line up 1 (1979-80)

- Phil Birch -- vocals, drums, percussion 
- Phil Brown (RIP) -- bass, backing vocals 
- Huw Gower -- lead guitar
- John Wicks -- vocals, guitar 

  line up 2 (1980-82)

- Phil Birch -- vocals, drums, percussion
- Phil Brown (RIP) -- bass, backing vocals 
NEW - Jude Cole -- lead guitar, backing vocals (replaced 

  Huw Gower)
- John Wicks -- vocals, guitar

  supporting musicians: (1980)

- Barry Martin -- lead guitar

  line up 3 (1982-83)

- Phil Birch -- vocals, drums, percussion 
- Phil Brown (RIP) -- bass, backing vocals 
NEW - Chris Gent -- vocals 
- John Wicks -- vocals, guitar 
NEW - David Whelan -- lead guitar (replaced Jude Cole) 

- Jude Cole (solo efforts)
- Huw Gower (solo efforts)
- The Kursaal Flyers (Will Birch and John Wicks) 

Rating: **** (4 stars)

Title:  The Records

Company: Virgin

Catalog: VA-

Year: 1979

Grade (cover/record): VG+/VG+

Comments: gatefold sleeve

Available: 2

Price: $9.00

Rating: **** (4 stars)

Title:  Shades In Bed

Company: Virgin

Catalog: V2122

Year: 1979

Grade (cover/record): VG+/VG+

Comments: minor ring, edge and corner wear; gatefold sleeve, includes bonus 4 track 12" 45 rpm EP; gatefold sleeve; UK pressing

Available: 1

Price: $20.00

Led by drummer Will Birch, The Records were built on the remnants of mid-'70s pub rockers The Flying Kurzals (see separate entry). Following the formers demise, in 1978 singer/guitarist Birch brought together bassist Phil Brown, and guitarists Huw Gower and John Wicks. Originally intent on recording original material as a demo for Dr. Feelgood, the results were so impressive Birch and company decided to stick together. 

Signed to Virgin, their 1979 English debut "Shades In Bed" wasn't released in the States. Instead, making some minor changes to sequencing, dropping the limited edition 12" EP that accompanied the original release, and adding new cover art, Virgin released the set domestically as the cleverly titled "The Records". Ignoring the senseless changes, the resulting collection stood as one of the year's most refreshing debuts. Boasting a pair of strong singers (though Birch was better than Wicks), the album made for an amazing display of pop-professionalism. Exemplified by tracks such as "Teenarama", "Affection Rejected" and "Girl," from start to finish there wasn't a dud on the record. Literally every song could have been pulled as a single. Simply one of the year's best releases, the album generated rave reviews and should have been a monster hit. While the classic single "Starry Eyes" b/w "Paint Her Face" (Virgin catalog number VA-67000) attracted modest airplay, the parent album could do no better than #41. (Originally released with a gatefold cover, select copies of the English pressing included a bonus 12" 45 rpm EP "Abacadabra" with the band doing four classic covers, including The Kinks' "See My Friends" and Spirit's "1984".)

"The Records" track listing:
1.) All Messed Up and Ready To Go (Will Birch - John Wicks)
2.) Teenarama (Will Birch - John Wicks)
3.) Girls That Don't Exist (Will Birch - Richie Bill)
4.) Starry Eyes (Will Birch - John Wicks)
5.) Up All Night (Will Birch - John Wicks)
6.) Girl (Will Birch - John Wicks - Phil Brown) - 4:11
7.) Insomnia (Will Birch - John Wicks) - 
8.) Affection Rejected (Will Birch - John Wicks - Huw Gower)
9.) The Phone (Huw Gower - Will Birch)
10.) Another Star (Will Birch - John Wicks)

"Shades In Bed" track listing:
1.) Girl (Will Birch - John Wicks - Phil Brown) - 4:11
2.) Teenarama (Will Birch - John Wicks) - 3:59
3.) Girls That Don't Exist (Will Birch - Richie Bill) - 3:38
4.) Starry Eyes (Will Birch - John Wicks) - 4:45
5.) Up All Night (Will Birch - John Wicks) - 4:40
6.) All Messed Up and Ready To Go (Will Birch - John Wicks) - 3:52
7.) Insomnia (Will Birch - John Wicks) - 3:00
8.) Affection Rejected (Will Birch - John Wicks - Huw Gower) - 3:52
9.) The Phone (Huw Gower - Will Birch) - 3:21
10.) Another Star (Will Birch - John Wicks) - 3:58

"Abacadabra" track listing:
1.) Abacadabra (Have You Seen Her) (Frank Senich - Bill Bartolin) - 2:41
2.) See My Friends (Ray Davies) - 3:40
3.) 1984 (Randy California) - 3:41
4.) Standing In the Shadow (Mick Jagger - Keith Richards) - 2:52

Genre: pop

Rating: **** (4 stars)

Title:  Crashes

Company: Virgin

Catalog: VA 13140

Year: 1980

Country/State: Bristol, UK

Grade (cover/record): VG+/VG+

Comments: item 1: promo copy; timing strip on front; minor ring, edge and corner wear; item 2: minor ring, edge and corner wear

