EYE ON EBAY

A couple of Low Down Kids releases surfaced on ebay. An Y Trwynau Coch comp and a Singles comp. These are getting harder to find and if I hadn't been concentrating on other auctions I would have made a bid or two myself. I was lucky to pick up the two Low Down Kids various artist comps at the Birmingham record fair a couple of years ago. Essential purchases as many of the singles featured are extremely difficult to locate. Does anyone own or has anyone ever seen the Brent Ford And The Nylons single?

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=300286500915&ssPageName=STRK:MEWA:IT&ih=020

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=300286500704&ssPageName=STRK:MEWA:IT&ih=020

Turntable Revolution Record Collection 22

TURNTABLE REVOLUTION TOP 20 feb 6

1 Northern Portrait : I Give You Two Seconds To Entertain Me
2 Pale Fountains : (Don't Let Your Love) Start A War
3 Queue Dance : Not The One For Me
4 Pocketbooks : Falling Leaves
5 Evening Outs : Channel
6 Clamber : Choose The Way
7 Fallover 24 : Pessimistic Man
8 Suntime Glorious : Sexual Health
9 Elephant Noise : Remember The Big Time
10 Field Mice : I Can See Myself Alone Forever
11 Miracle Mile : Breaking Down The Barriers
12 Bad Actors : Are They Hostile?
13 Sarah Goes Shopping : Once I've Seen Him
14 World Of Pooh : Stones Of Judgement
15 Some Average Prophecy : Goodnight England
16 Da Biz : On The Beach
17 Modernaires : Fait Vos Jeux
18 Sema 4 : Capital City
19 Northern Portrait : Crazy
20 Aerial FX : So Hard

Green numbers indicate new entries.

EBAY-------THOSE THAT GOT AWAY

Firstly the Stolen Picassos which was stolen from me. The seller lists it as an LP. With four tracks? Are they an Australian Yes? They are purported to be twee indiepop. Has a twee indiepop song ever exceeded five minutes?

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=270339775324&ssPageName=STRK:MEDW:IT&ih=017

Next up the B Team single which I've been courting for two years and it still hasn't accepted my proposal to come live with me. Final price £64.53 a little too high given that it sold for under £50 a few months back. Be away with you.

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=200306923076&ssPageName=STRK:MEDW:IT&ih=010

The Extras single has featured on ebay before. Always attracts attention. Wonder what it sounds like. Anyway I bid a hesitant £36. Got swept away.

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=120368723437&ssPageName=STRK:MEDW:IT&ih=002

Far superior to their other single the Cybermen EP with the classic Cybernetic Surgery eluded me once again. I was elsewhere when the auction ended and left a rather hopeful £46 bid which failed.

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=310118921563&ssPageName=STRK:MEDW:IT&ih=021

I have the A side of the 021 single on a comp so I tentatively and absurdly chucked £15 at it. It went for £49.

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=270339055252&ssPageName=STRK:MEDW:IT&ih=017

Again I have the A side of the Zoot Alors single but am wondering if the B side is half as good. After finally finding Abstract Art by Flying Colours I was absolutely underwhelmed by the five minute instrumental on the B side. My £29.99 bid failed spectacularly.

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=120370245685&ssPageName=STRK:MEDW:IT&ih=002

EYE ON EBAY---------More piss, vicar.

Ipman 13 must be buried under an avalanche of cash. The Grout single on the wonderfully named Urinating Vicar records brought him another huge payout of £763.57. Only a hundred copies pressed, what you get is basic no frills punk judging by the two tracks I've heard, Cremation At Belsen and Fast Cars (not the Buzzcocks song), which are all energy and endeavour if not that tuneful. The EP was reissued a few years back if you're not prepared to dip into your pension money.

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=270317435166&ssPageName=STRK:MEWA:IT&ih=017

EYE ON EBAY----------Shake Yer Pyramids

The Tammys single is one of the best girl group singles. Completely bonkers, it could have been a writing collaboration between Spike Milligan and Neil Innes. Egyptian Reggae, Walk Like An Egyptian, they are indistinct hieroglyphics in comparison to Egyptian Shumba which should have a pyramid built in its honour. Not surprising then that it soared to a final price of £230. My friend Jeanette Leech who is an avid girl group collector could only seethe in frustration as it blew her budget into the Nile.

