14 Iced Bears - Inside. Frank Records 7". Coppola 101.

One of the first of the C86 bands which were inspired by that 'scene' but who pre-dated the cassette itself, Brighton's 14 Iced Bears first presented their catchy, DIY pop aesthetic on this single from the Hove-based Frank Records label. Frank was run by Mark Flunder, ex-Television Personality and later-to-be of The McTells and (more importantly for this blog) Cee Bee Beaumont. I think the last time I saw him was on stage making up part of a pick-up version of The Count Backwards supporting The Mummies at The Fratshack in Euston Station.
14 Iced Bears went on to earn the ultimate badge of C86 acceptance, a single on Sarah Records. I used to have it but, unlike this release, it had no sentimental value so it was released back into the wild. 14 Iced Bears still play out occasionally, and were recently spotted at Indietracks. Enjoy.

14 Iced Bears - Inside. Frank Records 7". Coppola 101.

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Various Artists - Alive In The Living Room. Creation Records LP.

I've had this one squirreled away for a while. I don't know if it ever came out on CD but if it did it would be a completely redundant release given the bootleg quality of the original release. Still, it's Creation Night on BBC Four tonight and there's a clip of The Loft included in it. In addition, on this record you can hear early Creation acts The Legend! (aka journalist Everett 'Jerry' True), The Jasmine Minks and The Pastels, as well as other pre-C86 luminaries The Three Johns, The Television Personalities, The Mekons, ATV and God's Own Band, The June Brides. Enjoy.

Various Artists - Alive In The Living Room. Creation Records LP.

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TV Personalities - Where's Bill Grundy Now? King's Road Records E.P.

A D.I.Y. classic from 1978. Part-time Punks is what the young people and house heads would call An Anthem. The back of the sleeve gives a budgetary breakdown of how much it cost to make the record. The kind of democrative, inclusive gesture that would inspire a billion independent labels. Enjoy.

The Television Personalities - Where's Bill Grundy Now? King's Road Records E.P.

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The Teenage Filmstars - I Helped Patrick McGoohan Escape. FAB Listening Records FL1.

Back to 1980 and the second, bouncy, single from The Teenage Filmstars, a band formed by Ed Ball, Dan Treacy and Joe Foster. They have a complicated history, linked in with The Television Personalities and The Times. The latter released another version of the A-side of this record, with a Prisoner-themed sleeve, which also appeared on that band's LP, This Is London.

The Teenage Filmstars - I Helped Patrick McGoohan Escape. FAB Listening Records FL1.

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