Rough Trade Singles Vol 11 - Vol 13

Volume 11 includes The Raincoats, two singles by Zounds, two by Cabaret Voltaire (a 12" with a bonus 7"), the debut single from Alison Statton’s new band Weekend, and Part 3 of The Virgin Prunes’ A New Form Of Beauty project.  The Cabaret Voltaire singles were their last for Rough Trade.

Volume 12 starts with RT 100, a 1982 single by The Mighty Diamonds (“Pass The Kouchie” b/w a cover of The Heptones’ “Party Time”). Within months, a group from Birmingham called Musical Youth had an international hit with “Pass The Dutchie”, a ganja-free version of The Mighty Diamonds’ tune.

Australian compilation from 1984

Vol. 12 includes Scritti Politti, New York bands Cosmetic and Mofungo, Brilliant (the trio of Youth, Ben Watkins, and Jimmy Cauty), Soundtracks & Head, and the last two RT singles by Spizzenergi (RTSO-6 and RTSO-7, both from 1982).   Carmel (the soul/jazz vocalist) sang the a-side of Epic Soundtracks’ and Jowe Head’s single “Rain, Rain, Rain”.  

Volume 13 begins with “Pagan Lovesong” by The Virgin Prunes (produced by Colin Newman), followed by Weekend, the final Scritti Politti and Television Personalities’ singles before they left the label, and the debut Rough Trade singles by the Go-Betweens and Aztec Camera. We also return to the NYC funk scene with Konk and Cosmetic (both sides of RT 113). I couldn’t find the RT 102 b-side (Cosmetic’s “New Complexion”) for Vol 12.

1982 was a rough year for Rough Trade. They lost Spizz, the Scrits, the TVP's,  Cabaret Voltaire, Brilliant and Red Crayola to other labels. Pere Ubu and Wire broke up (both groups reunited in 1987). Geoff Travis and co. were looking for new talent. In our next episode, it's Roddy and Mozzy to the rescue!