FROM A DISTANT GALAXY

Discovered in MVE a few months back this odd little effort from the Faraway Stars fell from the skies in 1981 on Robo records. The group was made up of Rose Saddler on bass and backing vocals, Pete Giles on synthesizers, Fran Ashcroft on vocals and guitars and Mick Pearl on drums.

The A side sounds as if it erupted from a bad teen movie cash-in celebrating the waywardness of early eighties youth. Production is pinned down to a minimum as befits a record that comes in a thin paper sleeve. Remember that Joy Division look? Brooding around on bridges and in underpasses suits some but is undermined here by the bicycle. Let's hope they stole it and they ride without clips.

Their genius remained inconspicuous and they vanished, possibly to roam around the planets.

I think the B side the better of the two tracks. It's no classic but it's mildly engaging though one might expect a little more threat from a song called Sex And Violence. Listen for yourselves.

sex and violence.mp3 - faraway stars

ON THE SCAVENGE IN LETCHWORTH AND WELWYN GARDEN CITY

First seen brazenly offering itself to me for £15 in a Bristol record shop I am seduced by its charms for a meagre 50p. It's an LP by the Great Outdoors and it's lounging indecorously upon some utter eighties tat by the likes of Dire Straits and Genesis. It was found outside....

David's has shrunk since my last visit. Not such a vast vinyl selection but still the odd decent find. A Two People 12" for 50p and a Sound LP for £3. Also the dead people ambience of charity shops is absent.

Letchworth's premier charity shop. Can you wait to go inside? No, neither can I. And this is what we found........

One of these infamous Top Of The Pops LP's sold for a £100 on ebay. Not this canary-coloured effort. The girl isn't in a bikini, that's a pound off its sale price. These LP's were the sole reason for teenage acne in the seventies.

Those earrings explain why Su Pollard has no curtains in her bedroom. Miss Pollard was the training bra Tracey Ullman. Can you believe this woman had a no.2 hit in 1986? Makes you pine for Stock Aitken and Waterman. And if you're wondering, no we didn't buy it.

Our first charity shop in Welwyn Garden City. I wonder what the Farmers Boys would do with those hands to the girls on the right. So which of these records do you think we bought?

Playing musical charades. It's either "China In Your Hand" or "Cats In The Cradle". Kathryn tried for "Tiger Feet" but she doesn't have toes that grip. For all you animal lovers out there we rescued this feline from its dusty domain, Cancer Research.

WHAT I LOST ON EBAY

Various friends lurk in the ebay shrubbery. On occasion they briefly become enemies as they declare an interest in an item you are itching to own. It might have been the role of loser for jbsolo if I'd have not malfunctioned with 12 seconds to go. I daintily struck the right keys but the computer refused to obey and furious typing on my part failed to correct the error, either mine or the computer's.

Anyway I'm fairly sure jbsolo is Jessel of Canada and he shuffles away with the Four Idle Hands single for its starting price. Enjoy it Jessel but just remember I know where you live ( too bloody far away ), ha, ha ( that was a blood-curdling laugh ).

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&item=220340451785

WHAT I LOST ON EBAY

This Home And Abroad single rarely raises its ugly head so I threw a cursory amount at it. I'm not entirely convinced by their stuff so there was little need for hugs and commiserations from the girlfriend. I'd have been willing to chuck £2o its way but such niggardliness on my part failed to woo it. Instead it went to old adversary Atichon for £44.87. When I find it for £2 in MVE I'll chew on a croissant in his spendthrift honour.

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&item=220314518673

EYE ON EBAY

These Swiss misses, Chin Chin, released one of the must-have indie releases on 53rd & 3rd called Stop! Your Crying. Other fine efforts were unleashed upon the world, an LP called Sounds Of The Westway and this single which netted the seller a staggering £67. Well it surprised me anyway as I paid a little over £40 for it. Congratulations Strumpet 06, you paid more than I did but you'll find it money well spent.

