Day 327.

3 a.m. Again: it seems Michael Telles project Night Heron had to change their name because of some copyright law. A real shame. I liked that name. Now under the name 3 a.m. Again he is releasing a 20 song CD album called “Come Back from the Sun” on the veritable label Subjangle Records. The album is out now and as I said includes lots of songs, all of them packed with lovely and sweet melodies, packed with sunshine. Good stuff.

Wave Goodbye: also from Boston, Massachusetts, comes this one man project by Jack Downey. He is releasing an EP on February 19th called “Summer”. Right now we can preview one out of seven songs, the one called “Summer of Love”. It is a good one I think. Very early 2000s, reminding me a bit to The Javelins! That’s a good thing in my book!

The Churchhill Garden: “Fade Away” is the latest song by this Lucerne, Switzerland, project, by Andi Jossi and Krissy Vanderwoude. As with their previous songs we get this dreamy and hopeful atmosphere, with smart and elegant arrangements, and catchy melodies. One wonder when will there be a proper release. They deserve it.

The Fragiles: this solo project by David Settle from Philadelphia is releasing a cassette album on February 12. The album is called “On and On” and will include 10 songs. As it is becoming usual in Bandcamp only one song, “Kaleidoscope”, is available to preview. The track is very nice, fuzzy but poppy at the same time. Looking forward to listening to the rest.

Happy Cat Meows: now we head to Buenos Aires, Argentina, to discover this fun band! “Para Siempre en Internet” is a short EP with three songs, “Sunset Riders”, “Dormir-Me” and “Flores”. These are three catchy and upbeat pop songs  which seem perfect as we know down in the southern hemisphere they are in summer. Joyful pop!

—————————————————————–

Been meaning to write about the Newark-on-Trent, Nottinghamshire, band for a while now. Not sure why I hadn’t yet, sure there are many bands, but I do own many records by them. So even though I’ve never talked or anything with the band members, I am a bit familiar with their music. So I can surely recommend them, right?

We know the band originally was formed by John Bingham on guitars and vocals, Simon Burgon on vocals, Phil Shorthouse on bass, Steve Frisby on guitar and Anni the drum machine. This formation recorded the flexi from 1987 that had two songs, “Metroland” and “Dorian’s Face”. This flexi was released by J.B. Di Griz (GRIZ 001) and also credits two more people, Joe Shevelan on tambourine and Pam on backing vocals. Martin Howells engineered the record and played the organ.

The band would end up releasing more of their output on the fine Leicester label Rutland Records. “Three Ghosts” (RUT 2) would be their first release on the label, a great 7″ single that included three songs. These were “Less than 1,000,000” on the A side and “Sweet and Stupid” and “Snow” on the B side. The 7″ came with a lyrics insert. This one came out in 1989.

Afterwards, in the same year, the band released a tape on the same label. It was called “November in St. Ann’s” (RUTT3). St. Ann’s being a district withing the city of Nottingham. Paying homage to their hometown perhaps? In any case this tape had four songs, “The Ballad of Johnny the Fish”, “On Howard Beach”, “And it Shines” and “Where’s Mine?”.

Next came another 7″ on Rutland, it was the single with “True West” on the A side and “Hide” on the B side. Catalog number was RUTEP 4. Martin Howells produced the songs that were recorded at Rooftop Studio. There is credits to Carl (no last name) for drumming.

1990. Time for another flexi. But not any flexi, it was a hard-flexi. That means there was an A side and a B side. That it is a record not as thin as a flexi, but not thick as a common 7″. Confusing? Not really. The catalog number was RUTEP 5 and the songs were “Cross!” on the A side and “Hey Solitude” on the B side. It is said that this record was given away for free with the Cliftonville FC fanzine “The Wee Red” in early 1990.

Lastly in 1993 we see changes and a new release. Changes in the label that put the record out. Now it was the German label Meller Welle Produkte (MEL 7). And also on the lineup of the band. This new 7″ was the “Startrippers” EP. It had the title song on the A side and “Angel Nineteen” and “Happy War (Xmas is Over)” on the flipside. John Bingham was the only original member, on guitar and bass. The new members were Ian Williams on vocals and guitar, Helen Williams on vocals and Steve Lawrence on drums. The record was once again recorded at Rooftop Studio and produced by Martin Howells.

There seems to be even a new lineup for a band afterwards, with John Bingham, Ian Williams and Haddon on Smith on guitar. Not sure which recordings were made by them. Could be some of the many compilation appearances?

Indeed, there are many of them. Starting with the song “Sweet and Stupid” that was included in the Boshi Label’s compilation tape “My Favourite Sunday Vol. 1” (RODDY 004) in 1989. Then they would have “The Ballad of Johnny the Fish” on the Roman Cabbage Vinyl LP comp “El Dorado” (Grey  2) in 1990. So yeah, first a Japanese compilation, then a German on.

And why not a Dutch compilation? In 1990 they would include their song “Hide” in the double vinyl compilation “Let’s have a Picnic and Barbecue some Corrupt Not Self-Programming Dee-Jays” (NOET 10) on  Noet Lachten Records. That same year their song “Sweet & Stupid” would show up on “And they Call it Pop” a tape compilation released by Fragrant. “Hide” would appear on the classic “Audacious” tape from 1990 as well.

In 1991 their song “True West” was included in “Berlincassette 2-91” released by Jarmusic. In 1992 their relationship with Meller Welle Produkte starts with the band having the song “Radio Friendly” in the cassette compilation “Sandcastles in the Sun” (MEL10). Then Discogs lists them appearing on a Swedish comp called “Amber Dregs” with the songs “Marianne Dreams” and “Ford Madonna”.

In 1995 the band appears on the Bliss Aquamarine tape “Sapphite” (BLISS020). Here they have two songs, “Mikoyan” and “Shipbuilding (in Reverse)”. Two years later, on another Bliss Aquamarine tape, this one called “Shimmering Opals” (BLISS 031) the band have the songs “Chelsea Winter” and “Old Angels”.

In 1999 the song “Startrippers” is included now on an Italian compilation, the tape “Broken Bits of You and Me” released by Best Kept Secret (LIE 004).

Discogs also lists the song “Ashley Watt” contributed to the tape “Indigo Violet” (BLISS 044) on Bliss Aquamarine, “Elsewhere Girl” on the Pearl fanzine compilation tape “The Noise and the Melodies” from Germany and “Marianne’s Dreams”, “Ford Madonna”, “Marianne Dreams Electric” and “Star Yer Headspace” on the tape “Ha Ha, Funny Feeling!” released by Meller Welle Produkte (MEL 15). Don’t know the release year for any of these three, but definitely they are later period of the band.

I don’t see any of the members being involved with other bands. It seems they were all about The Waiting List. What I do find on the web is sad news. John Bingham passed away in 2018. The newspaper Newark Advertiser has an article about it. Here we learn that John was involved in managing the Palace Theatre in his town. The article also seems to say that Simon Burgon is not with us anymore. Is that so?

Then there is a CD called “Television of Cruelty Season 2”. I don’t know which member of The Waiting List was in this band, but it does say that at least one song, “Teenage Wasteland” was co-written with John Bingham, who they were together in The Waiting List.

And that’s it. Sadly some sad news on this search for The Waiting List. But hopefully many of you remember them, saw them, and have great memories of them. Would be nice to find out more about the band of course. So any details let me know!

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::

Listen
The Waiting List – True West