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Woodentops v Bang the Party

Tainted World mp3

Written 1988 recorded/mixed Addis Ababa studios Rolo/Ian Tregoning/Kid Batchelor/les Lawrence.A team up betweeen the baleric and the underground London scene coming from Confusion nightclub.Work started in the heady climate of 1988. A show at the Empire Leicester Square previewed its release. Rock fans left in droves. In Paris there was a riot! Woodentops played as a 7 piece. Paul Oakenfold and lenny Dee rocked the house after Woodentops played. Power played by Tony Humphries for 30 mins with three copies on three decks at least two nights at Ministry of Sound and through his tours at the time and kiss Fm NYC.

Woodentops v lee Scratch Perry

Back to work mp3

 

Wooden foot cops on the highway mp3


Recorded 1986. Lee was delivered to the wrong recording studio by a minicab during the bus strike then. Rolo was in the forcourt and recognised him. He tried to help him on his way but invited him to the control while he waited. He relaxed and started to have fun. He messed around with the backing track that was in production "wheels turning" He took the exsisting lyrics and customised them recording his own version. The second tune, "woodenfootcops on the highway" was written and recorded with Lee, Ben, Rolo , Frank all live together. The third "backtowork2" has more of the parts audiable but is only a short snippet. These tracks were never completed. Had Ben Staples not recorded a cassette before we went home this session would have been unearthable. My thanks to Johnny Octopus for his part in the exhumation.

Stop This Car mp3 12"

You make me feel'
mp3

Remixed at 'Yello' Switzeralnd. First work with Ian Tregoning

 

Smokin'mp3

You could be happy mp3

Because of you mp3

Because of you dub mp3

Ombooshi Plum mp3

Children of today (live) mp3

I'd Love you again mp3

Zoom Zoom mp3

Stay out of the light mp3

Pleasure mp3

Remixes

Fever mix mp3

Midimix mp3

Stay out of the light jam mp3

Conehead mp3

Dont mp3

 

Latter period Woodentops. These are demos for the last unfinsihed album. Onstage the band consisted now of Simon Mawby, Benny Staples, Murray Gold,Yovo M'bueke,Skip Macdonald, Marcella, Rolo. The sound was far more sophisticated and funky. Shows in the Ibiza/balaeric area as reflected in the live "Children of Today" were incredible .However in countries still locked in the mid eighties sound of rock and roll indie, were mystified. The multi racial line up even recieving racsist abuse from an outraged Paris audience. Now of course the "Parisian" dance scene is a strong force .

Meanwhile in london, the new superstars of dj culture where in the front row. A golden period beckonned for the Woodentops but, as their record company fell apart around them, this triggered the collapse of the whole band. A difficult time. Everybody agreed it was time to do something else.The original members had worked through their entire twenties for the Woodentops and felt individual desires to do something else. A final concert took place at Subterrania in London in 1992.

On these recordings, reggae singer Bim Sherman is singing backing vocals, "Bang the Party" muscian Les Lawrence contributed to the rhymn tracks, as did Benny Staples. Guitars by Simon Mawby/Skip Macdonald, Rolo. Bass ,Vocals Marcella/ Rolo/ Bim Sherman/ Collette Meury/ June Miles Kingston. Programming/keys Rolo

Produced Ian Tregoning/ Rolo

 

Remixes from same project, Conehead/Don't released with "Children of Today" as a white label 12" in 1989/1990. It was Woodentops first "Home " release on Hyperactive recs.

Stay out of the light followed the album recordings. Another white 12". Both achieved radio and clubplay. Conehead was picked up by the new techno scene then developing. The bass line rocked on a big system. The first release from Rolo's bedroom studio that made it to the nations clubfloors.

Fever mix is pretty scary and a perfect antidote to the "happy house" that was swamping the nations clubfloor.

All work from a large body of work from the Rolo and Ian Tregoning did together.

 

Live

Everything Breaks 1992 mp3

Ombooshi Plum mp3

 

A couple of excerpts from the CND 1992 gig at Londons Town and Country, with Big Audio Dynamite. One of about 10 concerts performed with the larger line up . Simon Mawby, Rolo, Benny Staples, Yovo M'bueke, Skip Macdonald, Murray Gold , June Miles kingston, Debbie (Marcella) French