Unknown Postcard Pleasures

 "Orange Juice, London, Willesden Green. On the morning of their first Peel Session (21/10/1980). That's Grace Maxwell and Scottish photographer Harry Papadopoulos [on the left]." ©Peter McArthur


For the past week or so Scots Post-Punk has been posting some amazing Peter McArthur photos from the early days at Postcard Records in Glasgow. All the photographs -many previously unseen before (well I've never seen most of them)- date from the 1979-1980 period when Postcard was just about to take over the indie recording world.

Well, in the end, it was only a wee bit of that world but it did at least have a huge influence, before its rapid decline, on a lot of people. Not only fans of the label but even more so numerous bands and musicians which would follow in its footsteps over the next 4 decades.

All photos ©Peter McArthur.  Descriptions by the photographer.

 "Orange Juice at Paisley Tech: 1980 - Edwyn, David McClymont, and Brian (BabyHoney) Taylor of The Pastels." ©Peter McArthur

 "185 West Princes St. 1980: One interesting thing about Postcard, is who was around, but Alan* did not sign. Here on Alan's bed Drew & Rose McDowell (Rose - later of Strawberry Switchblade) of The Poems. Drew is now a New York based avant-garde composer." ©Peter McArthur

*Alan Horne; Postcard supremo.

"Glasgow - West Princes Street 1980: Alan Horne (going out on the town?) and Steven Daly. That's "Nico" sitting on top of the wardrobe." ©Peter McArthur

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I'll maybe add a few more of Peter McArthur's photographs in a second post but if you want to see more right away, I advise you to check out the excellent Scots Post-Punk's Twitter timeline.

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Orange Juice • 'Falling & Laughing' Cover Shoot

Hi, all.

I haven't updated this blog for about 18 months now. Most of any action concerning any posts that should have been posted at the Sound of Young Scotland blog has been taking place at my Twitter account. So, if anyone want's to catch up on anything that might concern this blog you'll have to patiently trawl through my Twitter posts for anything that might be of interest to you.

I'll try and update a wee bit more but my interest for this blog has somewhat waned over the past couple of years.

Anyhow, there's been a huge upsurge in interest on the whole Glasgow music scene of the late 70s & 80s and there's plenty of information available through several books and films. Books and films all easily available from several sources and which can be found with a quick Google or two.

Today's post is a photo from the Orange Juice 'Falling & Laughing' single cover shoot. Photograph courtesy of the inexhaustible source of documents that is Scots Post-Punk .

Cover session photography by Peter McArthur; who has this to say about it:

“Taken in Brian (Superstar) Taylor's* bedroom, 185 West Princes St. Edwyn (Collins) said, I should use a flash, but I knew better, besides I didn't own a flash. Steven Daly had left by then to join The Backstabbers.”


*Former member of other Glasgow bands The Pastels, and The Radio Sweethearts

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Remembrance Day

A youthful Edwyn Collins on the cover of Smash Hits on the November 11th issue, 1982. That's all of thirty-five years ago!

This photo has been in my archives for quite a while but I might have more on the band from this issue when @Brian TV updates his wonderful Smash Hits archives this weekend. As he usually does.










Below we have another excellent artefact which consists of a previously unpublished photograph of the band taken by Peter McArthur in their early days.

The photo is a wee bit damaged and as Peter explains: "That nice psychedelia at the bottom is bacteria eating the negative's jelly film - one day it will be no more."
Bit sad realy but at least SoYS was able to get a copy from the ever-excellent @ScotsPostPunk treasure trove for all to enjoy.

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Original photo of Orange Juice ©Peter McArthur / Courtesy of @ScotsPostPunk

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Orange Juice - Rip It Up (artwork in progress)

Some very exciting images of original artwork for a few Orange Juice releases were forwarded to me by Scots post-punk a few months back. I've already posted one shot here but I promised that there would be more. So here we are today with a 'work in progress' shot of the artwork for Orange Juice's 1982 album 'Rip It Up.' Lots of handwritten messages; like "Rough guide to finished appearance only" around the cover sleeve photograph that was to be used. I imagine that these would be instructions for the printer or whoever was responsible for the fabrication of the sleeves.

This original document belongs to one Steve McNamee who picked it up for a song (indeed!) at an auction a few years ago. Amazing artefact!

Design for the 'Rip It Up' album' by the band; layout by Pete Watson, and typography by Rod Sopp. Band photography by the late Eric Watson; famous for his work with Pet Shop Boys as main photographer and video director for several years.

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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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Orange Juice : Original artwork (1)

Some very exciting images of orignal artwork for a few Orange Juice releases have been forwarded to me by Scots post-punk. they belong to one Steve McNamee who picked them up for a song (indeed!) an an auction a few years ago. This one features the artwork for the 'Two Hearts Together / Hokoyo" single that was released in 1982. Artwork by Pete Watson.

More up soon.

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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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Orange Juice : Haçienda, Manchester

Some fine, vintage shots of Orange Juice (Malcolm Ross -left- Edwyn Collins -right top & bottom), bought on Ebay and of which copies were kindly sent to me by Scots Post-Punk. According to the eBay seller the photos were taken by David Cawley or Graham Stirling at The Hacienda, Manchester in either June 1982, or on 4 April 1983. The previous owner is not sure of the date when the pics were taken but as he was at both shows he thinks either or both of the two photographers were present at the same gigs.

The seller also has a tape of the 1983 gig which he intends to sell on eBay one of these days. Scots Post-Punk informed me that the tape hasn't showed up on eBay for the time being so keep your eyes peeled.

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