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

Keep It Dark (1984-86) [Re-Up]

Keep it Dark is a pop-rock three-piece formed in 1984 by songwriter Jimmy Barrett (vocals, guitars), Paul ‘Reo’ Reason (guitars, vocals, former Ex Post Facto, later US Companion), and Paul Stewart (drums), later replaced by Brian Rawling (former 3D). According to some sources, Terry Kilfoyle (former Asylum, later Big Still, Seconds Out) was added to the line-up on bass at some point. The band played quite extensively the local circuit before getting to eventually release their material on vinyl in1986. The first single (The Dreamer b/w Outsider + What do We Need) was issued in March 1986, soon to be followed by their second one (Don’t Surrender b/w Far from Home + It’s over). Both a-sides were then to appear on the band’s first (and only) Lp.

1st Down And Ten (1986)
- Better Than Me
- Don't Surrender
- If You Be Mine
- Be The One
- Who Can Say
- Dreamer
- Lost Love Forever
- The Outsider
- Far From Home
- Fish Out Of Water

One of the first pieces written about Keep it Dark (Next 14, May 1984) described the band’s live performance as follows:
‘From the sound of this first set by his [Jimmy Barrett] band Keep it Dark, both ears have been well tuned to American AOR for quite a while. […] It’s a sign for all those of you who will confess to listening to CSNY or Bob Dylan to pull up a chair and hear that sort of thing done well.
‘Jimmy reckons he’s been at it ten years himself, and thinks he’s cracked it with this line up. To be honest, the band lapsed too often into dull conventionalism – I heard half a dozen familiar chord changes through the night. But that, and the somewhat samey and one paced arrangements, are bound to change with more time together, and the background in musicianship and confidence is there to encourage experimentation.’

The American press reviewed as follows:
‘Liverpool, England, has spawned yet another pop band that has made its way to the United States after gaining a following at home. Keep It Dark was formed after singer Jimmy Barrett and guitarist Reo Reason saw each other playing in British clubs and decided they had a lot in common musically.
Their debut U.S. release is a modern pop blend of electronic keyboards, horns, guitar and a steady driving drum beat. Keep It Dark`s sound is more of a mesh of pop/rock style than raw-roots rock.
Side 1`s Dreamer is a medium-paced tune with Barrett backed up by a David Sanborn style saxophone. Most of the album`s cuts have a highly produced, studio mixed sound, which is something of a surprise since this band`s success started on the club circuit.
Keep It Dark keeps a pretty steady sound throughout, never really kicking in, and making it hard to decide just what they`re trying to say.’
(see here)

keep it dark

Old Ma Cuxsom - Some Recordings (1985-87)

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 Elegance, Charme and Deadly Dangers (Don't Cry Darling (Daddy Had to Drown The Cat)) the band also released one official single in 1986:

Don't Scare Me (1986)
- Don't Scare Me
- Don't Cry Darling (Daddy Had To DrownThe Cat)
- Lightermen, Steve Dors And Dinosaures

here

 

The Bamboo Fringe - Someday (1985)

In 1985 Gary Garland recorded and released the band’s third single with John McLaughlin (guitars), Keith Cherry (bass), John Reynolds (guitar) and Howie Minns (drums).

 

Someday (1985)

- Someday

- Turn on the Lights

In 1986 The Bamboo Fringe provided a track for the Sefton Compilation ‘Twist and Samba’ (Careless Talk Costs Lives), which is the last recording of the band to date.

Someday can be found here.

(Thanks to our friend mineforlife )

(See also http://gerryculligan.com/history.html )

The Bamboo Fringe - The Life and Times of... (1985)

By mid-1984 The Bamboo Fronge had been ‘trimmed down to a two-piece, then a one-piece. the sole survivor was singer Gerry Garland. With the help from friends he recorded six wonderfully idiosyncratic Bambs classics’ (Skysaw PR info, 1985). Among this friends-fellow musicians who helped Garland complete the recording are Steve Torch (bass, guitars, keyboards, former Victims of Romance, White & Torch), Gary McGuiness (guitars, vocals, keyboards), Glen Winskill (synthesizers, bass), Pete Cummins (keyboards), Howie ‘Minns’ D’Minnzo (drums, ex Cherry Boys). With such a band Garland recorded and released the Bamboo Fringe much awaited first (mini) LP in 1985:

The Life And Times Of...

