| Author | Message | ||
     Andrew Kerr Member Username: Andrew_k Post Number: 891 Registered: 04-2005 |
Currently leafing through recently published Simon Goddard’s « Simply Thrilled – The Preposterous Story of Postcard Records ». And a most enjoyable read it is, and a quite pleasing artifact too. For an author who was apparently still playing with his Lego bricks when the Postcard releases originally came out, he has done a fine job of capturing both the epoque in Glasgow and the wilful eccentricity of Mr Alan Horne (the label’s founder). In a interview Simon Goddard admits that his story might not be all factually accurate, as the main protagonists (Horne and Edwyn Collins in particular) have exaggerated the tales so much over the years that even they have problems with the true version ! And so it is with the story of the Go-Betweens (or the Woe-Begones as Horne called them) coming up to Glasgow to meet the Postcard team. One version has Horne shrieking in disgust at his first sighting of Grant and Robert and defining them as pot-smoking hippies. And apparently Robert Forster arrived with an x-ray of Nic Roeg’s knee in his suitcase, which he had pinched from a temping job at a London hospital. And when Grant heads off to NY, Horne finds a scrap of paper with a message written by McLennan “Bye Alan. Make us rich and famous”. Given that Horne thought that “Your Turn, My Turn” sounded like Spandau Ballet this was never going to happen. If this level of triva grabs you, buy this book ! My wife thinks that it is mad that anyone could write a book about a record label (that only released a dozen singles and one LP). And that anyone would want to buy such a book. Personally, I’m already waiting for the follow-up dealing with Swamplands and the second coming of Postcard. | ||
| Pádraig Collins Member Username: Pádraig_collins Post Number: 6631 Registered: 05-2005 |
It sounds hilarious Andrew. That level of fanboy geekiness is not exclusive to males, of course, but female interest at that level is very rare. (I have no fear of being called sexist on this matter because A/ I'm right, and B/ It has been many years since any woman has posted here.) I had no idea that Postcard released so little though. Wow, what a reputation they have based on so little. Your Turn, My Turn does kinda sound like Spandau Ballet, now that I consider it. Along with I Just Get Caught Out it is the nadir of The Go-Betweens catalogue. | ||
| Austin Member Username: Bruegelpie Post Number: 113 Registered: 09-2004 |
Wow, Andrew, that sounds like a great book! Thanks for posting about it, since I hadn't heard of it otherwise. Padraig - quick! Go to the doctor! You have something wrong with your ears, clearly, since you don't like "Your Turn, My Turn!" (But then people on this board have told me the same thing when I tell them one of my least favorite songs is "Was There Anything I Could Do?".) | ||
| Pádraig Collins Member Username: Pádraig_collins Post Number: 6636 Registered: 05-2005 |
Was There Anything... is also not very good. | ||
| Andrew Kerr Member Username: Andrew_k Post Number: 893 Registered: 04-2005 |
Oh no Pádraig ! I love 'I Just Get Caught Out', although it is the 'Sounds' 45 freebie version that I prefer...but don't get me started on 'Cut It Out' on that Glitter Band tribute 'The Old Way Out'... | ||
| Andrew Kerr Member Username: Andrew_k Post Number: 894 Registered: 04-2005 |
...OR that Glitter Band tribute... Back to the book ! I guess that it reflects a whole period of my life too. I grew up in the posh south-side of Glasgow as Edwyn Collins grew up in the posh north. So much of the Glasgow background (very accurately described in the book) was my teenage stomping ground. Although as a faithful customer of Listen Records in Renfield Street in the late 70s I don’t remember ever encountering Steven Daly (OJ drummer) who was employed in the basement and apparently made loud raspberry noises every time that someone made a crap purchase, according to his strict code of cool. It recounts that period when it all changed, when in 6th year at school the idea that carrying around Yes’ “Tales of the Topographic Ocean” suddenly was no longer the ultimate sign of hipness and it was replaced by the first Damned album. I bought my first ‘punk rock’ record, by Eddie and the Hotrods (!) When you consider how Postcard Records are now considered to have spawned a whole wave of fey twee indie kids (all that C86 crowd), what comes across firmly from the story is the complete lack of self-awareness and deliberate planning ! It all came very naturally to Horne and Collins, browsing for racoon hats and plaid shirts around the flea markets of Glasgow, attempting to mix Chic with CCR and spinning tall tales to the press (Barry White to produce the first Aztec Camera album at Sigma Studios in Philadelphia!). And the working class background of Roddy Frame (from new town East Kilbride, where many of the Gorbals families were rehoused in the 60s) is contrasted nicely with the Bearsden crowd of Collins, Kirk and Daly. Although Horne was never that keen on their music (too gloomy), Josef K are a central part of the story too. Especially Malcolm Ross, who crops up in every group (not sure that he ever actually played with the G-Bs though) and lots of anecdotes. And Aztec Camera’s first single, the stunning “Just Like Gold” was written by a 16 year old Frame. And Edwyn’s mum as an art student drew Sean Connery in his underwear. And it is very very funny. A record company run out of a couple of drawers in a cupboard. And what might have been. Apparently Horne missed out on licensing Laurie Anderson’s “O Superman’ in the UK to Warner Brothers. All those groups that were supposed to be signed; the Fire Engines, the Bluebells, Altered Images, Jazzateers. Horne and Collins’ less than successful visit to see Nico, to persuade her to record ‘In a Nutshell’. There are some beautiful images of OJ and Aztec Camera here, from 2 nights in London in ’81. I was lucky enough to be down from Glasgow working for the summer and went to both, catching Josef K too. http://fringeontop.com/2014/03/13/orange -juice-the-venue-1981-unseen-photos/ http://fringeontop.com/2014/02/12/aztec- camera-rare-live-photos-taken-by-justin- thomas-in-1981/ | ||
| Pádraig Collins Member Username: Pádraig_collins Post Number: 6637 Registered: 05-2005 |
Andrew, I'd forgotten Cut It Out and The Old Way Out. Both are truly terrible. The former is a particularly heinous abomination. | ||
| Matsrep Member Username: Matsrep Post Number: 126 Registered: 10-2005 |
Thank you Andrew. My book is on the way, and I'm now even more keen on reading it. Malcolm Ross is indeed a key player. I remember that someone told me he opened a show by Robert Forster once - that's how close he got to a full hand of Postcard part one. -- He did play with Nectarine No 9 though, but not Paul Quinn or Vic Godard (I might be wrong). | ||
| Simon Withers Member Username: Sfwithers Post Number: 199 Registered: 08-2005 |
Book sounds interesting, and - by the by - I'm really not keen on Cut it Out, and not a big fan of The Old Way Out. I Just Get Caught Out is a great song, and I can't tell with you're being ironic! | ||
| Pádraig Collins Member Username: Pádraig_collins Post Number: 6663 Registered: 05-2005 |
No irony from me Simon. It's just a bland pop song. | ||
| fsh Member Username: Fsh Post Number: 276 Registered: 05-2005 |
No 'intentional' irony, I think you mean. A bland pop song ... there's no such thing from Robert Forster. | ||
| Randy Adams Member Username: Randy_adams Post Number: 3356 Registered: 03-2005 |
I confess to not checking the posts in this section often enough. I have also ordered a copy of "Simply Thrilled" which Andrew (I think) mentioned in the "what are we reading" thread in the other section of the board. "I Just Get Caught Out" is one of my favorites! I agree with fsh. While a song of his might misfire for me sometimes, there is no such thing as a bland pop song from Robert Forster. And, yes, "Your Turn, My Turn" is another great favorite of mine. |