I have not uploaded any Apostles material for ages, so thought I would put this up tonight. For the guy who asked for the U.S. released LP by The Apostles entitled ‘Hymns Of Pan’, I will upload that up in the post 86 section at some point soon. There may well be another four Apostles LP’s uploaded in that section soon, as only the first two were released before the end of 1986, so keep checking. I own thirteen demo cassettes, six singles, seven LP’s and three ‘personal’ cassettes by this band, so plenty to be uploaded!
Actually, saying that, the singles may be re-released at some point on CD so they will not be uploaded on this site, unless the CD release falls through.
The first five demo tapes are up already, also uploaded are the first two LP’s if you use the search function you will find them.
Side One: Random older tracks possibly some unreleased
Side Two: Live At The Recession Club / Visions Of The End
The uploaded cassette above was given to me in the mid 1980’s by Andy Martin, one of several I own, each with a picture of me (what I looked like at the time) on the sleeve! This cassette has unreleased versions (I think anyway, Chris, Nic?) of older tracks on the first side.
On the second side he put the more experimental work on. Firstly the Recession Club gig which has a wonderful climax in The Apostles version of Simon and Garfunkels ‘I Am A Rock’ which goes straight into ‘Splitting In Two’, the old Alternative TV anthem. These two songs seem to have been written specifically for Andy Martin, and he gives a very moving and respectful rendition of them both.
Originally these tracks came out on a cassette release by Protect And Survive Products.
The second selection on Side 2 is entitled ‘Visions Of The End’. Interesting stuff on this session, I like the ‘monks going to pray’ style backing vocals on some of the tracks. Some tracks reminiscent of the harder edged Psychic TV noise (bits of Terminus or the second part of Breakthrough by PTV spring to mind). Has this ever been released officially? I can not recall seeing it at any time, but I may be wrong (Chris, Nic?). Anyway something for everyone on this cassette.
The tape above, as far as I am aware is not released but I may be mistaken, it was given to me in 1986 by Andy Martin, perhaps other friends and acquaintances of his also received copies at this time, and possibly released it without my knowledge.
Andy and Dave from The Apostles trying out some fully experimental material in the practice room at 108 Brougham Road, Hackney, London, E8 and the results are not that bad at all. I like it anyway, but perhaps I may be of the minority!
My photographs of Dave Fanning’s old bedroom artwork in 108 Brougham Road, Hackney, London, E8 above. Please note: the corner artwork is of an Indian peace sign used for many hundreds of years in and around the Indian subcontinent. It is NOT a Nazi Swastika…
Andy Martin and Dave Fanning are still well and happy and performing in the band UNIT.
back2front
April 1, 2008 at 5:57 pmThis was released on Scum tapes at one point. What’s the lowdown on the Singles Cd – I’ve heard nowt about it??
While I’m here I’m also writing a piece on the Apostles as I’ve often thought they were criminally overlooked. Am in touch with Andy, Dave, Scruff and Chris but would also like to hear from other members and those who were involved with the band or wrote reviews of single/albums or conducted interviews. The idea is to provide a definitive account of the band while also examining some of the political ideas which chopped and changed over the years – it wasn’t all anarchy, peace and freedom after all.
Penguin • Post Author •
April 1, 2008 at 6:07 pmUmmm, do not recall this whole tape being on SCUM. Still, whatever…
There are at least 3 ex Apostles members from way back commenting on this site right now, plus members of AOH, so if they come forward and show themselves perhaps they could help if they have the time or indeed the inclination.
Chris
April 1, 2008 at 8:34 pmThe Apostles ‘singles’ CD is getting re-mastered at present. A laborious task which would normally cost a fair whack to do so I am at the mercy of the engineer who is very kindly doing all the work when he has some time off for a fraction of what it would normally cost. From the few tracks that have been remastered so far I can assure you it will be well worth it though as they absolutely piss over the virtually unlistenable sound quality of the versions that were released on vinyl. It will consist of ‘the best’ of the the single releases that I still have the master tapes of, plus a selection of completely unreleased versions and recordings recorded at the sessions the singles were recorded at. Will keep you posted on developments.
Chris
April 1, 2008 at 9:07 pmPS: Andy appears to have made a few errors on the cover of this tape. The dates are wrong and the first seven songs are simply crappy recordings of songs from the first few singles, which sound like they’re just recorded from the vinyl, or maybe 5th generation cassette copies Andy had.
No idea what the other songs at the end of this side are but the last one is a rather duff version of a really old Apostles song which i’m sure i’ve got a brilliant drum machine version of somewhere (might have been called ‘Pakistan by 10 Wickets’?) and recorded the same time as “2nd Dark Age”.
The Recession club gig was, i think, the first time they played there, with, if I remember correctly, the Nocturnal Emissions and Jesus & the Fruit Aphids.
No idea what those other songs are – must be after my time so post 1984/85 i’m imagine. Sound like they might have been recorded around 1st LP time?
NB: Again maybe a bit of confusion as this definately wasn’t released on ‘SCUM’. Hope that’s a help. Chris x
Penguin • Post Author •
April 1, 2008 at 10:04 pmUmmm, that’s strange Chris, Andy gave me a tape of all the singles as well as this tape, at the same time, I had the singles at the time anyway, think he was just being helpful! Seems strange for him to record some of the single tracks for this tape also though, anyhow, never mind…Dont think Hello Black Flag was on a single though. The Recession Club was the first gig and also released separately, as mentioned above. He put Visions Of The End on cos he knew I was up for a bit of T.O.P.Y. bizness, and I remember him saying that The Apostles now sound like PTV! I used to take him around Beck Road and he used to chat with GPO for ages. He also played chess with him once, which was fun. Andy won!
back2front
April 2, 2008 at 10:35 amThe CD sounds excellent Chris – definitely keep me posted.
