Jobs for the Boys (compilation 1984)

In 1984 Ronnie Flood, founder of the city’s musicpaper Merseysound “had the idea of putting together a compilation of the best local groups who weren’t getting airplay” (New Society, Jan 1985). The record was issued by Natalie Records and was co-funded Merseyside County Council. In Flood’s view “it was a way of getting groups together to make a statement about the state of the unemployed people in Liverpool”

Jobs for the Boys (1984)

a1. Be La Deuce: You Play About
a2. The Conversation: Our Last Goodbye
a3. Cook Da Books: Piggie in the Middle 8
a5. Pressure Drop: Daddy Buy Me a Rifle
a6. This Final Frame: Mondays Child
a7. The Rain Kings: A Kind of Cruelty
a8. The Faction: Jobs for the Boys
a9. Discipline: Borderline
b1. Politburo: Innocence
b2. Exhibit: It’s Hypothetical
b3. Phantasee: Tell Me
b4. Neuklon: The Phoenix
b5. I-Lands: Back Before the Pain
b6. Broken Promise: Beneath Those Lines
b7. Heaven Tonight: Mystery Play
b8. Afraid of Mice: Don’t Take Your Love Away
b9. Experimental Gardens: In the Dance

Be La Deuce: A four-piece with soul and jazz funk influences, formed in 1984 by Richi Riding (vocals, percussion), Alan Gillibrand (guitar, vocals), Paul Grivosti (bass, vocals), and Graham Chesters (drums, vocals). The band also released a demo tape in 1984 (featuring: You Play About, Stay or Go, Deep in Your Heart, Life Ain’t So Pretty, Keep Your Head (Live), Electric Woman), which included the number featured on this compilation. In 1986 the band changed its name to Louie And the Lettermen.

Conversation: A funk pop trio from Prescot, formed in 1982 by Dave Sanders (later with Flood) with a flexible line-up here featuring a female vocalist.

Cook Da Books: Kirkby band (originally Cook The Books) formed by ex-members of Dogemz and Brooklyn in 1980 as a reggae act. The original line-up included Tony ‘Rose’ Prescott (keyboards), Owen Moran (vocals, bass), Peter ‘Dig’ Deary (keyboards), John Leggett (drums) and Kevin Kelly (guitars). They released their first single in 1982 (Piggie in the Middle Eight b/w Turn to Black) and a few months later another song (This Is Not the Time) appeared on the compilation cassette Crackin’ Up At The Pyramid. When Kelley left the band for Lager Lager, the sound lost much of its reggae orientation. The remaining members released a number of singles and an Lp (issued only in France) between 1983 and 1985, when the band lost Tony Prescott (later Steppin’ Razor) became Da Books. The number featured on this compilation is the original four-track version of the band’s debut single.

Pressure Drop (see relevant post): Punk group formed in 1982 and heavily influenced by the clash and the Damned. The line-up included Mark Hodgekiss (vocals), David Ball (bass), David Austin (drums), Tony Turner (guitars), and Warren Peacock (guitars), who left in 1983. They released two singles respectively in 1983 (From Here To Eternity b/w Navy Blue) and in 1984 (Daddy Buy Me a Rifle b/w Guinea Pig, see relevant post below). The a-side number of the latter single is featured on this compilation.

This Final Frame (see relevant post): Wirral band originated in 1981 after the dissolution of T.V. 12 (former Rest) as a white reggae band when Paul Skillen (vocals, guitars), Pete McAsey (bass, also Balcony), Carl Henry (drums) joined forces with Eamonn Sale (keyboards) and Jim Short (trumpet). This line-up released two singles in 1982 (The Diary b/w Discontent) and 1984 (The Mask b/w Memories Are Stone). After recording Monday’s Child to be released on this compilation, Henry left (for Politburo) and was replaced by Jerry Holsgrove. The second line-up (plus some additional musicians and vocalists, namely Vicky Peters, Mick Cobb, Mandy Smith, Barbara Philips, Mandy Wotton) released other two singles in 1985 (Take No Prisoner b/w Eden and Stories b/w Blue and Grey). In the summer 1985 This Final Frame disbanded and Paul Skillen (after a short period with Dream Time), Eamon Sale, Jerry Holsgrove and Vicky Peters (ex Subtle Hints) and Neil Shenton (ex ID) formed World Apart.

