Tour De Force - Beat The Clock (1981)

b/w - Undecided

Great New Wave from this London based, Harvey Goldsmith managed all girl group (1978-1982)

Carol Stocker (Voc on 1st 45) - Ex Zigoyna, replaced by Viv Corringham  (Voc) - Ex Zigoyna 
Deirdre Cartwright (Guitar Voc) - Ex Painted Lady*  
Bernice Cartwright (Bass Voc) RIP ex Ivy Benson Showband
Jackie Crew (Drums Voc 1979-80) - Ex Mother Superior, replaced by Val Lloyd (Drums Voc 1980-82) - Ex Painted Lady*    

Discography
Night Beat/Tour De Force - United Artists - 1980 (Released July 1980)
School Rules/We Don't Talk - Phantom - 1981 (Released Nov 1981) 
Beat the Clock/Undecided - Wongo - 1981 (Released June 1982)


Unreleased Live Track Scandal c1979 along with some great old photos here
 

TdeF @ The Greyhound, London

*Painted Lady [1975-78]
Conceived as a pub covers band, school friends from Wandsworth, South London, Kim McAuliffe (Voc, Rhythm Guitar) and Dinah Enid Williams (Voc, Bass) together with Deirdre Cartwright (Lead Guitar) & Tina Gayle (Drums) formed an all-girl group. Val Lloyd replaced Gayle on drums and they started playing the local pub scene. When Cartwright left in late '77 her place was briefly taken by visiting American Kathy Valentine, who answered an ad in the back pages of "Melody Maker" When Valentine returned to the United States in 1978 [forming the Textones and later joining The Go-Go's] Painted Lady broke up.
McAuliffe and Williams still wanting to pursue a musical career recruited Kelly Johnson (lead guitar) and Denise Dufort (Drums) & in April 1978 the new line-up changed their name to Girlschool [taken from the B-side of the 1977 Paul McCartney & Wings 45 "Mull of Kintyre"]

Useless Info 1 - Carol Stocker was backing vocalist on the 1980 LP's Manfred Mann's Earth Band - Chance & Aviator - Turbulence

Useless Info 2 - Towards the end of TdeF's tenure Deirdre Cartwright was also playing with the Jazz/Latin group The Guest Stars & it was one lunchtime In 1983, busking be-bop tunes in Covent Garden with two other "Guest Stars" that Deirdre was spotted by producer Chris Lent who offered her the job of guitar presenter on the BBC's ground-breaking show Rockschool. The two series of BBC TVs Rockschool attracted audiences of 2 million viewers every week in the UK and were subsequently shown worldwide. 

Scans & Sounds for all 3 45's

The Word - I Think I'm Falling In Love (1980)

b/w Angel

Great Powerpop from this Canberra band (1978-80)

Michael (Spike) Moriarty (Voc, Guitar) Now In "The Gadflys"
Terry Sounder (Voc, Guitar) later in "No Concept"
Frankie Villegas (Bass)
Darcy Deegan (Drums)

Also Rans were Peter Palij (Guitar) & Archie Van Der Glass (Bass)

Even though they satrted life in Camberra, they soon made the move to Sydney, living in Bondi Beach and regularly playing the local dives (The Metropole Tavern, Astra Hotel etc).
Aparently they called it a day just before an organized nationwide tour was about to begin.

The 45 was released on Festival subsidiary Infinity with Festival house producer Martin Erdman sat behind the desk.

Spike, Darcy & Frankie

Some more info here


If you want more info on the Canberra Punk Scene go here


Sounds & Scans

The Ways - Thursday (1981)

 b/w - Was It Real?

Classic Powerpop from this Northern (Union) New Jersey Quartet  
 
Ira Spinrad (Gtr,Voc) 1986-Now The Hammers
Mike Andreola (Gtr,Voc) 
Gene O'Brien (Bass)
Mark Papianni (Drums)


In 1981, 4 friends from Union and Newark, New Jersey got together to make a record. They commited to tape "Thursday" and "Was It Real" at Century Sound Studios in Sayreville, N.J.

Their Sole 45 was Produced by Paul (Plonka) Christopher and Engineered by Sam DeSalvo. It was Mastered by Bob Speiden, in North Plainfield.

The Picture Sleeve was designed by local DJ and "Power House" Tattoo artist, Diane Farris.

After it's release, the Ways played live shows for about 6 months before calling it a day.

L-R - Mark, Mike & Ira

Side A is Comped on Powerpearls Vol 7 
Side B is Comped on Teenline Vol 5  

Useless info 1 - Gene O'Brien had a brief stint in the Modulators

Useless info 2 - Century Sound Studios was also used by Jon Bon Jovi for some of his early recordings.

