Avon Calling
Encyclopedia
Avon Calling is an album of tracks featuring bands from Bristol
, UK, on local record label Heartbeat Records, and was originally released in 1979. All but 2 of the tracks were recorded at Crescent Studios in Bath by David Lord and Glenn Tommey, when the bands were “neatly fitting in on "off days" from on-going sessions by the likes of Peter Gabriel
, The Korgis
& Kate Bush
.”
At the time of the LP release Rick Joseph of the NME
started his review of the album, “Avon Calling is the collective endeavour of 15 bands that live and languish around Britain’s Most Unsung Major Metropolis. So, leaving aside any thoughts of the value of compilation albums in general, and digressions on rock geography in particular, it only remains to be said that ‘Avon Calling’ is a veritable riot of stunning pop.”
In 2005 the album was re-released as a Double CD, that included bonus unreleased tracks and selections from each of the first 12 Heartbeat singles from 1978 to 1981. It starts with an excerpt from John Peel’s
BBC Radio Show where he introduces the album as,
“And we had numerous, well quite a few compilation LPs in recent, in the past year …but now, there’s a new one called Avon Calling: The Bristol Compilation, and this is really the standard by which the others must be judged in future. Because it really is superb there are 15 tracks on the LP, genuinely not a bad one amongst them, and a lot of really good stuff. I’m going to start really, side 1, band 1, and will work my way through it over the next few programmes…”
Gerard Langley of The Blue Aeroplanes
wrote in the sleeve notes for the reissue, “These CDs will give you actual punks (X-Certs), reclaimed pub rockers with skinny trousers and ties (Private Dicks), up-tempo attempted popmeisters (Various Artists), arty kids in a strop (Glaxo Babies
), New York bohemian wannabes (Apartment
), rock-poetic wannabes (Art Objects
), teenage dubheads (Double Vision), closet Doors fans with a grudge (Essential Bop
), and many more.”
Also the Allmusic review by Stewart Mason notes, “What's most illuminating about Avon Calling … is that it puts the lie to the narrow definition of post-punk that has grown in the popular imagination since the turn of the millennium, when it seems that this era in British pop music consisted solely of bands that sounded sort of like either Joy Division
or the Human League. As a matter of fact, there's little Manchester gloom or straight synth pop among these 46 songs.” and, “Touches like a bit of John Peel introducing the Glaxo Babies' "It's Irrational" and an interesting, scene-setting radio interview by DJ Simon Edwards set the social context. This might seem like the sort of compilation that's mostly for boffins, but there is enough solid material on Avon Calling: The Bristol Compilation to make it worth recommending to even the casual fan of the style.”
Trivia: At the time of the original release of this LP, the city of Bristol
was in the short lived (1974-1996) English county of Avon
, hence the play on the Avon Products
advertising slogan.
Bristol
Bristol is a city, unitary authority area and ceremonial county in South West England, with an estimated population of 433,100 for the unitary authority in 2009, and a surrounding Larger Urban Zone with an estimated 1,070,000 residents in 2007...
, UK, on local record label Heartbeat Records, and was originally released in 1979. All but 2 of the tracks were recorded at Crescent Studios in Bath by David Lord and Glenn Tommey, when the bands were “neatly fitting in on "off days" from on-going sessions by the likes of Peter Gabriel
Peter Gabriel
Peter Brian Gabriel is an English singer, musician, and songwriter who rose to fame as the lead vocalist and flautist of the progressive rock group Genesis. After leaving Genesis, Gabriel went on to a successful solo career...
, The Korgis
The Korgis
The Korgis are a British pop band, originally composed of singer / bassist James Warren and singer / drummer Andy Davis , both former members of 1970s band Stackridge, along with unofficial members violinist Stuart Gordon and keyboardist Phil Harrison.-Career:The Korgis released their first single...
& Kate Bush
Kate Bush
Kate Bush is an English singer-songwriter, musician and record producer. Her eclectic musical style and idiosyncratic vocal style have made her one of the United Kingdom's most successful solo female performers of the past 30 years.In 1978, at the age of 19, Bush topped the UK Singles Chart...
.”
