Mekons discography v. 0.9
Charles Miller
***** the Internet Mekons Discography *****
***** version 0.9 *****
************************************************
Revised 10/17/94
Typing pool supervisor: Charles Miller (char...@gwproteus.com)
Contributors: << send some info and SEE YOUR NAME HERE! >>
Please send corrections, additions, or suggestions to the above address.
This is my first shot at a Mekons discography. I know there's lots of stuff
missing, especially 7"ers and compilation cuts, and I've fudged the
chronology in places, so please help fill in the holes.
A tip 'o the hat to Rob Vaughn, whose Sonic Youth discography was an
inspiration...
CONTENTS
--------
1. Chronological Discography
2. Video! {FORTHCOMING]
3. Side projects [FORTHCOMING]
DISCOGRAPHY
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
"Never Been in a Riot" / "32 Weeks" / "Heart and Soul"
1978 - 7" on Fast Product [FAST 1]
Lineup: Andy Corrigan, Mark White, Ken, Tong, Ros Allen, Jon Langford
Notes: Produced by Mekons and Bob Last. The first release on Fast
Product.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
"Where Were You?" / "I'll Have to Dance Then (On My Own)"
1978 - 7" on Fast Product [FAST 7]
Lineup: ???
Notes: Produced by Mekons and Bob Last
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
"Work All Week" / "Unknown Wrecks"
1979? - 7" on Virgin [VS 300]
Lineup: ???
Notes: Recorded at Surrey Sound, 28-30 August 1979; produced by Bob Last
for Fast.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Quality of Mercy is Not Strnen
1979 - LP/CS? on Virgin [??]
1990 - LP/CD reissue on Blue Plate [???]
Lineup: ???
Songs: ???
Notes: The final 6 tracks are bonus cuts on the Blue Plate reissue
(singles tracks from 1979-1980)
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Fast Product--Mutant Pop
1980 - LP/CS? on PVC [PVC 7912]
19?? - CD reissue on ??? [???]
Songs: Never Been in a Riot / 32 Weeks / Where Were You?
Notes: This compilation of tracks from the Fast Products label also
features ace cuts by the Gang of Four
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Teeth
1980 - 2x7" on Virgin [SV101]
Lineup: ???
Songs: Teeth / Guardian / Kill / Stay Cool
Notes: Recorded in Halifax and Rochdale, January 1980; produced by the
Mekons. Silvery paper gatefold sleeve houses the two 45s (black vinyl).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Devils Rats and Piggies a Special Message from Godzilla
1980 - LP/CS? on Red Rhino [???]
Lineup: ???
Songs: ???
Notes: I don't have it, obviously. Please e-mail with the particulars if
you have a copy
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
"This Sporting Life" / "Fight the Cuts"
1981 - 7" on CNT [CNT008]
1981 - 12" on CNT [CNT???]
Lineup: Jon Langford, Tom Greenhalgh, Kevin Lycett
Notes: No "B" side; "Fight the Cuts" is on side "AA". Writing on inner
groove: "Support the hospital workers" and "We wuz robbed".
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
the Mekons Story -- it falleth like the gentle rain from heaven
1982 - LP on CNT [CNT009]
1993 - CD reissue from original master tapes on Sin/Feel Good All Over
[SIGA 001]
Roll Call: Ros Allen, Pete Barker, Adrian Collins, Dean Crindau, Boss
Davies, Ken Giles, Tom Greenhalgh, Paul Griffiths, Mary Jenner, Jon
Langford, Kevin Lycett, Kenny Moore, Brendan Peacock, Andy Ridgers, Andy
Sharpe, Piers Story, Sally Timms, Mark White, Mick Wixey
Songs: Letter's in the Post / Not a Bitterman (Born to be Mild) / Dance
and Drink the Mekons / Bomb Train / Trouble Down South / Car-Men / Eden /
Frustration / Fight the Cuts / Byron / This Sporting Life / Rosanne /
Garden Fence of Sound / Miriam Always / Walking Song / The Building / I'm
So Happy / I Bought You These / He Beat Up His Boyfriend / (I was the)
First Guitarist (in the world)
Notes: Entertaining liner notes by Lester Bangs (R.I.P.); the 1993
reissue (limited to 2000 copies) contains the complete version of "Byron",
which was "replaced by an inferior demo on the original release".
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
"Guardian" (live)
1982? - 7" flexi on ??? [SHOL3328]
Lineup: ???
