By now he had signed to Demon Records, a label that had been partly founded by Jake Riviera who will always be associated with the post-punk rise of Stiff Records.
Edwyn's first release was his debut solo LP - Hope And Despair - which was released to a a small amount of critical acclaim and even less sales in the summer of 1989. By this time, the short hit period of Orange Juice was but a dim and distant memory and the UK was on the verge of being consumed by the madness of
Madchester. Dance music was all the rave and fashion and the demand for the likes of Edwyn among opinion-formers was non-existent.
That didn't stop the label having a crack at the singles chart in July 1989. Here's the three tracks from the 12" version:-
mp3 : Edwyn Collins - Coffee Table Song
mp3 : Edwyn Collins - Judas In Blue Jeans
mp3 : Edwyn Collins - Out There
The single is the opening track on Hope and Despair which is an album that has really survived the test of time in terms of quality. It is packed with great tunes, many of which are still part of Edwyn's live performances more than 20 years on. And in Blue Jeans....you have a gem of a b-side. Sadly, Out There is not among the great man's greatest efforts - it's where he thinks he's Ry Cooder - but at least it's only 57 seconds long.
Trivia fact. The toucan illustration for the sleeve is Edwyn's own handiwork.
And just when you think this posting couldn't get any better:-
Happy Listening.....and viewing
(This of course shuld have been the posting for Thursday 10 Feb.....)
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