by request
With financial viability suddenly outweighing the band’s odder idiosyncrasies, major labels tussled for their signatures until Cud decided to go with A&M Records in 1991, for the simple reason that the label’s logo ‘had the trumpet’. This move marked the release in the summer of 1992 of Asquarius, which earned the band glowing reviews. However, the transition from indie chart to mainstream pop territory was not as easy as this early victory might have suggested. A&M launched the band with a seemingly endless collection of promotional gimmicks (balloons, mobiles, etc.), but failed to reap significant commercial reward. Despite this, the critics were still kind to the follow-up Showbiz, wherein Cud provided a less insular pop sound and ‘mature’ lyrics (mature in comparison to previous efforts, but hardly by anyone else’s standards). Potter was replaced by Mick Dale shortly before the band broke up in 1995. Puttnam, Potter and Goodwin reunited in 2006 for a series of live gigs, with new guitarist Felix Frey rounding out the line-up.
Tracklist
1 | Rich And Strange | 3:39 |
2 | Easy | 2:45 |
3 | Sometimes Rightly, Sometimes Wrongly | 3:10 |
4 | Spanish Love Song | 3:26 |
5 | Magic Alex | 4:16 |
6 | Beyond Hair | 3:11 |
7 | Pink Flamingo | 3:51 |
8 | Possession | 3:42 |
9 | Through The Roof | 3:59 |
10 | Soul Food | 2:55 |
11 | Once Again | 5:07 |
12 | No Smoking | 3:29 |