23 Jewels - Playing Bogart (1979)

 b/w You Don't Know Me

DIY New Wave/Powerpop from this Nottingham Based band (1978-1982)

Led by Manchester Born Nick Simpson (Guitar, Voc) with

Neil Roberts (Guitar) 
Paddy Russell (Bass)
Geoff Powers (Drums)

23 Jewels started out as "Sneak and the Previews" Nick Simpson (Guitar, Voc) /Simon Harris (Guitar) /Mark Buckle (Bass, Voc) /Geoff Powers (Drums) but owing to a "falling out" they became the above for the recording of the song.  

Playing Bogart was recorded mid 79 with Paddy Russell, (A friend of Nick's from school learning the two songs of the 45 the night before the recording) & with Clive Gregson [Any Trouble] in the Producers chair (As he was for all of their recordings).
It was released Nov 79 (1000 Copies) on their own "Let's Call It Temporary Records" Label.

  
"I had been working at WH Smiths in Manchester, it struck me for the first time, going in and out of town on the bus, how people geared themselves up for a Friday night out; 
I was single, probably a bit lonely, and saw the whole thing as a bit of a charade". - Nick Simpson

In 1980 the Weltschmerz A Go-Go! EP was released with Russell's replacement being Mark Buckle
Nick Simpson (Guitar, Voc)

Neil Roberts (guitar) 
Mark Buckle (Bass, Voc)
Geoff Powers (Drums)

Roberts then quit being replaced by Frank McCarthy

So the line-up for their final 45 (I'll Pay For This) in 1981 was
Nick Simpson (Guitar, Voc)
Frank McCarthy (guitar) 
Mark Buckle (Bass, Voc)
Geoff Powers (Drums)

Discography
1979 7'' Playing Bogart/You Don't Know Me - Lets Call It Temporary Records [TEMP 1]
1980 7'' EP Weltschmerz A Go-Go! [ It's Not For Me/This Could Be Agony//The Starting Line/Love And Convenience] Lets Call It Temporary Records [TEMP 2]
1981 7'' I'll Pay For This/Down To Minimum - Lets Call It Temporary Records [TEMP 3]
1982 VA DLP Journey Without Maps [2 tracks - The Bomb Party / Can't Think Of More Than One Thing At Once] 101 International Records [WREK 101]

Useless info 1 - Nick Simpson originally wrote Playing Bogart when he was in Stockport group Idiot Rouge who regularly played with (pre-Stiff records) Any Trouble. Hence the Gregson link and cover of Playing Bogart on their debut album "Where Are All The Nice Girls?"
Idiot Rouge disbanded with Simpson going to Nottingham University and drummer John Doyle joining Howard Devoto's Magazine. Other members Neil Cossar (Guitar Voc) & John Martin (Bass) were later in The Cheaters    
Useless info 2 - In 2019 The unreleased 2nd LP from Billy Karloff and the Extremes "The Vinyl Solution" (1981) was made available via Bandcamp which has a pretty good cover of Playing Bogart on it.
Useless info 3 - Playing Bogart was also featured on the 1999 released VA LP Powerpearls Vol.4  
 
Simpson later turned to classical music, studying for four years with the reclusive John Tavener. Forging a career as an "unusual and uncompromising" composer, widely performing in Britain and abroad. 
In 2005 he released a solo-album "Lashings Of Pop" Featuring twelve songs, containing "economical pop stylings, trenchant guitar work and a darkly mordant wit" 

Sounds & Scans

George Duffy & The Sons Of Jet - Funny How Love Can Be (1988)

 b/w Sloopy Hang On 

A pair of Mod/Pop 60's covers for the Sole 45 release of this Lincoln based Trio led by Scottish [Motherwell] born George Duffy.

