Do You Believe In Westworld?

Westworld were a three piece hip-hop-a-rockabilly pop band that had a moment in 1987 when they appeared in the 'unsigned' slot on Channel 4 music show The Tube with Sonic Boom Boy.

Cue lots of major label interest, a signing, nearly but not cracking the UK Top 10 with Sonic Boom Boy (#11 in February 1987).

And then, that was kind of it. A debut album and three more singles failed to make a significant impression. 

I remember buying follow up single Ba-Na-Na-Bam-Boo (#37 in May) but it was more the novelty of a double pack 10" vinyl single that cannily included not one but two versions of Sonic Boom Boy, a US 12" mix and, more importantly, the original demo version that got them on The Tube.

My recollection, borne out by tracking down clips on YouTube, is that the singles pretty much felt like variations on a theme, that theme being Sonic Boom Boy, with unfortunately diminishing returns. Which is a shame as I quite liked the B-sides of the Ba-Na-Na-Bam-Boo single, Bubble Bo Diddley and Nasty 'n' Cheap showing another side and more potential.

Of the original line up (left to right), Elizabeth Westwood continued with Westworld and I believe is still taking an iteration of the band on the heritage 80s live circuit. Bob Derwood Andrews has recently recorded with Generation X. Nick Burton surprisingly pops up frequently in my music collection through his various collaborations with Alex Paterson/The Orb, Ben Watkins/Juno Reactor and Andrew Weatherall.

Here's half a dozen Westworld tunes for your entertainment, including a blink-and-you'll-miss-them cameo from Robert '3D' Del Naja and Goldie in the last selection. 

1) Sonic Boom Boy (The Tube, Channel 4, UK)

2) Where The Action Is (The Roxy, ITV, UK)

3) Silvermac (Official Video)

4) Psychotech (unknown UK TV)

5) Ba-Na-Na-Bam-Boo (Get Fresh, ITV)

6) Ba-Na-Na-Bam-Boo (Official Video)

 

 

 

 

 

Kissing The Mix

Side 2 of a mixtape, recorded 21st April 2000. It's 80s indie-not-indie disco time with eight, count 'em, eight twelve inch chart smashes. Well, UK top 95, at least.

 

The Armoury Show formed in 1984 and had an impressive pedigree: Richard Jobson and Russell Webb (Skids), John McGeogh and John Doyle (Magazine); the band were very squarely aimed at the emerging MTV generation and its taste for big drums, kick-ass anthemic rock. Whilst arguably better than many of their contemporaries, The Armoury Show never really took off. McGeoch and Doyle left in 1986 and the subsequent line-up called it a day in 1988, with a second album incomplete and unreleased.

 

By 1987, Gene Loves Jezebel had taken the first bus out of Porthcawl, North Wales, bounced around in London for a bit and then crossed the Atlantic for a bit of satin chic and California. The focal (and vocal) point of the band were twins Michael and Jay Aston (no, not that one) and perhaps an apt subject for the as-yet-unmade Channel 5 show When Sibling Music Acts Go Horribly Wrong. Currently, there are two versions of Gene Loves Jezebel: Michael owns the copyright in the US, Jay in the UK. Actually, considering how things turned out for the latter's namesake's band, maybe a word of advice to any up and coming bands: if you have a member called Jay Aston, ditch 'em. Now, before it's too late.

 

After last week's post following the tragic news about Julee Cruise, hearing Roam, one of my favourite singles by The B-52's, has a strange effect on me after reading that this was the song Julee was listening to as she left this life. A heartbreaking and untimely loss, yet I feel incredibly moved by Julee's decision to leave on her own terms and to her chosen soundtrack. 

 

The Godfathers featured here last month and this is one of their rare forays into the twelve inch mix. Personally, I prefer Keith LeBlanc's remix to the original. The record buying public largely disagreed.

 

Blancmange (and the extended version of What's Your Problem?) appeared here in January in what's proving to be one of Dubhed's most visited posts so far this year. Neil Arthur continues to record as Blancmange and has released ten albums in the past ten years with a new one, Private View, due in September. I'm seeing Blancmange live in October with Dubhed regular Mike, so this one's dedicated to you.

