SAFETY IN NUMBERS!

TV SMITH'S CHEAP - Live In Uxbridge 1990

I found this on my hard drive t‘other day, forgot I had it, dunno where I got it from, might have been from MrMagoos sadly defunct Running Riot in 2000 whatever blogspot. It was originally one long MP3, but I’ve separated the tracks. The photo I used came from someone over at the mighty fine TV Smith Forum, their name however escapes me, I’ve just messed about with the colour of it, and added some lettering. Right then now that’s all done with, lets get on with the rest of it. After The Adverts and The Explorers both split up TV Smiths next venture was gonna be done….“Just For Fun! A few mates travelling around the country in a couple of estate cars, with all the equipment piled in the back: mobile compact, above all CHEAP.” After five years of no one noticing them Cheap called it a day
Ironically their only album RIP Everything Must Go was released after the band had broken up and TV had released his March Of The Giants album. Anyway now it’s time to take a trip back to Dec 1990 when Cheap played in Uxbridge, dunno where in Uxbridge this recording is from, but a mighty fine one it is, amongst others you get their brilliant Margaret Thatcher baiting single Third Term, and it’s b-side Buried By The Machine, there’s also a track that maybe familiar to lovers of The Lords of The New Church, The Lords Prayer. Here’s a bit of useless Rock’n’Roll trivia for yer….What connects TV Smith to Bruce Springsteen? Well….When The Lords Of The New Church recorded The Lords Prayer, a TV Smith track, that I believe, or though I maybe wrong he wrote for the band, it was produced by Little Steven, Guitarist in Bruce Springsteen’s E Street Band. Anyway here’s a blast of vintage TV Smith; Rough, Raw and Ready. It’s No Time to be 21, 31, 41, or 51.

TV SMITH - Coming In To Land. (A Review)

This album is vital. Musically and lyrically brilliant. TV has surpassed himself with the twelve tracks that make up Coming In To Land. In my opinion TV’s never released a duff record, but…. He’s also never released one that sounds so relevant since The Adverts, Cast Of Thousands. The ugly face of 21st Century Society is confronted…. “The throw away values will hold you then have you.".... This is full on frantic stuff in some places, brooding and mournful in others. Catchy and tuneful all the way through. Uplifting and positive. Respect to TV and the band: Vom Ritchie (Die Toten Hosen), BB Quattro (Suzy & Los Quattro, Bored Teenagers), Tim Cross (Adverts) For releasing possibly my favourite album of the year so far.
Given the right push in the right places, Coming In To Land could turn on and tune in a whole new bunch of listeners to the only TV that doesn’t lie.

Essential Ephemera #12

Over there is an article on The Adverts/TV Smith from January 1989’s Record Collector, Here’s a link to a recording of The Adverts in Manchester at The Electric Circus on 26th June 1977. Quality is a bit rough, but…. it is what it is, as they say. The link’s not mine, it comes from a fella called moodychops over at Bob Juice Forum.

TV SMITH - Live @ The NVA (3 Track Promo Download)

This post comes with a “Guess that’ll be OK” from Mr Smith, was hoping he’d choose the 3 tracks, but he declined leaving me the task of choosing (shuffle modes knackered on the stereo) just three out of a mammoth set of thirty songs, recorded live at the NVA, Ludwigsfelde in Germany. The double CD is available from Boss Tuneage and it’s well, , wellworth the £9 it'll cost ya. Over 1hr 40mins of Pure Punk Rock Passion from one man armed with an acoustic guitar and some great words, all the classics are there from his days in The Adverts and Cheap plus his solo career. The 3 tracks I’ve chosen here for you are: Not In My Name, The Lords Prayer and Useless. Brilliant stuff, Enjoy! and Buy!

TV SMITH'S EXPLORERS - The Last Words Of The Great Explorer (vinyl-rip)

After the Adverts had split in 1979 TV Smith got himself a new band together; The Explorers and released this album in 1981, which showed that TV’s song writing wasn’t constrained within any Punk Parameters. The Last Words Of The Great Explorer sunk without a trace. Over the years commercial success may have alluded TV, but he’s still gigging, still recording and still as relevant today as he was 30 years ago when he was the first ‘punk rocker’ to open his mouth on The Old Grey Whistle Test with the immortal lines “We’re talking into corners/Finding ways to fill the vacuum.” Famous words indeed, and certainly not his last. Anyway if you wanna hear more you know what to do….Click!

TV SMITH - Re-Upped and Re-Packaged.

Had a request to re-post the TV Smith stuff, from wmhp2 over on the re-branded If Music Could Talk Clash forum, the ultimate resource for any Clash 'fan' Have re-packaged both the Live in Stevenage (1993) and the Acoustic Adverts post as one download, available here. Also as a bit of a bonus, over to the left there's a link for TV's Not In My Name track, a scathing attack on the whole Iraq war business, originally released in 2003 via his web site. Enjoy. Any other deadlinks, requests for re-postings leave details in the comments bit on this post.

TV SMITH - THE Acoustic ADVERTS.

This is the only TV you can believe. These 8 tracks: Back From The Dead/We Who Wait/Televisions Over/On The Roof/Gary Gilmores Eyes/Bored Teenagers/No Time To Be 21/One Chord Wonders// are taken from 2 shows that the mighty Mr Smith did in Zurich @ the CLA Cafeteria in 2006. Get 'em here. It's electric!

THE ADVERTS - The Wonders Don't Care

Can't believe it's taken me this long to post some Adverts stuff, love this band TV Smith was one of punks best songwriters second only to Strummer and Knox.

This collection of favourites is made up of radio sessions recorded for the BBC by the band between 77-79. These versions are less polished than the original recordings, and in the words of TV, it's a chance to "hear a band get born, grow up, get old and die, all in less than an hour" I cant think of a better way to spend an hour, so if you've time to spare, click here: http://www.sendspace.com/file/1dgkct

If not make time, cos Televisions Over.

TV SMITH - Live @ The Klub Wiv No Name, Stevenage. 1/10/93

Once again the good folk of Stevenage had a chance to see another 'punk legend' play an intimate gig, and once again apathy set in and very few bothered to turn out. Never mind their loss, as I'm sure you'll agree if you download this. From The Adverts to his solo stuff TV SMITH has a way with words, as not only the songs but the banter in between songs on this recording shows. The set starts with his 'punk classic' Gary Gilmours Eyes then takes in subjects such as Britain's 'special' relationship with America, Government cover-ups, train drivers crashing while carrying Nuclear Waste, how everything is getting bigger, and the rich live longer, and the growing gap between the rich and poor. This was recorded 13 years ago and every word is still relevant. Protest never dies it just gets older and you find there's more to protest about, "and I wont pay for their mistakes."

TV SMITH - Live in 93: http://www.sendspace.com/file/2bcda0