Format Details: Jewel Case
Format Details: Single Sleeve Vinyl Album
Release Date: 28 July 2003
Label: Big Beat
Packaging Type: Jewel Case
No of Units: 1
Barcode: 029667422321
Genres:
Release Date: 22 April 2022
Label: Big Beat
Packaging Type: Slip Sleeve (CD or Vinyl)
No of Units: 1
Barcode: 029667013918
Genres:
Description
THE LAST FOURFATHERS is unarguably the best set of British rock'n'roll (not to mention garage punk, psych, mod soul and general Hammond-fuelled frenzy) of the past 20 years. For once, objectivity don't come into it. What would you match it against, anyhow? The Stone Roses' debut? Don't make me laff! Oasis's first album? Oh, pleeze! As you're no doubt aware, there are a multitude of records which are costly to track down, a significant percentage of which, musically speakin', simply ain't worth the vinyl they're cut on. However, the Kentish lads' third magnum opus, originally released to little or no mainstream acclaim by the band's Own Up label during 1985, is a different kettle of frogspawn entirely. That's why you can currently expect to pay around £100 for a pristine vinyl example, or even part with up to ¬£50 for a copy of the band's own CD reissue from the early 90s. Now, thanks to the good folks at Big Beat, you can enjoy the Prisoners' finest hour - a masterful mix of suss, soul, freakbeat wigouts, arresting organ instrumentals and sly wit - without having to empty yer wallet. "You, lucky, lucky people" as the great Tommy Trinder might've said! Following on from their impressive debut set of 1982, A TASTE OF PINK!, and 1993's slightly overblown Thewisermiserdemelza, not to mention a never-ending trawl around the lowspots of Britain and Europe, 'Fourfathers finally saw the Prisoners capturing their awesome live attack on a micrgroove longplayer. Impeccably produced by ex-Milkshake Russell Wilkins, 'Fourfathers finds Graham Day's paint-strippingly soulful vocals and lysergic guitar facing-off against Jamie Taylor's incisive, irresistibly pumping Hammond grooves, over the rock solid yet fluid drive of bassist Alan Crockford and drummer Johnny Symons. Kicking off with the relentlessly funky Nobody Wants Your Love (Graham's only co-write with fellow Medway Delta mensch Billy Childish), 'Fourfathers takes the listener on a trip which still reflects an exciting alternative reality for homegrown rock'n'roll. One wherein the Small Faces, The Pink Floyd, 60s soul, the Jimi Hendrix Experience's Smash Hits (in mono, natch), the Pretty Things, the first two Nice albums and the Crazy World of Arthur Brown are unassailable talismans, as is the right to dance yer legs off. In fact, 'Fourfathers remains the perfect antidote to the outright non-grooviness of modern 'white boy' music, by proving that 'vanilla' hipsters can, indeed, sing the blues (not to mention some of the greens, and a bit of purple, too). As Dean Rudland rightly notes in his customarily acerbic and informative sleeve notes, during the 80s, for a young & righteous music fan, there was nothing to touch the Prisoners. Such likeminded misfits as Thee Milkshakes, the Stingrays and the Playn Jayn didn't even come close, sorry! 'Fourfathers was glued to my turntable for countless months after its release, so fully did it inform and soundtrack my miserable teenage existence. And t
Description
First-ever vinyl reissue of the Prisoners' 1985 third album, on 180g transparent blue vinyl. At this point in the band's career, the Prisoners were taking new influences on board. The old favourites of early Deep Purple, Arthur Brown and the Small Faces were present and correct, but whilst signed to Big Beat Graham Day had picked up a large chunk of Kent soul LPs put together by Ady Croasdell. These led to some new influences that would show themselves over their next recordings. The resultant album was the band's own favourite. It opened with the magisterial 'Nobody Wants Your Love', co-written by Day and Billy Childish. It carried on through a series of nascent anthems, freaked out instrumentals and several stranger moments. 'Whenever I'm Gone', 'Nobody Wants Your Love' and 'Who's Sorry Now' were all stand-out moments that fans of the band loved both live and on vinyl. After a further album in 1986, "In From the Cold"�, the Prisoners disbanded but they went on to have an interesting afterlife. Keyboard player James Taylor enjoyed chart hits with his acid jazz group, while Graham Day and Allan Crockford continued to make thrilling guitar-based music. When the Prisoners reformed in 1994 they were bigger than ever, playing to venues many sizes bigger than they had first time around. Their influence continues to be felt today.
Tracklisting
Tracklisting