 

The Psychedelic Furs and The Cure really need no introduction. One of these was a UK Top 10 hit, the other barely scraped the Top 100. No prizes for guessing which was which, but both great songs in my opinion.

 

Wrapping up the selection is Westworld, centred around the photogenic Elizabeth Westwood and securing a #11 hit with this song in 1987. They never achieved the same success again, but I really liked their look and sound at the time. Great fun.

 

1) Castles In Spain (Wubb Dug Mix By Nick Tauber): The Armoury Show (1984)

2)The Motion Of Love (Jezebel Mix By Julian Mendelsohn): Gene Loves Jezebel (1987)

3) House (Long Version By John Ashton & Laurence Diana): The Psychedelic Furs (1989)

4) The Lovecats (Extended Version By Phil Thornalley, Chris Parry & The Cure): The Cure (1983)

5) What's Your Problem? (Extended Version By Stewart Levine): Blancmange (1985)

6) She Gives Me Love (Keith LeBlanc Love Mix aka High Octane Mix): The Godfathers (1989)

7) Roam (12" Extended Mix By Nile Rodgers, Andres Levin & Tom Durack): The B-52's (1989)

8) Sonic Boom Boy (U.S. Remix By Mark Ferda & Danny Hyde): Westworld (1987)

Side Two (46:08) (KF) (Mega)

 

...and of course, being the 1980s and the golden period of MTV, every one of these beauties has an official video to accompany it. A few I'm really familiar with, several I haven't seen for many years and a couple I don't think I've seen until researching this post. All of their time, with some real flashes of creative genius. Enjoy!

7 To 10 Inches Longer

Side 2 of a mixtape, originally recorded 5th October 1997, collecting tracks from various 7" and 10" vinyl records, pops and crackles intact on several. Even more than an album or 12" single, there's something special about putting a 7" or 10" single on a turntable and listening to just one or two songs in succession. In the 1980s, music rags like NME, Sounds, Record Mirror and Melody Maker would occasionally tape a free 7" single to the front cover and these were often my first (and sometimes only) experience of an artist's music. 

 

Some tracks inevitably turned up on a subsequent album (Iggy Pop, Tom Waits) or deluxe reissue and/or compilation (The Woodentops, The Jesus & Mary Chain). Some remain rare and wonderful, such as one of the great lost B-sides from Prefab Sprout. The Jack Rubies and Westworld remain highlights, though I bought very little else by either of them afterwards. A quarter of a century on, for such a hotpotch of songs and artists, I quite like this collection as a whole. I hope you do too.

 

1) I Give To You (Elemental) (Remix By Barry Adamson & PK aka Paul Kendall): Nitzer Ebb (I Give To You 10") (1991)

2) Hey! Luciani (Original Version By John Leckie): The Fall (Sounds Showcase 1 7") (1987)

3) Move Me (Long Version) (Remix By Godwin Logie): The Woodentops (Everyday Living ltd 2x 7") (1986) 

4) Hot Meat (Single Version) (aka Coldsweat (Version)): The Sugarcubes (Regina ltd 7") (1989)

5) Vendetta: Prefab Sprout (Cars And Girls 10") (1988)

6) Vegas Throat Stomp: The Jack Rubies (Sonic Sounds 1 7") (1987)

7) F***in' Alone: Iggy Pop (Beside You 10") (1993)

8) Nasty 'n' Cheap (Remix By Mark Ferda): Westworld (Ba-Na-Na-Bam-Boo ltd 2x 10") (1987)

9) Hallelujah (In Out Mix By Steve Lillywhite): Happy Mondays ft. Kirsty MacColl (Madchester Rave On ltd 7") (1989)

10) Shake: The Jesus & Mary Chain (Happy When It Rains 10") (1987)

11) A Little Rain: Tom Waits (Goin' Out West 10") (1992)

12) Come On Home (Album Version): Everything But The Girl (Come On Home 7") (1986)

Side Two (45:17)

Side One here