BEATFOR66 - The Necessaries

The Necessaries' two albums are almost the same; the original release was withdrawn, given a partial overhaul, a new title and a relaunch. Although the band was from New York, and included ex-Modern Lover bassist Ernie Brooks, both LPs are UK-only. (Chris Spedding was a member, but had split by the time of these recordings.)

The Necessaries' high-power pop puts the best attributes of rock (crazed, distorted guitars, loud drums) to the service of melodious, intelligent songwriting. Like the early Motors or Records, the Necessaries start with catchy, solid tunes and then give 'em full electric treatment. Rough but sensitive, Big Sky/Event Horizon is an impressive outing from a criminally neglected band.

Brooks went on to play with numerous bands around New York; keyboardist Arthur Russell became a radically original new music cellist; singer/guitarist Ed Tomney wound up in Rage to Live; drummer Jesse Chamberlain (ex-Red Crayola) worked with Spedding and others. Ira Robbins – Trousepress
Ernie Brooks : Bass, Vocals
Jesse Chamberlain : Drums
Arthur Russell : Keyboards, Guitars, Vocals, Cello
Ed Tomney : Vocals, Guitars, Synths

The Necessaries – Big Sky [lp Sire Records1981]
Prod.: Bob Blank

The Necessaries – Event Horizon [lp Sire Records 1982]
Prod.: Bob Blank

BEATFOR57 - Friends

Friends formed in early 1986 in Stockton-on-Tees, Cleveland, England. The band was intended as a vehicle for the songs of William Jones, who was working at the Dovecot Arts Centre in Stockton as Music Officer. The early band was closely associated with the Dovecot, rehearsing and often performing there as part of a regular flow of independent bands both from the region and elsewhere who formed the burgeoning independent music scene of the time.
The first line-up (William Jones, Greg Bone on guitar, Bruce Pearson on keyboards, Tony Stewart on bass, and Paul Lynagh on drums), never made it to the first gig in August 1986, as Stewart and Lynagh both left to pursue an interest in another band. Around this time, everyone was in at least one other band, and Bruce Pearson's brother Edwin was recruited on bass, with Chris Wood on drums. The band teamed up with Steve Daggett, who had engineered the very early demo, and went to Strawberry Studios in Stockport to record a first 7" single, It's Getting Louder.
Far And Away was Friends' second single, was released in 12" format only in 1987.

Friends, 'house supremo William Jones' own outfit, deliver bouncy Brit-sounds that smack of summer and explore new horizons. Musically they're travelling towards the Housemartins and Jim Jimminee territory, but Jones' voice is reminiscent of the English minstrel tones of Julian Cope; songs like the title track and, particularly, 'Far And Away' have an uplifting singalong quality and show steady progress from their '86 single 'It's Getting Louder'.
Len Brown [New Musical Express, 13 August 1988]

Friends - Far And Away ep [12" Summerhouse Records 1987].
http://www.summerhouserecords.co.uk/shopexd.asp?id=80

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BEATFOR54 - Paul Chastain

Paul Chastain lay at the center of pop activity in Champagne, Illinois, beginning with the B-LOVERS and THE NINES, which came out in the early 80’s, Chastain and Ric Menck met as students in Champaign, the pair began performing together, in addition to working solo and with other groups.
In 1984 Paul Chastain released Halo, a six-song independent EP that reflected his love of bands such as the Beatles and R.E.M. Menck then formed the Picture Book label in order to release his own material as well as that of his friends, including Chastain. The pair recorded solo material as well as singles under various group names, such as Choo Choo Train, the Springfields, and the Paint Set.

" The teasingly brief six-song Halo is a real charmer, tender and skillfully realized originals that brush against R.E.M. pep, Beatlesque wistfulness and modest approximations of studio grandiloquence, all buoyed by Chastain's sweet voice and confident aplomb..." Trouser Press


Halo EP (Pet Sounds) 1985, Prod.: Michael Freeman .-


Nick Rudd - Guitars
John Richardson - Drums
Michael Freeman - Keyborads
Paul Chastain - Bass, Guitars, Voice

http://www.busstoplabel.com/paulie_chastain.htm

BEATFOR53 - Boom Boom Boom Bingo

This Boston combo played good-natured countryish rock with a romantic streak — sometimes a bit too ephemeral for its own good, but always unpretentiously enjoyable. Frontman Charlie Chesterman sings the surprisingly witty lyrics (all five Scruffys write) in an earnestly bemused drawl, and the band plays in an amiably rollicking — if not particularly individual — style that's well-suited to their modest musical goals.
It has info about Scruffy's Iowa roots, the band's ties to the Young Fresh Fellows and Charlie Chesterman's pre-Scruffy band called the Law.
Scruffy's first appearance on record was the tune "The Oldest Fire in the World" on the Throbbing Lobster Let's Breed compilation, which was released in 1984. After signing with Relativity, the band released two EPs and two full-length LPs. The six-song High Octane Revival, which was produced by Dave Minehan of the Neighborhoods, came out in 1986. 1987 saw the release of Tiny Days, which was produced by Chris Butler of the Waitresses, and the EP Boom Boom Boom Bingo. Scruffy's swan-song, the 16-track Moons of Jupiter, was produced by the legendary Jim Dickinson and released in 1989.

Boom Boom Boom Bingo, includes two studio tracks (including the wonderful busted-heart kiss-off "You Dirty Rat") plus three live tunes, among them a decent cover of Del Shannon's "Runaway."

