Secession - A Dark Enchantment (1987)

This album has been posted elsewhere, and recently too, but I have a great story to tell about how I came by this particular item in my collection.

I've traded CD's on eBay since 2000, so I have a good idea about which 1980's CD's are worth more or are harder to find. During a buying spree in 2004 I won A Dark Enchantment in an auction for a very reasonable $32 - and before the end of the year I had resold it for about $70, if I remember correctly. Prices for out of print CD's keep going up, so I was content to have ripped the album to my mp3 player and didn't actively seek out another copy. I did like the album a lot, though.

Fast forward to the summer of 2006. I was going through the complicated process of becoming a US citizen, and had an appointment for an interview with the INS in Memphis, TN. Memphis is about three hours from where I live, and two hours from where I used to work, so I planned on taking the day off to go down there. I'm not familiar with Memphis at all, having been to Graceland only once before.

The INS office was actually in the suburbs of Memphis and finding the exact exit was confusing, so that when I got close enough, but could not find the right street, I started looking for a gas station to get directions.

My normal philosophy, as a self conscious English twit, is to quickly scan the map books available for purchase to get my bearings instead of coming across like a clueless tourist. However, the gas station I found was in a very run down area of town, with security windows, and I was sufficiently intimidated that I left the store none the wiser as to where I needed to go. Just next door, however, was a run down thrift store in aid of some local charity group. I figured that they might give me directions, not to mention that I am, at heart, a thrift store junkie.

It was pretty run down, just a very average, small store with bundles of this and that. On autopilot, I headed for the music section, which consisted, as is typical in these places, of broken empty cases, a Celine Dion CD Single, something by Backstreet Boys, maybe a copy of Whitney Houston's The Bodyguard soundtrack with the cover missing. You know the sort of thing.

In the middle of this shoddy pile, to my amazement, was a pristine copy of A Dark Enchantment on CD.

You could say I was excited. It even had the original import sticker and price tag on it - in other words, it was in the original case. I have no idea how it ended up in a tiny Memphis thrift store.

The price tag was an equally thrifty $1.00. I felt a little guilty handing over the money, but they were so thrilled to sell me anything that they happily gave me directions as well. One day, I have decided, I will go back there with a bunch of twenties. But, to the victor goes the spoils. I can't tell you how many times I have gone into the same kinds of places and found absolutely nothing of interest. Kind of like prospecting for gold, I guess.

Bear in mind that this is an album that was released in England in very limited quantities, and never had a US pressing. And yet, a copy managed to find its way to me, perhaps the only person out of half a million people or more in that area who would recognize it's true value, as a result of randomly pulling off the interstate at the wrong exit (I had overshot, as it turned out, and had to go back to the previous exit - and made my appointment with time to spare).

So no matter what, this one is staying with me.

Secession - A Dark Enchantment (1987)

1. Eventide
2. Promise
3. Love Lies Bleeding
4. Sneakyville
5. Winifred
6. The Box That Holds A Secret
7. Ocean Blue
8. Radioland
9. The Magician
10. Love Lies Bleeding (Reprise)
11. The Wolf
12. Eventide (Theme From A Dark Enchantment)
13. All The Animals Come Out At Night
14. Michael
15. Havoc
16. Promise (Dub)

Download

Clarkesville - The Half Chapter (2003)

I was going to post a Clarkesville track ("Evergreen") yesterday, and then it occurred to me that most people have probably never heard of this group. My brother initially found a copy in a bargain bin and got it purely because there is a loose geographical connection to where I live. Shortly afterwards I found an import copy myself going cheap at Grimey's in Nashville. It's a good album, and definitely a grower.

It's a little more recent than most of the albums I post but as it was only released in the UK and Japan, and is now out of print, I think it deserves more exposure.

1. Evergreen
2. Heavy Soul
3. Secret File
4. Everyone Will Have Their Day
5. Someday
6. Spinning
7. Moonflowers
8. Reprise
9. Last Man Standing
10. Just Kills Me

Download

There are also a handful of extra tracks from the sessions dotted around on CD Singles. Does anyone have "Holding On", "Set In Stone" and "Fighter"?

Update: Here's Holding On, from the Secret File CD Single. Thanks Mat!

Revenge - Gun World Porn EP (1992)

1. Little Pig
2. Cloud Nine
3. State Of Shock
4. Deadbeat
5. Deadbeat (Gary Clail remix)
6. State Of Shock (L'Pool edit)
7. State Of Shock (paralized mix)

Download

Furniture - Food, Sex & Paranoia (1989)

Watch out for hard-to-find, deleted, out of print or critically ignored compact discs released in the last 20 years...

