along with 90's flop bad grrrls Shampoo. Best place for the lot of them!

What's wrong with Swing Out Sister?? They did some good tunes! "Breakout" is a top pop song! And their version of Dusty Springfield's "Am I The Same Girl" was just as good as the original. Well, I liked it anyway!! They were a damn sight better than their revolting mid-late 80's "yuppie-pop" contemporaries at the time: I mean, Curiosity Killed The Cat, Brother Beyond, Johnny Hates Jizz, Wet Wet Wank ferchrissakes!! - yeuucccch!! Yeah - I also knew Corrinne Drewery sang on "Force", and Andrew Connell played on it too. Stranger things have happened - and Swing Out Sister copping a number 1 debut album is probably the least of them....hmmmmm... ;)

Nothing the wrong with SOS, I even had a crush on Corrine when I was slightly younger. Nice videos, too!