EYE ON EBAY------Ikea's expensive utensil

Lucky bidders were treated to an excerpt of this Kitchen And The Plastic Spoons single which was released in 1980 in, claimed the seller, a measly batch of 300. The A side, Happy Funeral, is manic synth punk which reminds me of Devo being forced to perform Model Citizens songs at gunpoint. Some Swedes were behind this and the record came with an A4 size trading card featuring a picture of Elizabeth Taylor;apparently each single had a different card. Sold for £129.22.

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=250644279029&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT

EYE ON EBAY---A step beyond

Available from Detour for £300 this single by mod revivalists The Stripes evaded my grasp as it amassed £250 for the seller. My bidding fizzled out around the £100 mark.

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=160443138788&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT

EYE ON EBAY---Noises off

The oddly named Absolute Albert is a fine piece of synth sprinkled with a dollop of droll humour. Released on A Mad One records in 1982 it is almost certainly their only effort. Sold for £53.86.

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=220616820588&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT

TURNTABLE REVOLUTION TOP 20 june 4

1 Deep Freeze Mice : Neuron Music
2 Orange : Judy Over The Rainbow
3 Bluetrain : Land Of Gold
4 Vampire Weekend : Giving Up The Gun
5 Playing For Time : With My Heart
6 Bluetrain : Because Of The Dollars
7 Dadistics : Modern Girl
8 Blue Smarties : Sloop Buffy D
9 Gits : Too Many People
10 Dum Dum Girls : Jail La La
11 Fascinators : Blue Movies
12 Escorts : Bingo
13 Gross Club : Second Chance
14 Cavalcade : Meet You In The Rain
15 Fascinators : Monochrome Moan
16 Blood Red Shoes : You Bring Me Down
17 Cradleyard : This Is The Birth
18 Lucky Soul : One Kiss Don't Make A Summer
19 Hardy Boys : Let The World Smother You
20 Betty And The Werewolves : David Cassidy

Green numbers indicate new entries.

EYE ON EBAY-------Release the hounds

Who the hell was Husky? Excited ebayers couldn't restrain themselves from something described as "one of the rarest UK mod/powerpop singles". Really? I have my doubts but others didn't ensuring this pup sold for £430.

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/HUSKY-rare-1978-UK-MOD-POWER-POP-SRT-PRESSING-/330440665330?cmd=ViewItem&pt=UK_Records&hash=item4cefcc68f2

EYE ON EBAY-------Turning plastic into gold

A strange alchemy at work here that can turn Plastic Land by The Tunnelrunners into a solid gold seller achieving £719 for Modboy1, one of those ebay merchants who regularly turns up rarities. This came with all the inserts so it was an attractive package. Reissue on Sing Sing records.


http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/TUNNELRUNNERS-rare-1980-UK-PUNK-POWER-POP-KBD-/330440659545?cmd=ViewItem&pt=UK_Records&hash=item4cefcc5259

EYE ON EBAY----Raising the temperature

Rough Trade-based fun with the unsettling sounds of This Heat and their 1981 experimental extravaganza Deceit. Despite the sleeve looking scuffed this attracted expensive interest with one determined bidder taking the prize for a magnificent £137.29.


http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=300428723213&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT

EYE ON EBAY-----Tiny seller tidies up

An astonishing £64 is paid for Liliput's Rough Trade LP. I know someone who picked this up for under a tenner at a record fair about three years ago, much to my chagrin as I wanted it myself.

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=150445356901&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT

Not so desirable, it seems, is their other LP Some Songs which rewarded the same seller with a paltry £22.23.


http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=150445357909&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT

EYE ON EBAY-----Friday on my mind

The influence of the Two Tone label was ebbing by the time of this release by Friday Club which is a frequent visitor to ebay but not often in the 12" format. The final sale price was £57. The much rarer What Is Soul single has attained as much as four times that. I picked up my 7" of the former in an Oxfam in Huddersfield.

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=220609608990&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT

TURNTABLE REVOLUTION TOP 20 may 28

1 Deep Freeze Mice : Neuron Music
2 Vampire Weekend : Giving Up The Gun
3 Orange : Judy Over The Rainbow
4 Gits : Too Many People
5 Bluetrain : Land Of Gold
6 Dum Dum Girls : Jail La La
7 Playing For Time : With My Heart
8 Gross Club : Second Chance
9 Dadistics : Modern Girl
10 Blood Red Shoes : You Bring Me Down
11 Blue Smarties : Sloop Buffy D
12 Cradleyard : This Is The Birth
13 Lucky Soul : One Kiss Don't Make A Summer
14 Escorts : Bingo
15 Hardy Boys : Let The World Smother You
16 Cavalcade : Meet You In The Rain
17 Bluetrain : Because Of The Dollars
18 Shimura Curves : Stronger
19 Betty And The Werewolves : David Cassidy
20 Ethnobabes : My Friend Ann

Green numbers indicate new entries.