Furniture - Food, Sex & Paranoia (1989)

1. One Step Behind You
2. Slow Motion Kisses
3. Swing Tender
4. A Taste of You
5. A Plot to Kill What Was
6. On a Slow Fuse
7. Subway to the Beach
8. Song for a Doberman
9. Love Me
10. Friend of a Friend
11. Hard to Say
12. BONUS TRACK: International People
    

http://www.zshare.net/download/496233362bb62e/

Wikipedia Entry

Band Summary and Discography

The Thought - The Thought (1985)

In which we imagine a world where the compact disc was introduced in 1980, and now-obscure artists and albums could be preserved for posterity...

The Thought - The Thought (1985)

1. Every Single Day
2. Stranded With A Stranger
3. The Rise And The Fall
4. Lonewolf
5. Secrets Of The Heart
6. Out Of Oblivion
7. Eight Miles High
8. Maggie McColl
9. Tonight Again
10. Rapture

http://www.zshare.net/download/4790090e403664/

Password: mineforlife

Personnel:
Kok De Jong
Jan De Jong
Wieb Zigtema
Rob Marienus

His Latest Flame - In The Neighbourhood (1989)

Documenting rare finds in thrift stores and bargain bins all across America...


His Latest Flame - In The Neighbourhood (1989)

1. Londonderry Road
2. Heart of the Country
3. Finest Hour
4. Big World
5. Cold, Cold, Cold
6. Love's In The Neighbourhood
7. America Blue
8. Crack Me Down
9. Sporting Life
10. Take It In Your Stride
11. Old Flame

DOWNLOAD
[UPDATED LINK AUGUST 2014]

From the inimitable Q Magazine:

"This is His Latest Flame's debut album in a chequered career spanning the best part of a decade. As agit-popsters Sophisticated Boom Boom they recorded a John Peel session, but never graduated to vinyl. A name change and a contract with Go! Discs failed to rouse the record buying public, despite some fine pop tunes, leaving them in the unenviable position of being patronized as an "all-girl group" by some and pilloried by others for growing out of their monkey-booted adolescence.In The Neighbourhood presents a new set of songs which betray the band's growing maturity. Relying on a solid pop/rock formula, Moira Rankin's mannered vocals benefit greatly from some imaginative four-part harmonies, particularly on "America Blue" and "Take It In Your Stride". Fame and fortune may elude them yet again, but these factors do not disguise the quality of His Latest Flame's songs." (Lestyn George, July 1990)

Very little more information out there. Let me know if you have any!

Basia - Time And Tide (1987)

By Popular Request...


Basia - Time And Tide (1987)

Q REVIEW ****
Basia is Polish siren Basia Trzetrzelewska, with music provided by Danny White - the two ex-members of Matt Bianco who've kept the sound instead of the name. They've built on the latin jazz splashes that made White's compositions a worthwhile proposition three years ago, while Basia's voice has matured greatly from the almost secondary role she took then. Here she soars above the South American swing or gets underneath the torchy slower numbers with confidence. But on Time And Tide the songs themselves are the stars: from the busy instrumental opening of the first number, "A New Day For You", to the sultriness of the title track. The frantic percussion, dazzling vibraphones and warm electric guitar and keyboards are undercut with an earthy understanding of funk. It is seldom that a relatively young British act convincingly gets to grips with one foreign style; Time And Tide masters two, and brings them together in an explosion of patterns with depth as well as vitality. (Lloyd Bradley - May 1987)

1. "Promises" (Basia, Ross, White) – 4:03
2. "Run for Cover" (Basia, White) – 3:38
3. "Time and Tide" (Basia, White) – 4:03
4. "Freeze Thaw" (Basia, White) – 3:57
5. "From Now On" (Basia, White) – 3:45
6. "New Day for You" (Basia, Ross, White) – 4:27
7. "Prime Time TV" (Basia, White) – 5:22
8. "Astrud" (Basia, White) – 4:40
9. "How Dare You" (Basia, White) – 3:24
10. "Miles Away" (Basia, White) – 4:10

Download

Wikipedia Entry

Cause & Effect - You Think You Know Her (1990)

Latest Goodwill acquisition...

Cause & Effect - You Think You Know Her (1990)

1. You Think You Know Her [7" Version]
2. You Think You Know Her [The Deceptive Edit]
3. You Think You Know Her [Promiscuous Edit]
4. You Think You Know Her [The Deception Mix]
5. You Think You Know Her [The Promiscuous Mix]
6. You Think You Know Her [The Devious Dub]
7. You Think You Know Her [Promiscuous Inst.]

Wikipedia Entry

Official Website

Strawberry Switchblade - Porcelain and Polka Dots

To start with, let me point you in the direction of the best Strawberry Switchblade website.