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&item=330289336913

EYE ON EBAY

My old friend Strike Up Matches seems to have an unlimited supply of C86 connected classics, some of which I have never heard of. This release by the Passiondales was as much a mystery to him as it was to me but he claimed it was superior indiepop and buyer jiminee 1968 forked out £56 to acquire it, so he either knew its worth or he trusts Mr.Matches judgement.

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&item=220323441337

EYE ON EBAY

Apparently Fire Exit were formed after a heavy drinking session. I failed to imbibe suitable quantities of alcohol to allow me to bid without due care and attention and so I let this prize escape me. Released on Timebomb Explosions in 1979 it is reputed to be a classic. Their only single but there are a couple of live CD's and a studio offering called We're Just Punks which features six originals and a new version of the single.http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&item=330285542097

Riots ensued as this Swedish indiepop rarity by the Mary Go Round on West Side Fabrication loped over the £100 mark. As good as the Happydeadmen the seller proclaimed and that created havoc in the indie community as no less than fourteen bids were collected for this tempting morsel. I was frozen out before I even contemplated bidding.

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&item=160300275105

EYE ON EBAY

Australian indie pop that always evades me. The Fish John West Reject have always rejected my advances and being unable to pounce at auction's end John West and his inadequate fish swam away from my net.

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&item=380080060217

TURNTABLE REVOLUTION TOP 20 january 2 2009

1 Fallover 24 : Pessimistic Man
2 Sema 4 : Capital City
3 Ninotchka : I've Got Wings
4 Pains Of Being Pure At Heart : Everything With You
5 Danny Boys : Days Of The Week
6 Ember Days : Plaza
7 Now : Development Corporations
8 Groove Farm : Baby Blue Marine
9 One Happy Island : Earth's Circumference
10 Elephant Noise : Halloween Day
11 White Heat : Nervous Breakdown
12 Whips : Walking In Circles
13 Friends Ahoi : Grandstand Girls
14 Evening Outs : Channel
15 World Of Pooh : Stones Of Judgement
16 Northern Portrait : Crazy
17 Deirdres : Milk Is Politics
18 Milky Wimpshake : Dialling Tone
19 Ruth Ellis Swing Band : The Antichrist Of Love And Hate
20 Family Way : Sugar Baby Love

Green numbers indicate new entries.

EYE ON EBAY

This delicious slice of powerpop by the Various Artists reels in the seller £71. I can vouch for the pedigree of the A side as it appears on the comp Powerpearls 2. They claim there is an extremely rare LP by this Bristol bunch out there somewhere. Let the hunt begin.

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&item=110306021166

EYE ON EBAY

£69 secures a powerpop classic by the Form. Is it a powerpop classic? I don't know but seller Funky Gibbon claimed it was. He also claimed to be selling more rarities and he did not disappoint. Meanwhile the mysterious Form single intrigues me; is it as good as anything by the Smirks?

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&item=170276056511

Turntable Revolution Record Collection 21

EYE ON EBAY

Has the world gone mad? Or is it that the glorious city of Norwich inspires a boundless love? The cult of Alan Partridge has hypnotized the nation and now all that emanates from Norwich must be investigated. So this comp, Welcome To Norwich-A Fine City, excited somebody enough to part with £124. And who wouldn't be excited by the Higsons, Happy Few, Mohair Twins and Screen 3? I could certainly get mildly intrigued by Screen 3 who have released a couple of decent singles but I'd not untangle more than a few fivers to sate my curiosity. Anyway apropos of very little I'd just like to say that Norwich is one of my favourite cities and was once home to a very fine record collecting person, Jeanette Leech. And though she no longer resides there it is still a fine city with two or three decent record shops.

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&item=120335238205

TURNTABLE REVOLUTION TOP 20 dec 26

1 Fallover 24 : Pessimistic Man
2 Danny Boys : Days Of The Week
3 Pains Of Being Pure At Heart : Everything With You
4 Ninotchka : I've Got Wings
5 Elephant Noise : Halloween Day
6 Sema 4 : Capital City
7 Now : Development Corporations
8 Ember Days : Plaza
9 Groove Farm : Baby Blue Marine
10 Whips : Walking In Circles
11 White Heat : Nervous Breakdown
12 Milky Wimpshake : Dialling Tone
13 One Happy Island : Earth's Circumference
14 Northern Portrait : Crazy
15 Deirdres : Milk Is Politics
16 Friends Ahoi : Grandstand Girls
17 Family Way : Sugar Baby Love
18 World Of Pooh : Stones Of Judgement
19 Sea Urchins : Clingfilm
20 Pocketbooks : Cross The Line

Green numbers indicate new entries.

