Howard Turner and Russ Storerson formed the Nivens way back in '85 in Norwich (England). Pioneers of the guitar band thing honing their own brand of jangle-psychedelia, a harder musical edge fusing acid grooves to the REM / Byrds / Smithereens / Groovies sensibilities.
A singer/songwriter/frontman , Howard Turner, who is also a maverick record producer (Jazz Butcher, Perfect Disaster, Close Lobsters, the Dentists, The Avons, The Chairs, The Bardots, ...), sometime racing driver and all round paisley freak. A deal with Danceteria Records in France in the ‘80’s and ‘90’s helped the band develop through the years. 
This is a record of five all covers mini album : - Behind the Wall of Sleep (The Smithereens), - Shake Some Action (The Flamin' Groovies) , - Mr Spaceman (The Byrds), - You Tore Me Down (The Flamin' Groovies) , - Superman (REM).
The Nivens – Recycle [cd Danceteria Records 1990]
Sunday, April 1, 2007
BEATFOR74 - The Nivens
BEATFOR76 - April Singles Weekender I
Singer/songwriter Vic Godard was born and raised in Bristol, England, fixture at early Sex Pistols performances, at the suggestion of Malcolm McLaren he formed the Subway Sect, Influenced by everything from French pop to Northern Soul to the Velvet Underground to swing, the Subway Sect could barely play their instruments at the outset, but otherwise the group made few concessions to the prevailing punk mentality. In 1980 Godard increasingly began incorporating elements of soul music into his approach . Soon after, the members of Subway Sect left to form their own band, JoBoxers, scoring a pair of hits in 1983 with "Boxer Beat" and "Just Got Lucky”.
Meanwhile, upon signing to Mike Alway's newly-formed Blanco y Negro label Godard next began work on T.R.O.U.B.L.E., recorded at London's Olympic Studios with a number of the area's most respected jazz players; the singer was bitterly disappointed with the end, however, and effectively retired from music, accepting a job as a postman.
Godard did not return to writing and performing until 1990, releasing the Edwyn Collins-produced “End of the Surrey People” three years later, which contains this Won't Turn Back single.
Vic Godard - Won't Turn Back [Postcard 1994]
JoBoxers - Just Got Lucky [7" RCA 1983]
Edwyn Collins - A Girl Like You [7" Setanta Records 1994]
The Bureau were a New Wave soul group formed in late 1980 in Birmingham, England when the original lineup of Dexy's Midnight Runners split-up. Ex-Dexy's members Pete Williams (bass), Geoff Blythe (tenor sax), Steve Spooner (alto sax), Stoker (drums), and Mick Talbot (keyboards) were joined by Paul Taylor (trombone), Rob Jones (guitar and trumpet), and Archie Brown (vocals) from a group called The Upset which had supported Dexy's on tour.
The Bureau retained their Dexy's roots and played powerful brass driven sounds. The debut single Only For Sheep was a big hit in Australia but failed to reach the British charts as did the follow up single Let Him Have It. An eponymously titled album was released in 1981, but only in Canada and Australia and the band members went their separate ways soon afterwards.
Talbot went on to enjoy greater success with Paul Weller in The Style Council, while Brown formed Flag with ex-Secret Affair guitarist Dave Cairns. Blythe teamed up with former colleague Big Jim Paterson in The TKO Horns.
The Bureau - Only For Sheep [7" WEA 1981]
Dexy's Midnight Runners - There, There, My Dear [7" Parlophone 1980]
BEATFOR78 - April Singles Weekender II
After the Dolls' breakup in 1977, Sylvain remained with Johansen for the next two years while forming a band called the Criminals, featuring keyboardist Bobby Blain, bassist Michael Page, and drummer Tony Machine.
In the immediate aftermath of the Doll's demise, Sylvain declined Malcolm McLaren's invitation to become a Sex Pistol and teamed up with David Johansen instead.
For a talented songwriter with a classic swoony pop sensibility, life as a permanent sidekick to David Johansen's solo career was not on Sylvain's agenda nor was a 13th Street van smash in January 1977.
The accident left Syl hospitalized for several months with a broken leg but the financial compensation he received was to benefit his new band. The Criminals had been forced to lay low while their leader recuperated, but on his release, the band featuring - Sylvain: guitar, lead vocals, Bobby Blaine: keyboard, vocals, Tony Machine: drums, and Michael Page: bass, vocals - cut a single. 5,000 copies of The Kids are Back/The Cops are Coming were issued on The Criminal's own Sing Sing label. With little publicity, the 45 did amazingly well both in the U.S. and the U.K.
