Blue Orchids The Greatest Hits (Money Mountain)

[mccutcheon]

Marky- what can you tell me about the Blue Orchids?

[marky]

Blue Orchids frontman was Martin Bramah, an early member of the Fall (and used to include another early member of the Fall called Una Baines) Their CD's are now released through the same label as the Shadowplayers DVD, called LTM (you probably figured this out). They did some pretty great stuff here and there, if not quite genius status. They continued to release stuff in the early 90's which was surprisingly still pretty good. They actually had the opportunity to be the backing band for Nico live for awhile in 81-82 (and can be heard backing her on her mostly live Femme Fatale album).

Martin Bramah did this one, short lived project with the former Fall drummer Karl Burns in the 80's where they called themselves Thirst. They only did one EP but I particularly like what they did (more harder edged than most Blue Orchids). You can find those EP tracks on the LTM Blue Orchids CD called "From Severe To Serene" which includes their Peel Sessions as well.

More can be found here:

http://www.ltmpub.freeserve.co.uk/bobio.html

http://www.ltmpub.freeserve.co.uk/BOcat.html

[marky]

Also, do you like the Raconteurs, this new band that includes Jack White? I've only heard one song so far. Wasn't bad.

[mccutcheon]

thanks. And I have the R album. Not bad. Goes great with a bottle of red and the new Primal Scream.

[Sloth]

The Raconteurs disc makes up for the last White Stripes disc. It's almost as if you could tell he was trying to finish it quickly (like homework) so he could go out and play with the boys.

[marky]

I hope that's true, Sloth.

Although I have wanted to say recently and haven't gotten around to it that I am so so sorry to McC that White Stripes never kept their promise to release the last album on vinyl after they'd toured the songs. It isn't goinig to happen now, and I feel betrayed. Although I have heard of a bootleg LP of live versions of the songs, with a bunch of really crap pictures on the front sleeve, none of the high caliber art of real White Stripes sleeves (especially the last one - wow!) and I can't vouch for the sound quality as I have no direct experience with it.

[marky]

Oh my god I just found a really rare Manchester and Factory related record on gemm I've wanted to own for 13 years. Oh my god.

Also I am curious about that girl Una Baines that was in Blue Orchids for a time and was in the earliest version of the Fall, I wonder what her band sounded like when she finally struck out on her own in the mid 80's. I've never heard that.

[marky]

Well, since we're on the topic of bands containing ex-Fall members, I just happened upon this one called Ark which I find exciting because it has Steve Hanley in, and even though there is a long, long list of folks who are ex-Fall members in this world, I think Steve Hanley (bassist) would have to be the most important. Some folks say it isn't really the Fall without Hanley, and I wouldn't blame them for saying that. So I'm going to see what Ark sound like.

http://www.geocities.com/arkbrainsold/ark.html

Also about Una Baines' band the Fates - it doesn't matter what they sound like because you can't fookin' find the bloody record, mate. Can't even download it, etc. So best forget about it.

Also...did you know that The Fall (the inferior version they are known as nowadays) totally fell apart while on tour of the U.S. a few months back? Mark E. Smith fired his whole band while on tour. Can you believe it? It would be just like him, always some kind of chaos. He had to get a whole new band, mid-tour! We laughed about it, us Fall fans, but it didn't matter cause I didn't get to see them in Seattle a second time. Turned out he skipped Seattle entirely. Oh to be in Southern California...fucking Sister Sledge and Nile Rodgers are playing down there this month. I want to die. I was like "what the fuck am I doing thinking of spending all this money to go see Bow Wow Wow in Arizona when I'd much sooner see Sister Sledge and Nile Rodgers in L.A.?"

[marky]

http://www.manchestermusic.co.uk/

[marky]

Also Tony Wilson does a radio show on Sunday nights on XFM. I don't have the URL for that right now. I haven't listened to it yet but this Sunday night will be good to try because I have to remain sober, I have a job interview Monday morning, because god hates me etc.

[marky]

Anyway thank you honestly, McC, for mentioning Blue Orchids as I've pulled them out and have been playing them. But if you've got "The Greatest Hit" CD proper I'm jealous, I don't have that one.

That's okay I've long known I will have to do a big order with LTM when I get a chance. It's been brewing, it will happen. I've got a big order to put in with www.darla.com I really need that Dislocation Dance CD they have, I really need that. More Manchester music, I think Dislocation Dance were from Manchester, too. But don't get that album with "St. Michelle" on it, it's boring.

[marky]

I'm not above drinking cheap malt liquor, you know.

[marky]

Hours later...

Sorry I gave out incorrect information. You can't catch the Tony Wilson show on XFM manchester radio unless you are awake at 5 fucking AM on a Sunday morning. This is why I haven't been able to catch it yet. I will try again next weekend.

[Tommy Martyn]

Marky,

I couldn't help noticing that ANTHONY WILSON has a show on BBC radio Manchester at the moment where he talks about stuff other than pop music. Is Tony for music and Anthony for the other stuff?

[Tommy Martyn]

I'm tommy for everthing.