Officially the band only released one EP whilst
together and just an inclusion on the mods mayday. Since then their
have been various comps and bootleg bits. I have started this discography
with the anthology because I wanted to talk about the tunes.
The
Small Hours
The Anthology
Cant
do without you / The Kid / Midnight to Six / Underground /
Armistice Day / Watch this space / Routine / Business in Town / Seen it all before / Its come to this / Trojan For
Ever / Both Ways / I still believe / End of the night / Business
in Town (Live) / But its alright (Live) / Mercy mercy
(Live) / Midnight to Six (Live) / Hanging in the balance (Live)
/ End of the night (Live) / Sweet Soul Music (Live) / The
Kid (Original Demo Version) / Underground / Im a believer
Detour
DRLP/CD039 LP/CD
Neil let us know what the songs are about.
1) Cant Do Without You (7
single previously unreleased)
From my favourite album of all time Im A Loser
by Doris Duke produced by Jerry Williams JR (SwampDog) and
written by George Jackson. Its an opera, an absolute
masterpiece and a bugger to get hold of.
2) The Kid (EP version)
Gary Bushells favourite and the song that got us all
the Bruce Springsteen comparisons. Its about growing
up and accepting responsibility but remembering when you looked
so fine took on all comers and didnt give a fuck.
3) Midnight To Six (EP version)
Small Hours anthem. Its about chasing that perfect night,
meeting up, getting your gear, finding the right place at
the right time with the right people and doing it all night
long.
4) Underground (original demo
version)
This is our favourite version of this song and almost the
first time we played it. It describes the way music is found,
packaged, labelled and then disposed of to make way for the
next new bollocks.
5) Armistice Day (short interlude)
This is half a song about war. It took a direct hit and remains
a beautiful ruin.
6) Watch This Space (demo)
An Orwellian paranoid rant about the power of marketing. Im
with Bill Hicks on this one.
7) Routine (demo)
Small Hours go pseudo funky. Looking for a revolution in the
everyday mundaneness of our existence or something.
8) Business In town (EP version)
Everyone thinks this is about fighting. Sheddy is really on
about his frustration in dealing with flaky business people
and their false promises. He is a journalist after all.
9) Seen It All Before (demo)
The generation gap. Youth Culture is just like sex. Everyone
always thinks they are discovering it for the first time in
some kind of unique way. Its just the same old wheel
turning.
10) Its Come To This (demo)
This was our stab at a terrace chant. You got the Oh Oh Oh
bit then just insert name/club/enemy/abuse whatever. Oh and
its about a breakdown in communication.
11) Trojan Forever (short interlude)
Another unfinished little number - We think of it as calypso,
sun kissed, tropical lift music.
12) Both Ways (original demo version)
We love this version, as its a bit rough and ready but
especially for Carols luscious organ solo. Well you
cant have it both ways although Im told certain
ladies in certain films often do.
13) I Still Believe (demo)
We used to say that what inspired some songs to achieve greatness
was a totally mysterious ingredient X. This is all about that
illusive little consonant.
14) End Of The Night (EP version)
The one we always used to finish with probably for no other
reason than it has end in the title. Also the
last track on the Mods Mayday album. Its about paranoia.
Probably speed induced. The result of spending too many nights
from midnight to six.
15) The Kid (Original demo version)
Dizzy wanted to add this one. I think he even insisted.
16) Underground (B-side to Cant
Do Without You)
This is what happens when the funny drugs come out to play.
17) Im A Believer (Bonus
track for 12 single)
We used to do this for a laugh at sound checks.
18) Business In Town (live)
19) But Its Alright (live)
Top Northern tune that we always loved playing and the cue
for our fans to dance.
20) Mercy Mercy (live)
A Don Covay cover that let us Stax it up big style.
21) Midnight To Six (live)
22) Sweet Soul Music (live)
We quite often did this for an encore when things really descended
into insanity. This is suitably chaotic with loads of mistakes.
Love it.
23) Hanging In the Balance (live)
Probably our favourite Small Hours song. We seem to have forgotten
to ever record it. Oops. Its about those times in life
when you can smell something big is just around the corner
or is it just the fickle finger winding you up again.
24) End Of The Night (live)
Thank you and good night. Well till the next time.
Small Hours EP
1) The Kid
2) Business In Town
1) Midnight To Six
2) End Of The Night
Label: The Automatic Record Company Ltd
Release date: 1980
Mods Mayday 79
1) Hanging In The Balance
2) Midnight To Six
3) End Of The Night
Label: Bridgehouse Records (BHLP0033)
Release date: 1979
The Beat Generation and Angry Young Men
1) Underground
2) The Kid
Label: Well Suspect (SUSS1)
Release date: 1985 (?)
Mods Mayday Midnight at the Bridge
1) Underground
2) The Mess
3) Can't Do Without You
4) By The Light ('End of the Night' longer version)
Label: Reciever (RRCD 228)
Release date: 1990 (?)
There are numerous live tape, I
personally have
1) Windsor Castle 30/11/79
2) Welland Park Community Centre, Market Harborough 12/7/80