George Duffy (Voc Guitar)
Glyn Rudd (Bass Voc)
Ray Plummer (Drums)
with help from
C Lainge (Guitar) S Walker (Keys)

Although if you pick up early versions of the 45 that haven't had the rear of the sleeve pasted over, the line-up reads:

George Duffy (Voc Guitar)
Paul James (Bass Voc)
Richard 'Starr' Laws (Drums Voc)

There were two earlier "Sons Of Jet" tracks released on compilations
Marilyn Monroe - The Phase III Mod Bands 7'' EP 1987  [PHZ-13]
Love Is Real - Unicorn 2 [Modern Times] LP 1987 [PHZA-11]
These were both recorded at the same sessions [13/14 April 1987 @ Chris Price Studios, Nottingham]
The line up for these tracks being
Jim Hofner (Voc Bass Keys)
George Duffy (Guitar Voc)
Phil Halton (Drums)

Useless info - George had a spell in the RAF stationed in Germany, where the name of the band was first "Sons of Jet Harris"  

The Sons Of Jet did make a comeback around 2014 [follow the link & hear 2 more tracks]

What's George Duffy Doing Now? 

Sounds & Scans 

White Summer - Power Poison (1984)

 b/w - In The Wings

Nice Powerpop / Indie by this 4 / 5 Piece band from the Bangor area  [1980-1985]

John Dexter-Jones (Voc, Guitar, Cowbell) 
Huw Heywood (Guitar) 
Carl Owen (Bass)
Eilian "Ale" Jones (Drums)
Dave Owen (Sound Man)

They also had a track "Travelling Riverside Blues ’69" featured on the 3rd volume of the local compilation tape  "Just When You Thought We Were Dead - Music from the Bangor Area" (1983),

If I was to hazard a guess I'd say the name White Summer Came from a love of Led Zeppelin.

As always if you have some extra info please leave a comment

Sounds & Scans

The Tubbies - Get Back Down, You Fatty, Fatty! (1979)

b/w Send Him Away

Nice Pop/Pock, New Wave 45 from these Winchester boys. Released December 1979

Robert Bowen (Voc, Guitar, Drums)
Chris Stonor (Keys Voc)

Both Stonor & Bowen had previously released a 45 in 1976 as Biff (along with James Heneage & John R Griffith)

During this time Chris Stoner was also a member of Thieves Like Us (1977-81)

Useless Info - Here's some later Chris Stoner work

Sounds & Scans

Aqua – I Want Somethin’ Else (1983)

 

b/w I Don't Understand

2 Cool Powerpop tunes on this 1982 Recorded but 1983 self-release.

The songs were penned by D Ivatt & M Wilson

I'm presuming they were from the Peterborough area as the 45 was Produced / Engineered by Dave Colton @ Stix Studio .

As always if any one can add any info please leave a comment

Sounds & Scans

Best Of Button Label (1982 - 1984)

OK Here's a a slightly different post to the usual.

My Picks [9 of the 23 45's] from the Edgware based Button Records [1982 - 86] that may be of interest to a New Wave collector. 

The label was predominantly Folk & Country being funded by Mike Redway and having such producers as Ex-Tull & Fairport Members, Martin Allcock & Bill Ward at the recording desk.

However, the label still managed to give us some well above average Synth / Powerpop & New Wave tunes.

7" Label Discography

BTN 101 - Mike Redway - Morris Minor / Happy Birthday [10-1982]
BTN 102 - Tied Logs - Stamp And Swing / Kamikaze Banjos [10-1982]
BTN 103 - Joseph And Giselle - But You Love Me Daddy / Rodeo Special [12-1982]
BTN 104 - Johnny Demestos - Leave My Jelly Babies Alone / Shanghai Sidestreet [11-1982]

