Hit The North

I'm a bit excited about this.

I bought this legendary cassette in Piccadilly Records, Piccadilly Gardens on a trip to Manchester in 1988, but it has gone the wonky-murky way of so many old tapes. I had a go at uploading it a while back and it sounded dreadful.

But this week, thanks to a kindly Morrissey forum contributor's* upload from the very limited edition (1,000 copies) vinyl edition of the comp I did not until now even know existed, I finally have a clean-copy; it's like meeting up with an old friend you haven't seen for twenty years and finding you get on again sparkily from the very first beer.

Some nerdnotes for the keen:

1. The tape was a joint venture of bop cassettes and Manchester's City Limits magazine.

2. It was compiled by the Manchester music writer Sarah Champion in autumn 1988.

3. It's a snapshot of the Manchester indie music scene of the time (post-Smiths, pre-'Madchester'); and like most snapshots, it contains some good bits.....and some not so good you might 'crop'. None of the songs had been released before, and some acts were unsigned.

I find I like most of it now as much as I did 21 years ago, but then I'm a daft old sap sometimes.

Side One

1. The Man From Delmonte - 'Australia Fair'
2. Inspiral Carpets - 'Joe'
3. Pepplekade 14 - 'Uptown'
4. New Morning - 'Working For The Payroll'
5. The Waltones- 'Smile'
6. Jean Go Solo - 'In Salford The Sun Doesn't Shine'
7. Penny Priest - 'Sometimes'

Side Two

1. James - 'Sky Is Falling'
2. Bradford - 'Lust Roulette'
3. The Railway Children - 'Sunflower Room'
4. Johnny Dangerously - Subway Life
5. Milltown Brothers - 'Janice Is Gone'
6. Raintree County - 'Nice Time At The Disco'
7. Dub Sex - 'Instead Of Flowers (Dub Mix)'

*'Dave 2006' we thank you.

[If you fancy any of the tracks I haven't uploaded, just shout. The Raintree County's a cracker and the Dub Sex one's terrible, by the way].