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Polydor never knew what to do with Kirsty MacColl, even after 1981's "There's a Guy Works Down the Chip Shop" brought her the massive hit single she'd been threatening since her emergence two years earlier. A swift follow-through album, Desperate Character, perished through lack of promotion; subsequent singles went nowhere; and a second album was abandoned when the label dropped her. But MacColl simply took her magic elsewhere and, no sooner had she returned to the charts in 1984, than her ex-label was reconsidering its share of her archive. Kirsty MacColl was basically a reissue of Desperate Character, but with its weaker numbers replaced with material from those aborted second LP sessions -- farewell, then, "Mexican Sofa," "Just One Look," and the country version of "Chipshop"; greetings to "Annie," "Roman Gardens," and "Berlin" (an earlier version of the single released independently during 1983). The substitutions really don't affect the overall shape of the record, although it's certainly worth noting that both "Roman Gardens" and "Berlin" were deemed worthy of inclusion on MacColl's From Croydon to Cuba anthology, while Desperate Character itself squeezes a mere three songs onto that set. Overall, however, Kirsty MacColl is more notable for its status as a rarity than for any quality of its own -- upon release, it sold even less than the album it supplanted.
© Dave Thompson /TiVo
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Billy Bremner, Guitar, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Gavin Povey, Piano, AssociatedPerformer - Philip Rambow, Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Lu Edmonds, Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Ben Mandelson, Fiddle, AssociatedPerformer - KIRSTY MACCOLL, Mixer, Vocals, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer, StudioPersonnel, ComposerLyricist - Chris Gower, Trombone, AssociatedPerformer - Ray Beavis, Tenor Saxophone, AssociatedPerformer - Barry Farmer, Producer, Mixer, Guitar, AssociatedPerformer, StudioPersonnel - Paul Riley, Bass Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Lee Partis, Drums, AssociatedPerformer - John Earle, Saxophone, AssociatedPerformer - Dick Hanson, Trumpet, AssociatedPerformer - Glyn Harvard, Bass Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Malcolm Morley, Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Blanche McAdorey, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 1981 Polydor Ltd. (UK)
Billy Bremner, Guitar, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Gavin Povey, Piano, AssociatedPerformer - Philip Rambow, Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Lu Edmonds, Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Ben Mandelson, Fiddle, AssociatedPerformer - KIRSTY MACCOLL, Mixer, Vocals, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer, StudioPersonnel, ComposerLyricist - Chris Gower, Trombone, AssociatedPerformer - Ray Beavis, Tenor Saxophone, AssociatedPerformer - Barry Farmer, Producer, Mixer, Guitar, AssociatedPerformer, StudioPersonnel - Paul Riley, Bass Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Lee Partis, Drums, AssociatedPerformer - John Earle, Saxophone, AssociatedPerformer - Dick Hanson, Trumpet, AssociatedPerformer - Glyn Harvard, Bass Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Malcolm Morley, Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Blanche McAdorey, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 1981 Polydor Ltd. (UK)
Billy Bremner, Guitar, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Gavin Povey, Piano, AssociatedPerformer - Philip Rambow, Guitar, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Lu Edmonds, Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Ben Mandelson, Fiddle, AssociatedPerformer - KIRSTY MACCOLL, Mixer, Vocals, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer, StudioPersonnel, ComposerLyricist - Chris Gower, Trombone, AssociatedPerformer - Ray Beavis, Tenor Saxophone, AssociatedPerformer - Barry Farmer, Producer, Mixer, Guitar, AssociatedPerformer, StudioPersonnel - Paul Riley, Bass Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Lee Partis, Drums, AssociatedPerformer - John Earle, Saxophone, AssociatedPerformer - Dick Hanson, Trumpet, AssociatedPerformer - Glyn Harvard, Bass Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Malcolm Morley, Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Blanche McAdorey, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 1981 Polydor Ltd. (UK)