For one-hit wonders, the duo have always had a strong cult following, and their signature tune "Since Yesterday" was recently featured on the soundtrack of This Is England. They only released one album but there have also been plenty of sessions, demos, remixes and B-Sides to keep the collectors happy. And what 16 year old didn't have a crush on either Jill or Rose for about 5 minutes back in 1985?

The title of today's post is partly derived from a picture I found on the net while doing a google search for polka dots. Looks familiar, no?

Strawberry Switchblade - Porcelain And Polka Dots

1. Who Knows What Love Is? (Extended Mix)
2. Beautiful End
3. By The Sea
4. Sunday Morning
5. Trees And Flowers (original 7" version)
6. Let Her Go (Kitchensynch Mix Up)
7. Go Away (Peel Session)
8. Ecstacy (Apple Of My Eye)
9. Since Yesterday (Scott's Remix)
10. Jolene (Extended Mix)
11. Poor Hearts (Robin Millar version)
12. Don't Fear The Reaper (Demo)
13. Crystal Days (Demo)
14. Who Knows What Love Is? (David Motion version)

I've been careful not to include anything that got onto the excellent Platinum Collection release by Warners that combines the complete Strawberry Switchblade album with several B-Sides and the extended mix of "Trees And Flowers". If you live in Britain, you can buy the CD from Amazon.co.uk for less than four pounds, and elsewhere it is available from Amazon [Update: Now out of print, the compilation will cost you $29 in the USA] or stores like The Ideal Copy for under $10. So there's no excuse for not owning that one.

Wikipedia Entry

Private Lives - Prejudice & Pride (1984)

In which we imagine a world where the compact disc was introduced in 1980, and now-obscure artists and albums could be preserved for posterity...
Yes, it's dated. Like a classic automobile, Private Lives' Prejudice & Pride album symbolizes a specific time and place. First of all, the keyboards sound old, and secondly, its studio gloss is totally '80s. But those are just two reasons why the LP is highly attractive to new wave disciples. The term "dated" is only bad to people who weren't born during the era the work originated in, or who have no affection for it. On Prejudice & Pride Private Lives combine their love for jazz and funk with the synthesized beats of mid-'80s England. The result is a hybrid of blue-eyed soul and new wave à la Fiction Factory, a group that Private Lives stylistically resemble. The music is often upbeat; however, the lyrics mainly consist of torn love letters, filled with bitterness and regret. "Living in a World" is the best track, the story of a promiscuous girl whose life has been overturned and who can't find her way to happiness; consequently, she begins having suicidal thoughts: "You say you want to drink and drive/Over the bridge to the other side," vocalist John Adams sings with both anger and empathy. The words veer between resentment and compassion, but it becomes obvious that he still cares for her: "No, you're just hanging around/Waiting for someone to rescue you." It's a beautiful ballad, hauntingly sung and sharply arranged with mournful synthesizers and toe-tapping basslines. (The 12" extended version, "Living in a World (Turned Upside Down)," is also worth searching for.) As strong as "Living in a World" is, one would assume that Private Lives used all of their ammo on one track; thankfully, they didn't. Prejudice & Pride has no filler. It may take a few spins for the record to sink in, but songs such as "River to a Sea" and "God Only Knows" are just as catchy -- if not as moving -- as "Living in a World." The angst level is pretty high; Adams seeks liberation from a dying relationship in "Break the Chains," and "No Chance You'll Pay" and "Break the Whole Thing Down" offer more romantic diatribes. All the dourness may seem a tad overwhelming; however, many British new wave artists weren't exactly cheerful. Prejudice & Pride details heartbreak with a sweet tooth for pop that is hard to resist. ~ Michael Sutton, All Music Guide

Private Lives - Prejudice & Pride (1984)

1. River To A Sea
2. No Chance You'll Pay
3. Living In A World (Turned Upside Down)
4. Stop
5. God Only Knows
6. Break The Chains
7. Don't Wanna Cry
8. Win
9. Break The Whole Thing Down
10. Prejudice & Pride
11. Living In A World (Extended Version) [Bonus Track]
12. Because You're Young [Bonus Track]

I'VE RE-POSTED THE ALBUM TRACK BY TRACK WITH SOME EXTRAS. YOU CAN FIND IT HERE

Jules Shear - The Great Puzzle (1992)

Sometimes musical discoveries seem to come about through true serendipity - an alignment of cosmic forces, if you will. A good example is this album by Jules Shear, to my mind the best in an absurdly idiosyncratic catalog dating back to the mid seventies. Back in 1992 I was reading a book in my local library by Paul Zollo (Songwriters on Songwriting) and out of all the interviewees, I was most interested by Jules. I was impressed to know that he had not only written "If She Knew What She Wants", my favorite song by the Bangles, but also "All Through The Night", amongst others. In describing his craft, he seemed to identify exactly the elements that can make a song special.

