Declan Posted October 2, 2021 Share Posted October 2, 2021 I'm researching Manx Records for a couple of things I'm working on and I wanted to pick the brains of the forum. I've been on iMuseum, looked at Discogs and 45cat and other sites, also I have picked up a few Manx records over the years and then from the late 80's I've been around as thing were released. But there's obvious gaps which I think some of you have experience of. Here's where I am at the moment - Pre-war - I know Sophia Morrison had a record-recorder but this was mostly used for taping Manx speakers and when the Gills, Clague etc collected folk songs they preferred to transcribe the music and lyrics so as to avoid individual idiosyncrasies of the singers (!) these were tidied up for drawing room use and became the Manx National Song Book. There was lots of folk-song collect world wide at the time, did any of these collectors visit the island and record anything that was subsequently released? iMuseum has mention of recordings of Manx music being played to gatherings of Manx Societies in Liverpool, Manchester etc - were these reel to reel or shellac? There's a few music hall songs and George Formby songs from this time that mention the Island particularly tourist market aimed. Did the local performers of the day ever record souvenirs for the visitors they play for? Post war - most of the releases are institutions like Choirs mostly singing Ellan Vannin / Manx Fisherman's Hymn etc. Or recordings of TT races. Did the Skiffle, Rock 'n' Roll, Beat groups of this era release anything? Was there a barrier like cost, access to studios / record companies? Or were they just having fun playing every night in the season so a release wasn't an aspiration. 70's -Mid 80's - the first rock record I know of is Jygsaw's excellent lp from 1971 (although it sounds more like an lp from 1967). After this we see the Kelly Recording company and a recording studio in Duke Street, looking at the discography and the records I have this drew heavily on the folk revival with the Mannin Folk. I've ordered Terry Clough's book so should get to the bottom of that period, but were there other folk/rock bands releasing stuff separately. There has been a blues rock strain in Manx Music as long as I've been going to gigs, and this must have originated in this period and presumably home studio tape recorders made it easier to demo tracks to send out. Did any make records? Older people fondly remember Black Mass and Jo Public, these are before my time but other than this https://www.discogs.com/release/9653377-Jo-Jo-Namoza-Kissing-The-Babies-Elevator from Frank Magee's post-Island band I don't know of any. Mid 80's to 2000 - there seems to have been a generational shift here. Younger musicians had access to better recording equipment and Indie label / shop network seems to have provided more opportunity. So we see the Black Riders LP, 12" from Suicide Highlife and Colon, Ways of Stephen 7". Later there's local labels like Cripperty Records releasing records. I'm less clear on what the Manx Folk scene was doing at that time. Obviously Christine Callister was an International artist at that point but what else was happening. Did the Art's Council or Culture Vannin's predecessor finance anything like they have in the CD era? I know about Source of Gravity records but did the local dance scene put out anything during this period? 2000's and 2010's - lots of music release in this era. Art's council funding the folkies. In rock the previous generation supported youngsters to make music through recording studios like DAM, Ballagroove, and labels like Small Victorian Child and Small Bear and there was a crop of eager younger musicians. But much of this was on CD (usually CDRs) and latterly digital and streaming releases. A few vinyl releases as the vinyl revival took hold - the Tea lp, Veto, and Penelope Isles. Davy Knowles probably released stuff too. Is there more? 2020's - There's probably been more vinyl records this year than any time since the 70's - Mad Daddy, the Manx Punx comp, invisible-isvisible, Mark E Moon, Baad Acid and in November the new Penelope Isles record. Have I forgotten any? If you can answer any of the questions above that would be great, but don't let that constrain you. My focus is local releases and releases by local acts so International acts like the Bee Gees and Rick Wakeman would be out of scope for my purposes as would big name acts who played the Villa in the 60's but MF is at it's best when it is off topic so don't let me stop your recollections taking you in those directions. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
quilp Posted October 3, 2021 Share Posted October 3, 2021 Good thread. I recently discovered Sawbones. Local, older muso's getting together for fun. Home studio, plenty of other tracks on YouTube. Paul Docherty, Dave Smyth, Adie Evans, Paul Kinrade. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Declan Posted October 3, 2021 Author Share Posted October 3, 2021 Thanks @quilp looks like they had a cd out 2010 http://www.45worlds.com/cdalbum/cd/saw1 Dave Smythe was in that band the Gasp wasn’t he? I take it they didn’t release anything Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
quilp Posted October 3, 2021 Share Posted October 3, 2021 Yes, Dave sang with GASP, they did record stuff but it was a live band, with very few original songs in the set. Sawbones continue to record with a second album at the final mix stage. A video of the band's last ever gig. Peelstock 2010. Plenty of talent on this Island past and present, in the old days there were few modern recording facilities, Cloughie had a couple, Ken Mitchell put one together as did a couple of others but techniques and dated equipment hindered progress. Home recording was subject to the trials and tribulations of the TEAC 'Portastudio'. Nowadays, of course it's a totally different ball game, with modern technology anything is possible. My sons mate (22) for instance, has all the software, the desk and monitors set up in his bedroom. Plays a bit of everything not very well but he played me a couple of his finished recordings a while back I was blown away. The quality, the software, all of it. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
