That'll be £640, please.

Spotted by Brian Forbes on a recent vist to Japan among some other "mega rare" pieces was this "UK Original, 1980" 'Falling & Laughing' single by Orange Juice.
Although it purports to be an original copy -including postcard & flexidisc- it's on sale for the quite ridiculous price of ¥90,000 (that's around £640 or 710€ or $850). Rather expensive but prices are quite steep for this ultra-rare single in mint or near-mint condition. 
Anyhow, if you keep your eyes open you could pick up a copy for a lot less. Though, be aware, there are apparently quite a few counterfeit copies knocking about. Some of them even as red vinyl, double singles!

Image courtesy of and ©Brian Forbes

 

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Orange Juice : Coals To Newcastle (artwork)

 Artwork used to illustrate the Orange Juice 'Coals to Newcastle' boxset that was released by Domino Records in 2010. The artwork, layout, and design for the box set was done by Paul Kelly -known for his artwork for Saint Etienne and as a musician himself in the band East Village. For these two pieces he's relied heavily on a lot of the artwork used at Postcard Records for their original Orange Juice releases such as the 'Falling And Laughing' and 'Simply Thrilled Honey' singles.

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Anyone interested in this boxset will be glad to know that it was recently reissued by AED Records and is available to buy at their website.

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Postcard Records Kitten Tattoo!

I've been, as per usual, sort of busy since my last post (all of 6 weeks ago) but I should get round to adding a couple of things this week or so. Maybe a things that I've already posted on Twitter; I'll see what's worth posting. Anyhow, today we have a photo of a Postcard Records, drumming kitten tattoo. Generously and courtesy of the lovely Bea Dewhurst. You can catch up with vintage clothing archivist and researcher Bea's recent adventures in Paris at her photoblog (and at Flickr) and follow her, as well as more of her "cats", on Twitter.

Photo: Courtesy of & ©Bea Dewhurst.

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The Psychedelic Etchings of the Smooth

 

 One of the many documents and original pieces of memorabilia you'll be able to see at the upcoming exhibition, organized The Scottish Music Centre, at the Fruitmarket Gallery, Edinburgh on the 16th to 18th of June this year. 

So, if any of you are in Edinburgh, on those dates, take time to check out the exhibition.

One of the items on show is this nifty little 'Postcard Communique'. Something that James Kirk (Orange Juice) put together in the early days of Postcard Records in 1979. Features the wee 'Drumming Kitten' from an original Louis Wain drawing that was used as the Postcard logo. 

Document source: @HistoryofSMC

From the Glenn Gibson collection. ©GlennGibson

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Back With A Vengeance

Ad from 1982 announcing the "long awaited debut album" from Orange Juice. Features lists of the band members' favourite tracks by other artists at that moment as well as the upcoming tour dates. China Crisis and Dislocation Dance supporting the band on said tour.

Ad also features a couple of quotes(?):

"As it is, Collins is too knowing, too smug and cynical, to be the pop face that his songwriting talents warrant."

and

"Owange Juicepies expect their debut albumypoos to be taken seriously. Just fancy that!"

I suspect that these are some sort of Postcard marketing ploy pisstake though.


Source & ©Mike Dixon

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L.O.V.E... it's a hit!

Some more fabulous documents from Rob Waters' Postcard Records archives. This time we have an ad and a review for their 'L.O.V.E... love / Intuition Told Me' their major label debut single on Polydor/Postcard. Rob reckons this is from an October 1981 issue of Record Mirror but I have a feeling that it might well be from a copy of the NME from the same period.

Fab uncredited shot of the lads optimistically pointing towards the number one spot in the hit parade.

Original documents courtesy of & ©Rob Waters

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Liverpool versus Glasgow : Orange Juice @ Plato's Liverpool, '81

Well, I've been a bit busy lately at work and on other projects but I've finally gotten round to do a wee post here at SoYS. I have a whole host of other pics and artefacts to post -many provided by that treasure chest of all things from Scotland's post-punk era, Scottish Post-Punk. First of all though we a flyer and an excellent pic for and from an Orange Juice concert at Plato's, Liverpool way back in August 1981.
Very nice indeed. Edwyn looks as if he's really enjoying himself. His fringe too!

