A definitive collection of indie or a reduction of the form is due out soon.
I guess we should be used to this by now…the reduction of indie into one style of music and if you ever wondered how this process started this new series of compilation albums will show you how.
There’s a lot of great songs on the collection but it narrows a virbrant and eclectic scene into one style of music…
Scared To Get Happy (A Story Of Indie Pop 1980-1989) is the first box set ever to document the explosion of Indie Pop in Britain in the 1980s. Compiled is loosely chronological fashion, the five CDs chart its development from the post punk era and the dominance of Scottish bands through to its genre-defining C86 period and onto the end of the decade’s arrival of Madchester and the shoegazing sound.
Inspired by the Nuggets compilations, the box set boasts 134 tracks spanning the Eighties, drawn from all the key labels of the period – Creation, Factory, Cherry Red, Rough Trade, Sarah, Subway Organisation, Zoo, Kitchenware, Pink, Chapter 22, In Tape, Medium Cool, Lazy, Dreamworld, 53rd & 3rd, Ron Johnson, el, Vindaloo, Red Rhino, Food, etc.
Many of the bands later tasted mainstream success: Primal Scream, Aztec Camera, Stone Roses, Pulp, the Wonder Stuff, Lloyd Cole & The Commotions, the inspiral Carpets, the Soup Dragons, the Wedding Present, James, The La’s, Del Amitri, the Primitives, the Jesus & Mary Chain, Prefab Sprout, the Shamen, Cud, the Bluebells, Black, the House Of Love, Strawberry Switchblade, Pop Will Eat Itself, the Darling Buds, the Boo Radleys.
Members of many of the above bands are available for interview to promote this release!
The box set boasts a colourful 54-page booklet with a lengthy sleeve-note detailing each track and illustrations of the records and bands involved.
A few tracks (Strawberry Switchblade, The Bluebells, Close Lobsters, etc.) have never officially been released before. Many others are extremely rare and make their debut on CD.
Scared To Get Happy will be promoted by a mini-festival at London’s 229 club on June 22nd, with an impressive roster: The Primitives, the BMX Bandits, the Brilliant Corners, the June Brides, Mighty Mighty, the Wolfhounds, the Popguns, 14 Iced Bears and the Blue Orchids.
Track Listing
Disc 1:
1. THE WILD SWANS Revolutionary Spirit……………………………………………………………………….. Zoo, 1982
2. GIRLS AT OUR BEST! Getting Nowhere Fast……………………………………………………………. Record, 1980
3. ART OBJECTS Showing Off To Impress The Girls…………………………………………………… Heartbeat, 1980
4. THE PALE FOUNTAINS (There’s Always) Something On My Mind…………………. Operation Twilight, 1982
5. JOSEF K The Missionary……………………………………………………………. Les Disques du Crépuscule, 1982
6. THE MONOCHROME SET The Jet Set Junta………………………………………………………… Cherry Red, 1982
7. BLUE ORCHIDS Dumb Magician…………………………………………………………………….. Rough Trade, 1982
8. MARINE GIRLS Don’t Come Back…………………………………………………………………….. Cherry Red, 1983
9. FIRE ENGINES Candyskin…………………………………………………………………………………. Pop:Aural, 1981
10. TV21 Ambition……………………………………………………………………………………………….. Powbeat, 1980
11. DOLLY MIXTURE Everything And More………………………………………………………………… Respond, 1982
12. THE NIGHTINGALES Paraffin Brain…………………………………………………………………… Cherry Red, 1982
13. SCARS All About You……………………………………………………………………………………………….. Pre, 1981
14. JANE It’s A Fine Day……………………………………………………………………………………… Cherry Red, 1983
