Del Amitri Sense Sickness

mid-80s video of first official Del Amitri release

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Music

Tags:

• Del
• Amitri

[fifi181]

sorry to disappoint you all, but I'm a long term partner of one of the band and Justin was a selfish and self-serving ******** who only looked out for his own interests. He's now a millionaire who jettisoned everyone else to fulfill his own greedy destiny.

[TheTommyrockin]

this is such a rare find. i remember seeing the dels in Philly - mid '80s. they did a "whistle stop" tour and played at Revival - hosted by the Record Cellar in Philly. They were funny and passionate. When next I saw them in LA, with their 2nd record, they were so different. Not only the music -- the guys were somehow changed. the audience shouted for songs from the first record "we love them" and Justin said, "so do I and I was there first."

[MrTungsoon]

I still remember thier first (second after the school disco) gig in Warzikas in Glasgow. Which I think was famous for elephant beer. They were electric then but I was alos young and everything in Glasgow at that time seemed to be on fire. I loved fury murrays, Henrey Africas and strawberry blonds - come on you back alley greasers.........

[SidAndBob]

After 26 years of listening, I too rate the debut album as one of my top 5 all time albums. I remember Justin on breakfast tv reprimanding the presenter who suggested he may be a bit embarrassed about it (this was when Nothing Ever Happens was out). Justin quite rightly told him he thought it was an excellent album which he was very proud of. The band never talked about the album because of the conflict with Chrysalis AFAIK.

[SoMuchGlitter]

thank God that bands grow and change. this sounds like utter crap... and i've loved them forever. i love you Justin, but i'm so glad you've grown into yourself. X

[goldminetrash]

This video is like discovering a time capsule; it seems like it was not meant to actually be discovered until long after it was completed. I had this song on cassette for, well I guess about 25 years now and It still amazes me that first album is not more recognized. Was Orange Juice an influence? Yes but a ton of bands tried to emulate that sound and who can blame them? I live in LA. To see this band play live in somebody's backyard in the valley in '86 was life affirming! Beer kegs too!

[fingersmaloy]

@scotchlvr I dunno, to me this is by far as esoteric as Del Amitri ever get, but it might just be because I'm American, and their later stuff was decidedly more "Americanized". Currie himself has lamented so. I love all their stuff, but their self-titled album is still like nothing I've ever heard. The songs all have such unusual form, are pretty much all chorus-less, and so rich with interweaving melodies. And the words, oh man. Currie's words have always been great, but he was on fire here.

[scotchlvr]

I don't think it's fair to say that they "disowned" this album. It was rereleased with three additional tracks and new cover notes in 2003. It's an interesting album for sure. But for me, it was certainly not their brightest moment. The self-titled album had a definite eighties "post-punk" feel to it and the subsequent albums established a more unique, esoteric and timeless sound. For me, the brightest moment was probably Change Everything with the WH through SOSP era really defining the group.

[fingersmaloy]

I've long wondered if this just isn't as impressive in their homeland as it is to Americans, who likely missed out on the majority of the post-punk movement. I don't really know much about it myself, but Orange Juice is often noted as one of early Dels' "accidental" influences. They are kind of similar, but I'd love to know of more bands that sounded like this.

[fingersmaloy]

Yeah man, I've been preaching the same thing for the last decade. Well said!