Mark Stewart And The Maffia – Sub Rosa / ONU Sound Records 1985

The Wrong Name And The Wrong Number

Awesome track by ex Pop Group front-man collaborating with New York’s Sugarhill Gang session musicians, Skip MacDonald, Doug Wimbush and Keith Le Blanc. The guy making it sound like an aeroplane taking off via the mix, ONU Sound boss Adrian Sherwood.

At Tackhead Sound-systems and live ONU Sound events, of which I went to many…the main draw for the night was watching Adrian Sherwood sweat it out over the mixing desk…What was occurring on stage faded into insignificance compared to watching this wizard at work all night. And the sound was bastard loud which always helps while away the evening. 

What was great for the Tackhead / ONU Sound-systems was the mix of public turning up for them. Rastas, Wideboys, Mutoid Wasters, Hip Hoppers, and everybody in between.

This track was lifted from the ‘Myths And Instructions’ LP on Sub Rosa. A version of ‘Bastards’ on the ‘Veneer Of Democracy Starts To Fade’ LP on ONU Sound. Mixing up and cutting up W.S. Borroughs with a dance beat with the odd yelp of  “Y’ALL BASTARDS” and “THE ECONOMICS OF GENOCIDE”. Essential listening…make it LOUD.

I have some great Mark Stewart live tapes from 1986 which I may stick on at some point.

Stinky punker getting tugged by the plod – modelled by Lugworm.

13 comments
  1. Chris
    Chris
    March 1, 2008 at 3:25 pm

    YEA! get those live tapes up matey! I’ve got a recording of about 6 solid hours of a Tackhead Sound System on tape (think it was new year’s eve 1990 or 1991, the venue, Edinburgh) which i’ll try to look out and get to you soon.

  2. Pavlik
    Pavlik
    March 1, 2008 at 11:36 pm

    I love that gurn on Luggys face. 🙂

    It’s such a class picture.

  3. gerard
    gerard
    March 2, 2008 at 11:42 am

    I think I’d be gurning like that too if I was being taken from behind by a man with a tash!

  4. Gordo
    Gordo
    March 12, 2008 at 8:34 am

    Oh please put up some more Mark Stewart.Lost my virginity at a Mark Stewart gig ’83.Happy times…..

  5. danmac
    danmac
    March 12, 2008 at 12:57 pm

    do distorted rants about surveillance systems get you in the mood to this very day? 🙂

  6. John No Last Name
    John No Last Name
    March 13, 2008 at 7:46 am

    Was Mark gentle with you at least?

  7. Nic
    Nic
    March 13, 2008 at 10:22 am

    Did he plaintively whisper ‘Hold me’ in your ear afterwards?

  8. harry the horse thief
    harry the horse thief
    March 20, 2008 at 11:32 pm

    please do.

    i have two concerts i recorded myself in bristol 82 & 83 featuring the ‘reggae’ maffia i.e. pre sugerhill bwoys. one day i’ll rip ’em….. maybe you can be the catalyst…

  9. Penguin
    Penguin • Post Author •
    March 22, 2008 at 12:22 am

    If you rip them, post up again Horsey to let me know, I will supply my details and will upload them up here with a credit to you if you want.

  10. David Jones.
    David Jones.
    August 25, 2010 at 3:42 pm

    beneath the city streets, the recent cd kiss the future/mafia/pop group had a series of postcards with the 1st pressings as i recall. does any one know who done the artwork, also the liberty city one man holding his hand to head black/white rain on tiny town. cool cover. cowardice was and is my favourite as well as stranger than love. supreme tune spinechillingly relaxing vibe my ma also is a fan. dj.

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