The Records - Music On Both Sides

Last poptastic hurrah from the Essex fab… er, five

The Records spun off from Southend’s Kursaal Flyers in the late 70s with the intention of recreating the jangly sound of US power pop (think Shoes, dBs, even early Cheap Trick). Losing incendiary guitarist Huw Gower after classic first album Shades In Bed was a blow, but they regrouped with American Jude Cole for follow-up Crashes. By third album Music On Both Sides they were on their umpteenth guitarist and had even brought in a frontman, at the suggestion of others, to supplement singer/guitarist John Wicks. Unsurprisingly, the resulting LP, as released in 1982, was their least satisfactory and they split shortly thereafter. But while the original tracklisting kicked off in low gear with the atypical Imitation Jewellery, they’ve reinstated intended opener Your Own Soundtrack, thrown away on a B-side, for this reissue. Another bonus is three live tracks from the Stiff Tour and an unreleased version of Pagliaro’s 1972 pop hit Lovin’ You Ain’t Easy, featuring Akron’s own Jane Aire, that’s worth the price of admission alone. Add superb digipak presentation of the Barney Bubbles sleeve and a witty sleevenote from drummer/lyricist Will Birch, and you have a silk purse where you might well have expected a sow’s ear.

On The Beach | FOAMCD 8

Reviewed by Michael Heatley
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