News Contents : Febuary 2001 Newsletter BBC Sessions, Chat Room, Gossip, Odds and Sods and updates

Sorry this newsletter took so long to get out, Christmas and New year seems to have had a knock on effect. A lot of you have joined the list since, Christmas. One of you even emailed me on Christmas day to say how much you like the new comp 'This Is What They Want'. Expect the next newsletter to reach you early march. Anyway on to the news.

BBC Sessions >>> Within the next couple of months 'Detour Records' will be putting out the BBC sessions. Most of the work is done and Detour are waiting on approval from the Beeb.

The tracks are :
1) Now It's Gone
2) It's No Use
3) Something's Missing
4) Maybe Tomorrow
5) Tumbling Down
6) Happy Families
7) So Far Away
8) Circles

Tracks 1 -4 are John Peel 9/7/79, tracks 5-8 are again John Peel 24/3/80 and track 8 is from Mike Read / Kid Jensen session. The first four tracks are from the session where the band got that sound right for the first time. I'll be interested to hear how close to the recorded versions they are.

The first session is also before they were officially signed. The second session would have tied in with the LP release. The only track from the kid Jensen session is a cover the Who classic 'Circles'. The reason for not included the rest of the session is 1) the tracks are already on the CD. 2) The session is taken from a cassette copy and although the quality is very good, it is not as good as the masters for the Peel sessions.

The CD cover is designed by Paul Bevoir and the sleeve notes from (The Moment Manager) Mr Chris Hunt. I have seen a rough of the front of the sleeve it looks good. There will be a run of the first 100 on coloured vinyl. The cost is £8 and is available from Detour, I don't know if it will get distributed into shops, but if you have problems getting a copy, get in contact with me and I will help you out. It will be available on CD and LP.

Detour can be contacted via their website @ www.detourrecords.co.uk

Other than live recordings that exhaust's the back catalogue. There are still songs on tape which the band own but as I have said before and as Buddy keeps saying 'there has to be a quality control button somewhere'.

Chat Room >>> as you may have noticed I have added a chat room to the site. The reason is to allow the band to answer some of your questions online. Martin Mason is going first on the 22nd febuary, he will be online from about 9pm. The rest of the band will take their turn later, I will keep you informed through the newsletters.

To use the chat room you will need to download a plugin - Shockwave. Shockwave is safe and will not ruin you computer. If you are on a pc, it downloads and installs in about ten minutes. Feel free to use the chat room at other times. If you see the name Moddyboy in the room, that's me, I am online at work most of the day but expect an answer around dinner times 1 - 2 pm (gmt).

Website updates >>> I have added an extra wallpaper on the downloads page. Updated the 'Your Say' section , since Christmas the amount of people looking at the site has gone up. A lot of you are from America, which I still find amazing, that the band's music has crossed the Alanatic. The are even some people in brazil who look at the site ???

Some new links have been included, a new Secret Affair site www.geocities.com/secretaffair1979, Derek Sheperd's site 'Tailor Made' has moved and there are more to be added including a 'Moondogs site'.

Odds and Sods >>> Steve Green asked where is Kip now, a couple of days later I got this in anoymonous mail :
"Kip - or Kipper as he is better known locally - is still hanging around Watford, living the Rock n Roll dream"

Detour Records have several more compilations coming out including, The Donkeys, The Cigarettes and Fast Cars. Fast Cars so I am told where from Manchester and had a very good single called 'The Kids Just Wanna Dance'. The story goes that the band were being courted by Polydor , only to be beaten by the Chords.

Number Plate for Sale >>> I have included this mail I had sent to me, some of you may be interested

"I don't know much about this sort of thing but I think the easiest way is that I send you the vehicle documents and I scrap the car, or if you want the car then feel free. So if you fancy standing out from the rest of the crowd, and being a bit flashy give me a reply. The plate is "D41 MOD". I' velooked around, and the value from a reg plate company is up to around £800, I'd rather sell it on myself and dont expect to get that much for it, so make me an offer and i'll get back to you.

Thank you for your time, and make me an offer I can't refuse, and you be the one with the huge grin." If you interested contact Stephen @ THE_RAFF@EXCITE.CO.UK

Gigs >>> No Chords gigs, rumours are going around as usual but no confirmed dates yet. Other bands and things of interest are:

The Solar Flares and Phrogs 22nd feb
Who's who and Autumn thurs 26th april
And The Truth who were fronted by Dennis Greaves (from 9 below zero) in the early 80's and whom scored quite a few Top 20 hits ( Inc Confusion hits us every time) are playing 3 re-union gigs and can be seen at London's Rhythm Factory on July 5th or 12th ? 2001 Contact www.inthecitypromtions.co.uk for more details

MODERN LIFE - MUSIC MADE TO MEASURE Saturdays Monthly at Arc Dovecot Street, Stockton-on-Tees, TS18 Arrive for 9:30pm,

Friday 16th Feb 2001 Grand Soul Central presents a nite of OLD SKOOL SOULat the Colchester Arts Center Church Walk, Colchester 9pm til 2am From Motown to Stax From Funk to Disco 6ts, 7ts, 8ts, 9ts, Northern, Modern contact the Grand Soul Central on 07788 76 43 74

The City of Cambridge Lambretta club have a do at the 'Frank Lee centre' on the 16th March, expect soul and lots of Weller Contact Jason on 01223 263354 That's all for now.

OLD NEWS