BTN 105 - Patti Gold - As Long As We Keep Believing / You [10-1983]
BTN 106 - Charles Anthony - Breakthrough / I Want You [08-1983]
BTN 107 - Pete Dodds ‎- Cardboard City / Sally Ann [08-1983]
BTN 108 - Wooden-Tops ‎- White What? / Biffo [08-1983]
BTN 109 - Annie Lewis - The Lass With The Delicate Air / I Sowed The Seeds [11-1983]
BTN 110 - Gary Knight- Cry Wolf / Dreaming Of You [10-1983]
BTN 111 - Tied Logs - The Bluebell Polka / The Cat On The Mixer [10-1983]
BTN 112 - Private Party - Change / Breakdown [11-1983]
BTN 113 - Charm School ‎– Sun / Excerpts From The Modern Song [01-1984]
BTN 114 - Patti Gold ‎– Don't Take It / The Perfect Love Song [03-1984]
BTN 115 - Estelle Round - Silent Christmas / Heartaches [11-1983]
BTN 116 - Idée Fixe - Easy Madonna / Tell Me No More Lies [07-1984]
BTN 117 - Mike Carter And Dragonfly - My True Love / Let The Rain Fall Down [06-1984]
BTN 118 - Tied Logs - Captain Pugwash / ? [08-1984 Not Released]
BTN 118 - Marie-Anne Emmanuel - Merry Christmas And Happy New Year / Merry Christmas (Instrumental) [11-1984]
BTN 119 - Max Million - Walk My Way / Drunk Again [07-1984]
BTN 120 - Johnny D' Mestos - The Ten Commandments / You Don't Give A Damn [11-1984]
BTN 121 - John E. Loren - Regrets (A Thousand) / Fabienne [09-1985]
BTN 122 - Diana Wins - Peace On Earth / Silent Sleep [11-1984]
BTN 123 - Friendly Persuasion - A Tribute To Karen Carpenter / Only Yesterday [07-1986]

For Sounds & more info just Download

Northern Lights - Bad Girl (1979)

    

b/w Exodus

Nice 60's Style Mod Powerpop on the A-side of the sole release from this Manchester [Northern Club Band] 4 Piece [1977-82]

Bob Walsh AKA Robert Barrie (Voc)  

Steve Petricco (Guitar) RIP 

Paul Petricco (Bass)

Eric Patterson (Drums) Replaced by Joe Morris sometime early 1980

The 45 was recorded at Manchester's Smile Studios and released on the MPA imprint [The Stockport label also released the first Slowguns 45 - which is worth looking for if you haven't heard it] 

The Petricco brothers were later in The Spivs 

Steve Petricco

Useless Info   Paul Petricco Started (Amongst others) FAB Cafe, Satans Hollow and TV21 [which hosted ‘Mrs Boon's Cakes & Tea Party’ with Clint Boon of Inspiral Carpets]

Sounds & Scans

The Toys - Ba Ba Badap (1981)

b/w - In My Car 

Great Beatlesque Powerpop on the 3rd and Final 45 from this Bath (Somerset) based band [1979-81]

Clete Stallbaumer (Voc Guitar)
Jerry Short (Guitar Voc) 
Phil Sudron (Bass Voc)
Dave Stallbaumer (Drums Voc)

July 1978 : American Born brothers Cletus F Stallbaumer Jr & Dave Stallbaumer (More Info in the download) recorded an LP with Mike Sparks (Bass Voc) & Mike Pryer (Guitar Keys Voc)
Clete Stallbaumer - My House Is Your House - Open Door Records [ODR-001) Chippenham UK
Me And The Boys/ Pride And Glory/ Grandma’s Rocker/ Speedway/ Do You Remember?// Motoring/ A Song For Rachel/ Here I Lie/ Black Limousine/ John’s Song

June 1979 : The Toys were Formed giving us 3 45's 
1979 The Natural Way/Go To The Police - Red Bus Records [1 A 006 - 63632] Holland only Release
1980 Go To The Police/Breakdown - Red Bus Records ‎[RBUS 54] UK
1980 Go To The Police/Breakdown - Red Bus Records [PB 5766] German Pressing
1980 Go To The Police/Breakdown - Carrere Records [49.647] French Pressing
1981 Ba Ba Babap/In My Car - Open Door Records  Chippenham UK
For the true completeists there is also:
1980 Go To The Police/I'm Alright - Red Bus Records ‎[RBUS 54] UK - The B-side is "Breakdown" Just mislabelled 

In 1981 Jerry Short & Mike Sparks teamed up In Bristol based band "Streets Ahead" 

Going by the Insert for the 45 it appears The Toys may have slimmed down to a Trio of  Clete, Phil & Dave. (Another clue to this would be that the dead wax reads "Where's Jerry?")

