WARSAW PAKT - NEEDLE TIME (1977)
Andy Colquhoun formed WARSAW PAKT with John Manly and Jimmy Coull from The Rockets. Wolf Marlander played drums at first, until Lucas Fox (ex-Motorhead) joined a few months later. They looked for a bass player for a long time until they found Chris Underhill and played the UK circuit with bands like The Clash and The Damned. Mim Scala got the band a deal with Island Records for Warsaw Pakt to record an album 'Needle Time'
In 1977, London’s Warsaw Pakt recorded their album live, straight through, direct to the cutting lathe – no tape master, no overdubs, no mixing. The record was pressed, packed and shipped overnight and was in the record stores the following day, with the band’s fingers still bleeding, Needle Time was released. It sold an impressive 5,000 units almost immediately, but after that the label, inexplicably, refused to press more copies.
“The idea was to bypass tape and gain a very accurate recording that would be louder and clearer than any other method then available,” remembers guitarist Andy Colquhoun.
The actual process was simple. “It was play Side One, break, tune up, play Side Two,” he explains. “This was done three times. The engineers were very concerned about us destroying the cutting lathe heads, which ran about five grand each. At first the sound in their control room at the top of the building was very restrained. By the third take of the two sides it was OK, but not as good as the room sound. They used that take anyway. The master was taken directly to the factory and manufactured overnight, and we were in Virgin Records at Marble Arch the following afternoon signing copies.”
If there was an element of gimmickry to the recording method, no matter, the blazing urgency of the band’s performance, combined with a set of edgy, memorable songs makes Needle Time one of the most exciting releases of the ‘70s punk era. It’s also one of the most neglected.
After this the wheels quickly started to come off the operation. Warsaw Pakt did a last recording session at Island Hammersmith produced by Ed Hollis from the Hot Rods, but it was unproductive,” says Andy. “Our last gig was supporting Ian Dury at Dingwalls for a homeless benefit. After that it just fizzled out.”
Andy stuck with Tanz Der Youth long enough to record a John Peel session and one single, “I’m Sorry I’m Sorry” b/w “Delay,” released on Radar in September 1978. On “Delay” he takes lead vocals in addition to his bass duties. (Source)
“The idea was to bypass tape and gain a very accurate recording that would be louder and clearer than any other method then available,” remembers guitarist Andy Colquhoun.
The actual process was simple. “It was play Side One, break, tune up, play Side Two,” he explains. “This was done three times. The engineers were very concerned about us destroying the cutting lathe heads, which ran about five grand each. At first the sound in their control room at the top of the building was very restrained. By the third take of the two sides it was OK, but not as good as the room sound. They used that take anyway. The master was taken directly to the factory and manufactured overnight, and we were in Virgin Records at Marble Arch the following afternoon signing copies.”
If there was an element of gimmickry to the recording method, no matter, the blazing urgency of the band’s performance, combined with a set of edgy, memorable songs makes Needle Time one of the most exciting releases of the ‘70s punk era. It’s also one of the most neglected.
After this the wheels quickly started to come off the operation. Warsaw Pakt did a last recording session at Island Hammersmith produced by Ed Hollis from the Hot Rods, but it was unproductive,” says Andy. “Our last gig was supporting Ian Dury at Dingwalls for a homeless benefit. After that it just fizzled out.”
Andy stuck with Tanz Der Youth long enough to record a John Peel session and one single, “I’m Sorry I’m Sorry” b/w “Delay,” released on Radar in September 1978. On “Delay” he takes lead vocals in addition to his bass duties. (Source)
Songs:
It's Not True / Even Money / Fruit Machine / Dog Fight / Fast Eddie / Steppin' Outa Line / Cut Glass Jaw / Nose Bleed / Breastbeating / Believe Me Honey / Lorraine / Hello Angel / Speeding / Sick & Tired
It's Not True / Even Money / Fruit Machine / Dog Fight / Fast Eddie / Steppin' Outa Line / Cut Glass Jaw / Nose Bleed / Breastbeating / Believe Me Honey / Lorraine / Hello Angel / Speeding / Sick & Tired
ZS (102 mb)
ZS (238 mb)