Remembering Tonic 4 decades on

Mark L · Loudmouth

Remembering Tonic 4 decades on

Mike menzies · V Deep

Can't believe 40 years als can't believe band haven't done anything to mark this occasion let's hope new album stil materialises

ArrGee · Back To Boomtown

I like these comments - pretty close to my thinking

Some years ago, the veteran Dublin-raised London-based music critic Neil McCormick captured what the band meant to a generation on both sides of the Irish Sea. "For a few years in the late 1970s," he wrote, "the Boomtown Rats were the most interesting pop group in Britain, scoring hit after hit with sharp-witted, punk-inflected, new wave tunes, chock full of bright ideas, crammed with sparky hooks, and delivered in attention-grabbing style."

Tony Clayton-Lea, in his book 101 Irish Records You Must Hear Before You Die, noted that the band's credibility immediately waned when they started having hits, but this album's artistic appeal lives on. "Was it the most intelligent new-wave pop album ever released by an Irish band? Absolutely."

It was interesting at the end of the article that the rationale the album doesn't figure in too many lists is the celebrity of Geldof. I have wondered that if Band Aid never happened what their legacy would be, though the whole Bob & Paula thing had been going for a while prior to that . And definitely were one of the top ten acts in the late 1970s (maybe the best in mid 1979) even if history has been rewritten.

Mark L · Loudmouth

ArrGee wrote:
I like these comments - pretty close to my thinking
Some years ago, the veteran Dublin-raised London-based music critic Neil McCormick captured what the band meant to a generation on both sides of the Irish Sea. "For a few years in the late 1970s," he wrote, "the Boomtown Rats were the most interesting pop group in Britain, scoring hit after hit with sharp-witted, punk-inflected, new wave tunes, chock full of bright ideas, crammed with sparky hooks, and delivered in attention-grabbing style."
Tony Clayton-Lea, in his book 101 Irish Records You Must Hear Before You Die, noted that the band's credibility immediately waned when they started having hits, but this album's artistic appeal lives on. "Was it the most intelligent new-wave pop album ever released by an Irish band? Absolutely."
It was interesting at the end of the article that the rationale the album doesn't figure in too many lists is the celebrity of Geldof. I have wondered that if Band Aid never happened what their legacy would be, though the whole Bob & Paula thing had been going for a while prior to that . And definitely were one of the top ten acts in the late 1970s (maybe the best in mid 1979) even if history has been rewritten.

The article also resonated strongly with me and my view of things around that time. For those 2 years from around April 78 to March 80, hardly anyone came close. Will link to a USA radio interview from April 79 later today, with a phone in section. Post - Fredericks but pre-San Diego, it makes for fascinating listening although, as ever, the listener will be the judge of that!

Mike menzies · V Deep

I loved seeing the rats in the70s&80s tonic is a fab album nothing compares to this album it is still fresh today as it was 40years ago

Mark L · Loudmouth

https://m.mixcloud.com/stevie-nics/kroq-rodney-on-the-roq-april-8-1979-999-and-bob-geldof/

From April 79 as promised

ArrGee · Back To Boomtown

Mark L wrote:
ArrGee wrote:
I like these comments - pretty close to my thinking
Some years ago, the veteran Dublin-raised London-based music critic Neil McCormick captured what the band meant to a generation on both sides of the Irish Sea. "For a few years in the late 1970s," he wrote, "the Boomtown Rats were the most interesting pop group in Britain, scoring hit after hit with sharp-witted, punk-inflected, new wave tunes, chock full of bright ideas, crammed with sparky hooks, and delivered in attention-grabbing style."
Tony Clayton-Lea, in his book 101 Irish Records You Must Hear Before You Die, noted that the band's credibility immediately waned when they started having hits, but this album's artistic appeal lives on. "Was it the most intelligent new-wave pop album ever released by an Irish band? Absolutely."
It was interesting at the end of the article that the rationale the album doesn't figure in too many lists is the celebrity of Geldof. I have wondered that if Band Aid never happened what their legacy would be, though the whole Bob & Paula thing had been going for a while prior to that . And definitely were one of the top ten acts in the late 1970s (maybe the best in mid 1979) even if history has been rewritten.
The article also resonated strongly with me and my view of things around that time. For those 2 years from around April 78 to March 80, hardly anyone came close. Will link to a USA radio interview from April 79 later today, with a phone in section. Post - Fredericks but pre-San Diego, it makes for fascinating listening although, as ever, the listener will be the judge of that!