Sounds, Scans & More
 

Adrian Fuller - Everlasting Love (1980)

b/w Love Hurts

Nice Glammy Pop/Rock, 70's Powerpop on Love Hurts From these Yorkshire based boys. (I'm afraid their version of Everlasting Love doesn't do much for me)

Adrian Fuller (Voc)
Greg Ainsworth (Guitar Voc) Ex Christie 
Simon Albone (Bass) RIP Later in Dale Hargreaves' Flamingos 
David "Exciting" Albone (Drums) Ex Hobbies Of Today & The Vye

Lindsay Frost (Keys Voc) Ex The Out 

Producer Lindsay Frost
Engineer Bob Whiteley

Recorded September Sound Studios Golcar, Huddersfield, West Yorkshire, 

Both are Covers
Everlasting Love - Cason / Gayden [The Love Affair]
Love Hurts - Boudleaux / Bryant [Roy Orbison]

Sounds & Scans

Auntie Pus - Half Way To Venezuela (1980)

b/w - Marmalade Freak

The London-based Band On this 45 were

Auntie Pus AKA Julian Isaacs (Voc Rhythm Guitar) 
Robin Bibi (Lead Guitar)
Jim Payne (Bass)  (The Stukas*)
Chris Millar AKA Rat Scabies (Drums) 

Julian Isaacs, was an enthusiastic solo Musician/Performer known as "The Public School Punk Rock Balladeer" - although he was kicked out of Kings College, Wimbledon 

Sounds Reviewer "...any man that sings like this must have something going for him, deafness for example"

How did this one-man old style rock ‘n’ roll guitar act score a support slot with the Damned?

Julian

He was Originally From Wimbledon South-West London & was best friends with 2 brothers who were in Chris Millar's (Rat Scabies of the Damned) 1st band. Julian was invited to support The Damned (due to his manager at the time David Scott promoting the gig) at the Hastings Pier in July '77, where he appeared on stage wearing his old public school blazer and cap

The 45 Recorded was in 1978 (at Pathway Studios) with production by Dick Taylor [Pretty Things] Yet it was released a year and a half later, in October 1980 by Septic [Spartan] Records, being specially created for this purpose by the Ruts Manager Andy Dayman (with whom he was touring extensively with at the time). 

Apparently a second 45 was recorded for Spartan but never released

As well as being a solo Live Performer He also gigged as Auntie Pus & The Men From Uncle
with at various times
Dick Taylor (Guitar)  Pretty Things
Mark Sullivan (Guitar)
Robin Bibi (Guitar ) also in John Dummer & Helen April's True Life Confessions 
Artyro Bassick (Bass) ex-Lurkers also in John Dummer & Helen April's True Life Confessions
Ed Case (Drums) Ex Hazel O'Conner, 999
Danny Heatley (Drums) Ex The Satellites 
Pete 'Esso' Haynes (Drums) ex-Lurkers also in John Dummer & Helen April's True Life Confessions 

Useless Info 1 - Early in 1977 he entered a Melody Maker talent contest being put into the folk music heat He played 4 songs in 10 mins [a Jerry Lee Lewis cover, a song about an abattoir + the 2 that eventually became this 45] - he didn't win!
Useless Info 2 - The sleeve was designed by Rachel Howard, who's father Oliver Howard designed the Ruts "Grin 'n' Bear" it sleeve 
Useless Info 3 - Stories are told that he was a tad "light fingered" relieving large department stores of their electrical goods & redistributing them to fund himself
Useless Info 4 - Marmalade Freak appears on Messthetics #102 [D.I.Y. 77-81 London 2] &  Messthetics #5 [UK D.I.Y. Post-Punk A 1978-81]

*Although Jim Payne was a member of The Stukas, he never recorded with them: this single turned out to be his sole credit: he died in a hang gliding accident aged 25. 

More info Here  & Here

Sounds & Scans