Nightingales - Good Old Country Way
by Maarten Schiethart
published: 20 / 11 / 2005
Label:
Caroline True
Format: CD
intro
Excellent and remarkably fresh-sounding reprisal with extra tracks of post punk act the Nightingales 1986 third album 'In the Good Old Country Way'
As my head filled with medium wave interferences, I first heard of the Prefects on a John Peel Show around 1979. Now, thère was another gem on the Rough Trade label. Rough Trade wasn't always like today's crap, and 'Going Through The Motions' introduced this Robert Lloyd chap whose slightly plaintive voice fought its way over a meat grinding layer of guitar noise. For his next release Lloyd founded the Nightingales. This re-issue on compact disc features the Nightingales' third album from April 1986 plus the Vindaloo Records single and EP releases from the same time. 'In The Good Old Country Way' marked a turn in Lloyd's 'career'. Nightingales vinyl was, before, re-issued in a brown carton package. On to this 2005 re-issue CD we go though. I put on the old LP just to be special before laying the final touches on this write-up. Right, evidently this is reproduced from either the LP or acetate. Nice bit of pre-echo and surface noise there. Don't let this stop you though ! You do get a highlight from the Thatcher era as, apart from the original twangy 'In The Good Old Country Way' album, the CD also includes The Nightingales happy-go-lucky try at surf from a seven inch single they shared with Ted Chippington! On hearing back after almost twenty years, the Nightingales prove to have predated Pulp and Inspiral Carpets in a way neither of them would admit to. 'In The Good Old Country Way' however was their tour de force and the Mekons, for example, later learned from these flaws when they went on their own country ride. All of those bands learnt from the fawlty politico and socio critical Nightingales hick-ups. By 1986 the Nightingales had become great observants yet not greatly outstanding balladeers. Genuinely attesting to despair and demise, the blues from 'I Spit On Your Gravy' is more than one could bear with in today's Britain. Unrelated to Boris Vian's 'J'irai cracher sur vos tombes' nonetheless The Nightingales yet endorsed themselves with equal agony. Was life that desperate then? Think it was, yes. While 'I Spit On Your Gravy' had its momentum when around the first time, the other bonanza tracks still sound fresh twenty years onwards. The unrivalled highpoint on this album was and remains 'How To Age', which wasn't even the best the Nightingales did during the 1985/6 Season. 'It's A Cracker' was the single to go ahead of the album. And you get both, with a few extras, on this CD. Around 1985, 1986, the LP, EP and 2 singles cost quite a bit more than this re-issue CD. Nightingales and country values, that's what nobody can argue against.
Track Listing:-
1 The Headache Collector2 Down In The Dumps
3 Leave It Out
4 Comfort And Joy
5 Coincidence
6 I Spit In Your Gravy
7 Square Circle
8 Part Time Moral England
9 How To Age
10 No Can Do
11 It's A Cracker
12 Here We Go Now
13 Crafty Fag
Band Links:-
http://thenightingales.org.uk/https://www.facebook.com/thenightingalesuk
https://twitter.com/_nightingales
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Nightingales
Have a Listen:-
interviews |
Interview (2012) |
John Clarkson speaks to Robert Lloyd of Birmingham-based punk/alternative band The Nightingales about their recently released latest album 'No Love Lost' |
photography |
Photoscapes (2014) |
Bill Gray takes photographs of Birmingham-based punk/alternative band the Nightingales at a show in Glasgow |
soundcloud
reviews |
Become Not Becoming (2017) |
Abrasive but adventurous new 10-inch vinyl EP from Birmingham post-punk act the Nightingales |
Mind Over Matter (2015) |
For Fuck’s Sake (2014) |
No Love Lost (2012) |
Insult to Injury (2009) |
Out Of True (2006) |
most viewed articles
current edition
In Dreams Begin Responsibilities - #15- On Being Dignified and Old aka Ten Tips From Jah Wobble On How To Be Happy.The Church - Interview with Steve Kilbey
Simon Heavisides - Destiny Stopped Screaming: The Life and Times of Adrian Borland
Secret Shine - Interview
Vetchinsky Settings - Interview
Repomen - Ten Songs That Made Me Love...
Flaming Stars - Interview
Near Jazz Experience - Interview
Jack Roscoe - Interview
Sami Sumner - Interview
most viewed reviews
current edition
Kula Shaker - Natural MagickIan Hunter - Defiance Part 2: Fiction
Lewis 'Burner' Pugh - Bullets for Bread
Hillbilly Moon Explosion - Back in Time
Inutili - A Love Supreme
My Life Story - Loving You is Killing Me
David Cross Band - Ice Blue Silver Sky
Beyonce - Cowboy Carter
Smalltown Tigers - Crush On You
Ty Segall - Three Bells
Pennyblackmusic Regular Contributors
Adrian Janes
Amanda J. Window
Andrew Twambley
Anthony Dhanendran
Benjamin Howarth
Cila Warncke
Daniel Cressey
Darren Aston
Dastardly
Dave Goodwin
Denzil Watson
Dominic B. Simpson
Eoghan Lyng
Fiona Hutchings
Harry Sherriff
Helen Tipping
Jamie Rowland
John Clarkson
Julie Cruickshank
Kimberly Bright
Lisa Torem
Maarten Schiethart