Wouldn’t be the 80’s without a bit quirky record. Enter Haysi Fantysee , Jeremiah Hardy,(soon to be a Superstar DJ in the 90’s) Kate Garner and her then boyfriend songwriter/producer Paul Caplin (who co-wrote Marilyn’s “Calling Your Name”) Stylised like a futuristic version of Dexy’s Midnight Runners and a perchance for a bit of country tinged pop.
This is a song so bad it’s good with atrocious singing in silly accents, guess it was the “punk” element. The long 12″ mix reminds me of The Grid’s “Texas Cowboy” with plenty of pistol shots and Western references. Bass was provided by Alfie Agius (from The Fixx) and saxophone by Simon Henry.
The B-side is a weird; gospel in a slow swamp rock style based on a bass line. From Youtube Healy: “Recorded with Tony Visconti of Bowie/T-Rex fame – he was a brilliant vocal producer. The lyric was about a beautiful girl that I knew, who kept slashing her wrists. I got the title from a totally un-connected book. Andy Weatherall named his label after it a few years later.” Very punk.
http://www110.zippyshare.com/v/oXuwMFUk/file.html
Regard Records – RGT 100
| A | John Wayne Is Big Leggy (Groovy Long Version) | 6:53 |
| B1 | The Sabres Of Paradise | 6:38 |
| B2 | John Wayne Is Big Leggy | 3:18 |
I always thought that the song was a dig at Ronald Reagan.
You’re probably right with that 🙂
Glad to hear this song again after all these years. It was a secret favourite of me. Thank you a lot.
I love how you call one of the b-sides a bit weird, when you’re talking about Haysi Fantayzee. That album messed with my head when I was a little ‘un. Hilariously danceable.