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=150324732490&ssPageName=STRK:MEWA:IT&ih=005

EYE ON EBAY--------Out of Peel's box

I think I'm correct in claiming this was one of the records that John Peel always kept in his record box. The seller, the indefatigable Ipman 13, seems unaware of this but I imagine some of the bidders weren't, driving the price up to a mouthwatering £86.54. The Galactic Symposium was from Nottingham and they tinkered with such classics as Pink Floyd's Money and that homosexual anthem YMCA. Apparently the experience is akin to listening to Brahms and Liszt simultaneously at the wrong speed. Accomplished musicians were involved but they all decided to play instruments that they hadn't mastered hence the cacophonous result. Low Down Kids released a whole LP of their disturbing music in 2005.

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=270311227170&ssPageName=STRK:MEWA:IT&ih=017

EYE ON EBAY

This intrigues me. The Stripes single attracted 18 bids. The successful bidder sacrificed £265 to own this mysterious item. I want information. Is it as good as Abstract Art by Flying Colours? It may well have been comped as the seller claims but I can't find it on any of my comps.

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=160310452879&ssPageName=STRK:MEWA:IT&ih=006

EYE ON EBAY--------Let's be 'avin' you....

Norwich, the return. Obviously when it performed so well recently it was inevitable it would surface again. A higher return this time for the comp which features the Higsons. I await its arrival in MVE for a tenner; I can always rely on the ignorance of the MVE staff.

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=160310257206&ssPageName=STRK:MEWA:IT&ih=006

Turntable Revolution On YouTube

EYE ON EBAY--------Crocodile bite not so soft.

Among intelligent men it is an indisputable belief that Dirty Dancing is a dreadful film. That's not remarkable but this is: the Suede Crocodiles single selling for £331. Does the winning bidder expect the world to end within the next few weeks? Last time this had an outing on ebay it sold for just over £90. And to think I saw it in MVE fifteen years ago for a £1.

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=200303246375&ssPageName=STRK:MEWA:IT&ih=010

EYE ON EBAY

Currently nuzzling up to the no.1 slot in the Turntable Revolution chart this sounds like it stumbled out of a 1950's revue written by Helen McCookerybook. Queue Dance was active in the mid eighties and this single and two tracks on the Paper Boats In Puddles comp are, as far as I know, their only recorded output. This is the second time the 7" has appeared on ebay in recent weeks but the 12", which I own, has declined to enter the auction ring. Queue Dance centred around two people, Nick Goddard on guitar, bass, vibraphone, keyboards and drum machine and Jo Bourne on vocals and additional percussion, lazy girl.

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=400025370861&ssPageName=STRK:MEWA:IT&ih=027

EYE ON EBAY

Rarely seen with a picture cover, and given the quasi Penthouse poses the four brazen young men with milky bar-coloured chests are striking that's a boon, the Spider single entraps a punter for a respectable £103. Dressed identically in sham glam they resemble stylish bin men. According to 45 Revolutions both songs, Back To The Wall and Down And Out
(both titles imaginatively expressed in a single image on the pic sleeve!) are fine examples of powerpop glampunk.

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=120368904595&ssPageName=STRK:MEWA:IT&ih=002

TURNTABLE REVOLUTION TOP 20 january 30

1 Pale Fountains : (Don't Let Your Love) Start A War
2 Queue Dance : Not The One For Me
3 Evening Outs : Channel
4 Miracle Mile : Breaking Down The Barriers
5 Fallover 24 : Pessimistic Man
6 Northern Portrait : I Give You Two Seconds To Entertain Me
7 World Of Pooh : Stones Of Judgement
8 Clamber : Choose The Way
9 Modernaires : Fait Vos Jeux
10 Bad Actors : Are They Hostile?
11 Suntime Glorious : Sexual Health
12 Friends Ahoi : Grandstand Girls
13 Sema 4 : Capital City
14 Da Biz : On The Beach
15 Whips : Nationwide
16 Statistics : Dumb
17 Ember Days : Plaza
18 Ninotchka : I've Got Wings
19 Some Average Prophecy : Goodnight England
20 Northern Portrait : Crazy

Green numbers indicate new entries.