FULL HOUSE

Not an offshoot of the Cortinas, the Escorts was a less prolific brand made in the powerpop mould. A rare model, their only single was seldom seen and some doubted its existence. The Escorts was manufactured in Melbourne, Derbyshire and only a few hundred miles worth of gigs were clocked up before the engine went phut. Bingo is a cry of despair, an outrage at the rise of the bingo hall, usually at the expense of the local cinema, which broke out like a plague of boils on a seventies Britain that eyed culture with contempt and suspicion. Team this up with The Fall's Bingo Master's Breakout, Mr DJ, and be the envy of the lone geek exiled in anorak corner at some cool retro club.

Band members were Dave T vocals, Bob W guitar, Anthony G bass and Andrew S drums. The record was released in 1980 or thereabouts on Rainbow Sound, the name of the studio in Nottingham where it was recorded.

Free website - Wix.com

TURNTABLE REVOLUTION TOP 20 may 21

1 Deep Freeze Mice : Neuron Music
2 Gits : Too Many People
3 Vampire Weekend : Giving Up The Gun
4 Orange : Judy Over The Rainbow
5 Blood Red Shoes : You Bring Me Down
6 Gross Club : Second Chance
7 Dum Dum Girls : Jail La La
8 Bluetrain : Land Of Gold
9 Dadistics : Modern Girl
10 Playing For Time : With My Heart
11 Shimura Curves : Stronger
12 Lucky Soul : One Kiss Don't Make A Summer
13 Escorts : Bingo
14 Cavalcade : Meet You In The Rain
15 Hardy Boys : Let The World Smother You
16 Cradleyard : This Is The Birth
17 Betty And The Werewolves : David Cassidy
18 Screaming Silence : Same Old Story
19 Ethnobabes : My Friend Ann
20 Cradleyard : Alone

Green numbers indicate new entries.

EYE ON EBAY------Late on Orientals suffer dejection

Active in the mid to late eighties Playing For Time released their only single on their own Thumbs Up label in 1989 in a pressing of 1000. Rarely seen, if at all, on ebay, this was its second appearance within a few weeks. First time out the seller, a former band member, failed to list it internationally and as that sale drew to a close he was bombarded with frustrated emails from Japan. I happily plucked it from furious Orientals at its starting price. Getting wise to the workings of ebay he listed another copy and this time reaped a bulky reward of £351.50. The C86-loving label Firestation Towers may put out a cd of unreleased material but nothing has yet been finalized.

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Playing-Time-Wth-my-Heart-/220605092604?cmd=ViewItem&pt=UK_Records&hash=item335d1692fc#ht_676wt_930

TURNTABLE REVOLUTION TOP 20 may14

1 Gits : Too Many People
2 Gross Club : Second Chance
3 Blood Red Shoes : You Bring Me Down
4 Deep Freeze Mice : Neuron Music
5 Orange : Judy Over The Rainbow
6 Shimura Curves : Stronger
7 Vampire Weekend : Giving Up The Gun
8 Dum Dum Girls : Jail La La
9 Cavalcade : Meet You In The Rain
10 Bluetrain : Land Of Gold
11 Lucky Soul : One Kiss Don't Make A Summer
12 Screaming Silence : Same Old Story
13 Dadistics : Modern Girl
14 Betty And The Werewolves : David Cassidy
15 Playing For Time : With My Heart
16 Escorts : Bingo
17 Ethnobabes : My Friend Ann
18 Cradleyard : Alone
19 Hardy Boys : Let The World Smother You
20 Colenso Parade : Fontana Eyes

Green numbers indicate new entries

EYE ON EBAY-----Double signal

They came from York and they had a thing about signs. This is Sema 4, who if around today might well have written an ode to York City's march to Wembley a few weeks ago, perhaps a reworking of their dynamic song Capital City. Both EPs surfaced within a few days of each other, the 4 From Sema 4 single, despite being a little trammelled, achieved a remarkable sale price of £181. A different seller extracted £94.99 for, in my opinion, the slightly stronger second release. Both contain very fine furious muddy moddy punky numbers.

