Lazy Records & Indie Sounds
What wasn't to like, an Indie Label band that churned out a hit! To be honest it made a change for a band that had been on an Independent Label to turn up trumps (they had a little help from major label RCA as well), nonetheless this little number hitting the highs for the band on the National UK Charts reaching #5 in the charts of the day and has been used all over the place in films and covers since. Ok, so it is a fairly 'commercial' radio friendly single, but the point of this is to 'pave the way' to their earlier stuff and sound....
Early Stuff
Lead vocalist Tracy Tracy's early look was less 'platinum blonde Monroe style' and a bit more 'punk/goth/indie rock' aka crimped hair and diamante jewellery and mostly black dress code. Have a listen to and look at The Primitives and their early track 'Really Stupid', one of my favourites, a slightly 'pouty' and snotty no nonsense C-86 fast paced sound. Clearly by the video in the day 'tin foil' was cheap to waste! 😂And catch the 'no frills' crimped hair live look at the youtube link. If you like that try their track 'She Don't Need You' for some more 'rough around the edges' Indie Sounds. They were to release three standalone singles on their own Lazy Records label before hitting the big time with Crash:
- Thru The Flowers - 1986 (Lazy Records)
- Really Stupid - 1986 (Lazy Records)
- Stop Killing Me - 1987 (Lazy Records)
For more of the band in photo format check out the youtube link The Primitives Band Photographs showing the ever changing styles, Mozza wearing the bands T-Shirt and accompanied by their cover of The Stones classic 'As Tears Go By'.
And just proving that they weren't some dumb ass 'no nothing band' they clearly had some respect for some old school garage style rock, here they are again only with their cover of Iggy Pop and The Stooges 'I Wanna Be Your Dog'. The track including 'Really Stupid' and recorded on UK Kid's Saturday television back in the day called 'Number 73' (not 100% sure any 'kid's' would have appreciated it at the time though!)🤣. The original track by The Stooges - I Wanna Be Your Dog at the youtube link.
Stop Killing Me + Band & Formation
- Tracy Tracy (aka) Tracy Cattell - Vocals
- Tig Williams (aka Richard Williams) - Drums
- PJ Court (Paul Court) - Guitar
- Steve Dullaghan - Bass
Formed in Coventry in 1984/5 as featured in other posts on this site, they were kind of helped along by Morrissey wearing a 'Stop Killing Me' T Shirt back in the day and championing the band (probably a great accolade back at the time, maybe not so today). Have a listen to the track at the youtube link. The track is a wonderful kind of jangly fast paced C-86 style sound with some brilliant feedback thrown in for good measure, a 2 minute pop nirvana! As described beautifully by one youtube user on the video comments as 'blending sixties girl group Phil Spector melodies with 80's alt feedback noise'.
Catch my previous post Happy All The Time for more female fronted Indie Pop at the link. And if you just like the fast paced C-86 style Indie sounds try the other posts Head Gone Astray for The Soup Dragons and All You Ever Say, Salisbury Indie Sounds for the Mayfields.
Split, Reformation, Comparisons & Other Coventry Sounds
They released more material, but for me some of it seemed a little more 'commercial' almost like the female fronted band Altered Images back in the day, who also started out slightly more 'edgy' and 'quirky' and got sucked more into the mainstream. Comparisons are perhaps 'Pinky Blue' from Altered Images and 'Way Behind Me' by the Primitives the latter was released on the 'Pure' album in 1989 and co-released by Lazy Records with major label RCA. to be fair both still pretty good tracks, just a little bit less 'edgy' and more commercial than both bands earlier stuff, but only my opinion though.
Just for good measure check out Altered Images with their early track 'Dead Pop Stars', evidently kept off the play lists of major radio stations due to the fact that it was released at the same time as John Lennon's death, but Altered Images were recognized by John Peel as well as Siouxsie Sioux and ended up supporting them on their early tours back in the early 80's.
Split & Coventry Sounds
By 1991/2 The Primitives decided to split, reforming again in 2009 and are still going, sadly losing Steve Dullaghan who was to pass away the same year they reformed. Perhaps re-forming in his memory? Either way nice to know they are still about. Catch their official Facebook Page at the link.
Both Tracy Tracy and Clare Grogan still look awesome and have aged beautifully, their music is to me timeless and I love both bands. Hats off to both of them for wonderful sounds and positive strong female led bands of the day and hopefully more newcomers of the same ilk in the near future...bring it on ladies, you rock 🤘!
For more 'sounds' of Coventry visit my other post Sistene Chapel Ceiling with the Indie band 'Adorable' where you can find a 'Sunshine Smile'.🌞And to finish up...
Lazy Records
There were quite a few female fronted bands around back in the mid to late part of the 80's such as The Darling Buds, Transvision Vamp to name a couple, so the Primitives were not especially unique. They did however help to found the Lazy Record Label in 1986 with Wayne Morris. The label was based in Clerkenwell in London and was active until 1992.
And on the same label as the Primitives the masters of the whole 'shoegaze' scene, My Bloody Valentine
Released in 1987 as a non-album single on Indie label Lazy Records (set up by the Primitives). The track almost strangely beginning (only slightly faster) like a track called 'This Is How It Feels To Be Lonely' from Inspiral Carpets several years later in the whole 'baggy scene', have to say looking quite cold on a windy moor somewhere in the above video link!🤣
Hope your week ahead is full of good and fun things!😜Watch this space for another post soon!
Video Thanks
Photo Thanks
Photo by Nick Fewings on Unsplash