quilp Posted October 3, 2021 Share Posted October 3, 2021 Even better. Heard Sawbones for the first time after bumping into Dave Smyth recently and having a brew at his gaff. Never mentioned a third album. It'd be good to see the band live from time to time. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
beaconfell Posted January 22, 2022 Share Posted January 22, 2022 Hi Declan, Hope you are well - good luck with the research! The Chasms released cds, and I understand the Alchemical Postcards album is due a vinyl reissue this year. The artwork features old Manx postcards given the cut and paste treatment. https://thechasms.bandcamp.com/ Is your focus on physical product only? Digital release suits me. Low cost, no boxes of unsold cds stuffed under the stairs, just less fuss all told. But then I'm no collector. https://beaconfell.bandcamp.com/ Oh, and here's a nice old tune for you.... https://archive.org/details/78_we-must-have-a-song-about-the-isle-of-man_mr-harry-marlow-david-murphy_gbia0301325b/WE+MUST+HAVE+A+SONG+ABOUT+THE+ISLE+OF+M+-+Mr.+HARRY+MARLOW.flac 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
2bees Posted January 30, 2022 Share Posted January 30, 2022 (edited) Mike Lawrie and Al made a record, live at the Sulby Glen. There may be quite a few as Kelly records was an actual Isle of Man based record thing (I think...) Kelly Records - Manx Rock Bands 1960's and 1970's Edited January 30, 2022 by 2bees 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Declan Posted January 30, 2022 Author Share Posted January 30, 2022 It was the Colby Glen Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
2bees Posted January 31, 2022 Share Posted January 31, 2022 Doh I knew that - Sulby, Colby - similar but not the same... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Declan Posted February 4, 2022 Author Share Posted February 4, 2022 (edited) On 1/22/2022 at 1:06 PM, beaconfell said: Hi Declan, Hope you are well - good luck with the research! The Chasms released cds, and I understand the Alchemical Postcards album is due a vinyl reissue this year. The artwork features old Manx postcards given the cut and paste treatment. https://thechasms.bandcamp.com/ Is your focus on physical product only? Digital release suits me. Low cost, no boxes of unsold cds stuffed under the stairs, just less fuss all told. But then I'm no collector. https://beaconfell.bandcamp.com/ Cheers. Looking forward to having something physical from the Chasms. Speaking of whom I bought https://isvisible-isinvisible.bandcamp.com/album/ghosts-of-mann 's tape earlier this year. Spooky. Anyone, in the wake of the Neil Young thing thinking of using Bandcamp to support local and smaller artists, might like to do so today. It's Bandcamp Friday https://daily.bandcamp.com/features/bandcamp-fridays-update ... where Bandcamp waive their share of the revenue to support the bands and independent labels. Some options - https://rotatorvinyl.bandcamp.com/album/various-artists-manx-punx-locked-in-the-dressing-room https://maddaddy.bandcamp.com/album/mad-daddy https://burningwitchesrecords.bandcamp.com/album/moon-white-water https://biskeebrisht.bandcamp.com/ https://markemoon1.bandcamp.com/album/old-blood https://waysofstephen.bandcamp.com/album/52-lo-fi-psychedelic-country-folk-rock-pop-greats (Old school but possibly the best Manx Band ever) Here's a couple of my song / poems - https://declaniom.bandcamp.com/ (but don't pay for it.) (Tip if you're buying a physical item from Bandcamp put your address as Isle of Man, United Kingdom otherwise it defaults to International Postage). Incidentally, the vinyl of Penelope Isles latest lp should be in Sound Records today imminently. And Yard Act who have the current Number 2 album in the country has a Manx guitarist - Sam Shipstone. Edited February 4, 2022 by Declan 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Declan Posted February 16, 2022 Author Share Posted February 16, 2022 (edited) Tenuously Manx question ... Anyone know anything about this? The record label is called "Offshore Records" The record label is called "Offshore Records" based in Port Erin (director S. Lowe - wasn't there a Smashy and Nicey style DJ in the olden days called Stu Lowe?) ,, the Fan Club Address on the back is P O Box 15, Douglas. The biog on Discogs reads - Pop group made up of 3 sisters / Portugeuse Countesses: Christian De Almeida, Joanna De Almeida & Wendy De Almeida Google says that Wendy Baines middle name is De Almeida. Edited February 16, 2022 by Declan Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Declan Posted February 16, 2022 Author Share Posted February 16, 2022 (edited) Duplicate post. Sorry. By way of compensation here's ... Edited February 16, 2022 by Declan 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Declan Posted February 16, 2022 Author Share Posted February 16, 2022 "The Vikings. They came to rape and pillage but stayed to give us our Parliament - the High Court of Tynwald." 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GreyWolf Posted May 25, 2022 Share Posted May 25, 2022 Declan, The group with Trevor Baines wife in it was I think called Brazil ( could be wrong) they had a single called slip away or slipping away had plenty of airplay on Manx radio and a bit on radio 2 at the time, a really good song but can never find it when I’ve looked for it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Declan Posted May 25, 2022 Author Share Posted May 25, 2022 (edited) @GreyWolf sorry I should have added a link to the above post. The band was called Press The Flesh. A song called Invisible is on You Tube (can't link at the moment). It's very 80's. Edited May 25, 2022 by Declan 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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