WHAT I WON ON EBAY

I had made several insignificant attempts to win the Beyond The River compilation in the past mainly because it featured the Shrinking Men who released one striking low-fi single. The comp showcased several other bands from around the Reading area circa 1980 and the majority contributed solid efforts. I was particularly fond of the Stills meander through a Cure-like landscape. Superior though were the A.1.Vegetables and Dig Dig Dig, both atrocious names which belied their talents. And I secured this item for an extremely reasonable price considering it had always managed to scramble over the £30 mark in the past.

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&item=330291188893

TURNTABLE REVOLUTION TOP 20 dec 19

1 Milky Wimpshake : Dialling Tone
2 Danny Boys : Days Of The Week
3 Elephant Noise : Halloween Day
4 Fallover 24 : Pessimistic Man
5 Deirdres : Milk Is Politics
6 Family Way : Sugar Baby Love
7 Northern Portrait : Crazy
8 Pains Of Being Pure At Heart : Everything With You
9 Pocketbooks : Cross The Line
10 Groove Farm : Baby Blue Marine
11 Glo-Worm : Travelogue
12 Urge : Bobby
13 Milky Wimpshake : (Show Me The Way To) Anarchy
14 Sea Urchins : Clingfilm
15 White Heat : Nervous Breakdown
16 That Uncertain Feeling : Sunriser
17 Kamikaze Sex Pilots : The Red Indian Song
18 Tartans : Cats Of Camerford
19 Northern Portrait : The Fallen Aristocracy
20 Liechtenstein : Stalking Skills

Green numbers indicate new entries.

TURNTABLE REVOLUTION TOP 20 dec 12

1 Milky Wimpshake : Dialling Tone
2 Elephant Noise : Halloween Day
3 Deirdres : Milk Is Politics
4 Pocketbooks : Cross The Line
5 Family Way : Sugar Baby Love
6 Northern Portrait : Crazy
7 Milky Wimpshake : (Show Me The Way To) Anarchy
8 Danny Boys: Days Of The Week
9 Glo-Worm : Travelogue
10 Pains Of Being Pure At Heart : Everything With You
11 Urge : Bobby
12 Tartans : Cats Of Camerford
13 Kamikaze Sex Pilots : The Red Indian Song
14 That Uncertain Feeling : Sunriser
15 Liechtenstein : Stalking Skills
16 Sea Urchins : Clingfilm
17 Pains Of Being Pure At Heart : Orchard Of My Eye
18 Groove Farm : Baby Blue Marine
19 Starlets : Viva Cabaret
20 Fallover 24 : Pessimistic Man

Green numbers indicate new entries.

Evening Outs : Channel/Stammer

Having now owned this evasive gremlin for a week or so I feel suitably balanced to reflect. There's a vacuity to fill. Try as I may to transfer an ineffable desire to another of my wants a rapacious zeal is yet to develop for say Candy Ranch's Section 58 7" or Keen's Feline Groovy 12". It's time that stretches desire and I've only wanted those singles for a few years. Would they generate equal excitement on ebay as the Evening Outs? As they have both sold for under £100 the answer seems to be no. But then if you pay a visit to Popsike you'll see that the Evening Outs sold for a sixth of what I paid when it was on ebay some years back.

The C86/private indie releases that I collect have not yet inspired numerous collectors and for that I am grateful. Only certain records such as singles by the English McCoy and Hardy Boys stoke up an unchecked fervour. The latter single sold for a massive £352 when it appeared on ebay. Search for these records in the Rare Record Price Guide and you'll find them absent. As is the Evening Outs single. So if some green dealer serendipitously unearthed it he would perhaps mark it at £10, the default setting it seems for obscure independent releases, at least in MVE. So now I wait patiently for my new top wants to appear and anticipate battles with my usual ebay foes, Picheux 89, Atichon (both French) and some unexpected upstart from Japan.

