In my top five of favourite bands (of all time) the Swell Maps will always be there. Alongside the likes of Throbbing Gristle and Virgin Prunes ... the position is never in any doubt. I cannot remember the first time I heard Swell Maps, I am guessing it would have been the 1978 single "Read About Seymour". Maybe John Peel, maybe a chance encounter whilst perusing the racks at Sanctuary Records in Lincoln or maybe around at my friends' place? Mark Collins was the only other 'punk' in North Hykeham and I used to go round on a Saturday afternoon whilst his Mum & Dad were out shopping so we could play music on his Dad's rather expensive Hi-Fi .. it was Mark that opened my ears to the sound of Alternative TV and Warsaw, he was a big Swell Maps fan too ... anyway.
On this day in 1981 Rough Trade Records released the double LP "Whatever Happens Next" by Swell Maps. A collection of home and studio recordings made between 1975 and 1980. Demos, live recordings, home recordings on dodgy tape recorders and the second John Peel radio session. For those of us who couldn't quite believe that the days of Swell Maps were over it came as a blessed relief ... or blessed release.
A great companion to "Whatever Happens Next" is the recently published book "Swell Maps 1972 - 1980". The only official biography of the band by Jowe Head. So this programme celebrates both.
I have also included songs by bands who were associated with Swell Maps. On their own label, Rather Records, they released singles by Cult Figures and Steve Treatment. They also ended up as 'backing band' on both these records. Pre-Swell Maps both Jowe and drummer Epic Soundtracks (aka Kevin Godfrey) rehearsed with vocalist Ken Spiers (aka Spizz), hence the SpizzEnergi and Spizz Oil singles. Jowe Head (aka Steve Bird) also hung around with and collaborated with members of Television Personalities.
Swell Maps ended in 1980 after two albums, a handful of singles and sporadic live dates throughout UK and Europe. Unfortunately I never got to see them live. They did play live with Scritti Politti, The Raincoats and The Fall which is why they appear in this broadcast. Post the split Swell Maps went on their solo projectiles. The Jowe Head tracks are from the LP "Pincer Movement". The Phones B Sportsman band (aka David Barrington) track is from his debut single "I Really Love You". Phones also plays on the "Pincer Movement" album and the Epic Soundtracks song is from his first 7"EP "Popular Classical". Epic also played with Red Crayola and Crime And City Solution. It's Robert Wyatt on vocals.
I know James Pogo of Armedalite Rifles is a big Swell Maps fan and the song included here (from the 'Revel In The Beauty Of The Sour Note' LP) reminds me of Cult Figures ... The Felix Kubin cover of "Bandits One Five" is from the compilation CD "Your Song, My Foot" on WFMU. This month the UK label Industrial Coast are releasing a tribute album to Swell Maps, The Prestigitators "Nothing Ever Happens Next" is from this album. I have no post Swell Maps songs by guitarist / singer Nikki Sudden (aka Adrian Godfrey) so I slipped in Eater's version of "Jeepster" as Nikki was a big Bolan fan. I know this because of his autobiography "The Last Bandit" ... a worthy read.
Please enjoy the programme, buy the Jowe Head book ... it includes a 6 track 7"EP recorded in glorious Mono. It is published by Sounds On Paper and available via various distributors throughout the world. And available in one good record shop - Pressing Matter Records of 185 Queens Street, Hastings.
Playlist :
01: Swell Maps : "Steven Does" (Rather Records/Rough Trade) 1979.
02: Swell Maps : "Clearasil Record (Stuck)" (Rough Trade/Rather Records) 1981.
03: Swell Maps : "Let's Build A Car" (Rough Trade/Rather Records) 1980.
04: Swell Maps : "Vertical Slum" (Rough Trade/Rather Records) 1981.
05: Swell Maps : "Forest Fire" (Rough Trade/Rather Records) 1981.
06: Swell Maps : "Midget Submarines (II)" (Rough Trade/Rather Records) 1981.
07: Swell Maps : "Armadillo (II)" (Rough Trade/Rather Records) 1981.
08: Swell Maps : "Bandits One Five" (Rough Trade/Rather Records) 1981.
09: Swell Maps : "Read About Seymour (April '77)" (Rough Trade/Rather Records) 1981.
10: Swell Maps : "Real Shocks" (Rough Trade) 1979.
11: Television Personalities : "Smashing Time" (Overground Records) 1992.
12: Swell Maps : "Harmony In Your Bathroom" (Rather Records/Rough Trade) 1979.
13: Swell Maps : "Securicore" (Rather Records) 2022.
14: Swell Maps : "Come Upstairs And See My Chemistry Set" (Rather Records) 2022.
15: Swell Maps : "Harmony In Your Bathroom" (Rather Records) 2022.
16: Swell Maps : "Deliferous Mistail" (Easy Action) 2021.
17: Swell Maps : "Hey Johnny! Where's The Chewing Gum" (Alive Records) 1999.
18: SpizzEnergi : "Where's Captain Kirk?" (Rough Trade) 1979.
19: Swell Maps : "Paul's Dead" (Rough Trade/Rather Records) 1981.
20: The Transmitters : "Paul Is Dead" (Heartbeat Records) 1981.
21: Cult Figures : "Playing With Toys" (Rather Records) 1979.
22: Cult Figures : "Zip Dub" (Rather Records) 1979.
23: Steve Treatment : "Taste Your Own Medicine" (Rather Records) 1978.
24: Steve Treatment : "Danger Zone" (Rather Records) 1978.
25: Scritti Politti : "The Sweetest Girl" (Rough Trade) 1981.
26: The Raincoats : "Shouting Out Loud" (New Musical Express/Rough Tapes) 1981.
27: The Fall : "Cary Grant's Wedding" (Rough Trade) 1980.
28: Jowe Head : "Vatican Chime" (Hedonics Records) 1981.
29: Jowe Head : "Cake Shop Girl" (Hedonics Records) 1981.
30: Cult Figures : "I Remember" (Rather Records) 1980.
31: Jowe Head : "Radio Vatican" (Hedonics Records) 1981.
32: Jowe Head : "Crawfish" (Hedonics Records) 1981.
33: Jowe Head : "Swissair" (Hedonics Records) 1981.
34: Epic Soundtracks : "Jelly Babies" (Rough Trade) 1981.
35: The Prestigitators : "Nothing Ever Happens Next" (Industrial Coast) 2022.
36: Felix Kubin : "Bandits One Five" (WFMU) 2011.
37: The Armedalite Rifles : "The Saddest Boy" (Wrinkly Dink Records) 2017.
38: The Phones Sportsman Band : "I Really Love You" (Rather Records) 1980.
39: Eater : "Jeepster" (The Label) 1977.
40: Spizz Oil : "Cold City" (Rough Trade) 1979.
41: Crime And City Solution : "Free World" (Mute Records) 1992.
Please take a listen to the broadcast here:
https://www.mixcloud.com/tamsin-jane-cammack/muhmur-radio-broadcast-14-april-2022/
All comments and suggestions welcomed.
Listening now which is making my 5 hour coach trip to London a lot more agreeable. Thank you for the education - this is all new to me
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