Some Candy Talking

It's been so long since I posted anything here. Tend to pass much more time at Twitter nowadays; where I also tend to post a lot of SoYS related stuff.

Anyhow, for today, we have some documents featuring that ever-smiling couple, Jim and William Reid of the Jesus and Mary Chain. From Smash Hits (16-29 july, 1986) we have some great pics, a 2-page interview, the front cover, and the lyrics from their then latest release, 'Some Candy Talking.'

The Mary Chain have been enjoying a comeback for the last couple of years and released their belated 7th album, 'Damage & Joy' some 19 years after their previous album, 'Munki' -which appeared in 1998. Must say that I don't really like that 2017 release.

Still, it appears to appeal to lots of fifty-somethings; whom I imagine are on a nostalgia trip; desperately trying to relive their long most youth in some way.Their recent (comeback) tours have been highly successful audience-wise too. I saw them a couple of times in their heyday but I really wouldn't bother going to see them today.

When I first heard the album, I pointed out to a friend that I thought that the lyrics on 'Damage & Joy' were incredibly naïve. Sounding as though they'd been written by angst-filled teenagers. He replied that the JAMC lyrics have always been like that! Well, at least that proves I pay more attention nowadays to that sort of thing. Also proves that I'm not an angst-filled teenager anymore.

Anyway, back then, when this magazine came out, and at least for a couple of more years, the Jesus & Mary Chain were indeed the dog's bollocks musicwise. Might well be, to a certain extent, the best thing in Scottish rock for their first five-six years or so before their eventual decline and split in the late 90s. In the end, no matter how they sound today, I'll still cherish all their early vinyl and look to them as one of my favourite bands of yesteryear.

Documents : source & © - Shane Marais

Photograph : ©japanese forms

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"Everything in the charts is rubbish."

Follow-up to yesterday's post with more on Orange Juice from the November 11th, 1982 issue of Smash Hits. An article wherein we learn that not everything is up to Edwyn's tastes and standards. In the article we get to hear from Edwyn how the band came about as well as his opinions on the (then) state of affairs of the indie music industry. A sorry state indeed if you believe Edwyn; "It's a really bland time" he quips. I tend to disagree but everyone has a right to an opinion, n'est-ce-pas? He also goes on to say that work of graphic designers such as the Peter Saville isn't his cuppa either nor the (then) current music scene for that matter; "It's the same with music. It's all just seems really gutless and spineless at the moment."

Well, I imagine that many would, like myself, beg to differ on those points of view as well. Still, looking back retrospectively though, I understand his sentiments that not everything was as good as some made it out to be, but, as I mention above, everyone has their own opinion and feelings of how things are/were.
Orange Juice was a band that I really liked at that time but I also enjoyed a lot of the music and graphic design that might not have found favour with Edwyn.

Maybe he never heard the Associates 'Sulk' album, Cabaret Voltaire's '2x45', the Cure's 'Pornography' album or Felt's 'Crumbling The Antiseptic Beauty', to name a few, and which were all released that same year in 1982.

Anyhow, if you click on the image and zoom + you'll be able to read all of the interview and make what you like of it yourself.

Trivia: There's a typo in Zeke Manyika's name in the caption beneath the photograph.

Documents courtesy of and © Brian TV

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I'm Going To The Darklands

It's quite hard to believe that it's over thirty years since the Jesus And Mary Chain released their second album 'Darklands.' Time goes so fast when you look back retrspectively. I always liked this album more than 'Psychocandy' -their first brilliant album- as well as anything else the band ever did. Even though, in my opinion, they released their finest records over the ten years or so that saw the band at their best and particularly in the 1985-1988 period. The recent, comeback, 'Damage & Joy' album (March, 2017) sounds really pale in comparison to what the band achieved with their early albums and singles.
Stiil, I suppose a lot of diehard fans and nostalgics will have found it to their taste.

I picked up all three versions of this single when it came out -was a big fan back then. I also luckily managed to get to catch them live on three occasions in their early days as well. Nowadays, as I'm really not into nostalgia, and as with a lot of reformed bands, I wouldn't even bother to go and see them.