Thanks Penguin I hope the other members you spoke of come forward too. The Visions of the End tape under the Scum banner has been available via BBP for years.
Penguin do you have the 15th demo “Life”. I have a copy but Andy reckons it’s a practice tape of Dave’s and I can’t seem to locate a copy that’s any different?
Chris
April 2, 2008 at 2:59 pmPengy, well those recordings are without doubt exactly the same recordings as on the singles, albeit copied on Andy’s old tape deck that always cut out the top end of everything so i suspect he was either being ‘helpful’ or forgetful!
Regarding BBP, I really wouldn’t want to be in Gogs’ shoes if Andy finds out he’s STILL bootlegging old Apostles tapes!!
back2front
April 2, 2008 at 6:58 pmEspecially when he charges £6-7 for a crap CDR – very DiY – I think Andy knows anyway
Penguin • Post Author •
April 2, 2008 at 8:36 pmI have the 12 demos, plus Cartography which is a tape with loads of artwork in a bag. Never got anything else on tape after that.
Tony Puppy
April 3, 2008 at 12:50 amThat I Am A Rock/Splitting In Two is pretty pretty good.
Any chance of John Not An Apostle splicing that into the Apostles singles CD?
John No Last Name
April 3, 2008 at 5:35 amThings I would rather do than listen to, hear about or work on music by the Apostles
a)jab myself in the eye repeatedly with a pencil
b) lay on a Canadian beach in a seal suit until I get clubbed to death
c) put on a suit made entirely of bacon and crawl into the Lion cage at the Zoo
d) remove my own gall bladder using only Jagermeister for the anesthetic
e) all of the above
Nic
April 3, 2008 at 10:09 amThe majority of the A-side songs do sound like unreleased versions to me…
The first ‘Mob Violence (Pt.1)’ is from the single on Mortarhate…
And some of the versions (‘Punk Squat’, ‘5.975 Mhz’ and ‘Tomorrow Belongs to Us’ in particular) appeared on the first albums…
BBP (Gogs) still has the large majority of Apostles releases available from his list: he lists ‘Visions of the End’ as “Studio & Live”…
Chris
April 3, 2008 at 10:47 am“The majority of the A-side songs do sound like unreleased versions to me…”
Nic, believe me , the first seven songs on the cassette are without a shadow of doubt EXACTLY THE SAME AS THE SINGLE VERSIONS. The only songs that different versions were EVER recorded of are ‘The Phoenix’ and ‘The Cripple/Radio Story’. And NONE of these recordings EVER received ‘alternative mixes’. Though if you are used to listening to the vinyl single versions anything would sound different as the sound quality of the singles is absolutely and irredeemably unlistenable.
“And some of the versions (’Punk Squat’, ‘5.975 Mhz’ and ‘Tomorrow Belongs to Us’ in particular) appeared on the first albums…”
I know nothing about and am not familiar with this later material. Sorry.
“Especially when he charges £6-7 for a crap CDR – very DiY – I think Andy knows anyway”
yes, Andy does know and he has REPEATEDLY asked Gogs to stop bootlegging his stuff. Or at very least actually GIVE him/Dave something for it. sure anyone who knows Andy will agree that Gogs is perhaps not taking the wisest course of action in ignoring his requests…
NB: i think Dave left The Unit last year.
Nic
April 3, 2008 at 12:44 pmFair play, Chris…some of the vocal lines sounded different, but that’s from memory rather than checking…
I was never that enamoured of the singles in all honesty – they didn’t seem to capture the songs to their best advantage…
But – thanks for these tapes, Penguin 🙂
The ‘Aktion Klub’ recording would sit very happily with a lot of the ‘free’ music being put out on CDr and cassette over the last 10 years…
jim vallance
April 3, 2008 at 3:43 pmback2front…I would be interested if you get a copy of ‘Life’…the copy BBP sent me is wrong and features none of the same tracks Andy gave me on a tape years ago, since lost.
lookn fwd to hearing Hymn to pan…cheers.
Whales In Space and Glass Shells and Cars, which I asked about a while ago about, Andy dosnt have anymore but Dave might…well worth a listen. So yes Andy/Dave did record random tracks and add them to ‘personal tapes’ they sent friends.
back2front
April 3, 2008 at 6:16 pmJim if I find a copy you’ll be first to know.
Penguin I have that Cartography tape – one of those Apostles packages when the literature and art was definitely better than the music – I have all the later tapes like Manifesto, How To Suck Seed and that so I could send them your way if you want to put them on?
Dave plays with UNIT only occassionally now due to other commitments.
Mr Gogs
May 1, 2008 at 4:13 pmWe have now found the correct ‘LIFE’ demo cassette. It had been swaped with a master cassette for the unreleased cassette by The Disciples featuring Dave Fanning and John Waddington and recorded between December 1987 and April 1988.
Jim V
May 8, 2008 at 11:33 pmCheers Mr Gogs..please can you forward Life as requested….and paid for and returned as incorrect …cheers.
Mr Gogs
May 9, 2008 at 11:49 amDear Jim,
Please send me your mailing address and of course i will send you a copy a.s.a.p mate.
Yours,
Mr Gogs.
Jim V
June 6, 2008 at 12:23 amLife..what a difference several decades make…
Mr Gogs
June 6, 2008 at 11:07 amDear Jim,
So you got the LIFE recording. What did you think my friend ?
Mr Gogs