Scribble were another band I encountered first on MTV’s International Hour. The video for “Kaze” from this EP has haunted me for 30 years. I managed to get the full length “Pop Art” album soon afterward when I had started buying directly from Australia in the seriously pre-internet era. That album is on a CD from 2007, courtesy of Almacantar Records [which I don’t have] but the original point of infection with Scribble remains outside of my Record Cell.
Siam were the early band of fave Jacqui Brookes, and for years I thought there were only three A+M singles to be had by the group, but a few years ago, I ran across evidence of a live, post-breakup cash-in album on an obscure indie label. This one features mostly songs not on their three A+M singles so I need this one!
I finally bit on the idiosyncratic New Wave bait that Jim Skafish had dangled under my nose for almost 30 years courtesy of his two releases on I.R.S. Records a few years back. I could digitize this vinyl at any time, but according to Mr. Skafish, he’s already on the case himself and an official CD release will happen soon.
I also have the second album of Skafish, the halfway-to-conventional “Conversation.” What he lost in willful eccentricity, he made up for in sheer bludgeoning hooks. “Wild Night Tonight” is the all-time best riff-rocker from a guy once known for wearing tube tops onstage.
Slow Children [hat trick!] were an L.A. New Wave band with snappy Jules Shear/Stephen Hague production and a briefcase full of angular, pop tunes. I bought their debut album after becoming smitten when hearing the RCA “Blitz” compilation in 1981. Decades later, I found the earlier UK version of the album pictured here with a Brian Cooke cover. The US edition features remixes/song substitutions, and a boring Robert Mapplethorpe cover! I still need an early UK 7” to make my REVO edition.
Slow Children – Mad About Town
The second Slow Children album is also packed with great New Wave tuneage. I have the USP 12″ remix single from this album, so technically, I can make my DLX RM at any time. After a 33 year layoff, Slow Children just released their third album, “Cottoncloud9!” It looks as if the CD sold there, is a CD-R, so I might as well opt for the DL, if it is in a lossless format. I’m not a CD Baby buyer, being more of Bandcamp guy.
Next: …Further Adventures in – Still Not On CD 34 35 Years Later!
Funny, I love the Mapplethorpe cover for Slow Children, but that Mad About Town cover looks like a still from a Stevie Nicks/Fleetwood Mac video…seriously!
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Echorich – Funny you should mention Stevie Nicks… On May 10, 2019, Andrew Chinich just posted a brand new Slow Children song video called “Stevie” and it’s about who else?
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I have the first Scribble LP – “So Far”. Most likely at some point in the future I’ll be
loaning you a bunch of Icehouse records for a BSOG. I’ll slip that one in too.
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Mr. Ware – Not aware of that repackaging of the 7-track EP! Then, while investigating in Discogs, I noticed that in addition to the Almacantar CD of “Pop Art,” there was also an AAC DL version of the album listed. Then I checked iTunes to see if it was in the U.S. store. It was, but there was also a 20 track comp simply called “Scribble” dated 2009 – the same year of the ” Pop Art” CD, that seemingly had almost everything on it – B-sides included, but not “Mother Of Pearl” from ” So Far.” Fascinating, captain. Tell me, it is the Roxy Music song, yes?
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It most certainly is.
Wow, how about that! Never in a million years would I think to look in the U.S. iTunes Store for Scribble!
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Mr. Ware – Definitely amazing, and it is a Roxy Music cover? I had to know because it’s my favorite Roxy Music song and I am interested in cover versions.
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Slow Children has long been a favorite of mine. I do have all the vinyl singles, and I have a couple of CDs that someone else compiled with all the various tracks and versions. I’d be happy to get copies to you if you don’t want to make your own!
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mathmandian – Welcome to the comments! Thanks, but the very point of this blog is that it chronicles the breadth of my passion, which is making CD products that the market does not provide for. Often is the time that I have spent a decade chasing down all of the necessary vinyl only to have a real CD or compilation appear and “save me the trouble.” It’s a bittersweet experience!
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mathmandan – Sorry I took so long to reply but I’ve been sick. I am excited to hear that you have all of the Slow Children singles. Here is what I know of:
– Staring At The Ceiling/That Statue Moved
– Spring In Fialta/Too Weak To Eat
– Talk About Horses/Ticket To France
– President Am I/Brazilian Magazines
– Vanessa Vacillating (remix)/Unplugging The Vacuum (remix)
I have the “Vanessa” 12″ and want to buy the “Staring At The Ceiling” 7″ for the B-side. Were any of the other singles remixes or alternate single versions, as was common at the time? Info like that can make my day if you can provide it!
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