Linear Tracking Lives!: September 2019

Thursday, September 19, 2019

A Smashing Time for More Than Just the Mods

Here's another one of those mid-'80s pop bands you tend to hear a lot on these pages. The Reflection hailed from Essex, and they got started in 1985 with a mess of Hammond organ and a couple of trumpets to go along with that jangle. Covers by the likes of the Action and Dobie Gray on stage helped gain a following with the mods, and there was a seven-song cassette of originals in late '85 featuring the excellent "No Compromise" you could pick up at their shows.

In 1986, the brass section was beefed up with some sax, making them a seven piece at that point, and their name was altered slightly to the Reflection A.O.B. to avoid confusion with another band that had a similar moniker. The band had some monumental slots opening for Makin' Time, Howlin Wilf & the Vee-Jays, the Kick, the Moment and even the legendary Geno Washington. A couple of these shows were at the 100 Club.

Principal songwriters Harks and Rich Drury whipped up four songs for the self-released "Only In My Dreams" 12" EP. It's one of those releases that should have raced up the indie charts, at the bare minimum, but it was not to be. Perhaps there is such a thing as being too indie, and coming out on the band's own Keep It label may have made it a tough find at the shops. In late '86, they become an eight piece with the addition of Sarah Beale on tenor sax. Alas, life began to get in the way, and members started defecting. The Reflection A.O.B call it quits in late 1987.

Fast forward to 2011-12 and members of the band assembled 'The Complete Collection 1985-1987' as a digital download. The Reflection A.O.B. were a perfect fit for Firestation Records, and they picked up the compilation for physical release in 2015. The vinyl is out of print, but you can still get the CD from the German label. You'll hear some Dexys Midnight Runners in there (especially on "Paint Some Colour") and maybe even a little of the Jam. Based on the bands they opened for, you get the picture, but the Reflection A.O.B. were really doing there own thing. These ears are quite taken with their sophisticated sound. "Only in My Dreams" is a pop classic, and the instrumental "Mind the Gap" should be on your next mix when you take out the scooter.

Only in My Dreams
Mind the Gap

Monday, September 16, 2019

The First Time Ric Parked the Cars

As mentioned on these pages in 2016, the Cars were one of my favorite bands in middle and early high school. What I liked most about them was how they were common ground for every clique in class. Hoods and new wavers were especially in agreement on the first two albums. The self-titled debut is perfection. The biggest hits were on the A-side, but the B-side trifecta of "Bye Bye Love," "Moving in Stereo" and "All Mixed Up" was where I always went. A kid at a summer camp I went to when I was 13 had the cassette and played it on his boom box several times a day. I was hooked.

With the passing of Ric Ocasek, the accolades have been pouring in, and rightly so. I'm pleased so many are remembering him as a crack producer as well. There has been talk about how he influenced the sound of those he worked with behind the glass, and it got me thinking about a song where I think the opposite occurred. In 1982, between the 'Shake It Up' and 'Heartbeat City' albums, Ocasek released his first solo album. 'Beatitude' featured the safe single "Something to Grab For," and the song sounded a lot like, well, the Cars. It was album opener "Jimmy Jimmy," however, that I hope will be remembered. It has a real Suicide vibe, and I imagine it's no coincidence that Ocasek had produced 'Suicide: Alan Vega · Martin Rev' in 1980.

Jimmy Jimmy

I saw the Cars once, and it was at the band's zenith. It was on Aug. 6, 1984, at an outdoor theater in Chicago. A friend's mom took us. Wang Chung opened. What I will always remember was that they played "Jimmy Jimmy." It was a bold and surprising choice that I learned much later was a mainstay throughout the 'Heartbeat City' tour. Playing 'Beatitude' again today after so many years was special, but I wish the circumstances for remembering it was different. Rest easy, Ric.

Saturday, September 14, 2019

Summer of Subway: The Flatmates

This one is for a pal of ours in Germany. Dirk, you have waited patiently these 17 Saturdays to get to the heart and soul of the Bristol label, and your patience will be rewarded.

When I think of the Subway artifact I hold most dear, Subway One from Shop Assistants is what springs to mind first, but the next five would all be by the Flatmates. If we bump into each other on the street, ask me their assigned numbers and I'll run them off like a winning lottery ticket... 6, 9, 14, 17, 21. Those are the band's five Subway singles, and I love them all. They were big indie hits too. Four of the five made the top 10, and the one that petered out at No. 18, "I Could Be in Heaven," is the song most revered on indie-pop compilations in the 21st century.

