Blue Orchids
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| Blue Orchids | ||
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 Blue Orchids in 1981
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| Background information | ||
| Origin | Manchester / United Kingdom | |
| Genre(s) | Post-punk | |
| Years active | 1979 - present | |
| Label(s) | Rough Trade LTM Cherry Red |
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Blue Orchids are a British Post-punk band formed in Manchester, England in 1979, when Martin Bramah decided to quit the The Fall having recording that band's debut album Live At The Witch Trials. Bramah teamed up with keyboardist Una Baines, also an ex-Fall member, guitarist Rick Goldstraw, bassist Steve Toyne and drummer Joe Kin. Punk poet John Cooper Clark christened them Blue Orchids.
They signed to Rough Trade Records, and in November 1980 they released their debut single, a double A side, "The Flood/Disney Boys". Later in February 1981 they released their second single "Work". Not long after this release Toyne and Kin left the group.
Toby Toman, an ex-member of The Durutti Column joined on drums and Goldstraw switched over to bass. This new line-up recorded a debut album called The Greatest Hit (Money Mountain), which went on to sell 10,000 copies.
The group toured with Nico, former member of The Velvet Underground, serving as both backing group and support act. Rick Goldstraw decided to continue touring with Nico, so a new bassist called Mark Hellyer was recruited as a replacement.
The group's next record was the Agents Of Change EP in 1982. After parting company with Rough Trade at the end of the year the group split up.
Bramah and Baines briefly returned in 1985 with the single "Sleepy Town" and then split up again. After this Martin Bramah and Una Baines ceased working together. Bramah then formed a new group with ex-Fall drummer Karl Burns called Thirst. They only released one record, the Riding the Times EP in 1987.
In 1989 Bramah briefly returned to The Fall and appeared on the Extricate album. The reunion with Mark E. Smith was never going to last, and Bramah was sacked from the group whilst on a tour of Australia in 1990. Bramah returned with a new incarnation of Blue Orchids which featured ex-Smiths guitarist Craig Gannon.
This new incarnation of the group released a single in 1991 called "Diamond Age". In 1992 they released the Secret City EP and a compilation album called A View From The City. A second album was recorded in 1993, but would remain unreleased for ten years. Bramah decided to split the group again in 1995.
In 2002 a compilation album called A Darker Bloom was released on the Cherry Red label. This release had sleeve notes written by Bramah's former colleague in The Fall, Marc Riley.
2003 saw the group release/reissue three albums on the LTM label. The shelved album from 1993 was finally released under the title of The Sleeper. Released almost simultaneously was a compilation album called From Severe To Serene, which featured the group's two John Peel sessions, live tracks and the contents of the Riding the Times EP. At the end of the year the group's debut album The Greatest Hit (Money Mountain) was finally given a long overdue CD release.
In 2004 the LTM label released a brand new Blue Orchids album called Mystic Bud. This release contained a surprising cover version of "Sugar, Sugar" by The Archies.
Founder member Rick Goldstraw returned for the mini album Slum-Cavern-Jest! in 2005. This release featured a cover version of the Fred Neil song "Green Rocky Road".
Contents |
[edit] Personnel
- Martin Bramah - vocals, guitar (1979-present)
- Una Baines - keyboards, vocals (1979-85)
- Rick Goldstraw - guitar & bass guitar (1979-82, 2004-present)
- Steve Toyne - bass (1979-81)
- Ian Rogers A.K.A. Joe Kin - drums (1979-81)
- Toby Toman - drums (1981-82)
- Mark Hellyer - bass (1982)
- Nick Marshall - drums (1985)
- Craig Gannon - guitar (1990-91)
- Martin Hennin - bass (1990-92)
- Richard Harrison - drums (1990-92)
- Mick Routledge - keyboards (1991-92)
- Adrian White - drums (1993-95)
- Stuart Kennedy - bass (1993-95, 2004)
- Alastair "Baz" Murphy - organ, keyboards (1993-95, 2004)
- Charlotte Bill - flute (2004)
- Bud Umu - drums (2004)
- Steph - drums (2005)
[edit] Discography
[edit] Albums
- The Greatest Hit (Money Mountain) (1982)
- The Sleeper (2003)
- Mystic Bud (2004)
- Slum-Cavern-Jest! (2005)
[edit] Compilations
- A View From The City (1992)
- A Darker Bloom (2002)
- From Severe To Serene (2003)
[edit] Singles / EPs
- "The Flood" / "Disney Boys" (1980)
- "Work" / "The House That Faded Out" (1981)
- Agents Of Change EP (1982)
- Sleepy Town / Thirst (1985)
- Riding The Times EP (by Thirst) (1987)
- "Diamond Age" / "Moth" (1991)
- Secret City EP (1992)