15. THE FARMER’S BOYS I Think I Need Help………………………………………………………………….. Waap, 1982
16. THE ROOM Things Have Learnt To Walk That Ought To Crawl…………………………………. Red Flame, 1982
17. WEEKEND Summerdays………………………………………………………………………………. Rough Trade, 1982
18. PREFAB SPROUT Lions In My Own Garden (Exit Someone)………………………………………… Candle, 1982
19. THE LINES Nerve Pylon……………………………………………………………………………………………. Red, 1980
20. EVERYTHING BUT THE GIRL Feeling Dizzy………………………………………………………….. Cherry Red, 1982
21. THE HIGSONS The Lost And The Lonely……………………………………………………………………. Waap, 1981
22. BLACK Human Features…………………………………………………………………………………………… Rox, 1981
23. THE DAINTEES Roll On Summertime………………………………………………………………. Kitchenware, 1983
24. THE BLUEBELLS Happy Birthday…………………………………………………………………………… Lyntone, 1982
25. TRIXIE’S BIG RED MOTORBIKE Norman And Narcissus…………………………………………. Lobby Ludd, 1983
26. TV PERSONALITIES A Picture Of Dorian Gray (Live)………………………………………. Creation Artifact, 1982
Disc 2:
1. HURRAH! The Sun Shines Here…………………………………………………………………….. Kitchenware, 1982
2. FANTASTIC SOMETHING If She Doesn’t Smile (It’ll Rain)………………………………………. Cherry Red, 1983
3. PULP Everybody’s Problem…………………………………………………………………………….. Red Rhino, 1983
4. STRAWBERRY SWITCHBLADE Dark 7………………………………………………………………………… Unreleased
5. THE SUEDE CROCODILES Stop The Rain………………………………………………………………. No Strings, 1983
6. GRAB GRAB THE HADDOCK I’m Used Now………………………………………………………… Cherry Red, 1984
7. DEL AMITRI Sense Sickness……………………………………………………………………………… No Strings, 1983
8. FRIENDS AGAIN Honey At The Core…………………………………………………………………. Moonboot, 1983
9. AZTEC CAMERA Oblivious……………………………………………………………………………. Rough Trade, 1983
10. LLOYD COLE & THE COMMOTIONS Are You Ready To Be Heartbroken………………………………… LC, 1983
11. THE CHERRY BOYS Kardomah Café………………………………………………………………………….. Crash, 1983
12. IN EMBRACE This Brilliant Evening…………………………………………………………………… Cherry Red, 1985
13. MICRODISNEY Dolly……………………………………………………………………………………. Rough Trade, 1984
14. THE WOODENTOPS Plenty……………………………………………………………………………………… Food, 1984
15. THE JAZZ BUTCHER Southern Mark Smith…………………………………………………………………. Glass, 1983
16. THE JASMINE MINKS Where The Traffic Goes……………………………………………………….. Creation, 1984
17. THE HIT PARADE Forever…………………………………………………………………………………………. JSH, 1984
18. THE JUNE BRIDES Every Conversation……………………………………………………………………….. Pink, 1984
19. THE REVOLVING PAINT DREAM In The Afternoon………………………………………………….. Creation, 1984
20. JAMES Hymn From A Village……………………………………………………………………………….. Factory, 1985
21. THE JESUS & MARY CHAIN Just Like Honey (Demo Oct ’84)……………………………… Blanco Y Negro, 1985
22. BIFF BANG POW! The Chocolate Elephant Man…………………………………………………….. Creation, 1985
23. YEAH YEAH NOH Temple Of Convenience………………………………………………………………. In Tape, 1985
24. THE BODINES God Bless……………………………………………………………………………………. Creation, 1985
25. BIG FLAME Debra………………………………………………………………………………………. Ron Johnson, 1985
26. THE LOFT Up The Hill And Down The Slope……………………………………………………………. Creation, 1985
Disc 3:
1. PRIMAL SCREAM Velocity Girl……………………………………………………………………………. Creation, 1985
2. THE WEDDING PRESENT Go Out And Get ’Em, Boy!……………………………….. Reception/City Slang, 1985
3. THE PRIMITIVES Thru The Flowers……………………………………………………………………………. Lazy, 1986
4. THE BMX BANDITS Sad…………………………………………………………………………………….. 53rd & 3rd, 1986