Notes: Flexi given away with Amsterdam-based music rag, Muziekblad
Vinyl? "Recorded live in Wuppertal for CNT Productions of Leeds. Remix by
Kenny Giles. KG Music Studios, Bridlington." On the "B" -- Gdansk, "A
Word".
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
They Shall Not Pass, various artists
1983 - LP on Abstract [AABT 400]
Songs: Fight the Cuts / This Sporting Life
Notes: From the record jacket: "This LP contains a selection of songs
released by CNT productions of Leeds between Sepetmber 1981 and October
1983. It was compiled during the tenth month of the British miners' strike
and is dedicated to the striking miners and their families. DEATH TO ROCK
AND ROLL MONETARISM"
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
I never listen to music and neither do the Mekons. They make
it instead. Everybody has to do something. My advice to you
is to kill yourself. But buy this record first. It will make
a nice coaster for your grieving relatives to put their
Bushmills and water on.
Lester Bangs, 1981
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
The English Dancing Master EP
1983 - 12" on CNT [CNT???]
Lineup: ???
Songs: ???
Notes:
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Fear and Whiskey
1989 - LP/CS? on Sin [Sin 001]
Lineup: Steve Goulding, Tommy Greene, Susie Honeyman, Jonny Boy Langford,
Lu, Ken Lite, Dick Taylor with help from Jim Chapman, John Gill, Shelagh
Quinn, Mark J. White, Robert Worby, Carlton B. Morgan, Dolf Anonymous,
Jaqui Callis, Sabien Ex, Ralph Mulcahy, Terry Nelson
Songs: Chivalry / Trouble Down South / Hard to be Human Again / Darkness
and Doubt / Pyscho Cupid (Danceband on the Edge of Time) / Flitcraft /
Country / Abernant 1984/85 / Last Dance
Notes: My first Mekons record and one of their best. I still play the
scratchy old vinyl...
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Rock Stars are just employees of cost accountants
--from the jacket of Fast Product-Mutant Pop
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Crime and Punishment
1986 - 10" on Sin [Sin 002?]
Lineup: ???
Songs: ???
Notes:
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Edge of the World
1986 - LP/CS? on Sin [Sin 003]
Lineup: Rico Bell, Lu Edmonds, John Gill, Steve Goulding, Tom
Greenhalgh, Susie Honeyman, Jon Langford, Ken Lite, Dick Taylor, Sally
Timms, Martin Skull Henderson (with Brendan Croker and Tim Taylor)
Songs: Hello Cruel World / Bastard / Oblivion / King Arthur / Ugly Band
/ Shanty / Garage D'or / Big Zombie / Sweet Dreams / Dream Dream Dream /
Slightly South of the Border / Alone & Foresaken / The Letter
Notes: An appropriated photo by Richard Avedon graces the back cover
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Slightly South of the Border
1986 - 10" on Sin [Sin 005?]
Lineup: ???
Songs: ???
Notes:
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Mekons Honky Tonkin'
1987 - LP/CS on Sin?
1987 - LP/CS on Twin/Tone [TTR 87113]
1992? - CD on Twin/Tone
Lineup:
Songs: I Can't Find My Money / Hole in the Ground / Sleepless Nights /
Keep Hoppin' / Charlie Cake Park / If They Hang You / Prince of Darkness /
Kidnapped / Sympathy for the Mekons / Spit / The Trimdon Garage Explosion /
Please Don't Let Me Love You / Gin Palace
Notes:
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
New York
1987 - CS on ROIR
1990 - CD on ROIR/Important [88561-5026-2]
Lineup: Jon Langford, Tom Green, Kevin Lycett, Sally Timms, Susie
Honeyman, Robert Worby, Steven Goulding, Rico Bell. Michelle Shocked
appears on "Prince of Darkness"
Songs: (Chicago introduction) Big Zombie / Trouble Down South (my body
J.F.K. part I) / Slightly South of the Border / The Story of Nothing (Tex
Rico) / Flitcraft at the Iron Horse (Moby Dick/shallow bourgeois smile)
(dadaist rhetoric in boston) / Prince of Darkness (my body J.F.K. Part II)
/ Abernant 84/87 (Tommy) (San Francisco dj/audience) / I Can't Find my
Money (Robert & Steven in the Heartbreak Hotel) / The Shape I'm In / Hard
to be Human / Beaten & Broken (at Garage D'Or) / Not Long Ago (my body
J.F.K. part III) / Shanty (my body in Chicago) / Revenge / Sophie /
Chivalry
Notes:
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
'Til Things Are Brighter..., various artists
1988 - LP/CD on Red Rhino-Fundamental [???]
