The Burpas - Fat Man (1981)

b/w - Dummies

A nice mix of Ska & New Wave on the only release from this Cardiff 5 piece (1980-81)

Caroline Limmer (Voc)

Matthew Mars-Jones (Guitar)

Chris Honeybone (Bass)

Sian Edwards (Drums Voc)

Michael Kirkland (Sax)

They Began life as ‘Big Daddy And The Burpas’ when formed at the Cardiff Art College but slimmed down to the above line-up after a few gigs.

Off the back of winning the 1980 Welsh Rock and Pop Competition [held at the Top Rank Cardiff Suite], they released this single on the Dutch Dureco Benelux label early in '81. It was produced by Tony Etoria whom they first met in 1980 when Tony was running events at Mel's Club (111 Bute Street) in Butetown.  

Alex Miles (Ex Vaseline Tigers) joined on drums around June '81, leaving both Caroline and Sian to share vocal duties until Caroline left during July.

The band relocated to Brixton, London during September.

Useless Info 1 Caroline used to run the Bar for Art College events.

Useless Info 2 They played along side many bands during their brief tenure including Moira and the Mice, Reptile Ranch, The Riotous Brothers, The Selecter and Misty In Roots.

Scans & Sounds

Thanks to Cardiff Music History for some of the info.

The KGB - The KGB (1981)

b/w See Me

Great Mod/Punk/Powerpop sounds from this Wallingford Oxfordshire Band

 
Bob Nicols RIP (Voc, Bass)
Arpad Toth (Guitar) & song writer
Steve Harris (Drums)

Special guest appearances on See Me from Steve's brother Peter & future wife Lorraine

The songs were recorded at Spaceward Studios, Cambridge. Sept 1981 & the 45 was released on their own A Major label [KGB 001] in Nov 1981.

Useless Info 1 - Some early copies come with a "The KGB" stamped white sleeve (Designed, Commissioned & Stamped [until he got bored] by Steve)

Useless Info 2 - In March 1982 10 more songs were recorded at the now defunct Roxon Studios in Watlington, Oxfordshire for a proposed LP but due to lack of money it was never released.

Sounds & Scans

The Mint - Marlene (1979)

b/w Mediterranean Nights

Written by Parton (M.S.)

Another 45 I know little to nothing about but Marlene is always worth a few listens (nice Folky New Wave)

Due to the catalogue # HT/SPS-1595 we can surmise it was recorded at the Hollick & Taylor Studios 16, Grosvenor Road, Handsworth, Birmingham B20 3NP.

Leading me to agree with 45 Revs that the band were more than likely from the Midlands area.

Useless info - Hollick & Taylor (q.v.) takes it's name from the building/studio owner John Taylor joining forces with Engineer Charles Hollick.

Sounds & Scans

Freelance - The Writing On The Wall (1983)

b/w Elinor / One More Time

The A-side is not really to my taste (a bit to "Progressive Rock") but the 2 tracks on the B-side are right up my street.

I'm presuming this 5 piece were Nottingham Based due to the record being recorded at Sin City Studios (div of Nohponex Ltd). 228 Forest Rd W Nottingham NG7

According to the Labels the Band were:
Kev
Stu 
Nick 
Phil Cragg
Rick Stoker
& it was Produced / Engineered by Peter Walters (Sin City's Studio Manager)

Useless Info - The Owner/Chief Engineer of Sin City was Byron Sacorafos, who was the First Manager of Plummet Airlines.

(Sin City was advertised in the Press as having Two 16Track Studios, a Recreation Room and a 4Track Rehearsal Studio)

As always if anyone can add any info, please leave a comment.

Sound & Scans

Zipper - Life Of Riley (1979)

b/w Treat Me Pretty

Zipper was a five piece band from Cardiff, Wales (1976-83)

Jon Calvin-Thomas (Voc)
Ray Sinclair (Guitar Voc) Replaced by Steve Wilson after the recording
Mike Gale (Guitar Voc)
Andy Brice (Bass)
Chris Brazier (Drums) Replaced by John Turner after the recording

The Record (Recorded/Engineered by the BBC's Des Bennett at the Stacey Road Studios Cardiff) had 2 outings.