- The Hands Of Time             

- Turn On The Lights             

- Happy In Our Home            

- Under Attack                       

- All Too Safe                        

- Life And Times                      

Jamming (June 1985) wrote: ‘So far more promised than delivered, but Mini-LP on Skysaw contains hints of a brighter future.’

You can find the MLP here.

(Thanks to our friend to fade2gray)

The Bamboo Fringe - Dorian Gray (1983)

Bamboo fringe formed in 1981 by Gerry Garland (vocals, sax, keyboards, former Berlin, Fun, Victims or Romance) Jimmy Badel (guitars, bass) and Gary Mazier (keyboards, tapes). In Merseysound that’s how Badel described the band:

‘When Jerry and I met Gary, we’d been mucking around with tapes and things, we got Gary in on synthesisers, which seemed like a good idea at the time. This comes across as sounding rather predictable I suppose, because, because there seems to be a lot of bands who are douing and saying the same thins, but it did seem like a good vehicle for some of the ideas that gerry and I had at that particular time, having gone through the usual format of Drums, Bass, that kind of group. […] The idea of using tapes is to have a smaller nucleus in the band, when you have tyo accommodate four or five egos in a band it gets to be a bit of a pain after a while, working with tapes you can pre-record the rhythm track which leaves the musicians free to play things over the top at a gig’ (Merseysound #20, December 1981)

In March 1982 the band was portrayed as follows in the Bobey Magazine:

‘To see thee Bamboo Fringe in a live environment is to experience a unique event, fro every show is different. Singer, Garland, may be playing the role of intimidating frontman − daring the crowd to like him − or more recently playing the smooth sophisticated torch-singer, and wooing the crowd − daring them to dislike him. Badel guitar work ranges from the manic neck wringing feedback of Hendrix to the driving rhythm guitar of David Byrne, whilst Maziers stage presence remains constant − the elegant teenager − his diverse synthesiser frippery washes over and through the songs while his tapes link the songs thus removing the necessity for band to audience banter. […] On completion of their recording contract the band will expand their multi-media ideas but for the moment their major exploits will be in the confines of the recording studio. ‘We are aiming at being the only true Dadaist group of the eighties,’ Badel insists’ (Bobey Magazine, March 1982)

In 1982 Mazier was replaced by Gary Davey and later the same year Badel left his place to James Mealy (Garland’s fellow member of Berlin, Fun, Victims or Romance, and session musician with White and Torch), first, and then to Jim Eden.

This line-up recorded the band’s first single in June 1983:

Dorian Gray (1983)

- Dorian Gray

- How Do I Dance To This Music?

You may find it here

(Thnaks to our freind fade2grey)

Passion Polka (1982-84)

Passion Polka was a pop duo formed in 1984 by Steve Cottier (vocals, guitars, former Scope, Xionics, Kinetics later Peep Show, He Thinks He’s Me) and Keith Leary (keyboards, later Peep Show). Siobhan Maher (later Peep Show, River City People) helped out on vocals on some demos and augmented the abnd’s line-up for live appearances, together with a drummer and a guitarist (Tim Speed, former Beat That Drum).

Passion Polka released one single in 1983:

Obsession (1983)

- Obsession

- Juliet

Later on, the live session musicians − namely Siobhan Maher and Stan Trickle (drums) − became fully fledged band members, together with Dave Shell (guitar) and this line-up in 1985 changed name to Peep Show. In 1986 Peep Show disbanded and Maher and Shell went on to form River City People.

ppolka