Lineup: ???
Songs: Folsom Prison Blues
Notes: An AIDS-benefit album of Johnny Cash covers; various Mekons also
back the other musicans on the record.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Andrew Noel Lin Memorial Trailer Park EP, various artists
1988? - 7" on Chemical Imbalance [CI004]
Lineup: ???
Songs: After 6
Notes: "Recorded at Baldy Gregson Folk Club, Des Moines, IA, June 1986".
Given away with Chemical Imbalance #7, the ep also featues the Magnolias,
Loud Fast Rules, and Blue Hippos (all of Twin/Tone fame).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
So Good It Hurts
1988 - LP/CS/CD on Sin?
1988 - LP/CS/CD on Twin/Tone [TTR 88114]
Lineup:
Songs: I'm Not Here (1967) / Ghosts of American Astronauts / Road to
Florida / Johnny Miner / Dora / Poxy Lips / (Sometimes I Feel Like)
Fletcher Christian / Fantastic Voyage / Robin Hood / Heart of Stone /
Maverick / Vengeance
Notes:
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Original Sin
1989 - CD on Twin/Tone [TTR 89164-2]
Lineup: see entries for Fear and Whiskey, The English Dancing Master,
Crime and Punishment, Edge of the World, Slightly South of the Border
Songs: Chivalry / Trouble Down South / Hard to be Human Again / Darkness
and Doubt / Pyscho Cupid (Danceband on the Edge of Time) / Flitcraft /
Country / Abernant 1984/85 / Last Dance / Lost Highway / (a Dancing Master
such as ) Mr. Confess / Beaten and Broken / Chop That Child in Half / Hey!
Susan / Garage D'Or / Slightly South of the Border / Coal Hole / $1,000
Wedding / Rescue Mission
Notes: A handy (and still in-print) compilation of the Mekons'
mid-eighties work (mostly on Brixton's Sin Records) reprising Fear and
Whiskey and Slightly South of the Border in their entirety, plus cuts from
Crime and Punishment, Edge of the World, and English Dancing Master. Buy it
while you still can....
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Dream and Lie of...
1989 - 10"/CD on Blast First [???]
Lineup: Steve Goulding, Tom Greenhalgh, Susie Honeyman, Jon Langford,
Sally Timms, Mr. Knee
Songs: Heaven and Back / Ring O' Roses / ??? / ???
Notes: I can't find my notes for this one -- Help me out
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Mekons Rock'n'Roll
1989 - LP/CS/CD on Blast First [???]
1989 - LP/CS/CD on A&M [SP 5277]
Lineup: Steve Goulding, Tom Greenhalgh, Susie Honeyman, Jon Langford,
Sally Timms, Mr. Knee
Songs: Memphis, Egypt / Club Mekon / Only Darkness Has the Power /
Learning to Live on Your Own / Cocaine Lil / Empire of the Senseless /
Someone / Amnesia / I Am Crazy / Blow Your Tuneless Trumpet / Echo / When
Darkness Falls
Notes: Produced by The Mekons and Ian Caple.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
"Memphis, Egypt" promo
1989 - 12" on A&M [SP-17897]
Songs: Memphis, Egypt / Heaven and Back / Cocaine Lil
Notes: "Heaven and Back" is one of the 2 songs omitted from the U.S.
version of The Mekons Rock'n'Roll
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
"Club Mekon" promo
1989 - 12" on A&M [SP-17961]
Songs: Club Mekon / Amnesia / Ring O' Roses
Notes: "Ring O' Roses" is one of the 2 songs omitted from the U.S.
version of The Mekons Rock'n'Roll
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
"Empire of the Senseless" promo
1989 - 12" on A&M [SP-18005]
Songs: Empire of the Senseless / Interview
Notes: Tom Greenhalgh and Jon Langford are interviewed by Pete Shelley
of the Buzzcocks. Very flattering promotional insert enclosed.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
F.U.N. '90
1990 - LP?/CD on A&M [75021 5325 2]
Lineup: ???
Songs: Makes No Difference / Sheffield Park / Having a Party / One Horse
Town
Notes: Produced by the Mekons with Ian Caple. The Mekons' reaction to
house music? "One Horse Town" features rants by Lester Bangs. Recorded for
fun, as the title suggests, at the prompting of some airhead at A&M, F.U.N.
'90 was received with stunning silence at the label and got zero promotion.