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=200468305765&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=200469922243&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT

EYE ON EBAY----Little support for this Limps effort

Described as a worthy EP by 45 Revs which might imply a degree of mediocrity is on show on this four track EP which showcases two efforts each from The Limps and No Support. They released a further shared single before filing for a permanent divorce in 1981. This struggled to titillate ebay's punk community, no doubt due to the absence of the picture sleeve, the seller claiming a rather weak £32.

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=250620069241&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT

EYE ON EBAY-----Wails from Wales

This EP promises Sex, Violence And The Eternal Truth. Featuring old favourites What To Wear, who appear to have the lowdown on Martians, Lost Boys, Venom and the Dodos, it's a plucky affair that usually attracts serious bidders. This was on offer without a sleeve which undoubtedly affected the final price of £51.09.

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=260592669358&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT

EYE ON EBAY--------I would go out tonight

but I just paid £77.99 for a What To Wear single. Yes the Welsh japestars lone release, not counting their effort on the Sex, Violence And Eternal Truth EP, drains someone's pockets and possibly forestalls the replenishment of said someone's wardrobe. Hope they are consoled with this rare prize.

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=260590672401&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT

TURNTABLE REVOLUTION TOP 20 may 7

1 Gross Club : Second Chance
2 Gits : Too Many People
3 Shimura Curves : Stronger
4 Cavalcade : Meet You In The Rain
5 Blood Red Shoes : You Bring Me Down
6 Orange : Judy Over The Rainbow
7 Screaming Silence : Same Old Story
8 Dum Dum Girls : Jail La La
9 Betty And The Werewolves : David Cassidy
10 Bluetrain : Land Of Gold
11 Deep Freeze Mice : Neuron Music
12 Ethnobabes : My Friend Ann
13 Lucky Soul : One Kiss Don't Make A Summer
14 Cradleyard : Alone
15 Dadistics : Modern Girl
16 Colenso Parade : Fontana Eyes
17 Vampire Weekend : Giving Up The Gun
18 Escorts : Bingo
19 Hardy Boys : Let The World Smother You
20 Cavalcade : This Silent Town

Green numbers indicate new entries.

EYE ON EBAY-----Wonderful buy

Has the market collapsed with regard to this slice of delicious vinyl pie? Maybe it was because the seller only had 98.8% positive feedback that this rare pop gem by the Hardy Boys sold for a meagre £69.90. And it was free postage from Japan. It's pleasing to see the Japanese selling some of our pop legacy back to us, assuming of course that the winning bidder was based in the UK.

The Hardy Boys are playing live tomorrow at the Buffalo Bar next to Highbury & Islington underground station.

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=280498397262&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT

EYE ON EBAY----Massive Mexican stand-off

A number of bidders went for this pleasant pop offering from Mexico Red helping it reach a final sale price of £102. First time I've seen this item on ebay. Picked up my copy for £9 in MVE about two years ago.

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=370374663904&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&autorefresh=true

TURNTABLE REVOLUTION TOP 20 april 30

1 Cavalcade : Meet You In The Rain
2 Gross Club : Second Chance
3 Gits : Too Many People
4 Shimura Curves : Stronger
5 Betty And The Werewolves : David Cassidy
6 Blood Red Shoes : You Bring Me Down
7 Ethnobabes : My Friend Ann
8 Screaming Silence : Same Old Story
9 Orange : Judy Over The Rainbow
10 Cradleyard : Alone
11 Colenso Parade : Fontana Eyes
12 Dum Dum Girls : Jail La La
13 Bluetrain : Land Of Gold
14 Cavalcade : This Silent Town
15 Bassholes : Moody
16 Lucky Soul : One Kiss Don't Make A Summer
17 Escorts : Bingo
18 Deep Freeze Mice : Neuron Music
19 Hardy Boys : Let The World Smother You
20 Dadistics : Modern Girl

Green numbers indicate new entries

EYE ON EBAY-----Old school cravat tribute to prime minister?

Angry noisy punk from the only good thing to come from Redditch, probably. Gordon by the Cravats sells for £34.77 which is probably a lot more than Gordon Brown's credentials are worth this morning.

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=120556072970&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT

EYE ON EBAY-------A kick in the wallet

When the Incredible Kidda Band grew up they became Kicks and the single If Looks Could Kill was released on Blue Chip records in 1981 as a limited edition. Popular on powerpop wants lists this sold for £158.18.

