BRAM TCHAIKOVSKY (1978-1981)
As a request, re-up of the singles and albums
After the friendly split with The Motors, Bram Tchaikovsky formed a
power trio with Micky Broadbent on bass and ex- Heavy Metal Kid Keith
Boyce on drums. The original name of the band was Battle Axe, quickly
changed to Bram Tchaikovsky. That's the reason why the very first 12"
was called Battle Axe and released on Criminal Records before signing
with Radar. Bram wanted The Motors to record "Sarah Smiles" on the Approved album but there was some kind of personal conflict
with Andy McMaster, so Bram kept this gem of a powerpop classic for his
own band.
Nick Garvey went to produce all of the Bram Tchaikovsky first
recordings, including another 12" for Criminal Records plus the first
and third Bram's albums. None of the original Criminal versions have
been reissued on CD.
BATTLEAXE (12" Criminal EP BRAM 1)
Sarah Smiles / Turn On The Light / Bloodline
LULLABY OF BROADWAY (12" Criminal EP BRAM 5)
Lullaby Of Broadway / Rock 'n' Roll Cabaret / (Who Wants To Be A) Criminal
GIRL OF MY DREAMS (2 x 7" Radar ADA 28)
Girl Of My Dreams (single version) / Come Back / Robber (Live) / Whiskey & Wine (Live)
I'M THE ONE THAT'S LEAVING (7" Radar Single ADA 37)
I'm The One That's Leaving / Amelia
Bram Tchaikovsky signed to the new Radar label in 1978 along with Stiff expatriates Nick Lowe and Elvis Costello. The band showed a great deal of promise with their first album, Strange Man Changed Man, fitting in nicely with the growing power pop movement. "Strange Man, Changed Man" remains Bram Tchaikovsky's finest moment. Produced by his former Motors bandmate Nick Garvey on a shoestring budget, the resulting thin sound only serves to enhance the songs which owe as much to '60s pop as they do to pub/punk rock. The pure pop of "Girl of My Dreams" (a minor hit in the U.S.) perfectly encapsulates late-'70s Brit-pop and stands as one of the classic singles of the era
STRANGE MAN, CHANGED MAN (1979, Reissue 2007)
"The Russians Are Coming"
was released in 1980 with an added member. Dennis Forbes had been
brought in to play guitar and The Rumour's Bob Andrews helped keyboards
on the "Pressure" track. Due to the cold war of the time, the original title had to be changed to "Pressure" when it was released in the USA. The track list was also modified and a new artwork elaborated. Though not as brilliant as "Strange Man, Changed Man", this album had some fine songs (specially the great "Can't Give You Reasons"). The original british album was briefly reissued on CD in Japan, and is quite hard to find. "Pressure" was never reissued. This is the CD reissue
THE RUSSIANS ARE COMING (1980, Reissue Japan 1998)
After the first two albums "Strange Man, Changed Man" bringing the unforgettable "Girl Of My Dreams", and "The Russians Are Coming" (retitled "Pressure"
in the USA 'cause of the cold war), Micky Broadbent left the band due
to personal conflict with Bram Tchaikovsky about the leadership. The
band themselves left Radar and signed to Arista. Funland was produced by
Nick Garvey and recorded at Rockfield studios in 1981 with a brand new
line-up of Tchaikovsky, Forbes, Lord Richard Itchingham playing bass,
and Derek Ballard playing drums. An old Motors B-side, "Soul Surrender,"
was recorded as an afterthought by Bram, Garvey and deputized drummer
Hilly Michaels. It would be the last album by the band. Bram then
retired from music business.
FUNLAND (1981) (Not available on CD)
Bram Tchaikovsky and his band toured the USA in 1979. The show was
recorded at the Paradise Theatre in Boston, Ma on the 14th of October.
It was aired on WNEW FM. The quality of the recording is quite
excellent. Fifteen songs (12 well-known plus 2 covers such as Jimi
Hendrix's Red House and Elvis Presley's Jailhouse Rock never offially
recorded). The performance has never been officially released. I made a
special artwork for the blog.
PARADISE THEATRE, BOSTON (1979) (Unofficial)
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