Lineup: Andy Corrigan, Mark White, Ken, Tong, Ros Allen, Jon Langford
(Recorded directly to 2 track by Tim Pearce at Alpins Place near Galashiels on October 29/30, 1977." Produced by Mekons and Bob Last, this single was the first release on Edinburgh's Fast Product label. The Mekons were part of the burgeoning punk scene swirling about Leeds University in 1976/77, a scene which also spawned Gang of Four and Delta 5 (Mekons connection -- Delta 5 bassist/vocalist Ros Allen). The three songs are quick and rough and the thing sounds like a field recording, designed to capture a fleeting moment. Favorite track: "32 Weeks", a list of how many months, days, and hours of labor are required to buy various consumer goods.)
(Produced by Mekons and Bob Last)
(Recorded at Surrey Sound, 28-30 August 1979; produced by Bob Last for Fast Product.)
(Recorded in Halifax and Rochdale, January 1980; produced by the Mekons. Silvery paper gatefold sleeve houses the two 45s.)
This Sporting Life / Frustration, Neddy B. Riot (1981 - 12" on CNT Productions, UK
[CNT1]; 1981 - 12" on Pure Fruede, W. Germany [PF12 CK6]) Lineup: Jon Langford, Tom Greenhalgh, Kevin Lycett (???)
(Recorded at Spaceward Cambridge, April 1981, engineered by Mike Kemp. Live track recorded in Wuppertal, September 1980. The lead track is a 6:12 version of the cut on The Mekons Story; "Frustration" is "followed by a mystery live track" (entitled "Neddy B. Riot" on the record label) that is in fact a ragged version of "Never Been In A Riot" (see also the below listing for the "Guardian" flexi). Inner groove reads: "Turtle The Last Mekons Fan" and "Thank Christ". The outer sleeve carries the legend "This is the last Mekons record" written backwards over part of the cover art. It also says "Hijos dos pueblos a las barracudas DISCOS/CNT *Hit* Dusseldorf/Leeds 5.81".
The German issue
has a completely different sleeve.The lead track is an extended version of the cut on The Mekons Story. Studio tracks recorded at Spaceward Studios, Cambridge, April 1981 and produced by the Mekons and Mike Kemp; live track recorded at Die Boerse Wuppertal, West Germany, September 14, 1980. Executive producer, Adrian Collins; edited at Leader Sound, Halifax, UK (thanks to Bill Leader). The inner sleeve also includes lyrics for "Frustration".
Lineup: Jon Langford, Tom Greenhalgh, Kevin Lycett (???)
(No "B" side: "Fight the Cuts" is on side "AA". Writing on inner hub: "Support the hospital workers" and "We wuz robbed".
(Flexi given away with Amsterdam-based music rag, Muziekblad Vinyl (?). "Recorded live in Wuppertal for CNT Productions of Leeds. Remix by Kenny Giles. KG Music Studios, Bridlington." This recording is probably of the same vintage as the "Never Been in a Riot" live track ("Neddy B. Riot") on the "This Sporting Life" EP. On the flipside -- Gdansk, "A Word".=
The English Dancing Master (1983 - 12" on CNT Productions, UK [CNT 014], 1983 -
12" reissue on Rough Trade, UK)Lineup: John Gill, T. Green, J.D. Langford, Kev Lycett, Dr. Spence, C. Stewart, M. White
Songs:
The Last Dance / (A Dancing Master Such As) Mr. Confess / No Country Dance / Parson's Farewell
(Written and recorded by The Mekons at K G Studios, Bridlington, East Riding, May 1983. The Rough Trade reissue is identical save for tan rather than orange cover: there is no other indication of reissue, not even a Rough Trade logo.)
Lineup: probably the same as Fear and Whiskey, but with many more people; Peel sessions pay session wage, so many bands magically add members the day of their session
Songs:
Beaten and Broken / Chop That Child In Half / Hey! Susan / Deep End
(Peel Session, BBC, 1986)
The first 3 tracks later appeared on the Original Sin CD, leaving "Deep End" as one of the few remaining vinyl-only tracks.
