It's Better To Swing
Swing Out Sister - It's Better To Travel [OUTLP 1 UK 1987 24-Bit FLAC] This one seems an apt post to follow my previous. Andy Connell joined A Certain Ratio in 1982 as keyboard player, initially only for live gigs before becoming a more permanent member following Simon Topping's departure in 1983. As a side project in the mid-eighties, he worked with former Magazine drummer Martin Jackson generating a range of 12" hip-hop singles for the Streetsounds / Streetwise label - they then decided to have a stab at pop stardom. As the first Swing Out Sister, the duo recruited singer Dianne Charlemange (from Factory street-funk band 52nd Street) on vocals and Derek Johnson (from the same band) on bass, drums were supplied by big brother Donald Johnson (of A Certain Ratio) for a demo cassette which landed the band a deal with Phonogram. Charlemagne then left the project as 52nd Street wanted to focus on their new deal with Virgin Records. Connell & Jackson then recrui...