At the time of the LP release Rick Joseph of the NME
NME
The New Musical Express is a popular music publication in the United Kingdom, published weekly since March 1952. It started as a music newspaper, and gradually moved toward a magazine format during the 1980s, changing from newsprint in 1998. It was the first British paper to include a singles...
started his review of the album, “Avon Calling is the collective endeavour of 15 bands that live and languish around Britain’s Most Unsung Major Metropolis. So, leaving aside any thoughts of the value of compilation albums in general, and digressions on rock geography in particular, it only remains to be said that ‘Avon Calling’ is a veritable riot of stunning pop.”
In 2005 the album was re-released as a Double CD, that included bonus unreleased tracks and selections from each of the first 12 Heartbeat singles from 1978 to 1981. It starts with an excerpt from John Peel’s
John Peel
John Robert Parker Ravenscroft, OBE , known professionally as John Peel, was an English disc jockey, radio presenter, record producer and journalist. He was the longest-serving of the original BBC Radio 1 DJs, broadcasting regularly from 1967 until his death in 2004...
BBC Radio Show where he introduces the album as,
“And we had numerous, well quite a few compilation LPs in recent, in the past year …but now, there’s a new one called Avon Calling: The Bristol Compilation, and this is really the standard by which the others must be judged in future. Because it really is superb there are 15 tracks on the LP, genuinely not a bad one amongst them, and a lot of really good stuff. I’m going to start really, side 1, band 1, and will work my way through it over the next few programmes…”
Gerard Langley of The Blue Aeroplanes
The Blue Aeroplanes
The Blue Aeroplanes are an English rock band from Bristol, the mainstays of which: Gerard Langley, brother John Langley and dancer Wojtek Dmochowski originate from the earlier New Wave “Art band” Art Objects .-History:...
wrote in the sleeve notes for the reissue, “These CDs will give you actual punks (X-Certs), reclaimed pub rockers with skinny trousers and ties (Private Dicks), up-tempo attempted popmeisters (Various Artists), arty kids in a strop (Glaxo Babies
Glaxo Babies
Glaxo Babies were a Bristol-based UK post-punk group, formed in late 1977. There were three distinct phases in the bands life and after initially breaking up in 1980, they reformed in 1985, only to finally break-up again in 1990.-First phase:...
), New York bohemian wannabes (Apartment
Apartment (Bristol band)
Apartment were a Post Punk band formed in Bristol, UK in late 1978. Fronted by Alan Griffiths -Vocals/Guitar, with Emil on Drums and Richard White playing Bass....
), rock-poetic wannabes (Art Objects
Art Objects (band)
Art Objects were a Bristol-based postpunk band who later evolved into the Blue Aeroplanes. Between 1978 and 1981 they released two singles and one album.Lineup:Gerard Langley: voiceJonathan J...
), teenage dubheads (Double Vision), closet Doors fans with a grudge (Essential Bop
Essential Bop
Essential Bop were a Bristol based Post-Punk/Art band formed in early 1978 by Dave Robinson , with an initial line-up of Steve Bush , Mike Fewings , Simon Tyler , Nick Tufnell and Seng-gye Tombs Curtis...
), and many more.”
Also the Allmusic review by Stewart Mason notes, “What's most illuminating about Avon Calling … is that it puts the lie to the narrow definition of post-punk that has grown in the popular imagination since the turn of the millennium, when it seems that this era in British pop music consisted solely of bands that sounded sort of like either Joy Division
Joy Division
Joy Division were an English rock band formed in 1976 in Salford, Greater Manchester. Originally named Warsaw, the band primarily consisted of Ian Curtis , Bernard Sumner , Peter Hook and Stephen Morris .Joy Division rapidly evolved from their initial punk rock influences...
or the Human League. As a matter of fact, there's little Manchester gloom or straight synth pop among these 46 songs.” and, “Touches like a bit of John Peel introducing the Glaxo Babies' "It's Irrational" and an interesting, scene-setting radio interview by DJ Simon Edwards set the social context. This might seem like the sort of compilation that's mostly for boffins, but there is enough solid material on Avon Calling: The Bristol Compilation to make it worth recommending to even the casual fan of the style.”
Trivia: At the time of the original release of this LP, the city of Bristol
Bristol
Bristol is a city, unitary authority area and ceremonial county in South West England, with an estimated population of 433,100 for the unitary authority in 2009, and a surrounding Larger Urban Zone with an estimated 1,070,000 residents in 2007...
was in the short lived (1974-1996) English county of Avon
Avon (county)
Avon was, from 1974 to 1996, a non-metropolitan and ceremonial county in the west of England.The county was named after the River Avon, which runs through the area. It was formed from parts of the historic counties of Gloucestershire and Somerset, together with the City of Bristol...
