Thomas Lang – The Happy Man (12″)

Liverpool pop pinup, Thomas Lang, never quite made it to the pop superstardom he deserved. He had a very distinct, jazzy music style and this was his most successful single. Piano and Saxophone prominiently in the mix this shows pretenders like Matt Bianco how it’s done. Ex OMD keyboardist , David Hughes was producer, mixer and co-writer. This was a rerecorded version that appeared on the album “Scallywag Jaz” (which is worth checking out). Four solid tracks on here, including a brilliant cover of “Sons Of” made famous by Jacques Brel.

Lang is still doing stuff now , he owns Parr Street studios in the city centre.

Ai		The Happy Man (Extended Version)
Aii		Bulgaria
Bi		Skin
Bii		Sons Of

NEW LINK!

http://netkups.com/?d=cdb502fa5226a

Melon – The Gates Of Japonesia (12″)

Okay I’m back from my hols and determined to kick this blog back into shape with some weird and unusual postings.

First up is this balearic, slightly soft metal piece of Japanese electonica from band Melon. Think “One Night In Bangkok” via Malcolm  Mclaren’s Madame Butterfly stuff and you might be near, produced by Pet Shop Boys collaborator, Nick Froome. Odd would be a great way to describe it, especially the pop funk of “Pleasure Before Your Breakfast” and all the badly translated lyrics, HUGE electronic bass btw.

http://netkups.com/?d=ac31df2855f65

Grapes Of Wrath – Do You Want To Tell Me (12″)

From 1989 and some very listenable, indie guitar jangle. This Canadian band must of heavily inspired the Stone Roses, same blend of baggy psychedelia, the main track starting off uncanningly like “Wonderwall”. 2 other bloody good tracks make this perfect summer ear fodder, “Backward Town” speaks a lot to me.

http://netkups.com/?d=1ac8b85eef2f5

A		Do You Want To Tell Me	3:34
B1		Backward Town ( Acoustic)	2:43
B2		I Can Tell

Liberty Horses – Believe (12″)

When Boo Hewardine left cult band , The Bible, Neill Maccoll went on to form ‘The Liberty Horses’ ,with Calum MacColl  and  Leroy Lendor on bass. The MacColl’s came from a musical family, sons of Ewan MacColl and Peggy Seeger and of course had a sister called Kirsty. “Believe”  has a country rock element to it, sounding a bit like REM mixed with the vocals of Paddy McAloon (from Prefab Sprout) The true gem on this is the Celtic influenced “My Disgrace” and the folk stomp of “Three Crosses”. Worth checking out the album “Joyland” if you can find it.

http://netkups.com/?d=03b59dd1fee04

1		Believe
2		My Disgrace
3		Three Crosses

The Gems – Stand Up Sit Down (12″)

 

From 1986 and a band who were obviously a rock band but wanted to dabble with the charts to produce the weird hybrid of synthpop and rock. Think slap bass and guitar solos with added orchestral stabs. There is a webpage about them here http://home.lyse.net/mott/mrbig_gems.html. The 12″ was produced by 80’s legend Steve Barnacle, now doing the rounds again with the reformed Visage.

NEW LINK!!

http://www42.zippyshare.com/v/35935365/file.html

A		Stand Up Sit Down (Extended Version)
B1		Stand Up Sit Down (Instrumental Version)
B2		Here It Comes Again

Metro – America In My Head (12″)

“All is Quiet….” Well the rebirth continues with this classic slice of New Wave from 1981. Peter Godwin was part of this group, lending his distinct voice. The 12″ is by production legend , Richard James Burgess (Duran Duran, Spandau Ballet, Landscape) all big snare and reverb guitar. B-side “Alone” does sound very Police-like.

NEW LINK 2019

https://www96.zippyshare.com/v/OQLpJZvg/file.html

A		America In My Head (Dance Mix By Richard Burgess)
B1		America In My Head
B2		Alone

The Shining – Working Class Hero (12″)

This sort of reminds me of early The The. From 1983 and on the indie label Turbo records it was mixed by ex-UK Sub, Kevin D Nixon. All jagged guitar, deep bass and electronic drums and political message, the Dub mix was quite a find. It has an almost voice only version of Lennon’s “Scapegoat” to add to the intrigue. Any more info ???

A		Working Class Hero
B1		Working Class Dub
B2		Scapegoat

NEW LINK 2016

http://www119.zippyshare.com/v/skOIXoQP/file.html