03/1079 on Spanking Records S/79/CUS268 (SPANK 1) [500 Copies]
08/1979 on Virgin Records VS-283

The story goes Howard Marks "a record plugger" had heard the 45 on the John Peel Show so got in touch with the band & asked if he could promote it for them. He took it to Virgin Records which secured them a deal & also played it to Andy Peebles which led to it being Record Of The Week for his Radio1 Breakfast Show.

Zipper released a 2nd 45 in 1982 Tin Soldiers/Cuckoo In The Nest - Spanking Records (SPANK 2)

Useless Info 1 The bald headed man sat next to Jon Calvin-Thomas is the man that sat at the top of the stairs to the entrance of The Moon Club, The Hayes, Cardiff. where the band had a residency.

Useless info 2 Chris Brazier later played on the Spitfire Boys 7'' Funtime

Sounds & Scans

Thanks to Cardiff Music History for the band pic

Sonic Tonix - Don't Go Away (1980)

b/w Telepathy

Great New Wave tunes from this Oxford University College based band [1980-81]

Dave Goldie (Guitar Voc)
Simon Mawby (Guitar Voc) later in The Woodentops   
John Silver (Bass Voc)
Owen Jones (Drums Voc) later in The Jazz Butcher   

Sleeve Design - Crispin Plaskitt
Producer – Pat Fish
Recorded - Duffys
label - Industrial Accident [SGS-114]

The band then shortened their name to The Tonix [1981-82]
Pat Fish AKA Patrick Huntrods (Vocals) later in The Jazz Butcher
Dave Goldie (Guitar)
Max Eider AKA Pete Millson (Guitar Vocals) later in The Jazz Butcher       
John Silver (Bass) 
Owen Jones (Drums)    

Discography
1981 7'' Strangers /Talk To Me - 109 Product [STEG 002]   
1981  Track (Sex Junk) on VA LP – The Wonderful World Of Glass Volume One - Glass Records [GLASS 010]


Useless Info - An earlier band Institution [1978-79] shows Pat & Max's shared history

Discography
1979 7'' Jane And Jon/Stephanie - Industrial Accident [SGS-112]

Full line-up of Institution was:
Patrick Huntrods AKA Pat Fish (Vocals) 
Rolo AKA Richard Ian McGinty (Bass)  later in The Innocents / The Upset / The Woodentops

Max Eider AKA Peter Millson (Guitar) 
Rob Wilford (Drums) later in Streets Ahead  
Other original members included Johnathan Stephenson [Synthesizers] and John Duvall on Drums. Both left before the record was cut. 

Sounds & Scans

You - The Night And Music EP (1980)

01 Wrecker's Song   

02 When You Cry
03 Autopsy
04 Thinking Of You
05 Your Face    

Interesting tunes from this Leeds based 5 piece

Simon Holmes (Voc)
Andy Clarke (Lead Guitar /Trumpet)    
Peter Master (Rhythm /Acoustic Guitar)  
Ken Brown (Bass) 

Bernie Gilmore (Drums & Keys)  

Songs Written By – Peter Master
Sleeve Design - Helen Master

Recorded At – RAM Recording Studios, 64 Ramley Rd, Leeds [the studios own label 2nd release after The Beans - No Boys for you 45]

Below is a review of the 45 in West Yorkshire's Rock Scene Monthly The Wool City Rocker #7 [June July 1980]

Useless Info : Other Songs played by the band included : No Reason / Sarah Makes Me Go / Psychopath / Crimson Spots / Mental Mess

Sounds & Scans

Moonstruck - Promotional Release EP (1980)

Also Known as the "It's Just A Matter Of Time" EP

Most copies are blank white labels with a number (1-100) and the band name & Promotional Release although some seem to have no numbers

For a while it was thought the A-side was called "It's Just A Matter Of Time (Before They Drop The Bomb)" due to a seller giving the below info:

"I was given 2 copies by the band's Guitarist (who is now a Record Company Executive) He told me that the band pressed 100 copies only for Promotional purpose, sending them to radio stations and record companies in the hope of getting a deal and some airplay. He also told me that they played with The Lurkers and Protex in 1979 and 1980. The Guitarist only remembers the title of the A side as: "It's Just A Matter Of Time (Before They Drop The Bomb)" & did not remember the titles of the 2 great songs on the other side."

