Biff Bang Pow! and The Laughing Apple - Singles

  by Anthony Strutt

published: 30 / 6 / 2011

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The musical world is presently celebrating ‘Upside Down-The Creation Records Story’, which is out now out on DVD and Blu Ray, Some of us were, however, there before Creation was a superstar label, and was originally putting out 1,000 copies only 7 inches hand wrapped by its bands. Biff Bang Pow! were Creation heroes, and one of the label’s lesser known acts. Fronted by label boss, Alan McGee (guitar, vocals), other members included Dick Green (guitar) and Joe Foster (bass), both of whom also both became key players in the Creation story, and Ken Popple (drums). Biff Bang Pow! lasted between 1983 and 1991 and were more 60’s influenced then Alan’s last band the Laughing Apple whose complete three 7 inch singles are collected on the second CD of this double CD, which is limited to just ninety nine copies. ‘50 Years of Fun’ was the 1984 first single for Biff Bang Pow! It has a trippy early Merseybeat sound and a Searchers/’Needles and Pins’ style riff. Alan's vocal is full of fire and passion, while Dick Green’s Rickenbacker guitar work is as strong as the young Peter Buck. ‘Then When I Scream’ was the B side of this first single. It has a Stranglers-like organ groove, while its guitars jangle and vocal is calmer. ‘There Must Be a Better Life’, their second 7 inch, was an anthem to me when it was first released in 1984 and remains so with me now. It is a song for any generation. Alan’s vocals on it start off slowly and then kick in several walls. ‘The Chocolate Elephant Man’, its flip side, is a perfect 60’s trip. ‘Love's Going Out Of Fashion’, another anthem for my youth and their 1986 third single, has always been one of my favourite ever love songs by anyone and is total perfection. It was released on both 12” as well as 7”. The 12” had three other tracks. ‘Inside the Mushroom’ is a slice of 60’s style noise experimentation. ‘It Happens All the Time’ in contrast is a song to drift along too, while’ In the Afternoon’ is a moody number that is sung with an odd-rose tinted view of the world. ‘Someone Stole My Wheels', which is also from 1986, is a twee-sounding mod classic about getting your scooter stolen. ‘It Makes You Scared’, the first of its B sides, is like a ballsy early Jam number, while ‘Sunny Days’ is big and Beatles-esque. 1987 fifth single, ‘The Whole World is Turning Brouchard’, is a slice of 60’s psychedelic pop, a song to dance around to. ‘The Death of England’ is a 60’s-flavoured post punk number. ‘She Haunts’, Biff Bang Pow’s 1988 penultimate single, is an acoustic Neil Young style number. ‘The Beat Hotel’, the first of its B sides, is sung by a guest female singer and is reminiscent of Belle and Sebastian. 'She Paints Again’ is an acoustic number as is ‘Sleep’, their 1990 last single, which released as a spilt with the Times, is a cover of a Peter Astor number. The Laughing Apple were pre Creation, and featured Alan and guitarist Andrew Innes before he joined Primal Scream. Their 1981 first EP, ‘The Ha Ha Hee Hee’ EP’, featured four tracks. ‘Sometimes I Wish’ sounds like a track from the first Cure LP and is very post punk. ‘Chips for Tea’ is a super cool new wave number, vocally limited but its passion makes up for it. ‘Upstairs Downstairs’ has a strange keyboard vibe. Alan’s vocals on it sound like Mark E Smith of the Fall and its guitars are gritty. ‘I'm Okay’ carries on where ‘Upstairs, Downstairs’ left off. The keyboards on it are dominant here while its guitars are perky. ‘Participate!’ also from 1981 is angry and full of fury, while ‘Wouldn't You?’, its B side, is much happier and is more in a Biff Bang Pow! direction, while the band’s 1982 last outing, ‘Precious Feeling/Celebration’, has an early Gothic sound and Joy Division groove. ‘Goodbye to You‘ is added as a bonus track, and again is loud and very dark wave in direction. A great compilation!

Track Listing:-

1 Fifty Years Of Fun
2 Then When I Scream
3 There Must Be A Better Life
4 The Chocolate Elephant Man
5 Love's Going Out Of Fashion
6 Inside The Mushroom
7 It Happens All The Time
8 In The Afternoon
9 Someone Stole My Wheels
10 It Makes You Scared
11 Sunny Days
12 The Whole World's Turning Brouchard!
13 The Death Of England
14 She Haunts
15 The Beat Hotel
16 She Paints
17 Sleep
18 Sometimes I Wish
19 Chips For Tea
20 Upstairs Downstairs
21 I'm Okay
22 Participate!
23 Wouldn't You?
24 Precious Feeling
25 Celebration
26 Goodbye To You (Bonustrack)

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