line up 1 (1982-)

- Tracey Thorn -- vocals, guitar

- Everything But the Girl

- Marine Girls

- The Stern Bops

Genre: pop

Rating: 3 stars ***

Title:  A Distant Shore

Company: Cherry Red

Catalog: M RED 35
Year: 1982

Country/State: Brookmans Park, Hertfordshire, UK

Grade (cover/record): VG+/VG+

Comments: --

Available: 1

Catalog ID: --

Price: $40.00

Everything But the Girl ...  Seriously, that's all I knew about Tracey Thorn when I found a copy of her 1982 solo debut (predating her Everything But the Girl breakthrough by a couple of years).

Still in high school, singer/guitarist Thorn's musical career started in 1980 as a member of The Marine Girls.  Along with friend Gina Hartman on vocals and percussion, they soon added Alice Fox on vocals and percussion and her older sister Jane on bass.  Hartman quickly dropped out of the band with Thorn assuming lead vocals and over the next three years the group managed to release a series of three albums - 1981's "Beach Party" (Whaam! Records catalog number COD 01), 1981's self-financed, cassette-only "A Day By the Sea" and 1983's "Lazy Ways" on Iain McNay's Cherry Red (Cherry Red catalog number BRED 44).

Produced by Pat Benningham, 1982's "A Distant Shore" was recorded while Thorn was still a member of The Marine Girls.  Recorded after the group had scored a contract with Cherry Red, THorn's debut featured seven original compositions and one cover.  The whole thing clocked in at under 25 minutes.  Technically I guess that made it a mini-LP.  Regardless, anyone expecting to hear a collection of sophisticated Everything But the Girl-styled jazz-pop was likely to be disappointed by this set.  Exemplified by tracks like 'Small Town Girl', 'Seascape' and 'New Open Eyes' the collection was heavy  (I mean heavy) on introspective teenage angst.  All eight tracks featured stripped down arrangements - Thorn accompanying herself on strumming electric, or acoustic guitar.  The good news is the focus was on Thorn's amazing voice.  Admittedly the album's low-tech sound and the occasional vocal cracks lacked the polish sophistication that was to come with her next project, but that voice ...  Elsewhere the jazzy 'Simply Couldn't Care Less', 'Dreamy' and the single 'Plain Sailing' all offered hints of Thorn's future musical direction.  I'm not sure I would trade one of my EBTG albums for this one, but there are folks who will find the album essential.  For hardcore fans the album marked Thorn's last solo effort until 2007's "Out of the Woods."

"A Distant Shore" track listing:
(side 1)

1.) Small Town Girl (Tracey Thorn) - rating: *** stars

Showcasing Thorn's instantly recognizable voice accompanying herself on strumming electric guitar, this stripped down ballad set the standard for what was to come.  Think an overwhelming case of teenage angst and you'll quickly know whether this one's going to work for you.  The track had a pretty melody and the lyrics were deep and insightful, but it wasn't the kind of song you were going to start your weekend party with.

2.) Simply Couldn't Care  (Tracey Thorn) - rating: *** stars

If there was a song that foreshadowed her EBTG catalog, I'd give the nod to the ballad 'Simply Couldn't Care.'  Just Thorn on acoustic guitar, this one sported a jazzy vibe and some of her strongest vocals.

3.) Seascape  (Tracey Thorn) - rating: *** stars

I saw where someone compared 'Seascape' to the late Nick Drake and I get the comparison.  Another one where you might not want to start your weekend off with this one (unless you were looking at a cold, dark and wet Saturday after your girlfriend had dumped you the night before ...)., 

4.) Femme Fatale  (Lou Reed) -  rating: *** stars

Thorn's cover of The Velvet Underground's 'Femme Fatale' served as the album's lone non-original.  She didn't really mess with the melody, but personally I didn't think her version came close to Nico's frozen Teutonic delivery.

(side 2)
1.) Dreamy  (Tracey Thorn) -  rating: *** stars

Not quite as EBTG-ish as 'Simply Couldn't Care' but a good indication of the direction she was heading.  Nice guitar.

2.) Plain Sailing  (Tracey Thorn) - rating: *** stars

Yes, with a jaunty guitar and sing-song melody,  I'll admit 'Plain Sailing' was the album's most commercial endeavor.  Just remember the baseline for comparison was low.

- 1982's 'Plain Sailing' b/w Goodbye Joe' (Cherry Red catalog number Cherry 53)

3.) New Opened Eyes  (Tracey Thorn) -  rating: *** stars

Ah, the heartbreak of youth ...  

4.) Too Happy (Tracey Thorn) -   rating: *** stars

Looking online there's a whole generational niche that seem to have grown up with this album and still hold it close to their hearts.  And as you'd expect, in spite of the title, 'Too Happy' was another slice of melancholy introspection.