The Frantic Elevators (Part 1 - 1978-1981)

The Frantic Elevators were a band from Manchester. Their relevance to the Liverpool scene resides not only in the fact that they gigged quite frequently in Liverpool, but also because their original bass player, Brian Turner, formed the Crackin’ Up with Roger Eagle (of Eric’s fame) in 1981.

The band formed in 1978 and consisted of Mick Hucknall (vocals, former Osiris, Joe Stalin's Red Star Radio Band, Purple Haze, later Simply Red), Neil Moss (a.k.a. Neil Smith, guitars, keyboards, former Osiris), Steve Tansley and Mark Reeder. The latter two soon left the line-up to be replaced by Brian Turner (bass) and
Kevin Williams (drums). There band also included and a fifth unofficial member, the photographer Richard Watt. The band released their first single in 1979:

Voice in the Dark (1979)

- Voices in the dark

- Everyday I Die

- Passion

A second single was planned, recorded and was soon to be released (January 1980) but never saw the light of day. The next vinyl release would be in late 1980:

You Know What You Told Me (1980)

- You Know What You Told Me

- Production Prevention

The single was rather coldly received by the music press. NME wrote:

‘Noisy acoustic beast, lots of whistling and rattling of zob-sticks […] A pity that bands feel inclined (or get coerced) to release gimmicky tracks as A-side [...]. Judging by the B-side, Production Prevention, The Frantic Elevators have more to offer than gimmicks. Not a lot, but at least it’s something’

In February 1981 the Frantic Elevators recorded their first Peel Session (Ding Dong, Searching for the Only One, Hunchback of Notre Dame, I Am the Man, Production Prevention) playing some new material that would soon be released as the band’s third single.

Fe-1

(see also:

http://frantic.fluteboy.co.uk/

http://www.franticelevators.co.cc/ )