BETTER THAN RETAIL THERAPY

Sarah Goes Shopping released, as far as I know, just two singles on Crystal Clear records. Where they came from, who they were, these are questions I can't answer. Singer Sarah , let's call her that, utilises her delicate vocals to transport you to a charming land where Trixies Big Red Motorbike sell out gigs at the O2 and Dolly Mixture occupy five of the slots in the top ten of the singles chart. This is what Lily Allen might sound like if she were Woody's daughter rather than the roguish Keith.

Released in 1985 to a torrent of tumbleweed-like indifference Sarah and her consumerist urges parked themselves on the street accompanied by a wicker basket, a paving stone's distance away, as if its presence and function was a profound embarrassment. If you saw her busking outside Woolworths I hoped you dropped a handful of pick n' mix into her basket and then went and bought this four track EP. If you didn't you have no right to listen to this track.

sarah goes shopping once Ive seen him.mp3 -

EYE ON EBAY

I know little about this record. A 1985 release it secured a handsome price for Strike Up Matches. I'm convinced Love Ambassadeux has appeared on ebay before and not reached such a high price. Anyone wise to who they were or what they sound like get in touch.

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&item=220327682391

EYE ON EBAY---------Pump up the wheels

New Cross New Cross, this EP is so good they named it twice. Whereas their abilities are stretched a little too far for a whole LP, the Desperate Bicycles brand of low fi eccentricity suits a six track EP. By now the eddies of originality they had sent rippling through pop's stagnant pool were beginning to, if not capsize a few lifeboats, at least make them rock. None of the six tracks on this EP can steal the yellow jersey from The Medium Was Tedium but there's no lack of flirt and flounce amongst the ire and outrage aimed at the status quo (not the band). Another one from the Ipman 13 collection and fetched him a high price of nearly £60.


http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&item=270297030275

And here's what their fascinating, if flawed, LP sold for.

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&item=110324965133

WHAT I WON ON EBAY

Unisex is one of two superb LP's by Blueboy, the other being If Wishes Were Horses. I have both on CD but the CD version of Unisex is faulty so when the vinyl version appeared I manned the keys. Often this dallies around the £30 mark but a recent glut of Blueboy material softened the market and I pinched it for a reasonable £21.

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&item=270310152179

TURNTABLE REVOLUTION TOP 20 january 23

1 Miracle Mile : Breaking Down The Barriers
2 Evening Outs : Channel
3 Pale Fountains : (Don't Let Your Love) Start A War
4 Fallover 24 : Pessimistic Man
5 World Of Pooh : Stones Of Judgement
6 Friends Ahoi : Grandstand Girls
7 Modernaires : Fait Vos Jeux
8 Whips : Nationwide
9 Sema 4 : Capital City
10 One Happy Island : Earth's Circumference
11 Ember Days : Plaza
12 Ninotchka : I've Got Wings
13 Suntime Glorious : Sexual Health
14 Statistics : Dumb
15 Da Biz : On The Beach
16 Queue Dance : Not The One For Me
17 Pains Of Being Pure At Heart : Everything With You
18 Ruth Ellis Swing Band : The Antichrist Of Love And Hate
19 Northern Portrait : Crazy
20 Elephant Noise : Halloween Day

Green numbers indicate new entries.

EYE ON EBAY---------Over-inflated clams

Uncompromising shrieky skronk from America in thrall to the muse of discordia. We're at music's funeral and in the threnody is the therapy. Inflatable Boy Clams is hotly sought after by those who appreciate that which cannot be whistled. Twice what I paid for my copy.

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&item=250347748112

EYE ON EBAY

The magic of the Go Betweens has not dimmed it seems. Constantly acclaimed by the critics they never realised the commercial success they deserved. Ipman 13's incredible array of rare records threw this gem into the ebay ring, Karen / Lee Remick on the Able Label, which I'd never seen before. Bidding was strong and the eventual winner sacrificed nearly £200 to acquire this excellent early single.

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&item=270315255933

EYE ON EBAY------Mouse Thaws

Mint copy of the Deep Freeze Mice's debut LP vanishes into the hazy hills of high prices. £205.78, my jaw has carpet burns. I remember getting this monumental chunk of Alan Jenkins madness for £30 in a second-hand record shop in Ipswich back in the mid 1990's. And it had the booklet which had a recipe for grilled salamanders or something. If you ever have a dinner invite around ours, think twice.

