 The Dictators Busted in Germany Jayne County: Pagan Child 10 Years of Sympathy for the Record Industry Johnny Pontiac on The Saints Sit 'N' Spin 4 Girls on the Road Pet Advice by Dr. Rebecca General Smith USMC and Other Reviews Record Reviews Rock 'N Roll Book Reviews Blair's 60 Second Swinger Comics Officer Friendly Rock N' Roll Haiku Contest Issue #1 L.C.E. Message Board Table of Contents/ Masthead |
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This month you're gonna have to set the wayback machine to 1978 and flip that Rand McNally globe over, because we're heading to Australia and visiting The Saints.
While (I'm) Stranded is a fantastic album, with Eternally Yours, the band had a chance to take a bit more time in the studio and produce a record that's broader in scope and possesses a greater depth of sound than their debut, while still maintaining a punk feel. Throughout the 13 cuts on Eternally Yours (14 if you pick up the re-issue that's recently been put out on Amsterdamned Records, http://www.guavajelly.com), The Saints deliver the goods. Primo Late 70's punk played like nobody has before or since. The lion's share of the songs on the album were jointly penned by guitarist Ed Keupper and frontman Chris Bailey save for two tunes written solely by Keupper. TOP TRACKS It is indeed a rarity to come across an album that doesn't have 1 bad or "throwaway" song on it, or even a mediocre one for that matter. Eternally Yours packs in 14 consistently great songs. From the opening shot of "KNOW YOUR PRODUCT", one of the few songs with horns in it that still rocks harder than a head on collision, to the driving 1-4-5 of the Bonus Cut, "DO THE ROBOT", all the tunes deliver the goods. But if you put a gun to my head, like those bastards in The Little Cracked Egg editorial department are doing to me at this moment (Send help, please!) and I HAD to pick the TOP TRACKS of Eternally Yours... 1. KNOW YOUR PRODUCT- Eternally yours blasts off with, what to these ears sounds, like the bastard child of (I'm) Stranded era Saints and Mitch Ryder and the Detroit Wheels. Chris Bailey half-snarls over a relentless guitar riff punctuated by, now don't let this shy you away, horns. Yeah that's right you heard correctly, horns, and they soud killer. 2. LOST AND FOUND- Pissed off lyrics, Driving guitars and a chugga-chugga rhythm section, what more could you want? 3. MISUNDERSTOOD- My personal favorite, Misunderstood has it all, great lyrics, a great riff and amazing hooks. One of those tunes that'll have you bouncing around the room.
I got in touch with Chris Bailey and shot him a few questions across the net and he was kind enough to reply : L.C.E.: When Eternally Yours came out, what was going on with yourself and the band? Chris: We had moved to London and were making our first tentative steps as a touring band -as is the way with The Saints- we had changed the line up but were starting to get the "live" thing down. Prior to the 'move' we hadn't really done that many gigs... As for myself, I'd shacked up with an English girl and was enjoying the ambience of "swinging London"'78 -the year 'Eternally' was recorded, turned out to be a pretty cool year for the band. We had cosy apartments & cash in the pocket + we also had studio time...which was & still is the best thing about being in a band.... L.C.E.: The production and songwriting on Eternally Yours seem broader in scope than on (I'm) Stranded, was this intentional or a natural progression For the band? Chris: The first album was recorded over a weekend at a fairly basic facility. Hence the roughness of the recording! For eternally yours the scenario was the opposite. It was recorded in fairly swank studios with Bill Price (an extremely talented engineer) + we had a budget + loads of time. More importantly I think we were beginning to realise the potential of just what was posssible in the studio environment.... L.C.E.: The album Eternally Yours has been around now for 20 years, looking back do you feel any differently now about the album, than you did when it first came out? Chris: Until the XXX re-issue I didn't have a copy of the album so wasn't thinking about it much at all.. However it's not a bad recording in my humble opinion..! I occasionally still play "Know your Product" when the band goes on tour. Obviously I am biased in my appreciation of the thing, but as with most records I've been involved in it's always a love\hate thing based on the mood I'm in & whether I'm sober or not..!! L.C.E.: Do any of the songs on eternally Yours have significant meaning for you? Chris: Not especially.... L.C.E.: Of all the songs on the album, does one stand out as a favorite of yours? If so why? Chris: I'm fond of "No your product." I always liked the intensity of the recording (even down to the distortion on the vocal & organ tracks). I think it captures the "best" of that particular 'vintage' of the group. L.C.E.: What is the current status of The Saints, are you recording? Chris: The Saints have a new CD coming out in the US next month on XXX it's called "Everybody knows the monkey" I'm involved in 3 non saintly recordings at present. The band should be recording it's new album sometime during December\January. L.C.E.: Any plans on bringing The Saints to the US anytime soon? Chris: We are currently talking about a club tour in the fall... Details soon to be forthcoming I believe..!!??.. L.C.E.: One final question, are you still Misunderstood? Chris: Unfortunately for me that does seem to be my lot in life.....C'est la vie.....!!! After Eternally Yours, The Saints recorded one final album for EMI called "Prehistoric Sounds". Ed Keupper returned, shortly thereafter, to Australia and has since played in The Laughing Clowns, The Aints and is currently heading up The Oxley Creek Playboys. Chris Bailey kept The Saints going and released a slew of Saints albums. Their new CD "Everyone Knows The Monkey" should be out in the USA in the fall Special thanks to Billy at the Saints Web Site, for getting me in touch with Chris Bailey (Check out the site, It's chock full of Saints info) http://www.xs4all.nl/~cjbailey/
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hen the editorial staff came to me and asked me to write a column for The Little
Cracked Egg, they were all smiles and promises. They reeled me in with a
contract that foretold of palatial offices, a secretary (a couple), a paycheck
you could choke a mule with, though why you'd even begin to want to choke a mule
is beyond me, and an expense account. They really knew how to play Johnny
Pontiac like a vintage Fender. Visions of Fame, girls, money and more beer than
I could shake a used copy of the Japanese pressing of the Ramones "It's Alive" LP
at, swallowed up my common sense. To make a long story longer, I signed and so
far, no office, no secretary, and not even a nickel towards bus fare, bastards,
I should have read the fine print. They have me under contractual obligation, so
I suppose I have to churn out a few hundred words every so often to appease
those shysters. So whether I like it or not, welcome to my column. Every month,
I pick a record that I think no one should be without, a must-have, and give you
a bit of a review, some band history, and an interview, if possible. So sit
back, relax and bring your own beer because those cheap knuckleheads upstairs
sure haven't provided any for us, and listen closely because
The Saints formed in 1976, in Brisbane, a bunch of teenagers bent on making some
noise, putting on a good drunk and getting laid. They began playing in clubs,
recorded a few songs and released their first single "(I'm) Stranded". Stranded
garnered the Saints a ton of press in England and then a record deal with EMI.
Their first album, also titled "(I'm) Stranded" gained them even more positive
write-ups from the British press and bolstered their following. So it was off to
Britain to tour and while there, they recorded their second LP... a brilliant
piece of work called "Eternally Yours".