More posts up soon.

Documents courtesy of EricsToEvol

Photograph : ©Denise Hodgkinson

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Two Postcards From Glasgow

Some more from Brian McCloskey's excellent Smash Hits archives series that he faithfully posts every fortnight at Like Punk Never Happened.
This time we have Red Starr's review from April '81 of Postcard Records' lastest releases: Orange Juice's 'Poor Old Soul' featuring Edwyn's "distinctive quavery vocals" and Aztec Camera's "amazingly mature debut," 'Just Like Gold.'
Includes a nice pic of the Aztec boys by Paul Slattery.

From Smash Hits, April 2nd, 1981
Document courtesy of a ©BrianTV

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Kilty Pleasures : Scottish Post-Punk

Kilty Pleasures


Scottish Post-Punk
6-page spread on all things SoYS in Record Collector issue N°449

(January 2016).

Allan Glen tells the story of Scotland's post punk scene. From Postcard Records' Orange Juice and Josef K to The Jesus And Mary Chain via Fast Product, Skids, The Revillos-Rezillos, Simple Minds.

Not one to miss!


Document courtesy of
Scottish Post-Punk

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People these days just aren't smiling as much as they should be.

Another gem from Andy at Birmingham_81's treasure trove of artifacts and photographs.

This time we have a poster for an Orange Juice concert at Scamps nightclub, Oxford in May 1981. Andy and a friend also interviewed the band the same evening.


Also, Orange Juice played another show at Scamps in March, '82. Lucky devils they were those Oxford lads and lassies.


Imagine paying £1.75 today. To see any band!

Image courtesy of & ©Andy@Birmingham_81

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Josef K : It’s Kinda Funny, a vinyl-only collection

Les Disques du Crépuscule presents It’s Kinda Funny, a vinyl-only collection of classic singles by iconic Scottish post-punk guitar group Josef K issued between 1979 and 1982.

As well as the three legendary 45s on Postcard Records (Radio Drill Time, It’s Kinda Funny and Chance Meeting), the album also includes both Crépuscule singles (Sorry For Laughing, Missionary) as well as the original Absolute version of Chance Meeting from 1979. B-side tracks are also included, plus a digital download coupon.

Cover art by Jean-Francois Octave. Outer sleeve printed on matt reverse board. Inner bag features liner notes and archive images by Simon Clegg.

"Josef K were The Sound of Young Scotland, together with Orange Juice, whose guitars were also radiant and brittle, whose rhythms were also scrubbed and blunt, whose vocals were also proud and serious, but who sounded like another group entirely." (Paul Morley)

"Josef K was about the heroic Outsider suavely surfing across the fraught surface of their albino funk fracas. Haig sounds high on anxiety, finding an odd, giddy euphoria in doubt." (Simon Reynolds)

Les Disques Du Crépuscule

Vinyl LP + download coupon 

Cat No: TWI 022  (13 tracks)

Released: 6 May 2016

LP tracklist:

Side 1:

1. Romance

2. Radio Trill Time

3. It’s Kinda Funny

4. Sorry For Laughing

5. Chance Meeting

6. The Missionary

Side 2:

1. Heaven Sent

2. Revelation

3. Crazy to Exist

4. The Angle

5. Pictures (of Cindy)

6. Final Request

7. Chance Meeting (Absolute version)

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Exciting Records From Trendy Places

A wee round up on the exciting releases coming out of Scotland on this day (8th of January) in 1981. A short tour of the burgeoning Scottish music scene with the one and only release by the Australian band, The Go-Betweens on Glasgow's Postcard Records, via Greenock and the Cuban Heels to Edinburgh with the wonderous 'Get Up And Use Me' by Fire Engines and the latest single from Another Pretty Face on the Chicken Jazz label.