If you want to get hold of a copy of this 45 contact Ira on their Facebook page.

Sounds & Scans

Les Playboys - Loup-Garou EP (1982)

Les Playboys - Loup-Garou EP (1982)

A1 - Loup-Garou
A2 - Je Perds Mon Temps
B1 - Le Roi Des Fous
B2 - L'Homme De Tanger

Great 60's Beat / Garage from this French (Nice) Mod Band


François Albertini (Voc)
Michel Nègre (Guitar/Keys)
Frederic Martinez (Guitar)
Franck Durban (Bass)
Philippe "Fifi" Lejeune (R.I.P. 1990)(Drums)

From the Ashes of "High School Friends" Punk Band "Dentists" (1976-79)[Members being : François Albertini (V), Jean-Marc Seni (G),Pierre Nègre (G), Frank Durban (B), Philippe Lejeune (D)] arose Les Playboys (1980 -) with their particular brand of 60's Garage Rock.

As they are still playing, I'll leave it to you to read about them but...

Useless info 1 - They used to have a group of 8 "60's Go-Go Girls" called "Ginettes" (Chicks in English) backing them on stage

Uselss Info 2 - François Albertini once stood in for Vocal duties at a Fleshtones Gig as Peter Zaremba
was stuck in Mexico due to an airline strike.

I've also included their 2nd 45 in the d/load

Sounds & Scans

The Bore-Town Bop - Try (1981)

b/w Surf's Up!

2 great XTC type tunes on the sole release, from this Reading based 4 peice.

Colin Williams (Voc, Guitar)
Gary Murgatroyd (Bass)*
Simon Price (Drums)
Philip Tennant (Keys)*

With the aid of (amongst others) Martin Maynard who was the director of Audiogenic Limited (1979-81) [AKA Sun 8 Track Recording studios]

They later became "The Early Stuff" (The name apparently being a pun on the "Erleigh Rd" area in Reading)

The 45 did procure a few plays by John Peel on his show & got a pithy review from Charlie Gillett in the Singles Pages of  Smash Hits (20 08 1981)

* I'm not entirely sure this info is correct

Sounds & Scans

Pop-Tones - Wooden Heart (1980)

b/w (Rise Of The) Appliances

Nice Punk/Powerpop from this Dewsbury, West Yorkshire based Duo (1980-81)

 
Paul Metcalf, AKA Slick Vinex, AKA Victor Vendetta, AKA Paul Klein (Voc, Guitar, Keys)
Mick "MJ" Reed (Drums)


Prior to Pop-Tones they had been 1/2 of New Wave band Psykik Volts (1978-80). The other 2 being Nathan Teen AKA Norman Hormone (Rhythm Guitar) & Russ McDonald (Bass).
After releasing a 45 in 1979 (Totally Useless/Horror Stories #5 - Ellie Jay Records EJSP 9262) Psykik Volts signed to Graduate records & recorded 4 songs (2 of which were different versions of this 45) These were not available until the 2007 CD  Psykik Volts – Re-Volting 

In 1980 Victor Vendetta & MJ signed to Rockburgh Records, became Pop-Tones (After the P.I.L track) & released the re-recorded tracks Wooden Heart / (Rise Of The) Appliances as a 45 on Square records.

In '81 Paul joined Philip Walsh as Toy Shop (Synth Pop duo) releasing The Maze / Live Wires Kill - Clockface Records CLOCK 1 & Mick joined 1919


Square Records (A subsidary of Rockburgh?) had 5 7" Releases

SQS 1 - Viva - Radio Saviour/ Mr Mystery ....01/80 
SQS 2 - Horsepower - Outrageous!/ Highway Robbery....
SQS 3 - Aerial FX - So Hard/ It's About Time ...  12/12/80
SQS 4 - Pop-Tones - Wooden Heart/(Rise Of The) Appliances ... 19/12/80
SQS 5 - Airkraft - Move In Rhythm/ Pumping Iron  ...20/02/81 

Sounds, Scans & extras

Motifs - On The Inside (1982)

b/w - Shadow Of Fear

Nice Psychedelic Mod / Post-Punk sounds from this Southampton band

Trevor Clawson (Voc, Guitar) 
Andy Martin (Guitar, Voc)
Rob Aubrey (Bass, Voc, Keys)
Anthony Haikney (Drums)






Recorded Feb/March 1982 at Toucan Studios Based at Finchwood Farm, Hayling Island, Hampshire 


I'm pretty sure apart from this, their sole 45 release, the only other available recordings are "Julie" & "Disillusion" both on the earlier (Nov 1980) VA Compilation "City Walls" (with a slightly different line-up). Then a later track "Cameras" (July 1982) on the VA Compilation "Synthetic Romance".