Since this was sold (around 2010) other copies have surfaced the most interesting 2 being:
In 2013 a copy appeared (#19) with a London Phone number 01-807-1581 meaning at least 1 of the band was from the Edmonton area  
In 2023 a copy appeared (#14) that had the labels written on in pen stating the song titles are 

A1 - If We Keep Going To Places That We've Never Been To Before We'll Never Get Bored
B1 - Mice In Plastic Macs 
B2 - The Last Straw

The Matrix run-outs are
OCC+3-1-1  'Where's My £2.50?'
OCC+3-1-2  'A Porkys Prime Cut'

Sadly I know nothing about the band so if anyone can add any info please leave a comment

Sounds & Scans

Jimmy Edwards & The Profile - Nora's Diary (1979)

b/w Call Me A Fraud

James Arthur Edwards' (18 April '49 - 13 Jan '15 RIP) Music career was pretty impressive / extensive running from 1963 - 2015 but for the purpose of this post I'll focus (as best I can) on the years 1978-80.
If you want to know more I suggest you go here 
and also read the excellent interview he did with Stewart Home 

Noras Diary was recorded April '79 during the recording of the Sessions for "The Adventures of Hersham Boys" which were done at the Honky Chateau. (Château d'Hérouville) 20 miles North of Paris, France.

Jimmy Edwards & The Profile
began as
Jimmy Edwards (Voc)
Steve Wilkinson (Guitar) ex Masterswitch / Neo
Andy Prince (Bass) ex Rikki & The Last Days of Earth
Derek Quinton (Drums) ex Neo

However the Musicians on this 45 are
Jimmy Edwards (Voc)
Dave Parsons (Guitar) From Sham 69
Dave Treganna (Bass) From Sham 69
Mark Cain (Drums) From Sham 69

Discography
Masterswitch
21 Apr 1978 Action Replay / Mass Media Meditation - Epic [S EPC 6259]

Jimmy Edwards And The Profile
29 Jun 1979 Nora's Diary / Call Me A Fraud - Warner Bros. [K 17415]
12 Oct 1979 Twentieth Century Time / Seven Hail Marys - Warner Bros.[K 17464]
02 May 1980 Toys / Hard Heart - Polydor [2059 240]

Jimmy Edwards
25 Jul 1980 Cabaret / Drag It Back - Polydor [2059 256]
10 Apr 1981 In The City / Five Minute Girl - Polydor [POSP 240 2059 338]

Other Credited / Uncredited Work
1978 During the dying days of Masterswitch Jimmy was the vocalist for Mean Street  
1978 After Masterswitch he was the singer for Flintlock with his Vocals (Uncredited due to his CBS contract) on the LP "Stand Alone" and the 45 "(Hey You) You're Like A Magnet",
1979 (March*) during the recording sessions for Twentieth Century Time The Public Pisstake track [My Own Creation] was recorded. This was a one-off studio project by Jimmy Pursey (Voc) Jimmy Edwards (Guitar) Jimmy Honeyman-Scott (Lead Guitar) Pete Farndon (Bass) Martin Chambers (Drums) 
1979 (July - Aug*) Jimmy Pursey briefly left "Sham 69" and Edwards was drafted in as the new singer. A single [Dare To Win / Just Ordinary] was recorded [but not released until 2011] as Pursey re-joined once The Sham Pistols fell through. 
1979 (Aug -Sept*) Jimmy Contributed Backing Vocals (along with Elvis Costello) for The Twist's LP "This Is Your Life"  His involvement was due to him sharing Twist's lead singer, Peter Marsh's then manager, Tony Gordon, Who also managed Sham 69. 

Useless Info - Nora's Diary Appeared on the 90's Comps Powerpearls Vol.1 & Teenage Treats Vol.2

* Approx Dates 

Sounds & Scans

The Fence - Thinking That I Shouldn't (1980)

b/w  Thru With You / Hey Girl 

Cool New Wave / Powerpop from this Yorkshire Based Band (1979-81)

Oscar Viess AKA Ozzy RIP (Voc, Sax)
Keith R Garlick (Keys. Guitar)
Rick Bettley (Guitar)
Aris Trezins (Bass)
John Lee AKA Leo RIP (Drums)

They were Possibly From Rochdale but playing all around the Manchester - Leeds Area

BFD Records also released the excellent Shaddowfax 45 

There's some more info on the band here & as always if you can add any info please leave a comment.

Sounds & Scans