THE METHOD - 'Chances'

Red Lightnin' MET-2, 1980.

01 - Chances
02 - Little Lasers

Rik Johnson - vocals/bass, Paul de Raymond Leclercq - guitar, Matthew Kleinman - sax, Ian Pearce -drums.

Much less common than The Method's other single on Red Lightnin'. I got mine a few years ago from the label after having no luck elsewhere (sometimes the obvious is the best solution). Peter Shertser at Red Lightnin' must have thought the £10 (inc p+p) I offered was too much so sent two mint copies (top bloke!).

The two tracks here are also the only real songs on the studio side of the band's album. Others being rants at the music business, a poem charting the history of the band, or written in the cab on the way to Freerange Studios. All entertaining though.

Ian Pearce wrote the original lyrics to 'Chances' when still with Airship, the others adding their input later. Ian suggested that the song was his way of bringing something more commercial to the band's repertoire, but then remembers only John Peel took any notice. So that didn't work out then!

MARSEILLES - 'Do It The French Way'

Varese International VI-1001, 1977. (12")

01 - Do It The French Way
02 - Not Tonight Josephine
03 - She Gives Me Hell

Paul Dale - vocals, Neil Buchanan - guitar, Andy Charters - guitar, Steve Dinwoodie - bass, Keith Knowles - drums.

Debut from the Liverpool based hard rockers. Credited as Marseille (no 'S') on all the band's other records so likely an error by the label Varese. 'Do It The French Way' is the killer track here with it's borderline punk appeal and catchy chorus. A later inferior re-recording was released as a single on Mountain Records the following year. Neil Buchanan later found fame as a kids TV presenter (No.73, Art Attack etc).