Indie Happy Hour...Again!
Hull Indie Scores, London 0 Hull 4.
The Housemartins, Happy Hour, what an awesome 'feel good' single and the whole album 'London 0 Hull 4' was indeed quite brilliant. I remember buying the single as soon as it came out in 1986.
The album was released on the Independent Go! Discs label which was set up by former Stiff Records Rep Andy MacDonald along with Lesley Symons. The label released music by artists such as Billy Bragg, The La's and Paul Weller to name a few. MacDonald was to resign in 1996 and Polygram took the helm acquiring a large stake.
Catch the wickedly brilliant video to Happy Hour, the band almost doing the whole 'Madness' routine going to the pub except like 'Upper Class Twits' a la Monty Python, also featuring a style that was extremely popular at the time which was the use of Clay Animation which was also used at the time for the re-issue of the Jackie Wilson song 'Reet Petite'. Even remember sitting in pubs and doing that whole beer mat catching thing in the video back in the day!
The lyrics demonstrating the often 'sexist' attitudes of city workers, even just a mention of the line, (being an ex-city worker in the drinking culture of the day) 'It's another night out with the boss' sums up the horror to me of having to make polite conversation with senior figures you mostly despised of felt awkward in the company of back in the day, but felt you had to go otherwise be seen as not part of the 'company culture'.
They Were:
- Paul Heaton - Vocals
- Hugh Whittaker - Drums
- Stan Cullinmore - Guitar
- Norman Cook - Bass
The original bass player was Ted Key and was replaced by Norman Cook in 1987.
Platinum Jubilee Up Yer Arse
They released as a band some pretty anti-establishment and government music back in the day lyrically and cunningly having a dig at capitalism, the monarchy and the government of the day, but done in such a way that you couldn't fail to love 'em.
I probably should have posted 'Flag Day' or 'Get Up Off Our Knees' for the Platinum Jubilee have a listen to the lyrics for 'Flag Day'... 'Try shaking a box in front of the queen, 'Cause her purse is fat and bursting at the seams'. The song was the first single release for the band in 1985 and didn't that chart well for them. Also have a listen to 'Think For A Minute', the lyrics to the tracks are really quite deep and meaningful. The same is true of the track 'Lean On Me' which sounds like an a really old soul/gospel style track delivered beautifully.
Oh! and please catch the wonderful video about how they started at the link with an instrumental track called 'The Mighty Ship'. The video starts with that track and progresses to the whole 1970's 'Eric and Ern' comedy thing of being in the same bed gig! Amusing video and great music.
You can check the full track listing at the Discogs link here.
Other Hull Acts
Have a read of getintothis.co.uk for the article about them. They were certainly one of the bands of the day, from the same area, with the same values as other bands such as Red Guitars. Both bands I guess were pretty anti-government and more about helping those who have nothing and highlighting social injustices.
The music on the album ranged from upbeat pop sounding to meaningful soul sounding thanks to Heaton's vocal ability. Some of my favourites from the album are 'Sheep', 'We're Not Deep' and 'Over There'. I must admit the track Sheep resonated so well as I had not long started work and had to get used to the commute to work every day and feeling like I was being herded around. Whereas the track We Are Not Deep summed up the feeling to me of unemployment (a big problem at the time), but the whole mixed emotions of feeling partially apathetic and partially still attempting to show 'face' to appear to be 'going out to work' (not that there was much about at the time) to avoid the whole stigma, the video version above not quite as fast as the album, evidently from a promo video made by 80's music how on U.K. television called 'The Tube' music program on Channel 4.
The Hull Hall Of Fame
It has spawned many famous bands and individuals over the years from guitarist Mick Ronson (Ziggy Stardust & The Spiders From Mars), Roland Gift (Fine Young Cannibals), Henry Priestman (The Yachts, The Christians and It's Immaterial), Everything But The Girl, Red Guitars, Stuart Matthewman (saxophonist and producer with Sade), also with Sade bass guitarist Paul Denman, The Aces (rock band that supported The Rolling Stones) and finally featured in my other recent post The Odds....the list goes on and on.
The Beautiful South
I remember seeing them live at Chelmsford Highlands Park just before the days of the 'V Festivals'. They were incredibly impressive as a live act, full of energy and upbeat sounds, they even included an old Bee Gees number 'You Should Be Dancing' which was actually as good, if not better than the original. I am not a big disco fan but this was something special. Catch the link to the concert from Cesena in Italy 1992 featuring the track itself at 1:12:25. Must say Paul Heaton has a very impressive vocal range!
I had honestly forgotten how long ago! unfortunately the set list doesn't show all of the numbers they played.
Birthday Boy & Gigs
And what a noble thing to do on his 60th Birthday! Paul Heaton putting money behind the bar of many pubs in the U.K. to celebrate his birthday, shame 'Er Maj didn't do something similar for the Jubilee!
Paul Heaton & Jacqui Abbot are doing a few venues in the U.K. during July which include:
- July 22nd - St Helens Totally Wicked Stadium
- July 23rd - Doncaster Keepmoat Stadium
You can get tickets from: ticketmaster.co.uk or for other information: Paul Heaton's website.
As well as those gigs, they also recently performed at 'Glasto'... Have a look at the video from Glastonbury performing the beautiful song 'I'll Sail This Ship Alone' the video was captured by his wife and is on the Paul Heaton Youtube channel (go subscribe!).
Oh! and please catch a load of Paul Heaton From Hull To HeatonGrad
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Video Thanks
Photo Thanks
Photo by Samuel Regan-Asante on Unsplash
Photo Sunset, C4Di, Hull Queen Street by Luke Thornton on Unsplash
Album Cover Thanks
Info Source Thanks
Discogs.com, paulheaton.co.uk, setlist.fm and just plain old memories