The seeds of label boss Martin Whitehead's own band were planted in 1985 when he met a drummer named Rocker (as nicknamed by the Blue Aeroplanes for the way he danced) at a show in Bristol. Rocker's flatmates Kath Beach and Debbie Haynes were later added on bass and vocals, respectively. Thus, the band name. Kath was replaced rather quickly by Sarah Fletcher, and the Flatmates were off and running. Because Martin and Rocker were indie-show promoters in Bristol, the Flatmates were able to pencil themselves in as opening acts for the likes of Half Man Half Biscuit and the Wedding Present. Their sound on stage was quite a bit harder than how they came off in the studio, and Martin has said more than once that their quick cover of Ramones' "I Don't Care" on the B-side of the "Happy All the Time" 12" probably came the closest to the way they were live.

You may wonder why the guy that controlled Subway never put out a long player of his own band. As Martin tells it, after the success of the "You're Gonna Cry" single, the band got representation. Management said to wait on an album until the big boys came calling. London Records showed interest in the band and even paid to have some demos laid down. Unfortunately, the band had a big row on stage at a huge London University show in front of major-label brass. All their momentum came to a screeching halt. The Flatmates called it quits soon after. Martin has resurrected the Flatmates name for most of this decade, but that's a story for another day.

I have featured my two favorite singles, "I Could Be in Heaven" and "Shimmer," before. Let's listen to the other three today. Other tidbits to consider while listening: "Heaven Knows" is the only single, EP or proper album to get released on CD during the active years of Subway. Fortunately, I have the 7" vinyl edition. "You're Gonna Cry" was written by Rocker, his only A-side, but he didn't even play on it. He left and was replaced by Joel O'Beirne after the second single. As a little bonus, I'm including "Trust Me." Had the Flatmates continued, this was going to be the sixth single. It can be found on Cherry Red's 2005 compilation 'Potpourri {Hits, Mixes, Demos '85-'89}.' A must for fans.

Finally, I wanted to include my favorite promo photo of the band. This is an insert from the single "You're Gonna Cry." Fall approaches. I hope you enjoyed the Summer of Subway.

Happy All The Time 12" SUBWAY 9T (Apr 1987, No. 3)
Happy All The Time
You're Gonna Get Hurt
Thinking Of You
I Don't Care

You're Gonna Cry 7" SUBWAY 14 (Oct 1987, No. 5)
You're Gonna Cry
Life Of Crime

Heaven Knows 7" Subway 21 (Oct 1988, No. 10)
Heaven Knows
Don't Say If

And from the aborted sixth single...
Trust Me

The Complete Summer of Subway series:
The Flatmates
The Chesterf!elds
Razorcuts
The Groove Farm
Pop Will Eat Itself
Cowboy and Spin Girl
Choo Choo Train
Fastbacks
Sex Clark Five
The Charlottes
Bubblegum Splash
Shop Assistants
The Soup Dragons
Rodney Allen
The Rosehips
Korova Milk Bar
The Clouds

Saturday, September 7, 2019

Summer of Subway: The Chesterf!elds

If not for the fact the Rosehips appeared fairly early in this series, you might say I have been saving the best for last, and today and next Saturday feature just about my favorites from the Subway label.

The Chesterf!elds go way back with Martin Whitehead as the pride of Yeovil appeared on a flexi he put out in his fanzine in 1985. Many of the bands on Subway popped in for a quick single or an LP and were off again. With that history in mind, the Chesterf!elds were downright prolific in 1986 and 1987, releasing three singles/EPs, a long player and a compilation. They also appeared on both of the label's samplers.

The band is often described as "breezy" or "lightweight." Indeed, the Chesterf!elds during the Subway era were of the jangle that gets the head bobbing and the toes tapping, but the real strength of the band could be found in the wit of the words. I always sing along to lines like "Sir Edmund Hillary hasn't got a patch on me" from "Love Mountain," "here come the saviors, and they come with electric guitars in their hearts!" from "Completely & Utterly," "well if you'd like to know what pop stars have for tea, ask Johnny Dee" or "I really can't manage the twelve-inch version, what's your perversion?" No, they may have never hit the big time, so to speak, somebody out there must have really liked them because everything the Chesterf!elds released spent time on the indie chart.

The rotating cast of characters continued to put out music on their own Household label in the late '80s before calling it quits. In the ensuing years, fans in Japan kept the Chesterf!elds name alive, and Vinyl Japan reissued the music. There would be a best of put out by Cherry Red in 2006 that brought the Subway and Household work together and, yes, there would even be reunion shows in recent years headed up by original member Simon Barber and sometime member Andy Strickland (yes, from the Loft). One of my biggest regrets is not making the 3,000-mile trek to see them at the 2016 NYC Popfest. I know a couple of people who were there, and they called it a special night. Jerks. Ha! Tough to decide what to play today. I went for the three singles. Wise choice, I think.