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&item=260339553959

EYE ON EBAY

Both Gobblinz singles turn up courtesy of American seller Ipman who has had some delectable rarities up for sale over the last few months. As expected they both gallop over the £100 mark. These Peterborough punks have a slight Stranglers influence which is more evident on the second single. One of their number went on to play in the Pleasureheads who released a few decent indie records in the late 1980's of which Holding On and Treasure are recommended.

Should you wish to acquire the two Gobblinz singles hunt down the reissues. They come in identical sleeves and you'll probably get change from £20 for the pair.

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&item=270315253828

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&item=270315251522

EYE ON EBAY

The Dolly Mixture seller also offered this minor punk gem by Three Party Split. A second single was recorded but never released and when one of the band left to join Fischer Z Three Party Split split
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&item=230318218257

EYE ON EBAY

Those three twee ladies Dolly Mixture always agitate the indie collectors. Whilst the singles fairly frequently venture on to ebay the LP is a little shyer. £84.58 is a decent price for both seller and buyer. I tried to shift my extra copy for a £100 a few months back but nobody turned up.

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&item=230318594399

TURNTABLE REVOLUTION TOP 20 january 16

1 Miracle Mile : Breaking Down The Barriers
2 Fallover 24 : Pessimistic Man
3 Evening Outs : Channel
4 Whips : Nationwide
5 Sema 4 : Capital City
6 One Happy Island : Earth's Circumference
7 Ember Days : Plaza
8 Friends Ahoi : Grandstand Girls
9 Ninotchka : I've Got Wings
10 World Of Pooh : Stones Of Judgement
11 Modernaires : Fait Vos Jeux
12 Pains Of Being Pure At Heart : Everything With You
13 Suntime Glorious : Sexual Health
14 Ruth Ellis Swing Band : The Antichrist Of Love And Hate
15 Danny Boys : Days Of The Week
16 Elephant Noise : Halloween Day
17 Groove Farm : Baby Blue Marine
18 Northern Portrait : Crazy
19 Now : Development Corporations
20 Statistics : Dumb

Green numbers indicate new entries.

EYE ON EBAY

The Rok label released a lot of rather ordinary knee-deep in mod/pub rock style singles. This is of interest to me as I used to work with one of the Debutantes backing singers in Readings record shop in Clapham Junction in the early 1980's. Her name was Valerie Shatwell (I'm not making this up) and I had a crush on her. My affection for her was never revealed though I imagine she was aware of it as I took her to see the Teardrop Explodes at Hammersmith Apollo (it wasn't called that then). Not long after being caught up in the Brixton riots, she lived in Railton Road and had her flat window smashed, she returned to her homeland, Scotland. I pined for her for a few weeks and then the resilience of youth returned me to my senses. She was 23 and I was 18 and it would never have worked. But whenever I play her single, an unremarkable effort, I think back to my hopeless crush and a sliver of nostalgia pierces my hardened heart.

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&item=270308844964

EYE ON EBAY

The legendary Ed Ball had a hand in the Reflection AOB single. The seller had originally placed a wildly optimistic starting price of £199. Months went by and ebay remained shy of free-spending idiots so it was come all at a greatly reduced starting bid. Mod revival fans queued up and it sold for a sensible £48.

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&item=200280408785

ENGLISH McCOY ON EBAY (Briefly)

Seller requires information. Wants to know how much the English McCoy single is worth. My response, "name your price, I'll see if I can match it." Too late. The seller put it on ebay and offers flooded in. The seller yanked it off ebay and despatched it to Japan pocketing £237 thereby depriving the indie community of a ferocious bidding war. Nobody had a chance to place an opening bid. An instant £237 is good but a patient £300 is far better.

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/The-English-McCoy-Give-Me-Something-To-Believe-In-12_W0QQitemZ150322380048QQcmdZViewItemQQptZUK_Records?hash=item150322380048&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14&_trkparms=66%3A2%7C65%3A13%7C39%3A1%7C240%3A1318

TURNTABLE REVOLUTION TOP 20 january 9

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

Green numbers indicate new entries.