John The Postman - Is Still Above God LP

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Antiwar
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John The Postman - Is Still Above God LP

Post by Antiwar »

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JOHN THE POSTMAN
'Is Still Above God'
Label: Overground • OVER 173LP
Release Date: 14th August 2020

John The Postman was, hardly surprisingly, a postman. John and his friends were regulars at the first punk gigs in Manchester. It was at one such gig in April 1977 after a few too many drinks that John decided to invade the Buzzcocks stage, picked up a guitar and decided to terrorise the audience with his version of the rock standard Louie, Louie. Far from being murdered, he actually won a few admirers and after a couple more appearances was actually invited to become the official support to such artists as V2, The Fall, John Cooper-Clarke and The Drones.

Soon John was joined by other musicians and a band (of sorts) was formed for the live gigs. Things improved, sometimes they got paid for appearing!

Flushed with success and beer money, it was inevitable that John would sell out and release a record on Manchester’s Bent Records. So in Feb 1978 John and fifteen other musicians got drunk and headed into Pennine Studios in Oldham to record their debut mini album ‘Puerile’. The introduction to the album was by Mark E. Smith of The Fall and was his debut appearance on vinyl.

The album was released in a brown paper bag (to look like a letter) and sold an impressive 10,000 copies.

In need of more beer money, John and ten musicians went to Cargo Studios in Rochdale on Sunday, 10th October 1978 and in a few hours completed his second album. Packaged in another appropriately D.I.Y. sleeve the album was another success, selling 7,000. Sounds saw fit to describe John as “neo-legendary and neo-obscure”.

A third album was recorded in 1980 scheduled to appear on Mark E. Smith’s Cog Sinister label, before departing to America to work as (you’ve guessed it) - a postman!

In 2014 John approached Overground Records (who had reissued his other albums) and a release was planned. Sadly John who prophetically suggested the title died in 2015 and the project was shelved until now.

This masterpiece of mayhem continues the madness and is released as a limited edition of just 300 copies. It is the perfect tribute.

Track listing:
Merry Go Round/ No Fun/ Good News Week/ Barbados/ Work/ Eve Of Destruction/ Wild Man Fischer Trio

https://overgroundrecords.co.uk/shop/

laxman
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Re: John The Postman - Is Still Above God LP

Post by laxman »

Thanks for that. I knew the name but not the story, although I had guessed his profession! He gets a shout out on the Live at the Electric Circus LP that I bought way back when.

Low Down Low
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Re: John The Postman - Is Still Above God LP

Post by Low Down Low »

Great story. Must check this out.

101Walterton
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Re: John The Postman - Is Still Above God LP

Post by 101Walterton »

It’s new to me love the story will enjoy listening.

Marky Dread
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Re: John The Postman - Is Still Above God LP

Post by Marky Dread »

Anyone who's seen 24 Hour Party People would know about John.
Image

Forces have been looting
My humanity
Curfews have been curbing
The end of liberty


We're the flowers in the dustbin...
No fuchsias for you.

"Without the common people you're nothing"

Nos Sumus Una Familia

101Walterton
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Re: John The Postman - Is Still Above God LP

Post by 101Walterton »

Marky Dread wrote:
16 Aug 2020, 7:27pm
Anyone who's seen 24 Hour Party People would know about John.
I’ve seen it (a while ago) don’t remember him though :huh:

Marky Dread
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Re: John The Postman - Is Still Above God LP

Post by Marky Dread »

101Walterton wrote:
16 Aug 2020, 7:42pm
Marky Dread wrote:
16 Aug 2020, 7:27pm
Anyone who's seen 24 Hour Party People would know about John.
I’ve seen it (a while ago) don’t remember him though :huh:
Jumps on the stage at the end of gigs and basically just shouts "Louie Louie" down the mike.

Here's the single introduced by Mark E Smith. Just a fun novelty thing really.
Image

Forces have been looting
My humanity
Curfews have been curbing
The end of liberty


We're the flowers in the dustbin...
No fuchsias for you.

"Without the common people you're nothing"

Nos Sumus Una Familia

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