Big in Japan - 1977-78 Recordings

We started off in Liverpool, and in Liverpool we stay.
A large part of what happened there in the post-punk era gravitated around Eric’s Club, and a lot of what originated from there, in a way or another, had to do with a least one of the members of the seminal group Big in Japan. Just take a look at the personal of the band, to have an idea:

Budgie - later of The Slits and then Siouxsie & the Banshees
Ian Broudie - later of Original Mirrors, Care, The Lightning Seeds and a respected producer
Bill Drummond - later of Lori & the Chameleons, the Zoo record label, the JAMMS, and The KLF
David Balfe - later also of Lori & the Chameleons, and The Teardrop Explodes and the Food record label
Jayne Casey - later of Pink Military and Pink Industry and then leading light in the Liverpool club and arts scenes
Holly Johnson - later of Frankie Goes to Hollywood and solo artist
Kev Ward and Phil Allen - no further musical activity

Quite impressive.

Now, the history:

“Big in Japan formed in late 1977. They started off playing gigs around Liverpool, most notably at the seminal Eric's Club. Their stage show was unique: lead singer Jayne Casey would perform with a lampshade over her shaved head, guitarist Bill Drummond played in a kilt and bassist Holly Johnson performed in a flamboyant manner which he would later take further in Frankie Goes to Hollywood. […]
Ian Broudie said that "It was more performance art than rock'n'roll. But it gave me a healthy disregard for musicianship. It's ideas that are important, not proficiency." […]
Hatred of the band reached such a level that a petition calling on them to split up was launched by a jealous young Julian Cope. Displayed in local shop Probe Records the petition gathered 2000 signatures including those of the band themselves. Shortly afterwards the band did split up although this was due to personal differences rather than the petition. […]
Their music ranged from punk paeans to the life of prostitution on Suicide a Go-Go, to goofy 50's pastiches complete with high-pitched chipmunk type vocals on Cindy and the Barbi Dolls.
The band broke up in 1978, but recorded From Y To Z and Never Again afterwards to pay off debts. The unintentional consequence of the E.P. was the formation of the seminal Zoo label, which went on to release early material by Echo & the Bunnymen and The Teardrop Explodes, amongst others.”

(From Wikipedia)

The songs:
In the folder here you find all the songs authored by the band in the years 1977-78:

1. "Big in Japan" (from the split single "Brutality, Religion and a dance beat (e.g., Big in Japan & the Chuddy Nuddies)" backed by "Do the Chud" by the Chuddy Nuddies - fellow Liverpool band Yachts recording under a pseudonym) - Sept. '77, 7", Eric's 0001.

02-05 From Y To Z and Never Again - EP, (first ever release on the Zoo Label,1978, 7")
- 02. "Nothing Special" (recorded at the M.V.C.U. 4 track studio (Teac 3340S), Liverpool, July '78. Produced by Noddy Knowler. Musicians: Jayne, vocals; Ian Broudie, guitar; Bill Drummond, guitar; Dave Balfe, bass; Budgie, drums)
- 03. "Cindy and the Barbi Dolls" (recorded at the M.V.C.U. 4 track studio (Teac 3340S), Liverpool, August '78. Produced by Noddy Knowler. Musicians: Ian Broudie, guitar; Bill Drummond, guitar; Dave Balfe, bass).
- 04. "Suicide a GoGo" (recorded at T.W. studios, London, November' 77. Produced by Rob Dickens. Musicians: Jayne, vocals; Kev Ward, vocals; Ian Broudie, guitar; Bill Drummond, guitar; Holly, bass; Phil Allen, drums)
- 05. "Taxi" (recorded at Amazon studios, Liverpool, May '78. Produced by the band. Musicians: Jayne, vocals; Ian Broudie, guitar; Bill Drummond, guitar; Holly, bass; Budgie, drums)

06. S.C.U.M (Society For Cutting Up Men) - Recorded T.W. Studios October 1977. Licensed from Warner Bros. Music Ltd. Musicians: Bass - Holly Drums - Phil Allan Guitar - Bill Drummond , Ian Broudie Vocals - Jayne Casey , Kevin Ward Engineer - Alan Winstanley Producer - Rob Dickins. Features on Zoo Records compilation album To The Shores Of Lake Placid (1982).

07. Match Of The Day (featured on Street To Street: A Liverpoool Album - 1978, Open Eye Records)

08-10 John Peel session of 6th March 1979 (Musicians: Vocals - Jayne Casey. Guitar / Organ / B. Vocals -Ian Broudie; Bass / B. Vocals - Holly; Drums / B. Vocals - Budgie)
- 08. Suicide High Life
- 09. Goodbye
- 10. Don't Bomb China

Big in Japan