Monday, May 26, 2014

UK Indie Hits: 1980-89 (No. 9)

I'm counting down my top 50 singles from the golden age of the UK Independent Charts.

9. The Orchids - "I've Got a Habit"

Other Contenders: Sarah 011, the beautiful "Underneath the Window, Underneath the Sink," is the only other eligible single, and it deserves much more than the passing mention I'm giving here.

Chart Entry: Feb. 13, 1988

Peak Position: No. 8

Comment: In all candor, "What Will We Do Next," their third single and the last Sarah 7" of the '80s, is tops for me, but it's "I've Got a Habit," Sarah 002, that helps me get my favorite band from that famed label into the top 10. The Orchids' sound changed a bit as they moved along, but these early years of melancholy guitar revolving around the brilliant 'Lyceum' 10" were a real bright spot as the sun was setting on what seemed an otherwise dismal close to the decade.

The easiest and cheapest way to buy "I've Got a Habit" is as a bonus track on the LTM reissue of 'Lyceum.' The original Sarah 7" goes for about $200.

4 comments:

Dirk said...

Did 'Something For The Longing' chart? If it did, I'm sorry to say you made a mistake here!

Brian said...

It is a great song, Dirk, but it was Sarah 29, released in February 1990. So, it just misses the timeline, thankfully, and we don't have to get into a scrap.

Anonymous said...

My fav track by them is peaches which i always thought was a single , and it should have been!

Brian said...

FORW,
Well, you know Sarah. If it's on an LP, it's not going to be a single. I always thought It's Only Obvious was an obvious single from Lyceum. I'm listening to Peaches as I'm typing this... so good.