Available: 2226

Price: $10.00

With original guitarist Huw Gower striking out in pursuit of a solo career, the rest of the band went into the studio with assistance from former Kursaal Flyer lead guitarist Barry Martin.  Before the sessions were complete American guitarist Jude Cole (previously a member of  Moon Martin's backing band The Ravens) was formerly added to the line-up, though his contributions were seemingly limited to isolated backing vocals.  Largely produced by Craig Leon, 1980's "Crashes" was viewed as somewhat of a disappointing follow-up.  In hindsight, it's hard to understand the lukewarm reception.  With Will Birch and John Wick again writing the majority of material, tracks such as 'Hearts Will Be Broken', 'Girl In Golden Disc' and the single 'Hearts in Her Eyes' (The Searchers enjoying a hit with their cover), were every bit as charming and enjoyable as the debut.  Produced by Craig Leon (Mick Glossop handling a couple of efforts), the collection offered up another dazzling set of harmony-rich, jangle-guitar-propelled pop-rock.  Among the highlights; pulling a page out of the Cheap Trick book of top-40 hits, 'Guitars In the Sky', the Beatlesque 'Spent a Week with You Last Night', and 'I Don't Remember Your Name'. Uniformly catchy and commercial, there really wasn't a bad song on the album, making it hard to understand why the set was all but ignored.  I guess it had something to do with the public's sudden interest in new wave and punk angst.  The band toured the US, but lacking a follow-on hit single, Virgin did little to promote  the album, let alone support the band.  Big surprise to learn the album proved a commercial disappointment, faltered at # 204 on the US album charts.  The conclusion of the US tour also saw the band part ways with Birch, Brown, and Wicks returning to the UK, while American Cole stayed in the States.

"Crashes" track listing:
(side 1)

1.) Man with the Girl Proof Heart   (Will Birch - John Wicks) - 2:47

'Man with the Girl Proof Hear' was apparently a left over from the debut.  Written while Bird and Wicks were still in The Kursaal Flyers, it featured Gower on lead guitar and was one of two songs produced by Mick Glossop.  The title track alone was worth two stars ...  Add in a jumpy jangle rock slice of power pop and what wasn't there to like on this one?    rating: **** stars
2.) Hearts Will Be Broken   (Will Birch - John Wicks) - 3:52

I saw a live clip where John Wicks described 'Hearts Will Be Broken' as an effort to placate their record company by rewriting 'Starry Eyes'.   The other Mick Glossop,  produced song, this one found The Records abandoning the debut tune's punk-ish energy,  effortlessly beating the likes of Eric Carmen and the Raspberries at the power pop game.  Glistening melody, heart thumping jangle guitars, and vocals that would have made The Everly Brothers swoon - you had to wonder how this one avoided becoming a massive hit   rating: **** stars.  
3.) Girl In Golden Disc   (Will Birch - John Wicks) - 3:47

Perhaps nothing more than urban legend, but the song was supposedly inspired by a British independent record shop that employed a series of attractive young sisters.  Another wonderful slice of power pop that should have been released as a single.   rating: **** stars
4.) I Don't Remember Your Name   (Will Birch - John Wicks) - 3:38

The term Beatle-esque is grossly over-used, but in this case it was appropriate.  I've seldom heard a tune with such a Revolver-inspired sound.  The  lysergic-tinged  vocals and lyrics, the melody, Jude Cole's lead guitar, the entire vibe ...   great tune and one of the album highlights.    rating: **** stars
5.) Hearts In Her Eyes   (Will Birch) - 3:20

Originally penned for The Searchers (who scored a hit with their version), 'Hearts In Her Eyes' was the album's most blatantly commercial pop song ...   and that wasn't meant as a criticism.   Another tune where you just had to wonder how the harmonies and jangle-guitars didn't charm every DJ that heard it.   Virgin tapped it as the album's single:

   US 7"

- 1980's 'Hearts In Her Eyes' b/w '' (Virgin catalog number VA 67008)

   US 12"

- 1980's  'Hearts In Her Eyes' b/w 'Rumour Sets the Woods Alight' (Virgin catalog number PR 365)

By the way, The Records' version crushed The Searchers' version.   rating: **** stars

(side 2)

1.) Spent a Week with You Last Night   (Will Birch - John Wicks) - 3:09

One of my all tie favorite Records performances, the arrangement, instrumentation, and vocals all gave 'Spent a Week with You Last Night' a distinctive "Revolver" flavor.   Just list to the way Wicks delivers the first line; the lysergic pounding piano ...   fantastic.   You can't get much better praise than that !!!   rating: ***** stars
2.) Rumour Sets the Woods Alight   (Will Birch - John Wicks) - 3:06

As exemplified by the opening of 'Rumour Sets the Woods Alight', Phil Birch was the band's overlooked heartbeat.  Full of great jangle guitar, Cole's singing leads, and the band's sweet harmonies, this was another tune that actually had a bit of Beatles flavor.   One of the album's highlights.   rating: **** stars
3.) The Worriers   (Will Birch - John Wicks) - 3:29
4.) The Same Mistakes   (Will Birch - John Wicks) - 4:15

Awesome power pop tune - if anything there was almost too much going on in this one.  Wicks seldom sounded as good as on this one.   rating: **** stars
5.) Guitars In the Sky   (Will Birch - John Wicks) - 4:08

Maybe I'm losing my hearing, but instead of sounding like the Fab Four, 'Guitars In the Sky' has always reminded me of an English version of Cheap Trick.   One of their best rockers, this one was worth the price just for the end-of-song Jude Cole and John Wicks guitar workout.  (There's a YouTube video where Wicks mentioned Humble Pie's Clem Clemson actually played the solo ... beats me.)   rating: ***** stars