Wednesday, February 20, 2008

Semaphore Signals...Wreckless Eric Story...Show # 184



Signing to Stiff Records in 1977, Wreckless Eric (real name Eric Gouldon) was a member of the emerging new wave roster on the label (alongside Ian Dury & The Blockheads, and Elvis Costello). Wreckless Eric's musical style was fuelled by the raw power chord punk and pop he produced. In 1977, "Whole Wide World/Semaphore Signals" as released. The song's backing instruments were provided by Nick Lowe on bass, and Ian Dury on drums. Eric's first album was self titled and came out in 1978, but he was known for his drunken antics while on tour, on and off stage. His first album reflected his drunken antics with a certain charm. it was a punk influenced album with pop sensibilities.

In 1979, The Wonderful World of Wreckless Eric was released. This album showed that Wreckless Eric had a talent, and a knack for writing pop songs. The album did not do too well, along with he first one; He was poorly promoted on the Stiff label. Another album came out titled Big Smash (in 1980), that was so poorly promoted by Stiff and overlooked that he quite the music industry. In in 1979, The Whole Wide World came out in America only, it was a collection of Wreckless Eric's early singles. It came as a bonus with original pressings of 1980's Big Smash.

In 1985, Eric returned with a new group called Captain's of Industry. The group released one album called A Roomful of Monkeys; the band consisted of members from Ian Dury & The Blockheads. In 1986, he formed another group called The Len Bright Combo who would release two albums before quitting. In 1989, he signed to another record label as Eric Goulden and Le Beat Group Electrique. Since then and throughout the 90's, Eric has toured and released albums and even wrote an autobiography titled A Dysfunctional Success. Eric has since then relocated to France.

Next week I will be doing a different type of show. It will consist entirely of surf songs.

The Play List:

1. Sex Pistols - Holidays in the Sun
2. The Scabs - Don't Just Sit There
3. Subway Sect - Chain Smoking
4. The Skids - Skin of Our Own
5. Generation X - Listen
6. Saints - Wild About You
7. Scavengers - Supported by the State
8. The Jam - Art School
9. Modernettes - Celebrity Crackup
10. Spys - Underground
11. The Demics - The Gray and the Black
12. Teenage Head - Little Boxes
13. The Unknowns - Teenage Terrorist
14. Television - Friction (Alternate Version)
15. Wreckless Eric - Whole Wide World
16. Gun Club - She's Like Heroin to Me
17. Wire - Three Girl Rhumba
18. The Victims - Television Addict
19. Radio Birdman - Hand of Law
20. The Shades - New Clientele
21. Gruesomes - I Need You
22. The Clash - Career Opportunities
23. Ramones - Teenage Lobotomy
24. Buzzcocks - Get On Our Own
25. Undertones - Mars Bar
26. Richard Hell & The Voidoids - the Kid With the Replaceable Head
27. Johnny Thunders & The Heartbreakers - It's Not Enough
28. The Hives - You Dress Up for Armageddon
29. Soundgarden - Ty Cobb

Wreckless Videos:

The Whole Wide World
A Pop Song
Reconnez Cherie (Live Stiffs Tour 1977)

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