It eventually proved a contract breaker.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
"Hey, Susan" (live)
1990? - 7" flexi on Evatone [EV-106532-00]
Lineup: ???
Notes: Flexi given away with issue #39 of The Bob. Recorded live on
December 4, 1989 at First Avenue, Minneapolis.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Curse of the Mekons
1991 - LP/CS/CD on Blast First [bffp80]
Lineup: Lu Cipher, Steve Ghoulding, Tom in the Green, Samantha
Herebemonsters, Jon Dee Fanglord, Endora Timms (with Rico Hell, Brendan
Crowkey, John Gill the Dubmaster General, The return of Ken Litemare,
Robert Warlock, Carlton B. Manson, P.D. Brune, The Egremont Factory Ltd.,
John Hart, Gavin Sharp, Neil Yates)
Songs: The Curse / Blue Arse / Wild & Blue / Authority / Secrets /
Nocturne / Sorcerer / Brutal / Funeral / Lyric / Waltz / 100% Song
Notes: Produced by the Mekons and Ian Caple. LP has a spiffy silver
foil-embossed jacket with scary runes.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Wicked Midnight
1992? - CD on Loud [???]
Lineup: ???
Songs: I can't find my copy right now...
Notes: Cut with "tremendous support" from this tiny custom label in the
Warners' family, Loud Records fell apart shortly after Wicked Midnight hit
the streets. The crash almost took I [heart] Mekons with it; that album was
recorded under Loud's aegis. Incidentally, the Mekons were not the only
casualty -- Austin, TX-based Glass Eye also got screwed by Loud, which
ultimately caused that band's demise.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Born to Choose: a Reproductive Rights Compilation, various artists
1993 - CD on Rykodisc [RCD 10256]
Lineup: Sally Timms, Susie Honeyman, Sarah Corina, John [sic] Langford,
Tom Greenhalgh, John Langley
Songs: Born to Choose
Notes: Recorded at the Stone Room, London, August 1992; produced by the
Mekons and Ian Caple. This compilation, benefitting NARAL, BWARE, and
WHAM!, also features the likes of Matthew Sweet, R.E.M., Pavement, Sugar,
etc.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Lipstick Traces, various artists
1993 - LP/CD on Rough Trade [R2901]
Songs: Never Been in a Riot / The Building
Notes: An entertaining soundtrack to Greil Marcus' Lipstick Traces: A
Secret History of the 20th Century (Harvard University Press, 1989).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
I [heart] Mekons
1993? - LP/CS/CD on Quarterstick [QS19]
Lineup: Sarah "Casanova" Corina, Tom "Cat" Greenhalgh, Susie
"Honeybaby", "Don Juan" Langford, John "Lovely" Langley, Sally "Bunny"
Timms (help from Eric "Rico" Bellis, John "Lovely Dubbly" Gills, Elie
Hollingshead)
Songs: Millionaire / Wicked Midnight / I Don't Know / Dear Sausage / All
I Want / Special / St. Valentine's Day / I [heart] Apple / Love Letter /
Honeymoon in Hell / Too Personal / Point of No Return
Notes:
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
"Millionaire" EP
1993 - CD on Quarterstick [QS23]
Lineup: ???
Songs: Millionaire / He Beat Up His Boyfriend / All I Want / Blow Your
Tuneless Trumpet / (Sometimes I Feel Like) Fletcher Christian
Notes: Tracks 1 and 2 are shameless promotional devices for the I
[heart] Mekons record and the Mekons Story reissue; tracks 3-5 were
recorded live at Chicago's Cabaret Metro on ???; "Tuneless Trumpet" and
"Fletcher Christian" also appear in the forthcoming feature film,
Mekons--The Movie.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Retreat from Memphis
1994 - LP/CS?/CD on Quarterstick [QS26]
Lineup:
Songs: Eve Future / Lucky Devil / Do I Know You? / Insignificance
(conversation with boche) / His Bad Dream / Our Bad Dream / The Flame That
Killed John Wayne / Ice Rink in Berlin / Spinning Round the Flames /
Machine / Hostile Mascot / Chemical Wedding / Spirals of Paranoia / Missing
You All / Submerged / Soldier / Never Work
Notes:
===========================================================================
+--------------------------------------------------------------------+
| This message was sent from Gateway Proteus: A FirstClass System |
| Usenet * Clarinet * OneNet ** Philly, PA ** in...@gwproteus.com |
+--------------------------------------------------------------------+