The Boy Hairdressers : Golden Shower (label detail)

The Boy Hairdressers
Golden Shower (label detail)
53rd & 3rd (1987)
AGARR 12T

Tracklist:

- Golden Shower

- Tidalwave

- The Assumption As An Elevator

Artwork by Jim Lambie.

A bit of a rarity this 3-track EP by The Boy Hairdressers on Stephen Pastel's 53rd & 3rd label. From the ashes of this band rose the mighty and fabulous Teenage Fanclub. World-renowned, contemporary visual artist, Jim Lambie, was also a member of this short-lived outfit. Lambie's most recent installation is 'The Album Pathway'; created as part of the commission for the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games Cultural Programme. In total more than 2000 bands are referenced in the work.

I've already featured this disc in a previous post but this one is a shot of the label on the actual vinyl. I've also updated the photo of the cover art at my Flickr page.

Will be back soon with some news on the upcoming Testament release; a comprehensive 'best of' collection by The Wake on Factory Benelux.

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primal scream : gentle tuesday 12" ep

image ©japanese forms

A wee change from Orange Juice; who have been featured in quite a few recent SoYS posts. Here we have one of Primal Scream's early singles on the short-lived Elevation Records label. The band released this one plus the 'Imperial' single; as well as their debut (and dreadful) album 'Sonic Flower Groove' -from which the two singles were culled-  on that label before going back to Creation . The distribution and financial deal between Alan McGee and WEA collapsing due to lack of sales. Something that is understandable. If anyone has given the Byrds-influenced 'Sonic Flower Groove' album more than a cursory listen they'll know what I mean. As for this EP; it's not too hot either. At the time of its release I was a sucker big fan of the band and of Creation in general. I'd snap up anything that could be found at local or nearby record stores; particularly if it was by a Scottish band, and, believe me, where I lived, this sort of vinyl was pretty hard to find. Anyhow, I still have it but it's doubtful that it'll be on the turntable often. On the other hand, the artwork and Mike Laye photography are very nice indeed. So good you can almost hear those leather breeks they're wearing squeaking in the background. japanese forms

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orange juice (4 EPs)

image ©japanese forms

Well, as promised in the previous post, I've been going through my vinyl storage boxes and have managed to dig out some of my Orange Juice vinyls. Haven't found, so far, all of the OJ discs that I possess but this will do as a start. Here we have 4 of the bands 12" EPs released on Polydor (except for the 'Felicity' ep which was a Postcard / Polydor release - it carries the Postcard "drumming kitten" logo on both the sleeve and labels). Sleeves are still in excellent condition and the vinyl is mint on all four. I really like the artwork on the 'Bridge' and particularly the Alwyn Clayden & Paul White artwork on 'Felicity' - looks so much better than portraits used on the other two. Mind you, Edwyn's quiff on 'What Presence' is a gold medal winner in the World Class Hair category. More up soon. japanese forms

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orange juice : two hearts together / hokoyo 10" single

photo : david crausby  (all rights reserved © david crausby 2012)

orange juice

two hearts together / hokoyo

polydor records (1982)

pospt 470

This post features the cover of the 10-inch version of Orange Juice's excellent "Two Hearts Together" recording. This was their second release for Polydor but on the band's own imprint label; Holden Caulfield Universal - named after the hero of "Catcher in the Rye". You can catch a glimpse of the 7-inch version here -I'll post a copy of this photo later. Same artwork was used for both formats.

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postcard records : 80-2

image: ©japanese forms

orange juice
love sick / blue boy
postcard records (1980)
80-2

first presing with hand-coloured, fold-out poster sleeve and blue labels
(see reissue version here)

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the vaselines : sex with an X

image: ©japanese forms.

the vaselines : sex with an X
45 rpm single / sub pop (2010)
sp 901

photo: wattie cheung
design: jeff kleinsmith

Sorry, folks but I've been severly neglecting this blog and have not been updating it enough. I really must take some time out and post and update more often. Anyhow, post featured here involves the latest single by The Vaselines -who also released an album with the same title: Sex With An X, on SubPop late last year. I must admit that I wouldn't have bought this if I hadn't come across it in a small independent record store the other day; a store that opened (hip, hip hooray!) just a few weeks ago apparently and that I'd never been to. Sounds like the usual Vaselines stuff of yesteryear to me... Which doesn't mean that it's bad but I rather tend to steer clear of bands that reform decades after breaking up. For followers, fans and faithful only. That's why I bought it; I suppose. Nice cover art. japanese forms

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aidan john moffat : ten short songs for modern lovers

aidan john moffat
ten shorts songs for modern lovers
7" mini vinyl LP (10-tracks on a 45 rpm single format)
limited to 1000 copies
chemikal underground (2010)
chem147

artwork / design : aidan john moffat
photography : unknown

Excellent new single (or ultra-mini LP) from former Arab Strap vocalist, Aidan John Moffat. Ten tracks in total, all of which fit onto two sides of a 45rpm 7” single. With a total running time of around nine minutes the ten songslargely deal with issues surrounding love, romance and sex. All delivered in Moffat's own inimitable style. Comes in a superb 60s style ep sleeve. one2zero

Available from Chemikal Underground  in a limited edition of 1000 copies.

Download version also available.

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

Image:  ©japanese forms.

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the jesus and mary chain - darklands ep

© japanese forms.

From the time when The Jesus and Mary Chain were at their very best. Seems like only yesterday when I bought this but it was actually released all of 23 years ago! The "Darklands" song, as with the eponymously named album, has a much more melodic sound than that of their previous singles but it's just as good as anything else the released in those halycon years as far as I'm concerned. I really like the artwork as well which includes photographs from videos by Tim Broad and John Maybury and design by Helen Backhouse. one2zero

the jesus and mary chain
darklands ep (10" vinyl)
darklands/ rider / here it comes again / on the wall (porta studio demo)
blanco y negro (1987)
neg 29te

wikipedia / myspace / JAMC

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Fire Engines - Discord / Candyskin

Fire Engines
Discord / Candyskin (Peel Session)
45 rpm single
Domino Records 2006
RUG218

 

Recorded for the John Peel show 23/02/81. Broadcast on 09/03/81.

Issued to commemorate the 25th anniversary of its first broadcast.

Another image of this single can be seen here.

Image: ©japanese forms

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josef k - the only fun in town

Josef K
the only fun in town
postcard records

postcard 81-7
(LP with insert)


Fun 'n Frenzy/Revelation/Crazy To Exist/ It's Kinda Funny/The Angle/ Forever Drone/ Heart Of Song/ 16 Years/Citizens/Sorry For Laughing

josef k





(josef k - only fun in town vinyl detail - © japanese forms)

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Orange Juice - Two Hearts Together

images © japanese forms

orange juice two hearts together / hokoyo
holden caulfield universal - polydor
posp 470
7 inch single 1982

 This single appeared on the Holden Caulfield Universal label -Holden Caulfield is the main character of J. D. Salinger's renowned coming-of-age novel, The Catcher in the Rye (1951). This label was a subsidiary of Polydor apparently but I don't know anything about its origins. A 10 inch version was also released.

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Scars : Author! Author! EP

image ©nmarie

Scars 12" Author! Author ep (1981 US)

This is one from the great collection of album and 45rpm covers to be seen at nmarie's page on Flickr. This girl sure has great taste and an outstanding collection of vinyl artefacts.

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