Shelleyan Orphan - In the beginning

In 1984 Shelleyan Orphan got their first break when they were invited to record a session of four songs for UK Radio One.
As a result they were later signed to Jeff Travis's Rough Trade Records, supporting bands such as The Jesus and Mary Chain and The Cure, and achieving minor cult status.

This is the original Radio One session as broadcast in June 1984, presented by Radio One DJ Richard Skinner, with Jemaur Tayle - guitar and vocals, Caroline Crawley - vocals, Richard Tomes - violin, Desne Gobie - viola, Mark Davis - Cello, and Tom Davey - oboe. N.B. I made some cuts in the songs so as to get all four into the ten minute Youtube formula - apologies.

Many of the accompanying images are from a personal collection of photographs, scores, and documents dating from my time with the band - (1984 - 1986), augmented by official publicity shots, videos, album art, and a few steals from Youtube.

When I heard the news that this year SO are to release a box set of their 3 existing albums plus unheard/unseen material, AND a new album no less (!) it brought back memories of those early days when we all lived in bed sits and got around on second hand bicycles. Where are they all now ? - I know where Jem and Caroline are, but if the other original members should happen to see this video please do get in touch - I'd love to hear from you !

Richard Tomes

Category:

Music

Tags:

• Shelleyan
• Orphan

[vilepete]

Beautiful piece of nostalgia! Sincerely hoping you´re enjoying the sun, the sea and the people (you have suported the Cure in Lisbon in the late eighties, haven't you?)!

[richtomes]

Thanks for your good wishes ! I left SO before the 'Disintegration' tour, so I wasn't in Lisbon - instead, I started working as a freelance violinist with the London orchestras while SO went round the world. Later I found my own way to Portugal.

[FabienGYT]

Brilliant!

At the very beginning, to introduce the program, I think the very first words are "Richard Stiller, Richard Stiller on the radio", and the logo reads "Maida Vale June 1984" so that's his program? I only knew of the Kid Jensen session! Do you know the exact dates of the recording and broadcast of the session?

[richtomes]

The presenter was Richard Skinner, and as far as I know this was the only Radio One session which SO ever did. That reference to a Kid Jensen session on wikipedia is a mistake - not the only mistake by the way. Can't remember the exact dates, but I do know that from the time the band was formed until the time that we were signed to Rough Trade Records there were no other radio sessions.

[bribabytt]

Thanks so much for this compilation. I've been fascinated by SO since I first saw the video for Southern Bess/A Field Holler on MTV way back when. Imagine my suprise when I attended a Cure concert in Chicago in 1989 and they were the opening band! I had no idea.

Thanks for the memories.

[richtomes]

I've never seen the promotional videos, except for 'Shatter', and that was only through Youtube. If anyone has the other videos on file it would be great to post them here.

[TheEifeltower]

melody of birth...how beautiful can music be.why cant they be mainstream! the real radio world is truly corrupted..this is pure talent no matter how you look at it.

[gartdi2006]

I've been looking for this band for almost twenty years! I've heard the 4AD compilation and always wanted to buy some Shelleyan Orphan stuff. But here in Argentina ot was impossible at the time. Later I forgot. Now I see I was right. It is faboulous, and brand new to my ears.

[watchlar76]

undoubtedly the MOST original band ever ...So Brilliant! Love them!

[wittiestwoman]

Thanks for this - it's great! Nice to see others who enjoy this fabulous band and their music!

[pelorusjack1]

Dont worry about the lack of strings and oboes on the new album you have been misinformed, its covered in the stuff and sounds fabulous too.

They are playing in bristol on 26th Nov and 1st December in London. Its all on their myspace. Some home recordings are going to be available at gigs too apparently.

[somerish]

This is just brilliant! It is just too bad that they seem to have moved away from that string section/oboe sound on the new CD, at least from what I've heard of it. That's what caught my attention in first place, when I first heard them, by chance, in a record shop in Sweden in the late 80s.

[xthestarsx]

How wonderful that you did this. Your anecdotes about the early days of the group in London are fantastic and manage to make SO even more charming! I'd love for the story to be written of those days.

[velvetcaress]

Beautiful! Thanks so much for creating this vid. So kind of you. Lovely to hear Tangled Perpetual again, haven't heard it since the 80's! Best wishes...