Happy All The Time

Songs About Bats & Coffins?🦇

So, here is one that got away at the time, I must admit back in '85/'86 I hadn't listened to The Flatmates, perhaps I was too 'bogged down' in other sounds or listening to songs about 'bats' and 'coffins' (goth), I really can't remember. Anyway, some years later I somehow managed to catch one of their songs and became really quite hooked.

Jangle Pop & The Mess

They were kind of lumped in the jangle pop/C-86 scene at the time and were formed in Bristol by Martin Whitehead (who ran the Subway Organization Record Label) and music fan and DJ Rocker (real name Stephen Wood) who previously been in Birmingham based band The Drain On The Balcony. Other Bristol based Indie bands at the same time were acts such as The Blue Aeroplanes and The Brilliant Corners.

The band were apparently originally called 'Mess' but fortunatley changed it to the Flatmates mostly based on the fact that several of them shared the same roof over their heads.

The Lineup soon became:

• Martin Whitehead - Guitar
• Rocker - Drums
• Deb Haynes - Vocals
• Sarah Fletcher - Bass

Initially the band had Kath Beach on bass, but she left prior to the release of their first single. Their first gig was in Bristol in January '86 supporting Half Man Half Biscuit.

First Releases

They released their first single 'I Could Be In Heaven' which was released on The Subway Label in 1986 followed by 'You're Gonna Cry' and 'Happy All The Time' (youtube video below).

Have a look at them recorded live at the Tropic Club in Bristol 1986 by Martin Whitehead on youtube performing I Could Be In Heaven.

And here, just for good measure is 'Shimmer' released on Subway Label in 1988 as an E.P.

The Track List is:

• Shimmer
• On My Mind 
• If Not For You
• Bad

The track 'If Not For You' being originally written by Bob Dylan way back in 1970 on his album 'New Morning' and being covered by many, many artists including Bryan Ferry, George Harrison and Rod Stewart to name but a few. So, lobbing in an oldie just to keep it even, here is the 'Ferry-Meister' at his 'crooning' best with his version....

The Flatmates version is slightly more up tempo, less 'croony' and a bit faster, they still manage to whack a bit of harmonica in there as well! Catch it at The Flatmates - If Not For You

More Info & Thanks

More detail about the band can be found at Bristol Archive Records

Video Source Happy All The Time Thanks To: Vibracobra23 [email protected]

Video Source Shimmer Thanks To: Henry [email protected]

Video Source If Not For You Thanks To: [email protected]

Photo by Nick Fewings on Unsplash