Monday, March 31, 2014

UK Indie Hits: 1980-89 (No. 35)

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

35. The Sea Urchins - "Pristine Christine"

Other Contenders: "Solace," the band's only other charting single, was released six months after "Pristine Christine." It's a great song worth seeking out, and it peaked even higher at an impressive No. 4.

Chart Entry: Jan. 23, 1988

Peak Position: No. 11

Comment: Unfortunately, other than a few singles, there isn't much audio out there documenting the history of the Sea Urchins. For some indie record collectors, "Pristine Christine," or Sarah 01, is the holy grail of 7 inchers. Fortunately, the teenagers (they were so young!) had a fine ear for music, and their obvious love of the late '60s aesthetic, especially the Byrds, lives up to the hype. Sarah never backed the band for a full album of jangle, and that's too bad, but it just adds to the legend of this single. "Solace" is probably even stronger, but I do find myself listening to "Pristine Christine" more.

Buy "Pristine Christine" on eBay. I found one copy, and you may need to take out a second mortgage to acquire it. As I'm typing this, the single is nearing $600.

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