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Post by andyloneshark on Aug 9, 2020 10:27:23 GMT
Nick Cash has been interviewed for a 2 part major feature in Vive Le Rock magazine - part one is already published in issue 73
Issue 75 will go into detail about their pioneering tours of the USA around 1979/81 where they went right out into the Heartland,
where no major Punk band had gone before.
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999
Aug 9, 2020 10:53:27 GMT
Post by Lord Emsworth on Aug 9, 2020 10:53:27 GMT
Nick Cash has been interviewed for a 2 part major feature in Vive Le Rock magazine - part one is already published in issue 73 Issue 75 will go into detail about their pioneering tours of the USA around 1979/81 where they went right out into the Heartland, where no major Punk band had gone before. Yeah, I've got that issue but have not read Nick's interview yet. Looking forward to it |
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Post by andyloneshark on Aug 9, 2020 12:53:50 GMT
Cleopatra Records should release this as a single from the album - Pure 999 songwriting class...LOVE IT!
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Post by personunknown on Aug 20, 2020 11:18:08 GMT
Just got a load of their back catalogue in on vinyl. Seperates, Biggest Prize, Concrete and several singles, brilliant!
But there's one I've not come across before and I only managed side one. 13th Floor Madness seems to be a reggae light lilt. Might be acceptable to another band but surely not 999? And what's Jon Watson doing on the cover! Bare torso, tanned and oiled up as if he's off to audition for Right Said Fred. Confusing.
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999
Aug 20, 2020 12:15:52 GMT
Post by Lord Emsworth on Aug 20, 2020 12:15:52 GMT
....there's one I've not come across before and I only managed side one. 13th Floor Madness seems to be a reggae light lilt. Might be acceptable to another band but surely not 999? And what's Jon Watson doing on the cover! Bare torso, tanned and oiled up as if he's off to audition for Right Said Fred. Confusing. I've not got/heard of that one either PU I expect Andy will be along to explain all According to Discogs it got a UK release in 1983 And this is how Allmusic review it.... With four powerful punk-pop albums to their credit, 999 decided to go in a different direction with their fifth release, alienating many of their fans and critics in the process. Adding more varied rhythms and slowing everything down to nearly a crawl, the boys don't fall flat on their face, but their experiments are not entirely successful either. "Use Your Imagination" seems the closest thing to a classic 999 track, albeit a lot lighter than usual. "Lookin' Like You Do" has a reggae beat and a nice hook, but seems a bit empty. Other tracks follow the same path, taking in a bit of light soul/funk ("It's What You've Got," "13th Floor Madness"), '80s pop ("Good to See You," "Don't Want You Back") and exotic ska ("Arabesque"). Instead of the songs being based around the same 999 formula of old, there's a definite groove-based style of songwriting this time around, which doesn't quite translate to vinyl although bootleg live recordings of these songs show that the band added the necessary extra meat in a live setting. Though not a terrible album, 999 lost a lot of momentum with this release and it took a few years for them to recover.
Sounds as though it's one for the completist, but who knows? It was reissued on CD in Germany in 2018 so perhaps it has got more to it? (BTW I've merged this 999 thread with the Bish Bash Bosh thread so we've now got just one 999 discussion thread)
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Post by andyloneshark on Aug 20, 2020 12:27:09 GMT
...Yeah, that album was a disaster on all levels really. 999's very own "Cut the crap" and "Still from the heart"
From what i read, when it came to the production of the album, the record company stepped in and added a load of lightweight synths.
It didn't turn out the way the band wanted it to at all. The fans understandably avoided it like the plague.
I remember the day it was released heading to my local record shop in my lunchbreak, all excited to hear it...
i asked the shopkeeper to stick the record on the shop turntable so i could hear it on the inhouse headphones... after about 60 seconds... i said
"Excuse me, could you put the new 999 album on please?" ...he reply was "...er ...this IS the new 999 album!"
I didn't actually buy a copy till about 5 years later. There are one or two good songs, but it sounds so weedy compared to their previous records.
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999
Aug 20, 2020 12:49:03 GMT
Post by Lord Emsworth on Aug 20, 2020 12:49:03 GMT
...Yeah, that album was a disaster on all levels really. 999's very own "Cut the crap" and "Still from the heart" From what i read, when it came to the production of the album, the record company stepped in and added a load of lightweight synths. It didn't turn out the way the band wanted it to at all. The fans understandably avoided it like the plague. I remember the day it was released heading to my local record shop in my lunchbreak, all excited to hear it... i asked the shopkeeper to stick the record on the shop turntable so i could hear it on the inhouse headphones... after about 60 seconds... i said " Excuse me, could you put the new 999 album on please?" ...he reply was " ...er ...this IS the new 999 album!" I didn't actually buy a copy till about 5 years later. There are one or two good songs, but it sounds so weedy compared to their previous records. I've just listened to the YouTube uploaded album - if it was another group it might be acceptable but in the context of the 999 back catalogue it sounds so lame
Well done for having the presence of mind to request a listen before buying it Andy
Saved yourself having to return it to the shop later
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999
Aug 20, 2020 13:02:39 GMT
Post by andyloneshark on Aug 20, 2020 13:02:39 GMT
...around the time that 999 released the previous album "Concrete" the singles they released were selling well, getting into the Top 75
even without much radio play... apart from Mike Read who did play tracks like "Lil' Red Riding Hood" and "Obsessd" though.
i think the record label decided to push them in a much more commercial direction to get more daytime radio play.
It failed the album flopped and the band were either dropped or left the label.
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999
Aug 20, 2020 19:20:55 GMT
Post by Lord Emsworth on Aug 20, 2020 19:20:55 GMT
I've been playing Black Flowers For The Bride quite a bit recently
Wonderful isnt it?
Black Flowers For The Bride
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Post by andyloneshark on Aug 20, 2020 21:55:40 GMT
...Yes indeed it is young Nigel. F.Y.I. That Sharpest Cuts compilation was put together by Joey Kelly from the US band Mad Parade
it's his favourite songs from the 999 albums "You Us It" and "Death In Soho" remastered and released on vinyl.
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999
Aug 21, 2020 6:53:31 GMT
Post by Lord Emsworth on Aug 21, 2020 6:53:31 GMT
That Sharpest Cuts compilation was put together by Joey Kelly from the US band Mad Paradeit's his favourite songs from the 999 albums " You Us It" and " Death In Soho" remastered and released on vinyl. I'd say virtually every tune on " You Us It" is great I like " Death In Soho", another rock solid offering, but not quite in the same league - but perhaps I need to listen to it a bit more? |
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Post by Lord Emsworth on Sept 27, 2020 14:10:16 GMT
Great cover version...
999 L'il Red Riding Hood
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Post by andyloneshark on Jul 29, 2021 15:39:39 GMT
A Mr Barry Grey must have access to see original reels of BBC tape... i haven't seen this footage in this quality and complete since it was first transmitted back in 1978
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999
Jul 29, 2021 16:34:01 GMT
Post by Lord Emsworth on Jul 29, 2021 16:34:01 GMT
A Mr Barry Grey must have access to see original reels of BBC tape... i haven't seen this footage in this quality and complete since it was first transmitted back in 1978 That is great quality - let's hope he's got more of that good stuff |
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Post by andyloneshark on Jul 29, 2021 17:27:52 GMT
He does: Magazine, Gang Of Four, Joe Jackson, Hazel O'Connor, and Nina Hagen... f'starters!  |
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