Wednesday, March 18, 2009

B-TEAM-------TOO GOOD FOR THE RESERVES


Yesterday a much sought after mod revival single turned up in one of my esteemed haunts, Alan's record shop in East Finchley. The B-Team single was as hard to pin down as the A-Team. Three or four times it refused to succumb to my bidding on ebay. Not in pristine condition but worth the £4 I paid for it as it last sold on ebay for around £60. Outbid at the last that day finding it yesterday was a succulent joy.


Released on the Diamond Record Corporation in 1985 it is apparently the label's eighth attempt at chart success. So what are the others?


The B-Team consisted of Tony Vessey on bass, Kelvin Davis on guitar/vocals, Doug McNair on keyboards and Steve Bessemer on drums. On the sleeve the band are nonchalantly hovering around an E-Type Jag, ostensibly void of all envy but secretly hoping record sales will boost their accounts and enable them to ditch their Vespas and secure ownership of the sleek contraption they are defiantly trying to ignore. What halted their path to glory? Lack of airplay, bad promotion, poor distribution or the uncanny resemblance one of the band has to Jimmy Nail. We can only speculate but the irony is that if one of the band had fifty copies of their single fraternizing with dust in the attic and he released them into ebay world he'd probably be able to buy an E-Type Jag.


b team all i ever wanted.mp3 -

5 comments:

45 Revolutions said...

Despite it being far too 'late', I like this one too. Normally stuff after '82 or so leaves me cold, but I liked this one enough to add it to my list of sale-stuff.

I think it's nearly (but not quite) as nice as "3 Bands Tonite" by The Directions.

Nice post!

bristolboy said...

not sure if it's a rhetorical question but here's a diamond discography (a11 7")

the scene - looking for love -001
long tall shorty - on the streets again -002
the scene - something you said -003
the moment - in this town -004
long tall shorty - what's going on -005
the moment - one two they fly -006

( I love the b-side to this "Karl's new haircut" great instrumental like the quicks berts apple crumble)

the scene - good lovin' -007
kindergarten - warrior -009
the way out - this working way -010
the rage - looking for you -rage1 +12"
the business - drinking & driving-011 +12"
kindergarten - world turned upside down (12" only I think) -014

DIA 012 & 013 not issued

I wouldn't bother looking for 009/011 or 014 they are not very good
all the others range from good to excellent 80's mod

hope this is of help to someone...

Rupert Cook said...

Fascinating Bristolboy. I'm very impressed. I have a Moment single somewhere but I don't recall it being on Diamond.

I think the Kindergarten 12" is in Rough Trade Vintage. But I think I'll take your advice and avoid.

Thanks for the discography.

I'm pleased you enjoyed something post 1982 45 Revs. The B sides pretty good too.

shelflife said...

thanks for the post, I've been wanting to hear this single for like forever! it has too eluded me all these years.

Rupert Cook said...

I'm glad you finally got to hear it. Seems quite a few people are trying to find this single.