The Apartments was an Australian indie band that first formed in 1978, broke up in 1979, and reformed in 1984.The constant in the band was songwriter and frontman Peter Milton Walsh. While in The Apartments, Walsh briefly joined the Go-Betweens. The Go Betweens commemorated Walsh's time with them on their track "Don't Let Him Come Back".
After breaking up, The Apartments released their debut EP, "Return of the Hypnotist" in 1979, which includes this lost pop tune wonder.
They were signed for their debut LP, The Evening Visits... by English label Rough Trade in 1985. A second LP, Drift, was released in France in 1992. Three more LPs followed in quick succession; A Life Full Of Farewells (1995), Fête Foraine (1996), and Apart (1997).
Blending surf, new wave, power pop, psychedelia, R&B, ska, and rockabilly sounds into a warped sci-fi-inspired style, The Clocks were new wave's answer to the Cleveland’s first wave of art-rockers. Formed in 1979, by ex-Pagans guitarist Mike Metoff and ex-Chronics singer/guitarist Dave DeLuca, the band's wacky charisma attracted a devoted following. They got together in an attic studio in Ohio City to record what was to be a one off single. The A-side, inspired by sci-fi author Harlan Ellison, was entitled "Ticktockman" hence the band's name. The B side is Confidentilay Reneé, built around a simple, sing-song acoustic guitar riff, capturing teen angst with sensitivity and humor, a catchy and infectious tune.After playing more than 150 shows in town, the band called it quits in '82, a year before the release of their Wake Me When It's Over LP under the moniker Radio Alarm Clocks (it was changed after the band discovered a Chicago-based band with the same name). Metoff went on to join the Cramps.
Thor and Nola Rezzo, by the mid-1970s, had established themselves as important parts of Boston's emerging rock underground.
Holiday Fire was his first single for Indy Records from 1976 or maybe earlier, took its inspiration from the Kinks' "Hollywood Boulevard" days. Brilliant song.
BEATFO80 - April Singles Weekender III
Rockin' Horse was formed by ex-Merseybeat Billy Kinsley (bass) and ex-Panthers/Kirkbys/23rd Turnoff member Jimmy Campbell (guitar, vocals).
Like many young Liverpool lads, Campbell formed a beat group, the Panthers, and on 13 January 1962 they supported the Beatles at Hambleton Hall in Huyton.
As the Kirkbys, they recorded for RCA in 1966, and in line with the psychedelic times, they changed their name to 23rd Turnoff. In 1969, Campbell signed to Fontana as a solo performer and released three albums.
The two got together in 1971 and the group lasted long enough to record an album for Philips entitled "Yes It Is" (Reissue CD Rev Ola 2004 with bonus tracks). They split up in 1972, though Kinsley later initially revived the name in putting together a new group in 1975, before switching to the name Liverpool Express. The goal of Rockin' Horse was to revive the classic Liverpool sound, soaked up The Band, even putting on the basis for the pub-rockers with their contemporaries Brinsley Schwarz. Sadly Jimmy Campbell died in Liverpool last 12 February. RIP.
Rockin' Horse - Oh Carol I'm So Sad [7" Voxx Records 1971]
Nothing found about Scruff, only the record reference in the “International Discography Of The New Wave”. Supposedly, from England formed by J. Franks, B. Franks, L. Hirons and V. Atkins. Another good example of hard-driving rock and roll behind of the late 70’s punk-pub-rock scene.
Scruff - Rock 'n' Roll Woman [7" Track Records 1978]
The Zeros, not the “Mexican Ramones” -the Escovedo/Peñalosa combo from LA-, but this is one of the early English punk power pop groups formed in London by Steve Godfrey, Phil Gaylor and Steve Cotton.
This was their first release, second one was a split 7” with Action Replay. A good balance between punk rock and mod, with a certain reverence for '60s beat and R&B.
BEATFOR79 - Moon Martin
Moon once characterized them as "decadent Chuck Berry" in style and his "there's not enough rock & roll on the radio today!" battlecry, and his producer Craig Leon (with albums by Blondie, The Ramones, Bangles, DMZ, Creeps, under his belt) was finally ready to launch his solo career with his look and music often compared to such new wave hit makers as Elvis Costello and Nick Lowe, when they cut and unleashed “Shots From A Cold Nightmare”, Moon's first solo outing.
"Shots From a Cold Nightmare" was recorded very fast and simple. The musicians rehearsed for one week and then they went into the studio and made two or three recordings on each of the songs before they were satisfied. The album was released in 1978 and got very good reviews. The album consisted of an unusual synthesis of 50s rock 'n' roll and 80s new wave. Backed by a band that includes Phil Seymour (formerly with Dwight Twilley) on drums, Gary Valentine (formerly of Blondie) on bass and Leon on occasional keyboards, Martin plays guitar in a spare, rhythmically compelling style that makes every note count, and sings in a highpitched, bluesy moan that fits his lyrics perfectly. Moon recorded ten hooked wonders.