The Rain Kings (a.k.a. Rainkings): Formed in 1984 after the split of Flood, when, parting company with Dave Ssanders (former Conversation), Roy Corkhill (bass) teamed up with Dave and Jeff Sansbury (respectively on guitars and vocals). The group’s music was considered to be distinctive of the new Liverpool sound, combining acoustic guitars and nice melodies. Cockhill quit in 1984 to join Here’s Johnny.

Faction: Not to be confused with John Tuite’s band (see relevant posts below) this homonymous band was a mod-rock trio formed in 1982 (played their first gig on World Cup final night), fronted by Gary ‘Ozzy’ Osborne (vocals guitars) and including Tony Piggott (bass) and Ian Wilkinson (drums), later substituted by Mark Turner (1984). The band released a demo in 1983 (Here Today Gone Tomorrow, Raining Again, No face in the Crowd, Jobs for the Boys, Four Walls) which included the track the gave the title to the whole compilation. A second demo was recorded in 1984. Faction has been the support act for bands like Afraid of Mice, Tears for Fears, Farm and also Madness.

Discipline: The band originated from the ashes of Chain of Command (see relevant post) – Neil Whitehead, David Taylor (both on vocals, synthesizers, percussion) and Matt Adams (bass, rhythm box) – when, after releasing a cassette-single (Some Aspects b/w Honour among Thieves) and having a track on the Compilation Subtle Hints (Some Aspects) in 1983, Taylor and Adams left. An anonymous contributor to this blog informed us that “The track Boarderline was originally written and rough demoed by the original three piece Chain of Command. Matt left just before they went into the studio (Amazon) to record it. COC changed their name to Disipline briefly, and it was at this time that the track was accepted for Jobs for the Boys.”

Politburo: Wirral three-piece formed in 1982 after the split of Dead on Arival, when Ian Jackson (bass), Carroll Bayne (vocals), Paul Denheyer (guitars) and Steve Lynn (vocals) parted company with Mark Webb (who formed Crosstalk A/V, and later Hi-Tech), and were joined by John Lever (drums, formerly with Manchester-based Chameleons) later replaced by Carl Henry (of This Final Frame). In early 1983 the band was reduced to Denheyer, Jackson and Henry. After a couple of demos (the latter of which featured Dave Dickie (with Black) and Andy Clegg on keyboards and included the tracks Innocence, Euphoria, Extraordinary, Room 205, Now You See Me, Building cages, return of the Kodak Ghost – among which there are all the numbers subsequently appeared on compilations and the A-side of the band’s only single) the first vinyl release was a song (Room 205) on a BBC flexi disc called Two Minute Heroes (October 1984). In November 1984 Politburo re-recorded the song Innocence with Dickie producing to be issued on Jobs for the Boys. In March 1986 the band released their first single (Euphoria b/w April Shower, Half a Hairpin). In the same year Politburo worked on demos of hat should have been their second single (Dumb Blond), but never was.

Exhibit B: The band was formed in mid-1984 by James Hughes (vocals, keyboards, guitars) and Howie Minns (a.k.a. Howie Di Miunzo, drums, keyboards) (both formerly with Cherry Boys and City Lights). In 1984 they released a self-titled demo (the Other Side, Absolutely Criminal, the Escapology Party, It’s Hypothetical b/w Breathing Space, If I were Meant to Fly, Feels like Today) which included the song featured on this compilation.

Phantasee: A disco-funk / disco-pop act formed in late 1983 when Pete Fitzmaurice (drums, former Twisted Nervez) joined Dawn O’Reilly (vocals), Colin O’Toole (bass) – both formerly of Renard, with Tony Velasco (later Contact, Waving at trains, Carry on Spying) and Pete ‘Ped’ Gills (later Frankie Goes to Hollywood) – and Vinnie O’Toole (guitars). A fifth member, Frank Iwiediebo originally joined as a dancer, then also provided backing vocals (like Paul Rutherford with FGTH). Brian Jameson completed the line-up on additional keyboards for live performances. A planned single (Virgin Boy) for Madness’s label Zarjazz never materialised.