After Mondays was #1 for four weeks back in August 1979 following on from Rat Trap it did seem as if they were the biggest of the punk/new wave bands alongside Blondie. Strange thing is that when Surfacing came out in November it wasn't the big #1 album you might have expected (Blondie, Gary Numan and The Police has made #1 in the preceding weeks ) and only entered at #7 whilst The Specials went in at #4 and it was pushed down quite quickly by the Christmas greatest hits LPs. I saw their time in the sun as a little shorter from November 1978 - August 1979, but in that period they were the top dogs. Making them definitely one of the top ten in the late 1970s!

ArrGee · Back To Boomtown

Mike menzies wrote:
tonic is a fab album nothing compares to this album it is still fresh today as it was 40years ago

I think it is as good to listen today as it ever was. I found myself listening to it last week as I was flying into Dublin because my phone had died and it happened to be one of the few albums downloaded on my iPad. Sounded great. Better than the Stones LPs I had been listening to pretty constantly since seeing them at the Olympic Stadium.

Tonic has pretty much been ignored for most of the last 40 years. In terms of popularity it stood alongside Parallel Lines, Never Mind The B0ll0cks, This Year's Model, Armed Forces, All Mod Cons, Give em Enough Rope and the numerous Stranglers LPs yet rarely acknowledged in any list of the best punk/new wave LPs. Still no problem for me. I know how brilliant it is, it's the rest of the world that is missing out!

Noel · Dave

Mark L wrote:
https://m.mixcloud.com/stevie-nics/kroq-rodney-on-the-roq-april-8-1979-999-and-bob-geldof/
From April 79 as promised

That was an interesting listen Mark. Interesting stuff about gig at Fredericks in Hollywood, where it seems the band did a version YMCA as requested by an audience member. Also learned that Do The Rat was the first ever song the band wrote. Also bit about Mary of the Fourth Form was interesting, especially that part of the song reflects a young male teacher's experience in an all female school.Another true to life tale and still a great song.

-- Edited by Noel on Friday 6th of July 2018 01:16:10 PM

Mark L · Loudmouth

Mixcloud and Soundcloud have all sorts of interesting stuff, beyond what searching for Bob Geldof or the Boomtown Rats might yield. A nostalgia fest for the over 40/50s!

I do agree TFAOS not reaching no. 1 on the back of 2 consecutive number one singles was bewildering although it did stick around for six months or so. However, I feel 78 was such a good year for the Rats (Like Clockwork seemed to spend forever at number 6 in the summer) and the autumn 79 tour leading through to SLAY in early 80 meant lots of coverage, for me meant the sun shone a little longer. They seemed to appear whenever they fancied on Kenny Everett including 2 performances of SLAY and even the album track Keep It Up. Over on BBC1, Jim'll Fix It saw an appearance plus Multi Coloured Swap Shop best group and BRIT best single for 79 all saw TV coverage as late as early summer 80.

I know arguably with Banana Republic reaching 3 and Mondo Bongo reaching 6 some might spin the moment in the sun out to Jan 81 but for me, the clouds started gathering summer 80.

Still, happy days.

ArrGee · Back To Boomtown

Mark L wrote:
Mixcloud and Soundcloud have all sorts of interesting stuff, beyond what searching for Bob Geldof or the Boomtown Rats might yield. A nostalgia fest for the over 40/50s!
I do agree TFAOS not reaching no. 1 on the back of 2 consecutive number one singles was bewildering although it did stick around for six months or so. However, I feel 78 was such a good year for the Rats (Like Clockwork seemed to spend forever at number 6 in the summer) and the autumn 79 tour leading through to SLAY in early 80 meant lots of coverage, for me meant the sun shone a little longer. They seemed to appear whenever they fancied on Kenny Everett including 2 performances of SLAY and even the album track Keep It Up. Over on BBC1, Jim'll Fix It saw an appearance plus Multi Coloured Swap Shop best group and BRIT best single for 79 all saw TV coverage as late as early summer 80.
I know arguably with Banana Republic reaching 3 and Mondo Bongo reaching 6 some might spin the moment in the sun out to Jan 81 but for me, the clouds started gathering summer 80.
Still, happy days.

From the moment Rat Trap reached #1 until Mondays dropped off #1 only Blondie were comparable in terms of their punk/new wave peers. I agree they were in a good place a while before and after, but that was the peak period.

