Lucky Sevens

When the family makes the trek to Disneyland, as we did last week, I'm just about the most excited of the lot because it means I might be able to break away for a bit to visit one of my two favorite record shops in all of America. Wombleton Records is quite a drive from Anaheim, and it didn't look like it was going to pan out this time. Then, at the 11th hour, as we pulled up stakes to head back to Seattle, I managed about 30 minutes of happy hunting while my kids ate lunch. The clock said I wouldn't be able to explore every nook and cranny. So, I decided to hit the 7" singles. The photo above features a few of highlights from my very fruitful visit.

The Subway Organization was a great UK indie label best known as the home of Shop Assistants, Razorcuts and the Flatmates. In fact, Martin Whitehead from the Flatmates founded Subway. Although this trio got most of the attention, there were several lesser known bands worthy of a listen. The Rosehips only had two singles that made the UK Independent Chart, but the first one, "Room In Your Heart," peaked at No. 9 in the spring of '87, and it's a real favorite of mine. I have had it on a compilation for many years, and it popped up again on Cherry Red's 'Scared to Get Happy' box set a couple of years ago, but there was no way I was going to let this 7" get away. I know I gasped when I saw it, and I grabbed it like a hobo filling his tray in a food line. Did I mention I was the only customer in the store?

The Rosehips - Room In Your Heart

The Wolfhounds' claim to fame will always be appearing on NME's 'C86' compilation, but there were several memorable singles and a terrific album. That album, 'Unseen Pebbles From a Pebble,' was just reissued a few months ago by Optic Nerve Recordings, and it included a slew of bonus tracks, including the one-off single version of "Me" that was put out by Idea Records in the fall of 1987. So, yes, I already had the song, but there is nothing like having the original 7". I may not have gasped, but I didn't hesitate to add it to the pile either. "Me" peaked at No. 18 on the UK Independent Chart.

The Wolfhounds - Me

Do you know that wonderful feeling when you find a bargain in the stacks? Well, I got the opposite of that when I picked up this 7" from the Sugargliders. This isn't a Sarah recording. "Sway" goes back to the beginning when Josh and Joel Meadows were on the legendary Melbourne label Summershine Records. The fellas were still trying to get their footing with this first single, and I don't think you would consider this one of their best songs, but I am a completist. I had never seen "Sway" before, and I'm not sure I would again. So, I overpaid for it and kept the price to myself when I got back to the car. If you're a family man, you'll understand. If you don't want to pay out the nose, you can always get the excellent 'A Nest With a View 1990-1994' compilation released by Matinee Recordings a couple of years ago. So, yes, another song I already had, but I couldn't pass it up as a 7". It's a sickness. I'll have a part two to this spending spree a little later.

The Sugargliders - Sway