Sport Of Kings - This City In Darkness
From the EP "On a Tall Building," 1981
Their affection for Joy Division was far too obvious, and their lyrics were perhaps embarassingly earnest, but what the hell does that matter to a seventeen-year-old? This was another record mail-ordered for cheap (in the mid-late 80s there were piles of this 12" in Midwestern record shops for $1.99) that wormed it's way into my teenage heart ca. 1983. All of the rules suggest that this record should suck at this late date, but, paradoxically, the qualities referred to above have given the item a warmth that has allowed it to age rather well; I ripped it the other day for iPod purposes and was surprised to find that all four of the songs still worked to varying degrees, at least for me.
Information about Sport of Kings (the band) is kind of hard to come by (meaning I found no good leads during the 45 seconds I spent researching them online), but they were almost certainly from Chicago, and I'm thinking that they eventually hooked up with the Wax Trax Records dance mo-sheen, releasing at least one more 12" that I can still see in my mind's eye. I believe it was called "Parade."
By the way, speaking of UK-sounding US bands, does anyone have a song from an old Trouser Press flexi called "Not Even For a Minute?" I'm thinking the band's name started with the letter "L."
posted by Jon Harrison at 8:32 AM
19 Comments:
http://www.cyberattic.com/stores/fuzzyizzy/items/555287/item555287cyberattic.html
You bought it for the Big Country cover - admit it.
Chris-
I had a subscription...but yeah, I admit to having spent at least some portion of that year trying to look like I was in Big Country, as they were very much among my favorites at the time.
Thanks for the link. I think I'm gonna have to have that. My thinking is that if I surround myself with enough of the objects I had when I was 16, then some sort of critical nostalgia mass will open a wormhole back to my 16th year, 1983.
At that point, my reaction will be "Well, this sucks."
Jon
wow..this has got to be the only blog post I've ever seen on SOK..My first exposure to them was on the first Sub Pop cassette.. a song called Sing Mary Sing.. which later appeared on their full length LP on Thermidor Recs. They also had a 7" with 2 pretty great songs..and of course the 12" you posted on.. never heard anything subsequent.. was pretty shocked to hear "on a tall building" in the remake of the Manchurian Candidate... http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0368008/soundtrack
Unbelievable site!
"Sing Mary Sing" is indeed an incredible song that holds up well.
right, it's almost unbelievable to read a comment on SOK, one of the greatest bands of all times imo. also right that dr. web has next to nothing to offer for research about them - sad! SOK was robert henry adams, the vocalist and louis bravos who played most instruments. they were joined by session musicians occasionally and the album was produced by ian burgess [who was also involved in the two great lps by CONVENIENS in 1984/86].
the voice of robert henry adams to me has a majestic and noble component that fits so perfectly the slightly gloomy but yet romantic realism of their music. the words are fantastic [see for example "reminisce" on the album], emotive, earnest and unlike most used in songs by other bands who might be comparable in style. SOK is one of those bands that enriched my life since being exposed to them at 17 in 1983 [with the album first]. I was so happy with this record and started a really adventurous search for more that was rewarded only in 1990 when I found this EP for 30 centimes [approx 5cent] in paris. wow! the same year I got the parade ep and finally their first 7" in 2000.
normally a record collector is happy when having the complete discography of an admired band but in the case of SOK it is a feeling of sadness because there will be no other record to discover/add to the collection.
I have often been thinking what they might have sounded like on hypothetical later recordings because the parade ep gave a slightly different direction... almost "funky" [like in "tell me dance"]
so if anyone of the band members will read this blog please contact me immediately because I would do my utmost to re-release SOK on CD on my small underground label!!!
thank you john harrison for this post.
Sport of Kings? Wow I thought I was the only person that knew of this band. I first heard of this band was an album called "Sing Mary Sing". My U2 and The smiths Sat in a dust pile and this album remained on my turn table for months. I have "from tall buildings" on tape along with "Sing Mary Sing" once the tape is damage it over. I need to put it on CD somehow.
The Don
Jon they are a Chicago based band. That much I know Be kind and post anything you find. I think the greatness of this band is a well kept secret. They also have an album called "Sing Mary Sing".
The Don
Hi all! Help homeless children!
online phentermine online
G'night
Hello. You site is realy cool!
viagra
viagra
Thanks
Re: Conveniens {Iain Burgess]
Conveniens has recently re-released debut LP "conveniens" on CD. News is, possible additional re-issues of Conveniens soon.
Great article! Thanks.
Thanks for interesting article.
Nice Blog!
Thank You! Very interesting article. Do you can write anything else about it?
Very interesting site. Blog is very good. I am happy that I think the same!
Excellent website. Good work. Very useful. I will bookmark!
Iain Burgess most known for works BigBlack, howev'er "Conveniens" he engineered on, is some of the most unique tracks ever released from a visionary and artistic standpoint.
Conveniens CLEAR re-release on CD enhanced and remastered scheduled for official release on January 1st 2008.
Originally released in 1987 on clear virgin vinyl was also the third and last vinyl LP release by Conveniens.
Considered some of their better works CLEAR brings forth session. Conveniens still is John Maz-drums and David Sterling Smith-keyboard. Ah, Ted Blood Buchanan on sax and Tom Jonusaitis on accordion etc.
Recording engineer Iain Burgess and graphic artist J Max Kennedy are also superb here.
The Conveniens CLEAR cd is to come with a clear jewel box W/silver imprint, a mirror disc W/silver imprint, a clear jacket insert W/silver imprint, enclosed in a clear re-sealing cover.
This one is definitely for the connoisseur of the unique, eclectic and artistic statment.
wow its weird seeing this site.
i know no one is gonna believe this, but louis bravos is my dad. its so cool that people are still interested. yes, they are from chicago. my dad and i write music together now, but sorry, we're probably not going to record it or anything!!!
Post a Comment
<< Home