, hence the play on the Avon Products
Avon Products
Avon Products, Inc. is a US cosmetics, perfume and toy seller with markets in over 140 countries across the world and sales of $9.9 billion worldwide as of 2007.-Business Model:...
advertising slogan.
Disc 1: Avon Calling: The Bristol Compilation
- It's Irrational – Gl*xo BabiesGlaxo BabiesGlaxo Babies were a Bristol-based UK post-punk group, formed in late 1977. There were three distinct phases in the bands life and after initially breaking up in 1980, they reformed in 1985, only to finally break-up again in 1990.-First phase:...
- On the Continent – EuropeansEuropeans (band)Europeans were a New Wave band formed in Bristol, England in 1977. The line-up was Jonathan Cole , Jon Klein , Steve Street and James Cole...
- Green Is in the Red - Private Dicks
- Too Much Commotion - Moskow
- Chronicle – Essential BopEssential BopEssential Bop were a Bristol based Post-Punk/Art band formed in early 1978 by Dave Robinson , with an initial line-up of Steve Bush , Mike Fewings , Simon Tyler , Nick Tufnell and Seng-gye Tombs Curtis...
- What You've Got – Directors
- Own Up - Various Artists
- Slugweird - Sneak Preview
- Sound – The StingraysThe StingraysThe Stingrays are a New Wave/Rockabilly band, which originally formed in 1977 in Bristol, England, and is still gigging today. ....
- Anthem – The X-Certs
- The Alternative – ApartmentApartment (Bristol band)Apartment were a Post Punk band formed in Bristol, UK in late 1978. Fronted by Alan Griffiths -Vocals/Guitar, with Emil on Drums and Richard White playing Bass....
- Cross-Slide – The Numbers
- Nothing – Vice SquadVice SquadVice Squad is a punk band formed in 1978 in Bristol, England. The band formed from two other local punk bands, The Contingent and TV Brakes. Songwriter and vocalist Beki Bondage was a founding member and is currently with the band, although there was a period of time when the band had a different...
- Move Fast-Stay Ahead - Stereo ModelsStereo ModelsStereo Models were an English new wave group, formed in 1979 in Bristol. They are best known for the track "Move Fast-Stay Ahead", on the Bristol compilation album, Avon Calling, released by Heartbeat Records in 1979...
- My Dead Mother - Double Vision
- Poison – ApartmentApartment (Bristol band)Apartment were a Post Punk band formed in Bristol, UK in late 1978. Fronted by Alan Griffiths -Vocals/Guitar, with Emil on Drums and Richard White playing Bass....
(Bonus Unreleased Track) - Desire - Sneak Preview (Bonus Unreleased Track)
- Don't Follow My Lead - Private Dicks (Bonus Unreleased Track)
- List '99' - Double Vision (Bonus Unreleased Track)
- Down at the Park - Vitus Dance (Bonus Unreleased Track)
- You Have Been Warned – The X-Certs (Bonus Unreleased Track)
Disc 2: The Heartbeat Singles Collection 1978 – 1981
- I Don't Want My Heart to Rule My Head - Social Security
- Choc Ice - Social Security
- Europeans – EuropeansEuropeans (band)Europeans were a New Wave band formed in Bristol, England in 1977. The line-up was Jonathan Cole , Jon Klein , Steve Street and James Cole...
- Voices – EuropeansEuropeans (band)Europeans were a New Wave band formed in Bristol, England in 1977. The line-up was Jonathan Cole , Jon Klein , Steve Street and James Cole...
- This Is Your Life - Gl*xo BabiesGlaxo BabiesGlaxo Babies were a Bristol-based UK post-punk group, formed in late 1977. There were three distinct phases in the bands life and after initially breaking up in 1980, they reformed in 1985, only to finally break-up again in 1990.-First phase:...
- Who Killed Bruce Lee? - Gl*xo BabiesGlaxo BabiesGlaxo Babies were a Bristol-based UK post-punk group, formed in late 1977. There were three distinct phases in the bands life and after initially breaking up in 1980, they reformed in 1985, only to finally break-up again in 1990.-First phase:...