To follow up the album release he went on a late summer tour starting in Dallas, Houston and Oklahoma City and working his way towards the Eastern half of the continent. He also performed in Toronto, Canada at the El Mocambo in front of an enthusiastic crowd. Four songs from this concert is available on an record together with a studio recording of 'Victim Of Romance'.
By this time, the rumour had spread to Europe and in November it was time for Moon to start his "Moon's Over Europe Tour '78" . In Berlin at the Kant Kino the band played everything they knew, but it wasn't enough for the German audience, so Moon wrote a song backstage in four minutes so he and his band could get out of there alive. I've been told by Moon this song was "Hot House Baby" which then appeared on his next LP "Escape From Domonation -1979-". He also played (at least) in England and the Netherlands on this tour.
John Moon Martin : Guitars & Vocals
Gary Valentine : Bass
Phil Seymour : Drums, Vocals
Craig Leon : Keyborads
Willie Alexander : Piano
"I had a lot of songs with the word moon in them," he says. "I didn't realize it. They called me Moon and it kind of stuck. It was like I just woke up one morning and said , 'Hey, people are calling me Moon. That's a neat name. I'm going to use that.' I'd been a closet writer. From then on I could write and had a lot more confidence."
Moon Martin – Shots From A Cold Nightmare [Lp Capitol 1978]
BEATFOR75 - Papa's Got A Brand New Pigbag
The group formed in 1980 by Chris Hamlyn (clarinet, percussion), Roger Freeman (percussion, trombone), Chris Lee (trumpet), and James Johnstone (saxophone, guitar). For the first months after their formation, the group did little more than jam together. They opted to add more of a rock element by gaining a regular drummer, Chip Carpenter, and a bassist, Mark Smith — the new members had played with Johnstone previously in Hardware. Former Pop Group bassist Simon Underwood also signed on, bringing sax player Ollie Moore along for the ride.
In 1981 they released their first single, "Papa's Got A Brand New Pigbag", on Dick O'Dell's Y Records, taking inspiration for the title (if not the music) from James Brown's "Papa's Got A Brand New Bag". Killer soul dancefloor. The instrumental release quickly became an underground dance hit, created a unique fusion of funk, disco, and post-punk that drew on the diverse, groove-orientated music of Can, Fela Kuti, Miles Davis, and James Brown, selling many thousands of copies and appearing high in the Independent Charts.
Pigbag - Papa's Got A Brand New Pigbag [12" Y Records]
Recorded at Berry St Studio, March 1981Produced By Dick O'Dell, Dave Hunt & Pigbag
BEATFOR77 - Milltown Brothers
This 60s revivalist pop band was formed in Colne, Lancashire, England by Matt Nelson (vocals), Simon Nelson (guitar), Barney James (keyboards), James Fraser (bass) and Nian Brindle (drums).
Simon Nelson had the musical pedigree, performing in Blue Berlin while at university, then the Squire and The Word Association, who finally metamorphosed into the Milltown Brothers.
Their debut release, "Coming From The Mill", then "Which Way Should I Jump", were housed on the indie label Big Round.
They would subsequently move on to A&M Records where "Which Way Should I Jump" was re-released following the relative success of "Apple Green". It made the UK Top # 38. . America liked it and put it to Number 10 in the US Rock Chart.
The album “Slinky” -5 Stars in Q Magazine- was a revelation and pushed the boundaries for their peers,
defying the critics who had incorrectly labelled them as baggy.
A&M bottled it and despite new material being ready for release that year (1991) - they put the band 'on the shelf' for 2 years and eventually picked the songs for their 2nd studio album - 'Valve'.
In 1993 they embarked on work on a follow-up album “Valve”, although by this time they had become part of a large clutch of Byrds-influenced indie pop bands (Rain, Resque, etc.) trying to re-establish a profile that had been much higher in 1991.
The trouble was exacerbated by difficulties with their label, "The band came up with new material, but it was darker than A&M wanted." (Andrew Proudfoot –band’s manager).
The much-delayed second offering failed to sell, and the band broke up soon afterwards.
The Nelsons and Brindle briefly worked together again as Milo.
In March 2004, they released their third studio album – Rubberband -. Critically acclaimed and probably their finest release, Rubberband came out on their own label and was made available via the website at www.milltownbrothers.com.
It’s All Over Now [10" A&M 1993] was the first single taken from the Valve album. This is a special edition 10” (5000 only) of Bob Dylan songs.