Wall Of Noise by Doctor Mix And The Remix (aka Metal Urbain) was all covers. Sandie Shaw's Rough Trade album was a mix of originals and covers (including songs written by JAMC and Mike Scott of The Waterboys).
Scrawl covered two American classics on their album He's Drunk. Souled American also contribute two songs to this series. (John Darnielle has written about Souled American, and Jim O'Rourke is a fan.) The Ophelias take on a John's Children song written by Marc Bolan.
One of Robert Wyatt's many Rough Trade covers was his label mate Ivor Cutler's "Go And Sit Upon The Grass". Mazzy Star covered the prog-pop of Slapp Happy. David Gamson's "Sugar Sugar" single led to his collaboration with Green Gartside. The Unknown Cases cover Sly Stone, and Dislocation Dance groove to Giorgio Morodor.
A third of this set is performed by the long-winded Galaxie 500, and it ends with an excerpt from David Thomas' meandering take on "Sloop John B" (backed by Allen Ravenstine, Chris Cutler, and Eddie "Tan Tan" Thornton.)
Thanks to Nathan Nothin, who shared the Unknown Cases album; and a hat tip to FiveGunsWest, who is the closest thing to a celebrity that we've seen around these parts (aside from Stephen Hunking).
The Little Red Rough Trade Fakebook: https://tinyurl.com/y7rxngcb
ReplyDeleteDamon & Naomi got so fed up with Rough Trade that they put a song called "Little Red Record Co" on their 1992 album, More Sad Hits.
S'Moressey also wrote a couple songs about his frustrations with RT.
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I intended to mention that Rough Trade had established a US retail store and distribution center in Berkeley in 1980. They started a ROUGH US label, and a few of their American signings were from the Bay Area (such as The Ophelias, The Mr. T Experience, and Short Dogs Grow). They also handled UK releases for CVB's label, Pitch-A-Tent (as well as Slash, Boner, Tupelo, and other US labels).
ReplyDeleteThis from Joe Carducci: "The first Toiling Midgets album, 'Sea of Unrest', was to have been the first release by the US branch of Rough Trade, which had opened in Berkeley in 1980 in collaboration with Systematic. The London honchos vetoed it on the grounds that it was too damn good. It was then merely manufactured and distributed by RT under the label name, Instant." There are no other Instant Records releases, but Berkeley distributor Systematic (co-founded by Carducci) formed its own label, Optional Music. Sea Of Unrest was issued by RT as a promo cassette (ROUGH US 11). Optional released "Live At The Deaf Club" and Negativland's "Points" LP, plus singles by Voice Farm and the DK's. Carducci then went to work for SST.
Hey it worked! Super cool. I'm one of the Four or Five Guys. Also, original drummer of the Ophelias, the Catheads, A3i etc. Here's a link to Mr. Rabbit. I'm the 1st person you see in the vid.....they spelled my name wrong but so what. I'm the guy with the short hair through out, decidedly unhippie. Thanks for this! https://youtu.be/ij90Ovn_vPk
ReplyDeleteYou are my celebrity visitor! A3i = Any Three Initials? Were you also in the band Dope?
DeleteWhat do you think of the opinion that Paul Westerberg borrowed from the Ophelias' arrangement for his version of "Mr. Rabbit"?
Duh ... hiya! Gee - dis sure is some swell blog! Have you got a restroom? I shoulda gone before I left my blog.
ReplyDeleteNo bog in this blog, mate.
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