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CHARLES / REASONS / TEST-TUBE BABIES
"The best Punk single to come out of Scotland yet, a promising start". So ran the review in the seminal Punk Fanzine "Ripped & Torn" of the debut 45 by the Dunfermline (Scotland) based The Skids (vocalist Richard Jobson, guitarist Stuart Adamson, bassist William Simpson and drummer Thomas Kellichan). Issued on 24th February 1978 the single was the first release on the No Bad label (NB-1) which was set up by local record shop owner Sandy Muir who later became the band's manager. Regular plays on the highly influential John Peel show on Radio 1 not only ensured the record sold out its initial pressing but also led to The Skids recording the first of five sessions for the legendary DJ just three months later on 16th May. "Charles" was later re-recorded by the band and included on their debut LP "Scared To Dance".
SWEET SUBURBIA / OPEN SOUND
Following the success of their first John Peel session (for which they recorded "Of One Skin", "Open Sound", "Contusion", "Night And Day" and "T.V. Stars") The Skids signed to Virgin Records and in September 1978 they made their debut for the label with the "Sweet Suburbia" single (VS 227). Helped by some support dates with The Stranglers the single managed to reach No.70 in the UK National Chart during a three week run. The fact that the first 15,000 copies of the single were pressed on white vinyl also ensured fans snapped up copies quickly. The same month also saw the band record their second John Peel session, this one featuring "Dossier Of Fallibility", "Hope And Glory", "Six Times" and "The Saints Are Coming".
THE SAINTS ARE COMING / OF ONE SKIN / NIGHT AND DAY / CONTUSION
Usually known as the "Wide Open" EP this 4 track release was available on both 7" (VS 232) and 12" (VS-23212). The 12" was pressed on red vinyl and carried a sticker that said "Go green when you pay £1.49 then rip off the cover and see red". Released in October 1978 the single spent three weeks in the National Chart, eventually peaking at No.48. "The Saints Are Coming" and "Of One Skin" were both included on the "Scared To Dance" album and in 2006, following the New Orleans Hurricane Katrina disaster, U2 and Green Day recorded and released a cover version of "The Saints Are Coming" to raise funds and awareness for the victims of the flooding. Their version went on to hit No.2 in the American chart and No.1 in loads of countries including Italy, Denmark, Ireland and Spain.
INTO THE VALLEY / T.V.STARS (Live)
"Sounds" music paper awarded "Into The Valley" the prestigious "Single Of The Week" award on its release in February 1979 saying "The Skids have come out of the blue with instant teen anthems of amazing power and here's another. Sewer sound bass, lacerating guitar, sledgehammer drums and rousing all boys together vocals marching shoulder to shoulder into the valley of the Top 50". The weren't wrong as the single VS 241 and released on white vin I this time
with a sticker saying "Skids White Hot Cut") reached No.10 during an 11 week chart run and also a No.6 placing in Record Mirror's "Top Ten Singles of 1979". The live B-side was recorded at London's legendary Marquee Club in November of the previous year though the band never issued a studio version of the song. "Into The Valley" became the opening track on the "Scared To Dance" album which itself reached No.19 in the British chart.
MASQUERADE / OUT OF TOWN / ANOTHER EMOTION / AFTERMATH DUB
This time it was the turn of Record Mirror to award "Single Of The Week" to The Skids saying "the first two tracks cut it sharpest, ranking alongside the better "Scared To Dance" numbers. A hit? Indeed". And it was, reaching No.14 during a nine week chart run. Even legendary scribe Jon Savage was moved to write in Melody Maker "the title track is another exuberant chant, enhanced by some judicious trickery". It was issued as a two track 7" (VS 262) and also as a limited (50,000) double gatefold 7" with the extra tracks "Another Emotion" and "Aftermath Dub". A re-recorded version of "Out Of Town" was later featured on the band's third album "The Absolute Game". Collectors should note that the single was issued in Germany in a slightly different sleeve.
CHARADE / GREY PARADE
Released in September 1979 (VS 288) this was the first release to feature former Rich Kids drummer Rusty Egan who joined the band following the departure of founding member Tom Kellichan. The single reached No.31 in the UK Top 40 during a six week chart run. Like "Masquerade", "Charade" was released in Germany in a slightly different sleeve to the UK version. The A-side was also included on the "Days In Europa" album which itself hit No.32 in the charts.