Had Surfacing been released in September it may well have been #1. Gary Numan, Blondie and The Police all made #1 and given people often bought LPs without listening to them in advance, #7 was a pretty low placing for a band coming off the back of two #1 hits.

A Tonic for the Troops rose to #8 and had more time in the charts and sold more in the UK. It went platinum whereas Surfacing only ever made gold.

To change the subject a little, I wonder if the US version of A Tonic for the Troops would have ranked higher in all time lists. Joey and Mary are stronger tracks than Can't Stop And Normal People. I prefer the non-US version as I always like to listen to albums as they were originally released but with fresh ears I guess the US version would be superior.

The US version isn't quite 40 years old, as it was released in February 1979.

-- Edited by ArrGee on Friday 6th of July 2018 02:42:12 PM

Mark L · Loudmouth

Would agree Can't Stop being replaced by Joey would have made Tonic even better. I like WOFTNP very much, think it's infectious with some witty lyrics. Considering TFAOS contains a 4 week #1, a #4 hit and a #13 hit, its surprising it didn't do better. ATFTT has a 2 week #1, a #6 and a #12 hit. As the latter contains the outstandingly good song SLAY it just edges ahead of TFTT for me.

Mike menzies · V Deep

Can't believe the band haven't done anything to celebrate this milestone I'm sure a lot of us on the forum would be over the moon if they did a full live set of tonic (I know the BC radio 4 acouple of years ago) maybe it should be released on cd /MP3 I'd certainly be interested in sure others will as well

ArrGee · Back To Boomtown

Mike menzies wrote:
Can't believe the band haven't done anything to celebrate this milestone I'm sure a lot of us on the forum would be over the moon if they did a full live set of tonic (I know the BC radio 4 acouple of years ago) maybe it should be released on cd /MP3 I'd certainly be interested in sure others will as well

There ain't many on this forum. There were only 5 songs done at Maida Vale and I have four of them with video courtesy of my front row seat

Thing is they never did anything after 20,25,30 years so why worry now? And what could they do? Repackage what everyone already has umpteen times. I have more than half a dozen copies of it, no need for any more. (8 to be exact unless I missed one. US LP, UK LP *2, UK CD1, US CD, UKCD2 and boxset CD plus white label demo CD)

Derek The Dane · V Deep

The American version of ATFTT is the best one,it contains Mary of the 4th Form and Joeys on the Street Again.

manatthetop · In the Long Grass

For the record I think Mary and Joeys does not sit well on this album The running order of the Ireland UK ATFTT is the best order in fact this should have been given a 40 year make over saying its the longest running album for them in the charts way back in the day

manatthetop · In the Long Grass

On that note I bid you all Farwell RIP

ArrGee · Back To Boomtown

manatthetop wrote:
On that note I bid you all Farwell RIP

We are the Dead.

Something kind of hit me today
I looked at you and wondered if you saw things my way
People will hold us to blame
It hit me today, it hit me today

We're taking it hard all the time
Why don't we pass it by?
Just reply, you've changed your mind
We're fighting with the eyes of the blind
Taking it hard, taking it hard

Yet now
We feel that we are paper, choking on you nightly
They tell me "Son, we want you, be elusive, but don't walk far"
For we're breaking in the new boys, deceive your next of kin
For you're dancing where the dogs decay, defecating ecstasy
You're just an ally of the leecher
Locator for the virgin King, but I love you in your fcuk-me pumps
And your nimble dress that trails
Oh, dress yourself, my urchin one, for I hear them on the rails
Because of all we've seen, because of all we've said
We are the dead

One thing kind of touched me today
I looked at you and counted all the times we had laid
Pressing our love through the night
Knowing it's right, knowing it's right

Now I'm hoping some one will care
Living on the breath of a hope to be shared
Trusting on the sons of our love
That someone will care, someone will care

But now
We're today's scrambled creatures, locked in tomorrow's double feature
Heaven's on the pillow, its silence competes with hell
It's a twenty-four hour service, guaranteed to make you tell
And the streets are full of press men
Bent on getting hung and buried
And the legendary curtains are drawn 'round Baby Bankrupt
Who sucks you while you're sleeping
It's the theater of financiers
Count them, fifty 'round a table
White and dressed to kill

Oh caress yourself, my juicy
For my hands have all but withered
Oh dress yourself my urchin one, for I hear them on the stairs
Because of all we've seen, because of all we've said
We are the dead
We are the dead
We are the dead

Mark L · Loudmouth

Somehow when I started this post, I never counted on the last two posts!