Lineup: see The Edge of the World
Songs:
Lineup: probably the same as Edge of the World
Slightly South of the Border (desert remix by Steve Forward) / $1000 Wedding / Coal Hole / Rescue Mission [Sin 005])
The entire release later appeared on Original Sin with a slightly shuffled track order. Liner notes by Sophie. In case you can't read the yellow banner on the cover, it says "THIS EP CONTAINS 3 ALL NEW MEKONS TRACKS PLUS SPECIAL DESERT RE-MIX OF SLIGHTLY SOUTH OF THE BORDER BY STEVE FORWARD FROM MEKONS ALBUM 'THE EDGE OF THE WORLD' BURNS YOUR THROAT AND SEARS YOUR EARS!"
Hole In The Ground / Sin City / Prince Of Darkness ( 1987 - 12" on Sin/Cooking
Vinyl, UK [SIN 007T]) Lineup: same as on Honky Tonkin'
Lineup: Steve Goulding, Tom Greenhalgh, Susie Honeyman, Jon Langford, Sally Timms, Mr. Knee
Songs:
Amnesia / Heaven and Back / Empire of the Senseless / Blow Your Tuneless Trumpet
European version has Club Mekon, instead of Empire...
(Released before Rock'n'Roll, Dream and Lie... contains Heaven and Back, which was deleted from the U.S. release.)
("Heaven and Back" is one of the 2 songs omitted from the U.S. version of The Mekons Rock'n'Roll)
Songs: Empire of the Senseless / Interview
(Tom Greenhalgh and Jon Langford are interviewed by Pete Shelley of the Buzzcocks. Very flattering glossy promotional insert for The Mekons Rock'n'Roll is enclosed.=
("Ring O' Roses" is one of the 2 songs omitted from the U.S. version of The Mekons Rock'n'Roll)
Greetings Eight (1990 - 12" on Materiali Sonori, Italy [MASO 70008/GRT 8]) Songs:
Only Darkness Has The Power (demo) / Betrayal / He'll Have To Go / Big Zombie
(1 & 2 recorded in Harehills Ave., Leeds 1988; track 3 recorded live in Hoboken, 1986; track 4 recorded live in Chicago, 1987 (same > version as on New York). This record is part of series by artists that preformed at the Greetings Festival in San Giovanni Valdarno, November 1987.)
(On side "Claw", the Mekons cover an Ex tune, "Crap Rap"; side "Fist" has The Ex covering the Mekons' "Keep on Hoppin'". Released as part of the Clawfist Singles Club, pressing supposedly limited to 1400; a lyric sheet is included for both tunes so you can hum along... )
Wicked Midnight / All I Want / The Curse (live) / Waltz (live) / Amnesia (live)( 1992 -
CD on Loud Music, US [89014-2]) (Cut with "tremendous support" from this tiny custom label in the Warners' family, Loud Records fell apart shortly after Wicked Midnight hit the streets. The crash almost took I [heart] Mekons with it; that album was recorded under Loud's aegis. Incidentally, the Mekons were not the only casualty -- Austin, TX-based Glass Eye also got screwed by Loud, which ultimately caused that band's demise. "Curse" and "Amnesia" were recorded at Uncle Pleasant's, Louisville, KY, 7/11/91; "Waltz" recorded at Rote Fabrik, Zurich, 11/5/91.)
Millionaire / He Beat Up His Boyfriend / All I Want/ Blow Your Tuneless Trumpet / (Sometimes I Feel Like) Fletcher Christian
(Tracks 1 and 2 are shameless promotional devices for the I [heart] Mekons record and The Mekons Story reissue, respectively; tracks 3-5 were recorded live at Chicago's Cabaret Metro on 11/8/91 and 11/14/92 "Tuneless Trumpet" and "Fletcher Christian" also appear in the forthcoming feature film, Mekons -- The Movie.
Untitled 1&2 ( Quarterstick Single 1995)