If you didn't see it then worth catching on the iPlayer.
After two rather mediocre programmes about pub/punk rock (where did they get the ridiculous narrator from) and some rubbish about ToTP, I thought this was yet another BBC4 wash out - I lived through the 70s and depressing it certainly wasn't so why do some people try to paint it as such - it was a highly creative period unlike the 80s, which was dire. Sure the 70s had its fair share of dross, but you weren't forced to listen to the Eagles and Jackson Browne or other middle of the dross with Tony Blackburn - there was plenty of real music being created and championed by John Peel, Fluf and a few others. But listening to the some the first, two feature I thought the beeb had missed it ...
However, out of the blue came an excellent program about one the better characters from so-called punk rock. We Who Wait tells the story of the Adverts and the continuing music career of their front man TV Smith, one of the most talented, literate and passionate - yet curiously overlooked - songwriters to emerge from London's vibrant '77 new wave scene.
Smith formed the Adverts in late '76 with his girlfriend Gaye and press criticism of the band's alleged musical ineptitude was answered by a defiant and iconic debut single, One Chord Wonders. A couple of months later, they secured their first chart hit with the macabre classic, Gary Gilmore's Eyes. Gaye's status as reluctant punk icon ensured the band received a lot of press attention and a promising future beckoned. However, after a well-received but underperforming debut LP and a critically-reviled follow-up, the Adverts suffered an acrimonious collapse.
Pushed to the margins of the music industry by shifting musical trends and a stubborn refusal to compromise, Smith nonetheless continued a dogged struggle to make a living as a singer and songwriter in the face of critical hostility and industry indifference. After years of bad luck, personal loss and failed bands, Smith's persistence is finally paying dividends. He has carved out a career as a solo artist and troubadour and painstakingly built a new audience through constant touring. To this day, he remains a fiercely inventive songwriter and an electrifying live performer - an enduring embodiment of the DIY ethos, passion and power.
The music TV Smith plays now is genuine and played simply because he likes doing it and appreciates his small audience.
A great documentary and well worth a watch.
Posted on: 01 June 2012 by osprey
Certainly a program I would have liked to watch but unfortunately the TV part of BBC iPlayer is still restricted to UK only.
I have not got any first hand experience on TV Smith from 70's but I remember that one of my class mates at school was a great fan he was going on and on about him. Don't know where he got the records since they must not have been widely abvailable here back then (at least where we lived).
I remember seeing TV Smith with Tom Robinson at Passionskirche, Berlin in 1992 though and have nice memories of that evening.
Posted on: 01 June 2012 by KRM
Good post Guido, I watched Punk Britannia, but missed the TV Smith programme. I agree with your comments and get annoyed with the lame and lazy myth that the '70s were boring and there was nothing to listen to before '77 except prog. Pub rock bands didn't get recording contracts or media exposure because they weren't good enough. Dr Feelgood did because they were. The singles chart was indeed toss in '76, but you went elsewhere if you loved music, as you do today.
Keith
Posted on: 04 June 2012 by Guido Fawkes
Thanks Keith and Osprey
[Osprey = proxy servers are wonderful things recommend you have a quick read about them - they can give you extra security such as not letting the web site know what country you are coming from]
What I really like about TV Smith was that he plays music he believes in ... he is not interested in just playing what will sell, but of course, he would love some album sales if you like what he plays.
My views are some prog bands were great - some were not. some pub rock bands were great - some were not. some punk bands were great - some were not. I think what does it for me is if when making an album, the bands really gets behind it and is out to make the best recording they can - sort of we'd like top put these tracks out there and find out what ever thinks.
In the case of Dr Feelgood, it was easy to hear they were a great band who did believe in what they were doing. I wouldn't want Dr F to play prog rock because they would be going through the motions; I wouldn't like Camel to play pub/punk rock punk because it would sound insincere (I think).
Manfred Mann were a band that mystified me in their early days - they made great pop records, but have said they hated every one of them and did it for the money. The want to play jazz/blues and an altogether more earthy sound, which is exactly what they want on to do with great effect. I kind of admire them in a way from still making a great job in those early days on something they weren't 100% behind - professionalism, I guess.