- Alternative Suicide – The Numbers
- Blue Movies – The X-Certs
- Hotel Rooms - Joe Public
- Back to Ireland - 48 Hours
- Christine Keeler - Gl*xo BabiesGlaxo BabiesGlaxo Babies were a Bristol-based UK post-punk group, formed in late 1977. There were three distinct phases in the bands life and after initially breaking up in 1980, they reformed in 1985, only to finally break-up again in 1990.-First phase:...
- Nova Bossa Nova - Gl*xo BabiesGlaxo BabiesGlaxo Babies were a Bristol-based UK post-punk group, formed in late 1977. There were three distinct phases in the bands life and after initially breaking up in 1980, they reformed in 1985, only to finally break-up again in 1990.-First phase:...
- She Said Go - Private Dicks
- Private Dicks - Private Dicks
- The Car – ApartmentApartment (Bristol band)Apartment were a Post Punk band formed in Bristol, UK in late 1978. Fronted by Alan Griffiths -Vocals/Guitar, with Emil on Drums and Richard White playing Bass....
- Winter – ApartmentApartment (Bristol band)Apartment were a Post Punk band formed in Bristol, UK in late 1978. Fronted by Alan Griffiths -Vocals/Guitar, with Emil on Drums and Richard White playing Bass....
- Shake - Gl*xo BabiesGlaxo BabiesGlaxo Babies were a Bristol-based UK post-punk group, formed in late 1977. There were three distinct phases in the bands life and after initially breaking up in 1980, they reformed in 1985, only to finally break-up again in 1990.-First phase:...
- Nobody Loves Me - The Letters
- Don't Want You Back - The Letters
- Showing Off to Impress the Girls – Art ObjectsArt Objects (band)Art Objects were a Bristol-based postpunk band who later evolved into the Blue Aeroplanes. Between 1978 and 1981 they released two singles and one album.Lineup:Gerard Langley: voiceJonathan J...
- Birdsong - Final Eclipse
- New Dawn - Final Eclipse
- Everybody Thinks Everybody Else Is Dead Bad – The Skodas
- Mouth – The Skodas
Avon Calling 2
On 14 September 2010 Heartbeat and Bristol Archive Records brought out a CD follow-up to the original album, calling it Avon Calling 2 (ARC160CD).Avon Calling 2
- Self Confession - Social Security
- The Only One – EuropeansEuropeans (band)Europeans were a New Wave band formed in Bristol, England in 1977. The line-up was Jonathan Cole , Jon Klein , Steve Street and James Cole...
- Broken Glass – ApartmentApartment (Bristol band)Apartment were a Post Punk band formed in Bristol, UK in late 1978. Fronted by Alan Griffiths -Vocals/Guitar, with Emil on Drums and Richard White playing Bass....
- You Got It - Private Dicks
- People Of Today – The X-Certs
- Audition Room – Essential BopEssential BopEssential Bop were a Bristol based Post-Punk/Art band formed in early 1978 by Dave Robinson , with an initial line-up of Steve Bush , Mike Fewings , Simon Tyler , Nick Tufnell and Seng-gye Tombs Curtis...
- Retrospect – ApartmentApartment (Bristol band)Apartment were a Post Punk band formed in Bristol, UK in late 1978. Fronted by Alan Griffiths -Vocals/Guitar, with Emil on Drums and Richard White playing Bass....
- Mr Magoo – Sneak Preview
- Letter In My Desk - Joe Public
- Train To Brighton - 48 Hours
- Showcase - Directors
- Want Some Fun - Private Dicks
- I Can’t Get Out – Sneak Preview
- Middle Of Nowhere – Stereo ModelsStereo ModelsStereo Models were an English new wave group, formed in 1979 in Bristol. They are best known for the track "Move Fast-Stay Ahead", on the Bristol compilation album, Avon Calling, released by Heartbeat Records in 1979...
- Any Takers – The Phone
- Suicide Man – Sean Ryan
- Faster – Joe Public
- Dancer – T.V.I.’s
- Empty Promises - Directors
- You Might As Well Enjoy Yourself - Unknown
See also
- List of Bands from Bristol
- Heartbeat Records
- Bristol Archive Records
- Post-punkPost-punkPost-punk is a rock music movement with its roots in the late 1970s, following on the heels of the initial punk rock explosion of the mid-1970s. The genre retains its roots in the punk movement but is more introverted, complex and experimental...