Not sure if this was shared before, but its a blog entry about why Russel was so important for PULP. It is an interesting read. I do remember about a year or two ago, there was some talk here about how He was not that important to PULP? Anyways, the entry mentions Mark's book, so thats worth it.
I've been looking out for Venini stuff for ages. I did see the Mon Camion single in Notting Hill Record & Tape Exchange (the one Jarvis bought the Casio he penned Common People on I think) back in May under the listing, 'Ex-Pulp' as opposed to 'V', but don't think there was a b-side on it and in these days of mp3s and cheap music, £5 for a single seemed a tad much. So, short of bunging Sturdy some scruffy fivers, this is probably the best and easiest method of hearing them, even if it's just two songs. How many were there in the 'officially released canon' altogether?
The full Venini discography (as you should know from the Appendix in Truth & Beauty!) is thus:
Mon Camion / San Tropez (Bikini Records, May 99) Carnival Star / Carnival Star (remix) (Bikini Records, Sep 99) Postcard (MP3 released through website, Jul 2000 I think) Unshaker / Exotic Night / Hoboken (limited CDR, Sturdy Records, Sep 2000)
The quite frankly completely fucking storming Postcard is still available to download from the archived Venini site at www.mark-sturdy.co.uk/venini
I also have a number of 'new' Mon Camion and Carnival Star CD singles at home somewhere. Couple of quid each to anyone who wants them, drop me a line privately.
-- Edited by Sturdy at 20:51, 2007-01-09
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"Yes I saw her in the chip shop / so I said get yer top off"
Site works OK for me. Although I can only get the first bit of Postcard to download (could be a problem my end?) and the Realaudio tracks seem to be linked to webspace that I had 5 years ago and hasn't worked for ages... oops.
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"Yes I saw her in the chip shop / so I said get yer top off"
D'you know, I'd entirely forgotten about that. Now I remember... I was very tired, and I recall I spent ages on the pre-Google Image Search, 2000 version of the internet looking for pictures of Hoboken. Fun stuff.
Ironically, if they'd come along two years later, we'd probably have been able to put it out quite well. Not that we ever sold any fucking records anyway, but still. The first band we ever put a record out by, Polanski, have now decided to rename themselves "Ghosts" and have signed to Atlantic Records...
Anyway, do you (or the band) mind me putting all those details up there? I like the demo album very much, I still listen to it often (have it on my mp3 player, in fact).
I've still got that artwork on my hard drive if you need it. Probably a goshdarn sight better than the eventual sleeve for Unshaker!
Ghosts? I know their work. Or their name, at least.
Shouldn't have thought the band would mind at all about those details going up. If you're going to include the lyrics it might be worth asking Debbie - contactable through www.myspace.com/kcasino. I keep on meaning to ask Russell to ask whether he'd have any objection to me doing a Venini Myspace (and knowing him, he probably would. Hah.)
Ironically, if they'd come along five years later, they'd probably be as big as the Long Blondes by now. Don't you think? Just replace that leather skirt with polka dots and/or pinstripe and there you are....
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"Yes I saw her in the chip shop / so I said get yer top off"
Ironically, if they'd come along five years later, they'd probably be as big as the Long Blondes by now. Don't you think? Just replace that leather skirt with polka dots and/or pinstripe and there you are....
This is exactly what I was thinking as I listened to these tracks again for the first time in a while.
Sadly not - a few promos were made at the time (possibly single figures) but it never came near to being released, and I doubt the band would be cool with it being bootlegged. Then again, who knows....
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"Yes I saw her in the chip shop / so I said get yer top off"
found this video on youtube and listened to I Spy and noticed that Russel didnt want to played it or what ? I mean listen after 8:45, it sound like he played just random notes
Mayby you're right, but i watched other live versions of I Spy and i can't hear what Russel plays in the chorus at all. I only hear Mark's guitar everywhere. But in this one i can hear Russel distictly