Source: Smash Hits, Jan. 8th 1981

Courtesy of & ©Brian McCloskey

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Orange Juice - Postcard Records promo pic

As promised another wonderful item sent to me by Scottish Post-Punk. This time we have a Postcard Records promo shot for Orange Juice. Not at all sure who took the photograph so maybe someone out there could advise me. Item acquired by Scottish Post-Punk from Akiko Hada who appears to have been a keen collector of Postcard Records artifacts.

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Sound of Young Scotland

Been a bit busy over the past few weeks and haven't had much time to take care of business here at SoYS. Will have a couple of new posts up soon.
Promise!

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Singalong with Orange Juice

Poor Old Soul by Orange Juice on Postcard Records.

Another excellent clipping which comes by way of Steve MacNamee's collection of memorabilia, press cuttings, and other tasty artifacts from the Postcard Records era.

This clipping features a photograph of the band by Harry Papadopoulos and the lyrics to the 1981 'Poor Old Soul' single.

Not quite sure where this from: could be Record Mirror, or Sounds, or any one of the numerous music papers that existed back then.
Maybe someone can fill me in?*

Anyhow, thanks, once again to Steve MacNamee for this document. More fom his treasure chest up soon.

...............................

*I'd like to thank Peter Clark for letting me know (via comments) that this is from Smash Hits 61 issued on the 2nd of April 1981

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Josef K : Postcard Records promo pic

Another wonderful item sent to me by Scottish Post-Punk. This time we have a Postcard Records promo shot for Josef K. Photograph by Harry Papadopoulos. This item, like the one beforehand (Postcard Records 1981 press release ), was acquired by Scottish Post-Punk from Akiko Hada who lived in London in the early 80's and was a friend of the late Annick Honoré (co-founder of Les Disques Du Crepuscule and Factory Benelux). Akiko appears to have been a keen collector of Postcard Records artifacts by the look of it.

Next up will be an Orange Juice Postcard Records promo shot from the same era.

Image & ©Scottish Post-Punk

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Postcard Records 1981 press release

Yet another Postcard Records artefact sees the light of day once more. This time it's a press release from 1981 for the release of Josef K's 'Chance Meeting' single.

Alos includes an 'Other Happenings' section which fills us in on all that is, ahem, happening on the Postcard front.

Highly amusing last paragraph.

All the above is true.


Source:
Akiko Hada who lived in London in the early 80's and was a friend of the late Annick Honoré (co-founder of Les Disques Du Crepuscule and Factory Benelux).

via:
Scottish Post-Punk
@Kiltr 



Image : ©Scottish Post-Punk

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Orange Juice : I wish I was a Postcard

Orange Juice's 'Felicity' flexidisc.

One-sided flexidisc originally given away with the first 1000 copies of the debut Orange Juice single ("Falling and Laughing" Postcard 80-1) but also available separately from Postcard. Some copies were also given away with the Ten Commandments fanzine. Plain white sleeve hand-stamped with Postcard's drumming kitten logo.
Recorded, like the 'The Felicity' Flexi Session tape, by Malcolm Ross on a cassette at one of the band's early shows at Teviot Row Edinburgh on April 21st 1979.

From the Steve McNamee collection. Image courtesy of & ©Steve McNamee

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Orange Juice, Bungalow Bar, Paisley 1980

The hits just keep on coming!
Another priceless document from the golden age of Postcard Records and of Orange Juice.


This one comes courtesy of
On The Verge of Want
who captured this excellent photo of Edwyn Collins at the Bungalow Bar in Paisley (Scotland) way back in June 1980.


If my sources are correct; other Postcard bands of that era, Josef K and The Go-Betweens, were on the same bill on what must have been a great night out.

Image courtesy of and ©
On The Verge of Want

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Falling & Laughing (Original cover photograph)

I really can't thank enough @Scots Post-Punk for all the amazing photos and documents that turn up on his Twitter timeline -and which he always makes sure to post to me as well. This time we have the original photo of
Edwyn Collins, James Kirk and David McClymont that was used for the cover of Orange Juice's debut single, 'Falling and Laughing' on Postcard Records in 1980.

The photograph is by Peter McArthur and I believe, though I'm not really sure, that it's part of David McClymont's personal collection of Orange Juice artefacts.

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