TV Smith was, of course, never ever going to do that. So despite the success of Gary Gilmore's Eyes: he wasn't going to do several albums of stuff that sounded just like it.
So here is to all bands that play music they believe in ... whatever the genre ... and to commentator's like the BBC thanks for a great documentary, but please remember it is possible for us to like more than one genre of music.
All the best, Guy
Posted on: 04 June 2012 by Jon Myles
Superb post Guido.
And an excellent programme.
Crossing The Red Sea With The Adverts is one of the best albums from the era.
TV Smith was also one of the most articulate songwriters around.
Posted on: 05 June 2012 by KRM
Spot on Guy,
I was 15 in 1977, so very much in punk's target demographic. I loved the new music, but rejected the "boring old fart" tag universally applied to established bands. I was not prepared to drop my favourite bands because the music press said I should.
It wasn't possible for most of us to get to the Hope and Anchor, the Marquee or the 100 Club. My memorable gigs from that year were Genesis, Yes, Rush and Rainbow. My favourite albums were by Pink Floyd, Rush, Yes, The Stranglers, Ian Dury, Elvis Costello, Television, Talking Heads, Brand X, Fleetwood Mac and Bob Marley.
So, I would argue that I didn't like Prog, but I really liked some bands that were Prog?
Some bands have been allowed back into the cool category (eg Led Zep and Pink Floyd), others have not (Genesis might have been ok but have been scuppered by their naff '80s image which is, admittedly, a big hurdle!).
I just get fed up with the "year zero" approach promulgated by the likes of Tony Wilson.
Punk and new wave cleared some of the dross, but imposed a set of rules (eg songs should be short and simple and anyone able to play their instruments well should be viewed with deep suspicion). There should be no rules.
I just like good music and dislike bad music.
Rant over :-)
Keith
Posted on: 05 June 2012 by Jon Myles
Keith,
I agree. Good music is good music. End of. No matter what era.
A point made at the beginning of The Rest Is Noise, as I recall.
But I think you tarnish Tony Wilson's legacy unnecessarily. He was opinionated, argumentative and at times infuriating - but he was a true music enthusiast. He had as much passion for The Rite Of Spring as he did for Anarchy In The UK.
And without his energy and inspiration a lot of things may not have happened.
As for myself, as a child of the punk era I'm still astonished how much good music I refused to listen to because of an obsession with that three-minute ethos. Now older I've discovered the likes of John Coltrane and continue to be astonished at some of his recordings.
But John Lydon also left the Pistols to create Metal Box - a truly fantastic album.
Punk's most important contribution was its creative spirit. I can't see much good music coming out of the X Factor, The Voice or England's Best Singing Dog! (OK, made the last one up.)
Er, that's my rant over!
Posted on: 05 June 2012 by KRM
Hi Jon,
Point taken about Tony Wilson. I respect his achievments and his legacy. I just think he undermined his own position by overstating it. I'm pretty sure I saw an interview in which he claimed there was nothing worth listening to before Joy Division. Good as they were, this is over egging it a tad, although I suspect he had is tongue in his cheek (probably enjoyed a bit of Brain Salad Surgery when no one else was around!).
Posted on: 05 June 2012 by Jon Myles
Originally Posted by KRM:
Hi Jon,
Point taken about Tony Wilson. I respect his achievments and his legacy. I just think he undermined his own position by overstating it. I'm pretty sure I saw an interview in which he claimed there was nothing worth listening to before Joy Division. Good as they were, this is over egging it a tad, although I suspect he had is tongue in his cheek (probably enjoyed a bit of Brain Salad Surgery when no one else was around!).
Hi KRM,
I think you are right and he did make that assertion. Definitely not the best comment ever made as good as Joy Division were.
Julian Vereker made a few of his own as well which is why we are now Naim buyers. And I reckon he was right!
Passion, life, enjoyment. That's why we love music. And what it gives us.
And why we keep enjoying it. And our Naim gear which makes it enjoyable.