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=120556053686&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT

TURNTABLE REVOLUTION TOP 20 april 23

1 Cavalcade : Meet You In The Rain
2 Ethnobabes : My Friend Ann
3 Betty And The Werewolves : David Cassidy
4 Colenso Parade : Fontana Eyes
5 Cradleyard : Alone
6 Cavalcade : This Silent Town
7 Bassholes : Moody
8 Tin Openers : Set Me Free
9 Escorts : Bingo
10 Hardy Boys : Let The World Smother You
11 Dubious Brothers : The Dog Ate My Poll Tax Form
12 Hardy Boys : Wonderful Lie
13 Collapsible Deckchairs : William Shakespeare
14 Kick Inside : Oh, Vanity
15 Blood Red Shoes : It's Getting Boring By The Sea
16 Allo, Darlin' : The Polaroid Song
17 Hardy Boys : Plink Plonk Fizz
18 Cavalcade : Voices
19 Dubious Brothers : By The Light Of A Cynical Moon
20 Some Average Prophecy : Tie Me To The Railway Line

EYE ON EBAY------A mixed-up kid returns.

Responsible for one of the great powerpop singles, The Original-Mixed Up Kid, the Various Artists LP has surfaced after years of hiding. This is most certainly the reissue that appeared a few years ago. Nothing as startling as their solo single lurks within. Not sure this ever got a proper release back in 1981. Final sale price of £56.05 after 27 bids would have left me wincing if I hadn't bought my copy at a record fair a few months ago for £10.

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=140394261120&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT

TURNTABLE REVOLUTION TOP 20 april 16

1 Cavalcade : Meet You In The Rain
2 Betty And The Werewolves : David Cassidy
3 Ethnobabes : My Friend Ann
4 Cavalcade : This Silent Town
5 Bassholes : Moody
6 Hardy Boys : Wonderful Lie
7 Tin Openers : Set Me Free
8 Colenso Parade : Fontana Eyes
9 Escorts : Bingo
10 Dubious Brothers : The Dog Ate My Poll Tax Form
11 Collapsible Deckchairs : William Shakespeare
12 Hardy Boys : Let The World Smother You
13 Cradleyard : Alone
14 Blood Red Shoes : It's Getting Boring By The Sea
15 Dubious Brothers : By The Light Of A Cynical Moon
16 Allo, Darlin' : The Polaroid Song
17 Kick Inside : Oh,Vanity
18 Some Average Prophecy : Tie Me To The Railway Line
19 Hardy Boys : Plink Plonk Fizz
20 Cavalcade : Voices

Green numbers indicate new entries.

EYE ON EBAY------Dessert reaches price ceiling

Before Blancmange began wowing eighties popkids with such hits as Living On The Ceiling and Waves they were involved in an experimental adventure they prosaically called Irene And Mavis. What would the old ladies in the laundarette pictured on the sleeve have made of it? "Put it back in the wash, dear", they might have said. It's minimal madness that belongs on Industrial records. I can assure you of this as I snapped up a copy from a generous dealer for £20 about two years ago. It sells on ebay for £88.96.

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=120547669051&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT

EYE ON EBAY-----A message to you, Rudi

Pete Newnham's Rudi zooms into three figures and halts at £131. If you're itching to hear the A side I point you towards Bored Teenagers Volume 5 comp on Bin Liner. Plenty of other bruising punk wails to enjoy by the likes of the Negatives, Blitz, Rezizters and the Rats.

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=220579843135&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT

TURNTABLE REVOLUTION TOP 20 april 9

1 Cavalcade : Meet You In The Rain
2 Betty And The Werewolves : David Cassidy
3 Cavalcade : This Silent Town
4 Tin Openers : Set Me Free
5 Hardy Boys : Wonderful Lie
6 Dubious Brothers : The Dog Ate My Poll Tax Form
7 Ethnobabes : My Friend Ann
8 Dubious Brothers : By The Light Of A Cynical Moon
9 Bassholes : Moody
10 Escorts : Bingo
11 Hardy Boys : Let The World Smother You
12 Blood Red Shoes : It's Getting Boring By The Sea
13 Colenso Parade : Fontana Eyes
14 Blanche Hudson Weekend : Crying Shame
15 Allo, Darlin' : The Polaroid Song
16 Hardy Boys : Plink Plonk Fizz
17 Cavalcade : Voices
18 Kick Inside : Oh, Vanity
19 Wild Swans : God Forbid
20 Some Average Prophecy : Tie Me To The Railway Line

Green numbers indicate new entries.