Although the interview was about five years old, by a quirk of coincidence I found a new release called The Great Puzzle nestling in the CD rack in our local store. It was unusual in those days for me to buy an album without reading a review, but without listening booths and the internet (can you imagine that?) sometimes you just had to take a chance. When the latest edition of Q Magazine came out, I noticed that they reviewed the album and gave it four stars out of five, an assessment I thoroughly agreed with.

Anyone who has not heard Jules' work before will find his voice takes a little getting used to. He has a very nasal, noo-yawk timbre, and in truth this can be a little wearing unless the material is compelling. Fortunately, every track on The Great Puzzle is a mini-masterpiece, a masterclass in songwriting where the melodies flutter and the stories weave their way into your head. Jules takes a slightly off-kilter approach to songwriting conventions. For example "Bark", naturally enough, is about a dog. "Jewel In A Cobweb" is about a dangerous relationship with some interesting spider allusions. "The Sad Sound of the Wind" and "Dreams Dissolve In Tears" take standard romantic break-up material and put an elegant spin on the proceedings such as "Not to deceive or with plans to leave/It was pure without intent". Other songs touch on loss, the perils of the world, and - in the sublime title track - its profound mysteries. When Jules wonders aloud, the question marks hang in the air like suspended chords.

Carefully produced by Stewart Lerman and also featuring his wife Pal Shazar, The Great Puzzle is a witty, melodic gem that has never lost its appeal to me. Nowadays, most second-hand CD stores have a copy for a couple of dollars - that's where I found the autographed one shown in the picture.

After the rise of the eBay era, I discovered that three additional "puzzle pieces" from the sessions had been added to a promotional single, but had never been commercially released. All three are fine efforts and I have no hesitation in appending them to the set.

Jules Shear - The Great Puzzle (1992)

1. The Trap Door
2. The Great Puzzle
3. We Were Only Making Love
4. The Sad Sound Of The Wind
5. Something Else To Me
6. Make Believe
7. Much Too Much
8. Dreams Dissolve In Tears
9. The Mystery's All Mine
10. Jewel In A Cobweb
11. Bark
12. His Audience Has Gone To Sleep (Bonus Track)
13. She Makes Things Happen (Bonus Track)
14. Nothing Is Left Behind (Bonus Track)

http://www.zshare.net/download/39098664389342/

A few copies of the album were packaged with a bonus disc Unplug This, featuring acoustic versions of several tracks from this and previous albums. You can find this to download here courtesy of my friend Big-D at Musica Obscura, along with several other rare albums by Jules.

Official Jules Shear Website
Wikipedia entry
A Good Summary of links to various Jules Shear related articles

Thirty Eight Special

Today is my 38th birthday, and by way of celebration I am posting a compilation of thirty eight tracks that I think say something about the kind of music that I like and where I'm coming from. I can guarantee that you will find something you like on here. If you do, please let me know in the comments section. Many of these artists are in line to be featured in the next few weeks and months, all being well. I've split the tracks into four categories, with two bonus tracks to make a round number. I'm going to post half this week and the other half next Sunday if I get a positive response. Enjoy!

Disc One - Keep It Covered

1. Guy Chadwick - Fall In Love With Me (covering David Bowie)
2. Wilson Phillips - Go Your Own Way (covering Fleetwood Mac)
3. Somegirl - The Model (covering Kraftwerk)
4. Sandra - Such A Shame (covering Talk Talk)
5. Mandy Moore - Senses Working Overtime (covering XTC)
6. Collective Soul - Jealous Guy (covering John Lennon)
7. Shawn Colvin - When The Rainbow Comes (covering World Party)
8. Kelly Osbourne - Sound of the Crowd (covering Human League)
9. Echo Image - Neverending Story (covering Limahl)
10. Iris - The Picture (covering Hubert Kah)
    

Disc Two - B-Sides and Bonuses

1. New Order - Don't Do It (B-Side of Fine Time)
2. The Big Dish - Reverend Killer (B-Side of Slide)
3. Chris Rea - Lies Become The Truth (extra track on French hits compilation)
4. Midge Ure - Supernatural (B-Side of Cold, Cold Heart)
5. Nik Kershaw - The Wrong Man (B-Side of Somebody Loves You)
6. Black - Most of the Day (And All of the Night) (B-Side of Don't Take the Silence Too Hard)
7. The Beautiful South - Java (B-Side of One Last Love Song)
8. Boo Hewerdine - The King Is Dead (extra track on Japanese Thanksgiving CD)
9. Keane - Snowed Under (B-Side of Somewhere Only We Know)
10. The Feeling - When I Return (B-Side of Sewn)

UPDATE: My compilations have long since disappeared, so I've helpfully linked to available Amazon downloads if you should be interested. Oh yeah, 38 seems so young now!!!