Show of Hands (1987 album)

Show of Hands is the debut album by Show of Hands, released in 1987 on cassette only. It was recorded and released to coincide with their first tour.^[1] Upon its release in early 1987, it quickly went out of print. Though never returning to print, tracks from the album later made Backlog 1987-1991, a 1995 album containing tracks from the bands early material. The album is sometimes poppier than their later work, such as on "See My Baby". "Exile" still remains a fan favourite whilst "Tall Ships" was re-recorded for their second album of the same name as part of the 21 minute "Tall Ships".

Background

After returning to The Albion Band following a hiatus, Phil Beer asked Steve Knightley if they wanted to work together as a duo. Knightley recalled "he said “let’s go out as a duo: I’ll get some folk club dates and we’ll make a little cassette in your back room in Dorset, in the garage”."^[2] They had known each other 15 years and even met musically before, including on Beer and Paul Downes' live album Live in Concept (1980). Having earned Performing Rights Society income, the duo "put together this little studio" "in an outbuilding in the remotest part of Dorset",^[3] and recorded the album.^[4]

Track listing

1. "Tall Ships"
2. "Friends"
3. "Last Picture Show"
4. "Ah So"
5. "Exile"
6. "Show of Hands"
7. "Number One"
8. "Homes For Heroes"
9. "I Still Wait"
10. "See My Baby"
11. "Solo"
12. "Sit You Down"

Song information

• "Tall Ships" is a much shorter version than the 22 minute version found on Tall Ships.
• "Last Picture Show" also features on Phil Beer's Box Set One in 2010.
• "Exile", one of the band's more popular songs, was re-recorded for their fifth studio album Lie of the Land and for the new re-recordings on 2007's Roots - The Very Best of Show of Hands.
• "See My Baby" is retitled "See My Baby Again" on Backlog 1987-1991.

References