In the meantime here's the what you've been waiting for......

channel.mp3 - evening outs

TURNTABLE REVOLUTION TOP 20 dec 5

1 Elephant Noise : Halloween Day
2 Family Way : Sugar Baby Love
3 Deirdres : Milk Is Politics
4 Milky Wimpshake : Dialling Tone
5 Glo-Worm : Travelogue
6 Northern Portrait : Crazy
7 Liechtenstein : Stalking Skills
8 Milky Wimpshake : (Show Me The Way To) Anarchy
9 Urge : Bobby
10 Tartans : Cats Of Camerford
11 Pocketbooks : Cross the Line
12 Kamikaze Sex Pilots : The Red Indian Song
13 That Uncertain Feeling : Sunriser
14 Pains Of Being Pure At Heart : Orchard Of My Eye
15 Starlets : Viva Cabaret
16 Pains Of Being Pure At Heart : Everything With You
17 Maria : Friends Forever
18 Danny Boys : Days Of The Week
19 Pains Of Being Pure At Heart : Doing All The Things That Wouldn't Make Your Parents Proud
20 Pride : What's Love

Green numbers indicate new entries.

EYE ON EBAY

Go into space with the Astronauts. Ebayer Yotasos certainly did launching a £103 bid to plant his flag on this rare satelite. The Peter Pan Hits The Suburbs LP has been orbiting around my wants planet for a while now and there it shall remain; for that sellling price I'd expect it to come with a chunk of the moon.

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&item=250340962923

TURNTABLE REVOLUTION TOP 20 nov 28

1 Elephant Noise : Halloween Day
2 Northern Portrait : Crazy
3 Milky Wimpshake : Dialling Tone
4 Liechtenstein : Stalking Skills
5 That Uncertain Feeling : Sunriser
6 Glo-Worm : Travelogue
7 Starlets : Viva Cabaret
8 Family Way : Sugar Baby Love
9 Milky Wimpshake : (Show Me The Way To) Anarchy
10 Tartans : Cats Of Camerford
11 Pains Of Being Pure At Heart : Orchard Of My Eye
12 Deirdres : Milk Is Politics
13 Milky Wimpshake : One Good Use For My Heart
14 Maria : Friends Forever
15 Pains Of Being Pure At Heart : This Love Is Fucking Right
16 Pains Of Being Pure At Heart : Doing All The Things That Wouldn't Make Your Parents Proud
17 Some Loves : It's My Time
18 Elephant Noise : This Song Is Our Friend
19 Urge : Bobby
20 Kamikaze Sex Pilots : The Red Indian Song

Green numbers indicate new entries.

WHAT I WON ON EBAY

I DID, I DID, I DID.
I did suppress my common sense and outbid all opposition to finally acquire the Evening Outs single. As the final minutes approached the girlfriend retired to bed wishing me luck as she went, knowing that there are some moments in life when a man must be alone. I was left to fend for myself like a baby crocodile among a pool of hippos. The omens had been good. In the afternoon I had beat my parents at scrabble and I'd resisted playing my Desperate Bicycles collection for fear of an attack of light-headedness. Friend Harvey had emailed and told me he would bid no higher than £121. That, my friend, I thought, is amateur financial fencing, my riposte shall smite you. As the final seconds fled by I did not falter. I flexed my fingers, they were nimble and deadly after an afternoon of sparring with neighbourhood cats, and punched in a reckless sum of £544. Take that you downbeats, you don't mess with the Scavenger. But they tried and they failed and they had their passports stamped as they returned back to Loserland. Dizzy with triumph I ventured into the bedroom where the girlfriend was pricing up objects for the boot sale. " £377", I said. She looked at me despairingly and added another zero onto the bed's price tag.

http://offer.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewBids&item=160302762161

Turntable Revolution Record Collection 20