5. THE SHOP ASSISTANTS All Day Long……………………………………………………. Subway Organisation, 1985
6. THE MIGHTY LEMON DROPS Something Happens…………………………………………….. Dreamworld, 1985
7. WE’VE GOT A FUZZBOX AND WE’RE GONNA USE IT XX Sex (Demo)………………………………. Unreleased
8. MIGHTY MIGHTY Is There Anyone Out There?…………………………………………………………… Girlie, 1986
9. THE SOUP DRAGONS Quite Content………………………………….. Subway Organisation, unreleased, 1986
10. McCARTHY Red Sleeping Beauty………………………………………………………………………………. Pink, 1986
11. AGE OF CHANCE Motorcity………………………………………………………………………………. Riot Bible, 1985
12. THE CHESTERFIELDS Completely And Utterly………………………………………… Subway Organisation, 1986
13. THE WOLFHOUNDS Cut The Cake……………………………………………………………………………… Pink, 1986
14. THE SERVANTS Loggerheads…………………………………………………… Head, not originally released, 1986
15. THE CLOSE LOBSTERS Don’t Worry (Demo)………………………………………………………………. Unreleased
16. POP WILL EAT ITSELF Sick Little Girl…………………………………………………………………… Desperate, 1986
17. RAZORCUTS Big Pink Cake………………………………………………………………… Subway Organisation, 1986
18. THAT PETROL EMOTION It’s A Good Thing……………………………………………………………… Demon, 1986
19. THE WEATHER PROPHETS Almost Prayed……………………………………………………………… Creation, 1986
20. JAMIE WEDNESDAY Vote For Love……………………………………………………………………………. Pink, 1986
21. TALULAH GOSH Beatnik Boy……………………………………………………………………………… 53rd & 3rd, 1986
22. THE DENTISTS She Dazzled Me With Basil………………………………………………………… Tambourine, 1986
23. THE RAILWAY CHILDREN A Gentle Sound……………………………………………………………….. Factory, 1986
24. THE GROOVE FARM Baby Blue Marine (Flexi Version)………………………………….. Raving Pop Blast, 1987
25. JESSE GARON & THE DESPERADOES The Rain Fell Down…………………………………………. Narodnik, 1986
26. ROSEMARY’S CHILDREN (Whatever Happened To) Alice?…………………………………………………. el, 1986
27. 14 ICED BEARS Balloon Song…………………………………………………………………………………… Frank, 1987
28. THE WONDER STUFF A Wonderful Day………………………………………………………………….. Far Out, 1986
Disc 4:
1. HOUSE OF LOVE Shine On…………………………………………………………………………………. Creation, 1987
2. THE SHAMEN Something About You…………………………………………………………………….. Moksha, 1987
3. THE BACHELOR PAD The Albums Of Jack………………………………………………………. Warholasound, 1987
4. GOL GAPPAS Albert Parker………………………………………………………………………………………… el, 1986
5. HANGMAN’S BEAUTIFUL DAUGHTERS Love Is Blue…………………………………………… Dreamworld, 1987
6. WHIRL Heaven Forbid……………………………………………………………………………… Playroom Discs, 1987
7. THE BRILLIANT CORNERS Delilah Sands……………………………………………………………………… SS20, 1987
8. THE FLATMATES Shimmer………………………………………………………………… Subway Organisation, 1988
9. THE WAKE Gruesome Castle……………………………………………………………………………….. Factory, 1988
10. THIS POISON! Engine Failure……………………………………………………………………………. Reception, 1987
11. THE DARLING BUDS If I Said………………………………………………………………………….. Darling Buds, 1987
12. THE BOY HAIRDRESSERS Tidalwave…………………………………………………………………….. 53rd & 3rd, 1987
13. THE WALTONES She Looks Right Through Me…………………………………………………. Medium Cool, 1987
14. THE ROSEHIPS Room In Your Heart…………………………………………………….. Subway Organisation, 1987
15. APPLE BOUTIQUE Love Resistance……………………………………………………………………… Creation, 1988
16. LAUGH Take Your Time Yeah!……………………………………………………………………………. Remorse, 1987
17. THE RAW HERBS She’s A Nurse But She’s Alright……………………………………………… Medium Cool, 1987
18. THE HEART THROBS Toy……………………………………………………………………………………… In Tape, 1987
