The Members release two new archive records featuring rare recordings from 1978 and 1979

THE MEMBERS RELEASE TWO NEW ARCHIVE RECORDS FEATURING RARE RECORDINGS FROM 1978 AND 1979 VIA CADIZ MUSIC

THE MEMBERS AT THE COACH HOUSE – ORIGINAL STUDIO TAPES FROM THE 1978 LINE-UP – ORDER HERE:

(AT THE) END OF TERM – THE LOST MASTERS 4-TRACK 10” EP – ORDER HERE:
 

In 1978, The Members were one of the hottest bands on the London circuit. Their unique post-punk sound combined a dual guitar attack with reggae basslines and incendiary drum work, add to this mix the pocket rocket that was singer Nick Tesco, and you got a very unique band - a mixture of surf guitar, dub reggae and new wave rock. 

They were on the cusp of smashing through into the big time, and they went into the studio with soon to be superstar producer Steve Lillywhite to make a recording of their best numbers. This recording would ultimately get them a record deal and subsequently, the recordings lay in a cupboard untouched for 45 years, but it also stands as a record of their unique sound recorded at the first black owned studio in the UK, Eddy Grant’s Coach House Studios. This record has it all, the first studio recording of ‘Sound Of The Suburbs’, which went on to become a huge single and is to this day, one of the most loved anthems from the punk era, alongside early recordings of the songs from their influential debut album, ‘At The Chelsea Nightclub’.

‘The Members at the Coach House’ finds the band at something of a crossroad. They were standing on the edge of their biggest record, the studio was about to have their biggest hit, and Steve Lillywhite was at the beginning of a huge career. Also, because guitarist JC Carroll was working in a bank at the time, he couldn’t make it to the backing vocal sessions, so his brother Meesh and future World Domination Enterprises bass player Steve Jameson sang backing vocals.

Lovingly digitally remastered in 96K hz at the Great Bear studios in Bristol, this unique record of the band’s development is essential listening to any fans of this important period of music. ‘The Members at the Coach House’ is available on 12” vinyl (with 16 Page 77 Style Fanzine), CD, Digital and 100 Limited Edition Boxset (containing two vinyl records, CD, repro posters, T shirt, plectrum, postcards, shot glass and signed lyric sheet).

And as if that wasn’t enough already, The Members are also proud to announce the first vinyl release of the ‘(At The) End Of Term’ 4-song EP, to be released on 10” white vinyl. Recorded in 1979, the lead song was originally intended to be their answer to Alice Cooper’s ‘Schools Out’, but the band missed the end of term school deadline for the release of ‘(At The) End Of Term’, so the single was shelved and forgotten about.

Fast forward to 2012 and a chance conversation at a suburban car boot sale.   

“Those of you who know me well will be aware that I collect musical instruments”, explains JC Carroll. “To get the sound that I need in the studio it’s sometimes necessary to use old instruments. In 2012 I was at a car boot sale buying an old 60s Farfisa organ (think Percy Sledge or Sam the Sham and the Pharoahs). Derek, the seller, asked me if I was in a band. ‘Yes’ I said, ‘I was in The Members’. I bought the organ but Derek had left the pedal at home so I gave him my phone number and asked him to call me so I could arrange a time to pick it up. When I went to Godalming to collect it, Derek surprised me, ‘My son in law's got a big tape of the Members - a master tape.’  He then explained to me that his son-in-law's father used to own a recording studio in London. A few phone calls and months later I found myself looking at two 1 inch, eight track, Ampex master tapes of The Members recorded in June 1979.
 
“I had found the Holy Grail of Member-O-Bilia,” continues JC. “The other three tracks were ‘Normal People’, ‘Muzak Machine’ and a song called ‘Gang War’. The last three songs were recorded on the second Members album. I had the tapes baked, then transferred onto a hard drive and opened them in my studio. It was a perfect time capsule - all the instruments and voices were clearly recorded on the tape. The songs sounded fresh and vibrant, full of youthful energy. This was The Members Mark 1 at the top of their game.”
 
Both ‘The Members at the Coach House’ and ‘(At The) End Of Term’ will be available to order from Cardiz Music HERE:
  
The Members were:
Nick Tesco - Vocals
JC Carroll - Rhythm Guitar
Nigel Bennett - Lead Guitar
Chris Payne - Bass Guitar
Adrian Lillywhite – Drums
 
With
Meesh Carroll - Backing Vocals
Steve Jamison - Backing Vocals
 
‘The Members at the Coach House’ track listing:
Side 1

Electricity

Soho a Go Go

At the Chelsea Nightclub

Sally

Solitary Confinement

Don’t Push

 
Side2

The Sound of the Suburbs

Phone in Show

Physical Love

Stand up and Spit

Love In A Lift

 
‘(At The) End Of Term’ – The Lost Masters track listing:

End Of Term

Normal People

Muzak Machine

Gang War

 
Find The Members online at The Members the original Sound of the Suburbs since 1977