Bob were formed in North London in 1986 by Richard Blackborow, Simom Armstrong and Jem Morris. After releasing their debut EP What A Perfromance in 1989 they dispensed with the drum machine and brought in drummer Gary Connors. The follow up Kirsty was released the following year and it and the former EP were collated together on the album Swag Sack (December 1988). After this release Connors left the band and was replaced by ex Jamie Wednesday drummer Dean Leggett.
The band at this time were being play listed by John Peel which saw them record two Peel Sessions in 1989. With their profile growing the band released three singles in 1989 being the 7" flexi Prune Your Love as well as two singles Convenience and Esmeralda Brooklyn. After the release of Convenience Jem Morris left the band and was replaced by the ex Caretaker Race bassist Stephen Hersom.
1990 saw the band release the Stride Up EP and this was followed by the bands proper first album Leave The Straight Life Behind. Sadly for the band the distribution arm of Rough Trade financially collapsed and the band dissolved at the back end of 1991. I am not sure if the final 7" single Nothing For Something was ever released.
(with apologies to The Great Indie Discography)
My personnel recollection of the band at the time were not too fond. My then girlfriend was a great fan but I was not too impressed by their music or live performances as I guess as my own musical tastes were being shaped by other styles elsewhere. However I have picked up both the Convenience 12" and the album in recent years and have been impressed what I have heard.
Peel Session 15 February 1989
EDIT: Kirsty which was a track I originally posted was not part of this session. Thanks to Rob for pointing that out and supplying the missing track.
Bob - It Was Kevin
Bob - So Far So Good
Bob - Scarecrow
Bob - Who You Are
Peel Session 25 September 1989
Bob - Bloodline
Bob - Extension Bob Please
Bob - Throw Away The Key
Bob - Wild West 9
You can download Bob's first peel session from the Frankosonic.
Thanks to Bill and Rob for providing the sessions.
The band at this time were being play listed by John Peel which saw them record two Peel Sessions in 1989. With their profile growing the band released three singles in 1989 being the 7" flexi Prune Your Love as well as two singles Convenience and Esmeralda Brooklyn. After the release of Convenience Jem Morris left the band and was replaced by the ex Caretaker Race bassist Stephen Hersom.
1990 saw the band release the Stride Up EP and this was followed by the bands proper first album Leave The Straight Life Behind. Sadly for the band the distribution arm of Rough Trade financially collapsed and the band dissolved at the back end of 1991. I am not sure if the final 7" single Nothing For Something was ever released.
(with apologies to The Great Indie Discography)
My personnel recollection of the band at the time were not too fond. My then girlfriend was a great fan but I was not too impressed by their music or live performances as I guess as my own musical tastes were being shaped by other styles elsewhere. However I have picked up both the Convenience 12" and the album in recent years and have been impressed what I have heard.
Peel Session 15 February 1989
EDIT: Kirsty which was a track I originally posted was not part of this session. Thanks to Rob for pointing that out and supplying the missing track.
Bob - It Was Kevin
Bob - So Far So Good
Bob - Scarecrow
Bob - Who You Are
Peel Session 25 September 1989
Bob - Bloodline
Bob - Extension Bob Please
Bob - Throw Away The Key
Bob - Wild West 9
You can download Bob's first peel session from the Frankosonic.
Thanks to Bill and Rob for providing the sessions.
Not sure what's happened here - 7 of these tracks are the mp3's I originally ripped from my old Peel tapes and released into the wild via Soulseek (presumably where "Bill" got them from?)
But "Kirsty" was from their first session - the track you are missing from the second session is "So Far So Good" (probably the best track from that session)
The rip of Kirsty is not from my tapes (is slightly faster and quieter) and must have come from a different source. The other tracks on the first session were "Esmerelda Brooklyn", "Trousercide" and "Brian Wilson's Bed"
I might post that session on my blog - email me if you want the missing track from the second session so you can correct the post!
[/anal]
I know my Mum has an old Bob 12" EP of mine archived away somewhere called "NSF (Nothing for something)". It's got a long version of 'Nothing for Something', plus a version of 'Rain' by the Beatles which I remember quite liking when I was 14. I've got a friend who still wears an old Bob t-shirt even though he's over 30 and has never heard anything that Bob have ever done. It might be time for him to earn his t-shirt stripes!
1st Session now posted over at http://frankosonic.duckworthsquare.com
Nothing For Something was re-recorded and released as a 12" in 1991 with 6 b-sides mainly demos and unreleased stuff. The cover of "Rain" was actually on the Stride Up EP
thanks for putting these up - my tape of them is on it's last legs, and it's particulaly wonderful to have peels bits at the end of songs.
i ran the fairly shoddy sombrero label which put out the first lot of bob stuff, and singles by the siddeleys and reserve, and an currently wallowing in nostalgia, putting fliers, badges and vague ramblings onto the dustysevens blog, if you fancy a look.
thanks again.
if you need any more information about any of that lot, let me know.
ally
and what's more
there's now a sombrero myspace thingy with tracks by bob, the siddeleys, and reserve, for your listening pleasure.
www.myspace.com/sombrerorecordings
I'm desperately trying to get hold of a copy of any version of "convenience" by bob - its been bugging me for years. Any ideas??
johnny -
'convenience' should feature at some point , in some form, over on the sombrero myspace
http://www.myspace.com/sombrerorecordings
along with a whole bunch of BOB hits.
Awesome. That would seriously make my year.....
Thank you so so much. Brilliant.
If you could repost these tracks i would be eternally grateful...
Johnny Griff - did you get a copy of convenience? I have an MP3 if you're interested.