THE SINGLES COLLECTION 1978-1981
Foreign Sleeves
MASQUERADE Germany
YANKEE DOLLAR Germany
CHARADE Germany
INTO THE VALLEY Japan
SWEET SUBURBIA France
INTO THE VALLEY Germany
WORKING FOR THE YANKEE DOLLAR / VANGUARD'S CRUSADE / ALL THE YOUNG DUDES / HYMNS FROM A HAUNTED BALLROOM
Originally included on the “Days In Europa” album, “Working For The Yankee Dollar” was remixed by Mick Glossop and issued as a single in November 1979 (VS 306) and spent nigh on three months in the UK charts, eventually peaking at No.20. The first 50,000 copies came with an additional 7" featuring a cover of David Bowie's / Mott The Hoople's classic “All The Young Dudes” plus a previously unissued Adamson / Jobson composition "Hymns From A Haunted Ballroom" which had been debuted on a John Peel session earlier in the year nd which featured Midge Ure on keyboards. NME claimed the Aside was "a rousing anti war tirade with all the customary Skids trademarks from the terrace chants to Stuart Adamson's highly individual approach to his guitar".
ANIMATION / PROS AND CONS
Released in February 1980, the single version of "Animation" (VS 323) was remixed by Bruce Fairbairn and differed to the one on the original "Days In Europa" LP, mixed by Bill Nelson, but did appear on the re-issued and redesigned version of the album released in March 1980. The single managed to hit No.56 in the British charts and was the last Skids release to feature bassist Willie Simpson. His replacement was ex-Zones member Russell Webb. Rusty Egan's short tenure with the band came to an end when he took up an invitation to join Visage and he was replaced by ex-Insect Bites sticksman Mike Baillie.
CIRCUS GAMES / ONE DECREE
The first release to feature the Jobson / Adamson / Webb / Baillie line up
was August 1980's "Circus Games" (VS 359) which enjoyed a seven week chart run and reached the No.32 position. Initial copies of the release came with a full colour poster of the band and it was also issued in a standard 7" picture sleeve."Circus Games" also featured in the band's last session for the John Peel show whilst the full length version of the A-side was included on "The Absolute Game" album which itself went to No.9 in the UK National Charts during a five week run.
GOODBYE CIVILIAN / MONKEY McGUIRE MEETS SPECKY POTTER
BEHIND LOCHORE INSTITURE
This single, edited from the version on "The Absolute Game" album, was released in October 1980 (VS 373) as both a 7" and on (the then flavour of the month) Picture Disc vinyl which is now highly collectable. "Goodbye Civilian" (on the Right Side) managed to spend a month in the British charts, eventually hitting the No.52 position whilst the snappily titled "Monkey McGuire Meets Specky Potter Behind Lochore Institute" (on the Left Side) was seemingly a tale of a failed jockey, a great guitar player and an old Skids watering hole!
WOMAN IN WINTER / WORKING FOR THE YANKEE DOLLAR (Live)
Listed as "Women In Winter" on (the Right Side of) the 7" single (VSK 101) and
issue in November 1980 the single came in a unique twelve page comic book sleeve. Again culled from the highly successful "The Absolute Game" LP the single itself managed to reach No.49 in the charts and later provided the title to one of vocalist Richard Jobson's feature films. The B-side (or the Left Side as it's listed on the label) contained a live version of their seventh single, recorded at London's Hammersmith Odeon the previous month. The single was the last of the bands 45's to hit the National Charts and not long after its release founding member Stuart Adamson quit the band for good.
FIELDS / BRAVE MAN
Released by Virgin in August 1981 (VS 401) on both 7" and 12" format. The 7" version of the single was slightly edited from the 12" version (which also appeared on the "Joy" album) whilst the B-side was considerably edited from the one appearing on the 12". Now essentially a duo of Richard Jobson and Russell Webb they were augmented on "Fields" by two members of The Associates, Alan Rankin and Billy Mackenzie, plus Virginia Astley on flute` and Ken Lockie on cello whilst Stuart Adamson returned to play on "Brave Man". Both versions of the single came in different sleeves.
IONA / BLOOD AND SOIL
The Final Skids single was re eased on November 11th 1981 (VS 449). A seven minute version of the A-side appeared on the "Joy" album but once it was selected as a single it had to be drastically edited and there are two versions known to exist on 7" vinyl - one running to just over three minutes and one to a more radio unfriendly five minutes. Confusingly both versions came with the exact same catalogue number and sleeve, though the longer version had a colour label. For this release we have chosen the rarer five minute version. The B-side was also slightly edited from the version of the song that opened the "Joy" album. Stuart Adamson did supply some guitar parts on the A-side whilst Mike Oldfield played a Fairlight keyboard. Collectors should note that an Australian pressing of the single used "And The Band Played Waltzing Matilda" as the flip side.
Mark Brennan |