Anyhow, today's documents come courtesy of the one and only @BrianTV from his treasure trove of Smash Hits archives. Included in the 4th of November, 1987 issue of Smash Hits were an ad (top left) for the 'Darklands' single as well as a page with the lyrics to the very same song (top right). Nice pic, by Paul Rider, of a rather winsome looking Jim & William accompanies the lyrics.

Documents courtesy of and © Brian TV

Photo : ©japanese forms

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The Glummest Group In The World

Two minutes of hate 30 years ago today from the Jesus And Mary Chain in Smash Hits, April 22, 1987 issue.

Not only do they hate everything and everyone but they're also, as William says, "such lazy bastards". And who are we to disagree? I mean, it only took them about 18 years to release their recent 'Damage & Joy' album.

Anyhow, if you want to read all of the interview; just click right on the image and on the + to enlarge for your reading comfort.

Document source & ©Brian TV

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"Stop Ruddy Well Slouching" - JAMC Live in London

Well, it seems like I didn't keep my promise to post some more here during the past few weeks -as before I've been too busy on other projects to keep this blog up to date as I should have. Sorry, but I just don't have enough free time.
Anyhow, today we have yet another great document from the excellent Smash Hits archive of the one and only Brian McCloskey and features a review of the Jesus and Mary Chain playing live in London in 1987. Some fine pics of the band -Jim in his mandatory leather breeks- as they get down on their knees and give the patrons their money's worth instead of "standing around and looking sulky" as they did in previous shows.

From Smash Hits, January 14, 1987.

Source & ©Brian McCloskey

 Review : William Shaw
Photos : Andy Catlin

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The Associates - Smash Hits 1982

Well, it's been a long time since I posted anything here. Been too busy what with work, other projects and also the fact that I'm tending to get a bit tired of blogging. I've been concentrating a lot more on my photography in my free time, as well as some graphic design stuff, so this leaves little or no time at all for the blog. Anyhow, over the Xmas break I'll try to remediate and put up a couple more posts.

Anyhow, today we have a great pic of those once-handsome lads, The Associates, on the cover of Smash Hits way back in 1982. Of all the Scottish bands of that era, Associates were undoubtedly my favourite band. A band which released some true marvels* and faded much too fast. All of it ending in the tragic death of the late and much lamented Billy McKenzie.

Here the lads appear to be on a photo shoot -modelling for Kays catalogue. Billy in beret and one of those horrendous roll neck sweaters and Alan in a trenchcoat (?) of a truly eyewatering colour. Well, the mauve matches his lipstick sort of.

Not sure where I sourced this so I can't credit it.

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


* The Associates albums; The Affectionate Punch, Sulk, and Fourth Drawer Down were reissued as two-CD deluxe editions, earlier this year.
All three include 28 page booklets featuring in-depth liner notes, unpublished photographs, original promotional material and unseen memorabilia from The Associates’ archive. Sulk is also available on vinyl.

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"The Best of the Faces"

Haven't been doing much on this blog recently due to other committments and general lack of free time. I'll try to remediate this over the next couple of weeks or so but can't promise anything.




Anyhow, today we have a clipping from some music mag of yesteryear featuring the one and only Edwyn Collins (of Orange Juice). If anyone knows the origin of this article, date etc. please let me know. *
Here Edwyn gives us the lowdown on some personal facts and his choices in recent books, films, records etc.
Lets us know that he "belongs to the classic school of non-singers like Dylan and Lou Reed" and other vital information like, ahem, what time he goes to bed.






Document courtesy of & ©Rob Waters.

*Rob has kindly informed me that the 'Personal File' is from an issue of Smash Hits circa '82-'83

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Josef K : " Their own worst enemies "

Josef K's 'Only Fun in Town,' "let down by scrappy arrangements and wilfully obscure lyrics" gets panned once more in Smash Hits.

