Pat Fish, the singer/ songwriter/ musician/ gentleman died suddenly this week aged sixty- four. He was best known as The Jazz Butcher and in the eighties and early nineties recorded seven albums for Creation records, which is where I first heard him. I think my first Jazz Butcher song might have been Lot 49 which was included on the legendary budget Creation compilation Doing It For The Kids. Lot 49 is breakneck, literate indie pop, guitars played at amphetamine pace, with the only pause coming for the line 'you make me want to carry on'.
One of the many gems in his back catalogue is this, Southern Mark Smith, from his 1984 album A Scandal In Bohemia (a few years before he moved to Creation), a perfect slice of mid- 80s indie- pop.
In 1990, fired up by the times and the technology and recording as J.B.C. Pat recorded an acid house cover version of The Rolling Stones '67 single We Love You. It's one of my favourite singles of that time, a huge sounding record with crunchy drums, acid squiggles firing on all cylinders, synths and samplers and a vocal line pinched from a Tears For Fears song that skewers the period instantly- 'DJs the man you love most'.
We Love You (The Great Awakening)
There were many tributes to Pat in certain corners of the internet yesterday. He comes across as one of life's good guys, a genuine person, good friend to many and loved by those who knew him as well as a fine writer and musician.
RIP Pat Fish.
oh, no.
ReplyDeleteVery sad news. I really liked the works of Pat Fish and The Jazz Butcher. Thanks for posting these songs that shows how great he was. A loss.
ReplyDeleteWhat a loss! Pat Fish was one of the front guard of 80s UK Indie Pop.
ReplyDeleteA great tribute, Adam. Yes, a Creation compilation was my first encounter with The Jazz Butcher, Girl Go appearing on Do You Believe In Love? in 1990. The JBC cover of We Love You was next, followed by various other appearances. I've only just checked/realised that Last Of The Gentlemen Adventurers appears to have been the last Jazz Butcher album. A sad loss.
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