The Relations (1980)

The Relations were a power-pop band from Birkenhead formed in 1980 by John Poole (vocals, guitar, former J-Beats, Kilk, Familiar Compound, Stone Circle, Cuddly Toys and Drugs, later Messing Scratch Band), Vick Headley (guitar), Roy Bowen (bass), Graham Pyke (a.k.a Dyke, keyboards) and Maxwell Hammer (drums). In July 1980 they released their first and only single:

Summer Romance (1980)
- Summer Romance
- One More Record

In November of the same year the b-side (One More Record) was also featured on the Liverpool compilation ‘A Trip to the Dentist’ (see relevant post).

On his myspace page, here is how John Pool recalls his time with the band:
‘My first live performance was at the age of 13 in a band called The J-Beats during the interval of a Saturday afternoon film matinee at The Gaumont, Dingle, Liverpool 1963. I went on to play The Cavern Club, Majestic Ballroom and Youth Clubs etc; at the height of the Merseybeat era 1964/65. Through the years of 1966-78, other bands followed such as The Klik, Familiar Compound Spirit, Stone Circle and Cuddly Toys encompassing R&B, psychedelic, blues, folk and indie guitar rock. In 1980 I formed studio band The Relations, specifically to record a single featuring two of my songs, Summer Romance/One More Record produced by Phil Ault for the legendary Birkenhead independent, Skeleton Records. This single sadly didn't sell loads but did pick up some favourable reviews and is now somewhat a collectors item. Around the same time, I was a member of another studio band The Drugs, formed by friend Graham Pike [Pyke] who wrote and arranged the material. Following a move to East Anglia 1981/2 and a period of relative musical inactivity, I met some new faces, got involved again and between 1987-2002 wrote, recorded and performed with the Messing Scratch Band, Bo Diddley Diddley and Bopp! playing arrangements of trad. Irish music, Folk/Blues standards and self-penned songs.’


relations

(see also: http://www.myspace.com/johnnypoole
http://www.myspace.com/grahampike
http://reocities.com/SunsetStrip/Limo/8385/r/uk80r.htm#Relations)