From Smash Hits, August 6th, 1981

Document courtesy of & ©Brian McCloskey

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A Musical Version of Buster Keaton Meets Gloria Swanson

 Associates :  Smash Hits, July 9th, 1981

Another Associates gem from Smash Hits courtesy of the one and only Brian McCloskey. This time from Brian's goldmine archive journalist Mark Milligan gives us the rundown on what the band was up to 35 years ago to this day. Their latest recording; a cover version of Simon Dupree's Kites, under the moniker of 39 Lyon Street -named after Rankine & Mackenzie's former address in Dundee in 1976- and how Christine Beveridge happens to be on vocals on it is the main lead. Also in this story we get to find out about all of what the boys were planning for future release including Kitchen Person and White Car in Germany.

Document courtesy of & ©BrianTV

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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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Greetings Comrades!

Greetings Comrades!


Review of The Fire Engines' "Lubricate Your Living Room" on Pop:Aural, by Red Starr (aka Ian Cranna, possibly) just back from a trip behind the Iron Curtain where "a fine, friendly people suffer from Boney M mania and Abba ailments."

Not so in the UK, where such afflictions were not altogether unheard of, but fortunately could be cured by music by the likes of these Edinburgh lads.

Not only an album "executed with refreshing vigour and a distinct lack of posing" but also one "well worth the £2.49" the punters would be paying for this priceless gem of a disc.


From Smash Hits, 19th of February, 1981


Document courtesy of & ©Brian McCloskey

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The Spottiest Group in Rock

An interesting snippet to read on the recent 30th anniversary release of this landmark album. Review of The Jesus And Mry Chain's 'Psycho Candy' by William Shaw in Smash Hits, 20th of November, 1985.
Spotty, noisy, Scottish brats, indeed!

Image courtesy & ©Brian McCloskey

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"Streets ahead of most of the competition..."

 

Praise for the Postcard singles; 'Lovesick' & 'Radio Drill Time' respectively for Orange Juice and Josef K in Smash Hits.

From Smash Hits, September 4 - 17, 1980.

Courtesy of & ©Brian McCloskey.

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The Sun Comes Up Another Day Begins

The Jesus And Mary Chain


'Never Understand' lyrics.

The first single from the debut album 'Psychocandy' and the band's first release on Blanco Y Negro Records.
Released in February 1985

From Smash Hits, March 28th, 1985

Original image:
courtesy of & ©Brian McCloskey

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They Wear Obscene T-Shirts

In this Jesus and Mary Chain interview in Smash Hits (March 14th, 1985) we learn, among other things, that 'Upside Down' cost a mere £172 to make and that Douglas Hart bemoans the fact that you "just can't get crisps and chips and things like that abroad."

Words by: Chris Heath / Photo: Eric Watson

Original doucument courtesy of and ©Brain McCloskey

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Paul Haig : Justice

Short piece and micro-interview on Paul Haig about the release of his 'Justice' single on Les Disques de Crépuscule in 1983. Article by -later of Pet Shop Boys fame- Neil Tennant.

I think this is from Smash Hits but I'm not sure. Might well be Record Mirror or some other music weekly.

Just been informed (see comment below) that the clipping is from Record Mirror.

Thanks, Anonymous!



Photo: uncredited
Document courtesy of and ©ROL UK / PaulHaig

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Aztec Camera talk about doing a bit of rehearsing.

Excellent document from Smash Hits, August 30th 1984. Features several band shots and a run down on their time in Manchester recording the 'Knife' album. An article also in which Roddy Frame reckons that Aztec Camera "don't really fit in with anything" and that he "can't be bothered with the pop star life-style."
Smashing stuff indeed.

Words: Kimberley Leston
Images : ©uncredited

Documents courtesy of & ©Brian McCloskey

Click right & view image
to see XL version















Images ©Brian McCloskey

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Limhal (Kajagoogoo) reviews Orange Juice’s ‘Bridge’ single

Limhal (Kajagoogoo) reviews Orange Juice’s ‘Bridge’ single.

Source: Smash Hits, Feb. 1984 - via & ©Brain Damage

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Aztec Camera : Smash Hits, 1983

 Aztec Camera : Smash Hits (1983)
Source & ©Brian McCloskey

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Edwyn Collins (Smash Hits, 1983)

Orange Juice

Ad featured in an issue of Smash Hits from 1983

includes
Flesh of My Flesh (lyrics)


This post courtesy of fnarf

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(click image to enlarge)

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