The Runner by A Certain Ratio is the best, least known song from their mid 80s phase, post-Factory and pre-house. It sort of manages to sound like its caught in between the two as well with a driving rhythm, some discordant brass and some bleeps behind Jez Kerr's dry vocal. It came out on a 12" called Greetings Four on an Italian label, Materiali Soneri, after their appearance at a gig in Italy (and although the single had pictures from the Italian gig on the sleeve the songs were recorded in the less latin surroundings of Rochdale). The single had versions of songs released on Force (Inside, Bootsy and Fever 103), and maybe they're superior versions to the Force versions too, but the real treat is The Runner. The dark, strange funk sound of ACR.
The Runner
And here, in glorious wobbly VHS form, are ACR live on the telly in 1985 doing Wild Party and Inside (swapping instruments just for fun). On keyboards is Andy Connell who went on to form Swing Out Sister.
It is always so comforting to know that there are others out there who care about some of the bands I hold near and deer. Joy Division aside, A Certain Ratio is the band I ALWAYS define Factory Records by. They were the impossible/improbable band on the label that did everything they could to break through, but never at the expense of their music.
ReplyDeleteRunner is just brilliant. I was lucky that a record store owner I knew who shared a love of ACR held one of 4 copies he got in when Greetings Four was released. As for Force - what a great document of the band in transition, yet still really confident in their sound.
When pop bands wore shorts. I remember Mick Jones sporting a pair once or twice - what was he thinking?
ReplyDeleteThe inner sleeve of Megatop Phoenix has some memorable Jones shorts. Bright red with white socks.
ReplyDeleteI know. Such sights can never be unseen.
ReplyDelete