Elegance, Charm And Deadly Danger (1985) [Re-Up]

Elegance Charm And Deadly Danger is a compilation album of St. Helens / Rainhill bands released by Push Records in 1985. Push (acronym for Promotional Umbrella for St. Helens) was formed by a group of local promoters (among whom Dave Evans of the Tractors). The bands featured on vinyl all contributed to the costs, eventually getting their money back from selling records.

Elegance, Charm & Deadly Dangers (1985)

a1. Old Ma Cuxsom And The Soapchoppers - Don't Cry Darling (Daddy Had to Drown The Cat)

a2. Wake Up Afrika - Love Died In The Road

a3. The Riotous Hues - Happen

a4. Us - This Year

a5. Dixie Cartoon - Big Bucks

a6. The Howitzer Brothers - Real Man

a7. The La's - My Girl (Sits Like A Reindeer)

a8. Mave - Samantha Rox

a9. Kingston And The Hunters - Heart And Soul

b1. Post Mortem - Pity

b2.The Aristocrats - Ballistic Boogie

b3. 5,000 Spirits - Saigon Rain

b4. Cassio Viletone - Fingerless Gloves

b5. The Academy Of Unrest - Sensitive

b6. The Happy Gauls - Bad Night At Malibu Beach

b7. The La's - Sweet 35

b8. The Romulan Cloaking Device - Terry Fields And A Pint Of Guinness

b9. Mave - Thania (Come Down To Victor's With Me)

Old Ma Cuxsom: Originally Old Ma Cuxsom & The Soapchoppers (formerly John Noakes & His Amazing Waxy Cuticles) was a St. Helens pop group form in winter 1983 by Hugh Umbidaligo (vocals), Troy Steele (bass), Marcus Gossage (guitars), Colin Smith (keyboards), and Mikey Babbs (drums). Besides the number featured on this compilation the band also released one single in1986 (Don’t scare Me b/w Don’t Cry Darling, + Lightermen, Stevedores & Dinosaurs).
(see also: http://www.myspace.com/oldmacuxsom )

Wake Up Afrika!: Widnes five-piece acoustic group formed in 1984 by Pete Benson, Dave Pichilingi’ Fenlon (vocals) (both formerly with Utopia Dream, Fenlon later 35 Summer), Duncan Lomax (guitar) (ex Perfect, later 35 Summers, Hal), Ian Donohue (guitar), Stephen Hollan (bass), Andy Hignett (drms) and Andy Frizell (sax) (ex Perfect, later Wizards Of Twiddly, Royal Family and the Poor), the latetr replaced in 1987 by John Lyons. The band only released 2-track demo in 1987 (Mr. Christie / The Breadvan), changed their name to Giant Smile, back again to Wake Up Afrika, released a single in1989 (Simple Words b/w God Only Knows + Animal) before splitting and Fenlon and Lomax formin Summer 35 in 1990.
(see also: http://www.myspace.com/35summers
http://www.myspace.com/wizardsoftwiddly )

Riotous Hues: St. Helens act formed around 1984 by David Evans (guitar, vocals, later briefly with La’s), Dave Shaw (guitars, later Old Ma Cuxsom), Sean Edelston (lead gitar) Gaz Capper (drums) and Phil Smith (bass). Mike 'The Captain' Parker occasionally played keyboards (former Ilos, Fatal Impact, Happy Accident, later Us and Space Cakes). Both Smith and Evans later played in the Tractors. The band’s only vinyl releases are the song featured on this compilation and two others appeared on the Secret Liverpool compilation (Lessonless Rainbows, She Left). (see also www.myspace.com/therawhidechomp )

Us: Pop act formed in 1985 by ex-Riotous Hues The Captain (later Space Cakes), Tony Russell (drums, also with Romulan Cloaking Device), and other quite obscure figures such as Jamie and Ste A. The band only released the track appearing on this compilation.

Dixie Cartoon – Punk act from St. Helens fronted by Mike McCauley (later Rawhide Chomp). The only recorded song is ‘Big Buck’ featured on this compilation.

Howitzer Brothers: A group of funny poets from St. Helens.

La's: Originally a garage and R&B band formed in St. Helens in 1984 by Mike Badger (guitars), Lee Mavers (vocals, former Neuklon), John Power (later Cast), Paul Hemmings (guitars), John Timson (drums). Original member Badger – responsible for the band’s name – was asked to leave in 1986. In 1987 Mirk Birchall replaced Timson on drums, and this line-up released their first single (Way Out + Knock Me Down b/w Endless)
(see http://www.thelas.org/forums/ )

Mave: St. Helens poet.

Kingston And The Hunters: St. Helens power pop act featuring Paul Wilson (founder member, later Sweler and American Band Kerosene) and Simon Pratt (later Rawhide Chomp) on drums. The only recorded song is the one appearing on this compilation.

Post Mortem: Punk group from the Rainhill area formed around 1982 by Dr Death (vocals and song writer), Xon Walt (guitar), Paddy Nailbomb (bass), Drum Roll (drums). Only released the number on this compilation. They changed their name to Dr Death and The Mortem Boys, since there was already another band with the same name. (Thanks to Mike for the info)

Aristocrats: Dance-punk group from St. Helens. The only sing left is the number in this compilation.

5,000 Spirits: Pop rock band based in St. Helens. They only released the song on this album.

Cassio Viletone: Pop group from St. Helens.

Academy Of Unrest: St. Helens goth-punk group influenced by the Killing Jokes and early Cure. The line-up included Doug (vocals, guitar), Bun (bass), Brian Carney (keyboards), and Flimb (drums). In april 1985 thy released their first single (Sheol Hex b/w Rise of Doubt + Hope). They are also responsible for opening the Dead Fly in 1984, the first rehearsal room + record label in St. Helens.

Happy Gauls: St. Helens based five-piece punk band fronted by Mike (later manager with the Vernons).
(see: http://www.myspace.com/thevernonsmusic )

Romulan Cloaking Device: Rock’n’roll band formed around 1984 by Mike Shaw, Platty, Tony Russell (drums, also Us) and Jeff Murdon (bass) (both later with Space Cakes). The band only released the track on this compilation and disbanded in 1986.

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elegance, charm and deadly danger