A bit about the bands on the album…….
Courtiers of fashion
The indisputable mover and shaker of the Coventry music scene in the 80’s, multifaceted musical chameleon Dave Pepper gave us fresh new wave tunes in the 1978 band ‘The X-Certs’, and went on to grow the tallest Mohican within the city boundaries with ‘Blitzkrieg Zone’. Dave flirted with several musical styles, one of which was the new romanticism of ‘Courtiers of Fashion’. This is a very rare recording originally released in 1983 and the first release on Sonar Records and his only visit to Cabin Studio. This self named track, penned by Dave, features Dave – Vocals, Keyboards, Guitar, Paul Johnston – Drums, Keyboards and Karen Ellett – Vocals. The Pep moved over to the USA for a while but is now based in Spain. Together with ‘The discussion’ this track ‘Courtiers of Fashion’ is also available in it’s original form as a 45 rpm vinyl single.
Armalite
Armalite were formed by singer/songwriter and multi instrumentalist Cary Lord who started life as a bass player for Coventry band L’Home de Terre in 1980. Over several years this band experienced several line up changes including Toby Lyons (colourfield) ex swinging cats drummer Billy Gough, ex clique singer Caren Joyce, targets guitarist Adrian Dix, and ex Wild Boy – Johnny Thompson. They were runners up in a battle of the bands at the Lanchester in 1981, and eventually Armalite came together in 1984. Paul Johnston – drums, Cary Lord – Bass guitar/backing vox, Caron Joyce – Lead Vox, and Adrian Dix all guitars recorded this single at the 8 track Cabin studio. Produced by Armalite and Paul Sampson, ‘Living on the Edge’ b/w ‘Breakaway’ was written by the band and was the third release on the sonar record label sporting the catalogue number SON 3. Available to download and as a 45 rpm vinyl single.
She’s The Leader
Formed in 1986 by bass guitarist Cary Lord, and keyboard player Helen Tierney, She’s the Leader were a professional all female rock band playing a combination of covers and original material, and probably had the largest hair do’s ever. The recording line-up featured Stacy on lead/rhythm guitar, Mad Maz on drums, Cary on bass/backing vocals, Helen on piano/synth/backing vocals and Lisa on lead vocals, all coming from diverse musical backgrounds of tastes and styles. In 1988 the band went into Cabin Studio to record 4 tracks ‘Bed of Roses’, ‘Love me like a Lover’, ‘Next to Your Heart’, and ‘Stranger’ to release in cassette format to sell at American bases on a European tour taking place that year. These tracks have now all been made available for download and the track ‘Bed of Roses’ is featured on the ‘Sonar Music – 25th Anniversary’ album. Not available as vinyl
Viktoria’s Sekrets
Cary started to write and record original material collaborating with Reluctant Stereotypes / Pink Umbrellas Paul Sampson, Phil Brown, Alf Hardy and Crokodile Tears. Viktoria’s Sekrets were an early project and the track ‘Don’t be Scared’ appeared on several compilation albums released Worldwide. Now available for download only
Blush
After ‘She’s the leader’ split, bass player Cary went on to join several pro touring bands, and has been writing and recording under the name of `BLUSH’ ever since. The album ‘Independence Day’, was released in 2006 on the Sonar record label and has released several more albums since then. Her last ‘Looking Back Looking On’ was released in 2016.
Crokodile tears
Crokodile Tears are an electro/rock/psychedelic folk duo from Coventry. They released their debut self titled album on Dodgy Ticket records, a subsidiary of Sonar Records, in 1985. Now available on 33 rpm vinyl featuring gems such as Bouncing Boy, Exploding Men! and Great White Yonder, ‘Crokodile Tears’ enlisted the help of several of Coventry’s finest musicians including bass player Barry Jones, Drummer Robin Hill, Steve Edgeson on Clarinet, Steve Young on percussion and Drums, Paul Sampson on Guitars, engineering and production duties and Christopher Sidwell who writes and arranges the music for a band who regard themselves ‘as English as tea’.
Recent album ‘Gulibles Travels’ features the track ‘My Favourite Weather-girl’ about Central T. V.’s Charlie Neil is championed by the lady herself and is featured on several fan sites as well as Central T. V.’s. Many of singer/guitarist Christopher Sidwell’s songs are observational and are based on his life growing up in Coventry. ‘Cathedral Lanes’ is about him being ‘dumped’ in the city-centre shopping arcade of that name. Multi-instrumentalist Alf Hardy has produced and played on albums with Spacemen 3’s Sonic Boom. The duo have recorded with fellow Coventry musicians the Ripps, guitarist/producer Paul Sampson, former Hawkwind guitarist Jerry Richards, ex-Tubilah Dog Banni & Coventry’s very own ‘Ringo’, Robin Hill on drums. As well as the tracks featured on ‘Sonar Music…’ the album ‘Going for the Jugular’ is also available for download.
laughing house
Freddie – Vocals/guitar, Steve hands – drums/vox, and Rob fellows – bass/vox created laughing HOUSE. Crafting the Coventry sound, Laughing HOUSE, incorporate trademarks of the Clash, occasional touches of Killing Joke and the vaguest bow towards U2 in some of the guitar lines. The lads play aggressive well-structured songs punctuated with rhythmic stops and kick-starts and raw punch, with rich harmonies. The ‘Democracy’ EP features 4 tracks – Wasted, Take the mask away, Decline and fall, and Walking on my own all written by the band, and produced by laughing HOUSE and Paul Sampson in 1987 and now available for download as well as in original 12” 33 rpm vinyl format.
