So I mentioned the other day how difficult it seemed to be to find much evidence of the old Respond label artists on the interwebs, specifically some 1983 singles by The Questions or Tracie. Well it had somehow slipped my mind that a 7” copy of ‘The House That Jack Built’ actually nestled in an aluminium flight case in my Geek Lair. The thing is, technically it isn’t even my record, as the faint imprint of a felt-tipped name on the back of the sleeve reminds me. I wonder if Fiona was ever aware of the fact that it went missing from her collection, no doubt scooped up in a pile of vinyl after a party at Jon’s one night in the murky collective hangover that became 1984/85? Did she mourn its loss? Is she even now scouring eBay for a replacement or looking on blogs for an mp3 rip? Well, if you’re reading this Fiona, I have your record safe in my hands. It still sounds terrific.
I found this on 12″ a little while back, having no idea who or what it was. Looked like it had the potential of an obscure 80s pop gem. Had to say I was pretty disappointed. Sounds really dated, though there is a potential to be that gem I’d hoped for, it just doesn’t have enough to rise out of the corny production (Paul Weller?).
Nice one Alistair. On a related Respond theme there is a rather lovely A Craze compilation out.
David – I hear what you say about the production, but i like to think of it as of its time rather than dates 🙂 I suspect too that i find it difficult to listen objectively, and if i were coming to it blind, as it were, i may feel differently.
Kevin, thanks for the tip about the A Craze collection. Just grabbed it, and it sounds terrific. I’ve got some other Respond stuff coming to the blog soon…