Sounds Scans & extras

Semáforo - Hoje há Rock no Liceu (1982)

b/w - Quotidiano

Carlos Santos (Voc Guitar)
Tó Zé Salomão (Guitar Voc)
Manuel d'Albuquerque Neto (Guitar Voc)
? (Drums)

Produced by Julius Isidro and the Helena Cardinali


Formed in 1979 This Amadora (Portugal) band started life as FM before changing their name to Semáforo (Semaphore or Traffic lights) Possibly so they could participate in music competitions & get Radio Airtime on "Febre de sábado de manhã" (Saturday Fever In The Morning)

Useless Info 1 - Hoje há rock no liceu  translates as  "Rocking The Highschool Today" & Quotidiano as "Everyday"

Useless Info 2 - Aparently the Studio they recorded this 45 in was still under construction at the time.


Bands these players later played with include - Pajem, STS Paranoid, Doutores & Engenheiros, Dr. Salazar, Mr. Blues

Thanks to Rocknoliceu where alot of this info comes from

Sounds & Scans

If anyone can add to this please leave a comment

Vog - In The Crowd (1981)

b/w Didn't I


In 1978 USA (New York) Pop/Rock Band The Debs (Annie Kaye & Rennie Gennosa) Released a European 45 (Cupie Dolls/ Oh Woman - A&M Records).
The 45 was written by their then management of Mark Blatte & Larry Gottlieb. Unhappy with the way their career was going they teamed up with Richard Lampese & in late 1978 became Vog (along with Jimmy Chahalis & Robert Lopiccolo )

However, by the time they had put their recordings down on tape Lampese had left to be replaced by Bobby DiMonte

Ony Kaye (AKA Annie Kuskowski) - (Lead Voc)
Bobby DiMonte - (Guitar) 
Rennie Xosa (AKA Rennie Gennosa) - (Bass)
Jimmy Chahalis (AKA Jimmy Johallis) - (Drums)
Robert Lopiccolo - (Keys)

Discography
7" In the Crowd / Didn't I (France [Sirocco] / Germany [RCA]) 1981  
7" Playmate (Compañero De Juegos) / Pushin´ Me Over The Line (Spain [Zafiro]) 1981


LP Vog (Spain [Zafiro] / Germany [RCA]) 1981
In The Crowd / Step Ahead / Didn't I / One More Time / Keep It Up // Playmate / St. Mark's Twist / Pushin' Me Over The Line / Computer #'s / Don't Wanna Hear It

Useless Info -  Ony was also a backing singer for Ellen Shipley on her Ellen Shipley (1979) & Breaking through the Ice Age (1980) LP's.

Where Are They Now  - Kuskowski became a Doctor, Gennosa a Photographer, Lopicocolo a School Teacher & Chahalis a Drum Teacher.

Finally - They filmed this video for Platmate at the "Corner Pocket Billiards" on Northern blvd situated above Borderline Towing. NJ

Sounds, Scans & Extras

20th Century - Mad World (1982)

b/w Show A Little Of My Love

Great New Wave / D.I.Y. on the 2nd 45 release from this Cambridge University Student Band

Richard Bryant (Voc)(1981-82)
Matthew Lefroy (Guitar)(1981-84)
Neil Walker (Bass)(1981-82)
Simon Matthews (Drums)(1979-82)
Glenn Vinnicombe (Keys)(1981-84)

Mark Howell (Sound Desk and Road Crew)(1981-83)

20th Century were more of a collective, having their beginnings sometime in the 1950's producing a number of touring folk and rock groups, a recording company "Reflection" and a number of solo artists and composers.

 Discography
A Folk Passion LP - Reflection Records (RL305) 1972 
Stand Up & Be Counted / He Is The One - Very Nice Records (NICE 1) 1980
Mad World / Show A Little Of My Love - V.N.R (NICE 2) 1982

As I'm not really interested in the folk/prog side of it, I'll just give you the band members from 1979-82.

Players on "Stand Up & Be Couted"
Mark Allchorn (Voc)(1978-80), Tony Simons (Guitar)(1977-80), Dermot Boyle (Guitar)(1979-80), Mark Hammond (Bass)(1978-81), Simon Matthews (Drums)(1979-82), Graham Gill (Keys)(1979-81)

If you want to read more (I urge you too) visit their Website

Sounds & Scans