Chris Aldridge
Chris Aldridge AKA Beebe, is regarded as one of the UK and Europe’s finest saxophonists and possesses a wide ranging technique which ranges from beat boxing while playing flute, to playing two saxophones at the same time. Chris released his self titled debut album in 1997 throughout the Middle East and Europe. Reviews have compared his saxophone expertise to Grover Washington and earned him a prestigious endorsement from Keilwerth saxophones. He also performed on the soundtrack to the film Intimate With A Stranger which was premiered at Cannes Film Festival. Beebe was featured on the DJ Spoony show on Radio One for three days in October 2005, where he taught him saxophone live on air ready for a Craig David concert.
He has recorded on albums with Bizarre Inc, Mother, The Christians and Gold Blade and performed on support tours with Rancid, Edwin Starr and Blue. He has also appeared at Reading Rock Festival, London Jazz Festival and Montreux Jazz Festival. Beebe’s wide-ranging abilities have taken him on tours with US3, Geno Washington, Jaki Graham as well as appearances with UK, American and Asian jazz icons such as Gerard Presencer, John Dankworth, Victor Mendoza and Surinder Sandhu. In addition to having airplay on Jazz FM and the Paul Jones blues show, one of Beebe’s saxophone solos was included in the Montreux Jazz Festival compilation CD in 1999.
He also plays with Alf Hardy in Earthlab and brings pure class to the album with his soaring sax and superb instrumental track ‘Liz’s Song’.
His debut album ‘Chris Aldridge’ is available for download only.
Furious Apples
Coventry – Spring 1983. The furious apples vocalist Greg Crabb recruited Robin Hill (Pink Umbrellas) on drums, John Westacott (ex-Urge) on bass and (Raphael Moore) on guitar, along with Mike Crabb, and Abbe Collins on keyboards to record a single – Engineering b/w Belladonna, was released in October 1983. This was the second release on the Sonar record label. Paul Sampson engineered and produced. The apples were the first band managed by Wayne Morris, owner of the European Son T-Shirt shop in Gosford Street and a budding pop svengali. John Peel played the Apples single and some interest was shown by CBS. Greg is fondly remembered for being one of Coventry’s best looking rock stars, his scarves which used to drape his mic stands and the Coventry Evening Telegraph headline ; ‘Don’t you know who I am? – I’m Greg Crabb!’ The apples have two rare tracks featured on the ‘Sonar Music – 25th Anniversary’ album ‘Engineering’ and ‘Belladonna’. As well as downloads, these tracks are also available on their original format 45 rpm vinyl.
20 days
Another Paul Sampson production, 20 Days were one of Coventry’s great lost bands Originally a school boy band John O’Sullivan – vocals & guitar, Simon O’Grady – vocals & guitar, Peter Burke grew up together and developed into ’20 Days’ who have prolifically released excellent pop/rock music including this track ‘Freefall’ which features on the Sonar music album.
20 days self titled 12” EP featuring this track together with ‘Night–time’, ‘Heavens High’ and ‘Into the Open’ are available as a download OR as a 12” 33 rpm vinyl EP on vinyl.
Gdansk
Featuring guitarist and vocalist Danny Cunningham, previously of Coventry punk band ‘Squad’ Gdansk are – Derek Finan on drums, Mick Tedder on bass, and Barney Cunningham on lead guitar. the tracks on the ‘Prospect Street’ EP were produced by Gdansk and written by Danny Cunningham and Gdansk. Previously unavailable, the Cunningham/Gdansk penned track, ‘Stand Up’ was issued as a pre-release copy in Spain only. Now available for download, and 12” 33 rpm vinyl
City Dread
Phil Brown AKA City Dread who’s slick Caribbean grooves prove that Cabin studio is no musical one trick pony on this sublime track ‘Understand You’. Several other tracks from City Dread are available as vinyl – Bad Boys, Cut Your Locks, Gal I love you, Women wi love
Kenny Love
Kenny Love, whose parents came from Kingston Jamaica, was born and raised in Coventry and from an early age grew up listening to a wide selection of music, especially reggae, soul and Motown. Early influences include Bob Marley, Dennis Brown the Jackson Five and Stevie Wonder. As a teenager he broadened his listening to include punk and ska and played drums in a marching band which performed for her majesty the Queen at Windsor Castle. Later he sand and played the trumpet in a band called 20-21, who featured in a Live Aid concert in Coventry. He then went on to form a duo called Ju-Ju Jump, who eventually became a four piece playing many gigs throughout the Midlands, including supporting English rapper Dereck B. The band split in 1993 and Kenny went onto present a show on Radio harmony then to Kix 96 Radio, and finally Buzz FM. After 4 years he returned to his first love – song writing – mostly reggae and R n B material destined to be included on his new album and double A single. Tracks on the latter, ‘Peace comin’ On’ and ‘Freedom Come’ have already received airplay with excellent audience reaction. The track ‘Peace comin’ On’ is available as a CD, or download
Sonar Music – 25th Anniversary available for download and streaming from itunes, amazon, spotify etc.
Track List
- Stand Up – gdansk
- Bed of Roses – She’s the leader
- Living on the edge – Armalite
- Belladonna – Furious Apples
- Courtiers of Fashion – Courtiers of Fashion
- Liz’s Song – Chris Aldridge
- Go for the Jugular – Crokodile Tears
- Obsessed by you – Blush
- Freefall – 20 Days
- Wasted – Laughing House
- Peace Comin’ On (ft Ziggy) Kenny Love
- Understand You – City Dread
- Don’t be Scared – Viktoria’s Sekrets
- Chinese Whispers – Crokodile Tears
- I wanna Know – Kenny B
- Engineering – Furious Apples
- Cathedral Lanes