Charlie Chesterman -- Vocals and guitar / Stephen Fredette -- Guitar / Mac Paul Stanfield -- Bass / Randall Lee Gibson IV -- Drums / Stona Fitch -- Multi-instrumentalist

Boom Boom Boom Bingo [12" Ep Relativity Records 1987], Prod.: Ed Stasium

http://tinybum.com/

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BEATFOR55 - The Reverbs

In 1984 Ric Menck's band, the Chicago-based Reverbs, released The Happy Forest, a jangle pop outfit with guitarist/vocalist Michael Brabeck on the Metro-America/Enigma label. Menck's work with the Reverbs led to a friendship with Matthew Sweet, whose band Buzz of Delight was in friendly competition with the Reverbs. Menck also became friends with Mitch Easter, a recording artist and producer whose work he admired, at around the same time.

"We were heavily influenced by bands like R.E.M. and the Bongos and the dBs and those Southern pop bands that were happening," he says. "We were obsessed with those records and naively tried to make something that was comparable. When I listen to it, it sounds not even close. But it was from a time where I felt so inspired by bands that I wanted to do it myself." Ric Menck.


Happy Forest [lp JVC Jap 1985] Ties


Eric Menck : Drums, Vocals
John Brabeck : Guitars, Vocals
Producer : The Reverbs & Michael Freeman




http://www.velvetcrushrockgroup.com/
http://www.fufkin.com/columns/fufkin/fufkin_07_04.htm



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BEATFOR43 - Fire Town - Re-UpLoad

BEATFOR36 - Singles

January Singles Weekender

1. The Revs – Just Ask Why [7” single VinylJapan 1992]
2. Ocean Colour Scene – Yesterday Today [7” single Phffft Records 1991]
3. Revolver – Heaven Sent An Angel [7” single Hut Recordings 1991]
4. Big Red Bus – All I Need [12” ep Action Records 1991]
5. The Cuckoos – Without You [12” ep Imaginary Records 1991]
6. The Frank & Walters – Fashion Crisis Hits New York [7” single Setanta Records 1991]
7. The Rainkings – Get Ready [7” single Playtime Records 1990]
8. Makin’ Time – Here’s My Number [7” Countdown Records 1985]
9. The High Llamas – Checking In Checking Out [12” ep Alpaca Park Records 1995]

http://www.thefrankandwalters.ie/
http://www.twee.net/bands/b/bigredbus.html
http://www.oceancolourscene.com/
http://www.twee.net/bands/r/revs.html
http://www.discogs.com/artist/Revolver+(2)
http://www.discogs.com/artist/Rainkings
http://www.highllamas.com/
http://www.ahamlin.karoo.net/makintime1.htm
http://www.discogs.com/artist/Cuckoos,+The

BEATFOR51 - The Waltones

The Waltones began in 1986. They were offered a deal in the same year by Dave Haslam and soon to be Happy Mondays Manager Nathan McGough to record a single which unfortunately never happened.
They finally managed to get a deal with Medium Cool records and recorded 4 singles and one album. Unfortunately, despite gaining much streetcred and selling out their LP, their distributor Red Rhino went bankrupt. The new distributor APT refused to take on Red Rhino's debts and thus no re-press of the album was undertaken.
When Medium Cool was taken over by Midnight Music records a fall-out occured between the label and the Waltones ex-manager over ownership of the mastertapes for 'Listen To Your Heart' (the bands 5th unreleased single). The band decided to take time out and later returned as Candlestick Park (named after the San Fransisco stadium where the Beatles played their last gig in 1966). Unfortunately the band fell apart when Drummer Alex Fyans left. Shortly afterwards Manny the bassist decided to take a years break in the USA. It was about the same time that Mark Collins got his call-up to be guitarist with the Charlatans.When guitarist Jon Baker was fired from the Charlatans a replacement was urgently needed. It was Steve Harrison who found out about his talents. A call was made to Anthony Bogianno (Inspiral Carpets manager) and after a chat he came up with 2 names. One was Mark, whom apart from being a brilliant musician, was also a friend and part-time van driver for the Inspiral Carpets. The other name put forward was roadie called Noel Gallager! (now supremo member of Oasis). Noel declined to form his own band and Mark was given the job almost instantly. Mark remembers going to the audition: 'I just went down there thinkiing the Charlatans wanted a second guitarist. I turned up with my guitar at a rehearsal room in Birmingham, and there was no other guitarist there and they just said "Do you fancy joining the band?" I said "Oh. Go on then, why not?" It all happened really quickly.'
The Waltones made 4 singles "Downhill" & "She Looks Right Through Me" in 1987 "Spell It Out" & "The Deepest" in 1988. All 4 were released on London based indie Medium Cool,
An LP, Deepest, was recorded in Summer 1988 and scheduled for release that Autumn. The collapse of Red Rhino meant that the album did not see the light of day until March the following year.
The group went out on the road, playing gigs all over Britain, and touring both Spain and Switzerland. http://members.aol.com/Walt0nes/tonesdex.htm

Alex Fyans: Drums - Mark Collins: Guitar - James Knox: Vocals, Harmonica - Manny Lee: Bass, Backing Vocals

A CD retrospective of The Waltones' Medium Cool output will be issued by Cherry Red in 2007.

http://members.aol.com/Walt0nes/tonesdex.htm
http://www.mediumcool.info/
http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendID=86125576

The Waltones
- Donwhill [7" Medium Cool Records 1987]
- She Looks Right Through Me [12" ep Medeium Cool Records 1987]
- Spell It Out [7" Medium Cool Records 1988]
- Failing In Love [The Deepest 7" Medium Cool records 1988]
- Deepest [lp Medium Cool Records 1989] : Smile - Rainfall - Everything's Just Fine - Don't Understand / When It All Turns Sour .

Clandestick Park
- All The Time In The World [7" Midnight Music 1989]

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