Neuklon: Formed in 1979 and producing a keyboard-oriented electronic sound, the band, originally consisting of Mike Lloyd, James Johnson and Anthony Marshall, made their debut in 1979 supporting OMD at Eric’s. After frequent line-up changes and even a change of name (for a short period in 1982 they became Venus Beat Mushrooms) Neuklon got established as a four-piece, now including, besides Lloyd, Lee Mavers (vocals, later La’s), Colin McCann and Donna Lowe (both later in Lloyd Collection, with Mike Lloyd). The band recorded several demos, but their only number to be released on vinyl is the track featured on this compilation.
(see also: http://www.myspace.com/neuklon2008 http://www.thelas.org/forums/viewtopic.php?f=8&t=2076&st=0&sk=t&sd=a&start=30 )

I-Lands (see relevant post): The brainchild of Andy Warren (formerly with Change of image and Systems). In 1981 Warren formed Islands of Dance with Stuart McBain (bass), Howard Lacey (drums), Mike Saunders (guitars) and Ruth Evison (keyboards). In 1983 Darren Bell replaced Saunders, Bernie Mulcahey took the place of Evison, Tny Elson substituted Lacey, and Joanne Griffith joined on vocals. In 1984 the name was shortened to I-Lands and Mark Coleridge (from Ex Post Facto) replaced Elson on drums. The band released one single in 1984 (In the Rain b/w Velvet Glove, see relevant post), before recording the song which appears on this compilation.

A Broken Promise: Croxteth rock-folk band formed in the summer 1983 and featuring Roy Jones (guitars, vocals), Paul De Boo (bass), Mark Rogers (guitars) and Gerard Dyson (drums). They supported Alarm in 1985 and were expected to be by the local music press the next acoustic rock band to climb the national charts. Live favourites were songs like Yesterdays Children, Beauty in Understanding, Start Again and Stand Tall.

Heaven Tonite (a.k.a. Heaven Tonight) (see relevant post): Band puttogether in mid-1984 by Amanda ‘Mandarine Orange’ Todd (vocals, former Zale Out), Colin ‘Gash’ Billinge (ex Last Chant), Dave Lloyd (guitars) and Ian Carney (bass). Besides the song on this compilation, the band recorded a couple of songs (the title track of the movie Distant Fire and a possible single Forget Me Not) neither of which was released.

Afraid of Mice (see relevant post): The brainchild of Phil Jones (formerly Wo Wardrobe’s Swinging Clit, Skyfall, Next, later Two’s A Crowd) formed in 1979 and after trying out various names (Beano, Press, Jones) they eventually settle for Afraid of Mice. Between 1979 and 1986 the band went through several line-up changes and issued several singles (I’m on Fire b/w Down in the Dark and Intercontinental b/w What Shall We Do, in 1981, Trans-Parents b/w That’s Not True and At the Club b/w I Will Wait, in 1982) and two albums (Afraid of Mice in 1982 and The Official Bootleg in 1983). Curiously enough Afraid of Mice started and ended their recording history by contributing songs to compilations.In 1980 they were featured with two songs (I’m Not a Fighter and Trans-Parent) on the A Trip to the Dentist compilation (see relevant post) and in 1985 they contributed with Don’t Take Your Love away on this compilation.

Experimental Gardens: Wirral power-dance rock band risen from the ashes of avant-garde group Astrakhan when, in early 1983, Tony ‘Ringo’ Ringwood (vocals), Ritchie Edwards (guitars) and Mike Francis (bass) teamed up with Alan Roberts (drums, ex Distinction), John Magee (keyboards), and sisters Katrina and Melanie Michael (backing vocals). In November 1983 they released their first single (The One That Got Away b/w People Will Be People), produced by former Deaf School Steve Lindsey. In 1985 Roberts, Magee and the Michael sisters left and were replaced by Carl Walker (drums) and Paul Bannister (vocals, percussion). Experimental Gardens recorded several demos but, apart from their first single, the only other song ever to appear in vinyl format is the one featured on this compilation.


Jobs for the boys