The Table were a Cardiff band, that formed in 1976. Orig. started as a duo Do You Want This Table (named after an overheard random comment by a stranger), who played only one gig, The Windsor Free Festival in 1974, supplemented by Alan Hughes (bass). Relocated to London, shortened name and signed to Virgin in 1976, releasing 7" Do The Standing Still {Classics Illustrated} (1977), a critically acclaimed, innovative, guitar-heavy, rather crazy single with surreal lyrics which were basically a list of Marvel Comic titles. Although fitting in with and somewhat defining the rising ‘punk’ sound of the time, this song was actually first recorded as a demo in 1975. Intending to be a studio band, record company pressure saw them reluctantly become a popular, exciting and warmly received live act, accompanying and often upstaging bands such as XTC, Siouxsie & The Banshees, Wire, Radio Stars and The Police, while getting rave reviews in the music press. An uncompromising stance and arty stroppiness saw them split with Virgin over promotional disagreements and sign to Chiswick in 1978, releasing a 7" Sex Cells (1978) about the sexual appeal of schoolgirls only appearing when you’re no longer in school yourself. Another musical leap forward, this single acquired the ‘best bass guitar performance of 1978’ award from punk fanzine Black Steam! Policy of playing increasingly bizarre, undanceable, uncommercial and, it has to be said, unpleasant material led to frequent and frustrating line-up changes and the band finally ‘avant-garded itself out of existence’ in 1982 after Young and Regan recorded a single, Yes, which was shelved after the split. The line-up of Young, Lowe and Regan also recorded a single Abstract Art under the name of Flying Colours, released on No Records in 1981 as a favour to record company boss Andrzej Sojka, the dance producer who discovered Level 42. Do The Standing Still (Classics Illustrated) currently available on the 4CD compilation 1! 2! 3! 4!, which features the definitive 100 punk/new wave singles from the UK and US recorded between 1976 and 1979..
REFERENCES - http://www.link2wales.co.uk/South/table.htm
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VIRGIN RECORDS 1977
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1. DO THE STANDING STILL
2. THE MAGICAL MELON OF THE TROPICS
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***DOWNLOAD***
5 comments:
Much loved at the time. These days it seems that people tend to prefer the second single... Who here votes for what??
Steve
www.lowdownkids.com
I PREFER THIS ONE
I think both singles are awesome
Both singles are indeed awesome. Original member Tony Barnes has set up a blog http://toonybarnes.blogspot.com/ check it out for demo recordings of "The Table" Remember to vote, it may encourage him to dig out some more goodies from the archives.....
I seem to recall that when the band played Eric's in Liverpool, one of the club's owners, Roger Eagle, put a table on the pavement outside the entrance to advertise the gig. History has tended to paint a picture of punk/new wave as humourless. In reality, most of it was a hoot.
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