19. THE CLOUDS Tranquil………………………………………………………………………. Subway Organisation, 1987
20. THE GROOVY LITTLE NUMBERS You Make My Head Explode…………………………………… 53rd & 3rd, 1987
21. THE SIDDELEYS My Favourite Wet Wednesday Afternoon………………………………… Medium Cool, 1987
22. RUMBLEFISH Tug-Boat Line…………………………………………………………………………………….. Pink, 1987
23. THE HEPBURNS The World Is………………………………………………………………………….. Cherry Red, 1987
24. BUBBLEGUM SPLASH! One Of Those Things………………………………………… Subway Organisation, 1987
25. THE CORN DOLLIES Be Small Again……………………………………………………………….. Medium Cool, 1987
26. THE KING OF LUXEMBOURG Lee Remick……………………………………………………………………….. el, 1987
27. THE LA’s Son Of A Gun (Demo)………………………………………………………… Not originally released, 1987
Disc 5:
1. THE STONE ROSES The Hardest Thing In The World………………………………………………. Silvertone, 1988
2. INSPIRAL CARPETS Keep The Circle Around………………………………………………………….. Playtime, 1988
3. THE POOH STICKS Indiepop Ain’t Noise Pollution………………………………………………………. Fierce, 1988
4. THE SEA URCHINS Solace………………………………………………………………………………………. Sarah, 1988
5. CUD Only (A Prawn In Whitby)…………………………………………………………………………. Imaginary, 1989
6. THE POPGUNS Landslide……………………………………………………………………………. Medium Cool, 1989
7. ONE THOUSAND VIOLINS All Aboard The Love-Mobile……………………………………….. Immaculate, 1988
8. ANOTHER SUNNY DAY I’m In Love With A Girl Who Doesn’t Know I Exist………………………… Sarah, 1988
9. EAST VILLAGE Strawberry Window……………………………………………………………………. Sub Aqua, 1988
10. BAD DREAM FANCY DRESS Choirboys Gas (Hack The Cassock)…………………………………………… el, 1988
11. RODNEY ALLEN Circle Line………………………………………………………………… Subway Organisation, 1988
12. THE ORCHIDS I’ve Got A Habit………………………………………………………………………………… Sarah, 1988
13. BRADFORD Skin Storm………………………………………………………………………………………… Village, 1988
14. THE CHARLOTTES Are You Happy Now………………………………………………………………….. Subway, 1989
15. THE CLAIM Picking Up The Bitter Little Pieces…………………………………. Esurient Communications, 1989
16. THE POPPYHEADS Dreamabout………………………………………………………………………………. Sarah, 1988
17. THE SUN AND THE MOON Adam’s Song (Pour Fenella)………………………………….. Midnight Music, 1988
18. THE McTELLS Jesse Man Rae………………………………………………………………………………….. Frank, 1988
19. WOULD-BE-GOODS Cecil Beaton’s Scrapbook………………………………………………………………… el, 1988
20. THE DESERT WOLVES Speak To Me Rochelle………………………………………………………… Ugly Man, 1988
21. THE RAIN Dry The Rain……………………………………………………………………………….. Medium Cool, 1988
22. BLOW UP Forever Holiday……………………………………………………………………………… Cherry Red, 1989
23. THE FANATICS Suburban Love Songs………………………………………………………………… Chapter 22, 1989
24. MILLTOWN BROTHERS Roses…………………………………………………………………………… Big Round, 1989
25. THE SEERS Sun Is In The Sky…………………………………………………………………………………… Hedd, 1989
26. THE TELESCOPES Perfect Needle………………………………………………………………… What Goes On, 1989
27. THE BOO RADLEYS Catweazle……………………………………………………………………………….. Action, 1990
WOW!
It does quite specifically say “indie-pop” not “indie” – which in the context of the 80s did very much denote a specific (if rather loose) genre – there was of course plenty of indie that wasn’t pop as well. Also, whilst I probably own about half the tracks somewhere I can safely say that I have friends who were not even born last time I even so much as though about Grab Grab The Haddock :)
Where are my “mehanical” royalties…..he say’s half joking!!! From me, Jack drummer of “The corn dollies”…..Love and peace