King of Luxembourg - A Picture of Dorian Gray

King of Luxembourg - A Picture of Dorian Gray

I'm afraid my scanner is buried under a pile of what can only be described as "stuff", so you'll have to make do with this rather charming picture of the King instead. Here we have the 12" single of A Picture of Dorian Gray, the main feature being a cover of the Television Personalities classic. There's a couple of b-sides here that I don't think have ever been reissued, a spirited cover of the Soft Boys Where Are The Prawns? and another one of his atmospheric instrumental pieces (Hasta Pronto), the sort of thing he did for the Jarman soundtracks. On top of that, you have another instrumental and a delightful cover of Lee Remick. Fantastic record.

That's probably the last of the El stuff I've got that's not seen the light of day since it's first release. Can't quite remember what else is out there, but if I remember I'll be sure to post.

Klaxon 5 - Hothouse

Klaxon 5 - Hothouse

As promised, more El Records with the first Klaxon 5 single. Was trying to find a mp3 of this for years (as I don't think it's ever been reissued) but to no avail so I've tracked down the single and ripped it myself (with considerable help from my far more technical minded better half).

Later this week: King of Luxembourg - Picture of Dorian Gray 12" single.

Mayfair Charm School - Montague Terrace (In Blue)

Mayfair Charm School - Montague Terrace (In Blue)

Another El Records release, featuring Adam and the Ants associate Mark Alleyne with actual Ants Marco Pirroni and Andy Warren. It's a Scott Walker cover and hey, not a bad one either. In fact I heard this before I heard the Walker original so I tend to think of this one more fondly. I know, I know....but it *is* rather good.

B-side is "Little Black Dresses", which is far more jaunty.

More 'El on the way. Trying to rip Klaxon 5's Hothouse single as we speak, and if my glamorous assistant can work out how to do it so it doesn't sound like complete crap it'll be up later on.....

Klaxon 5 - Never Underestimate the Ignorance of the Rich

Klaxon 5 - Never Underestimate the Ignorance of the Rich

An old favourite of mine, the second and (I think) last single from Klaxon 5 on the ever glorious El Records from 1986. A Ealing romp of a song that deserved to imprint itself on the general public but, alas, sank beneath waves of indifference.

I know very little about Klaxon 5, I think Troy Tate had a hand in producing the b-side of this single and a couple of years before this they had another single out (Hothouse). Like many 'El bands, their names have been lost to history....

The Wake - Crush The Flowers

The Wake - Crush The Flowers

The first release on Sarah from The Wake, who left Factory the year before and found Sarah Records to be a far neater fit. Lovely synth/indie pop from a massively underrated band.

Britpop bonanza postponed until I can't think of anything else to post. Which might take some time.