Billy Bremner, Guitar, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Gavin Povey, Piano, AssociatedPerformer - Philip Rambow, Guitar, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Lu Edmonds, Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Ben Mandelson, Fiddle, AssociatedPerformer - KIRSTY MACCOLL, Mixer, Vocals, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer, StudioPersonnel, ComposerLyricist - Chris Gower, Trombone, AssociatedPerformer - Ray Beavis, Tenor Saxophone, AssociatedPerformer - Barry Farmer, Producer, Mixer, Guitar, AssociatedPerformer, StudioPersonnel - Paul Riley, Bass Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Lee Partis, Drums, AssociatedPerformer - John Earle, Saxophone, AssociatedPerformer - Dick Hanson, Trumpet, AssociatedPerformer - Glyn Harvard, Bass Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Malcolm Morley, Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Blanche McAdorey, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 1981 Polydor Ltd. (UK)
Billy Bremner, Guitar, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Gavin Povey, Piano, AssociatedPerformer - Philip Rambow, Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Dave Edmunds, ComposerLyricist - Lu Edmonds, Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Ben Mandelson, Fiddle, AssociatedPerformer - KIRSTY MACCOLL, Mixer, Vocals, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer, StudioPersonnel, ComposerLyricist - Chris Gower, Trombone, AssociatedPerformer - Ray Beavis, Tenor Saxophone, AssociatedPerformer - Barry Farmer, Producer, Mixer, Guitar, AssociatedPerformer, StudioPersonnel - Paul Riley, Bass Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Lee Partis, Drums, AssociatedPerformer - John Earle, Saxophone, AssociatedPerformer - Dick Hanson, Trumpet, AssociatedPerformer - Glyn Harvard, Bass Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Malcolm Morley, Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Blanche McAdorey, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 1981 Polydor Ltd. (UK)
Billy Bremner, Guitar, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Gavin Povey, Piano, AssociatedPerformer - Philip Rambow, Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Phil Johnstone, ComposerLyricist - Lu Edmonds, Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Ben Mandelson, Fiddle, AssociatedPerformer - KIRSTY MACCOLL, Mixer, Vocals, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer, StudioPersonnel, ComposerLyricist - Chris Gower, Trombone, AssociatedPerformer - Ray Beavis, Tenor Saxophone, AssociatedPerformer - Barry Farmer, Producer, Mixer, Guitar, AssociatedPerformer, StudioPersonnel - Paul Riley, Bass Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Lee Partis, Drums, AssociatedPerformer - John Earle, Saxophone, AssociatedPerformer - Dick Hanson, Trumpet, AssociatedPerformer - Glyn Harvard, Bass Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Malcolm Morley, Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Blanche McAdorey, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 1981 Polydor Ltd. (UK)
Billy Bremner, Guitar, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Gavin Povey, Piano, AssociatedPerformer - Philip Rambow, Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Lu Edmonds, Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Ben Mandelson, Fiddle, AssociatedPerformer - KIRSTY MACCOLL, Mixer, Vocals, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer, StudioPersonnel, ComposerLyricist - Chris Gower, Trombone, AssociatedPerformer - Ray Beavis, Tenor Saxophone, AssociatedPerformer - Barry Farmer, Producer, Mixer, Guitar, AssociatedPerformer, StudioPersonnel - Paul Riley, Bass Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Lee Partis, Drums, AssociatedPerformer - John Earle, Saxophone, AssociatedPerformer - Dick Hanson, Trumpet, AssociatedPerformer - Glyn Harvard, Bass Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Malcolm Morley, Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Robert Edmonds, ComposerLyricist - Blanche McAdorey, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 1981 Polydor Ltd. (UK)
Billy Bremner, Guitar, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Gavin Povey, Piano, AssociatedPerformer - Philip Rambow, Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Lu Edmonds, Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Ben Mandelson, Fiddle, AssociatedPerformer - KIRSTY MACCOLL, Mixer, Vocals, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer, StudioPersonnel - Chris Gower, Trombone, AssociatedPerformer - Freda Payne, Composer - Ray Beavis, Tenor Saxophone, AssociatedPerformer - Doc Carroll, Composer - Barry Farmer, Producer, Mixer, Guitar, AssociatedPerformer, StudioPersonnel - Paul Riley, Bass Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Lee Partis, Drums, AssociatedPerformer - John Earle, Saxophone, AssociatedPerformer - Dick Hanson, Trumpet, AssociatedPerformer - Glyn Harvard, Bass Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Malcolm Morley, Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Blanche McAdorey, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 1981 Polydor Ltd. (UK)
Billy Bremner, Guitar, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Gavin Povey, Piano, AssociatedPerformer - Philip Rambow, Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Lu Edmonds, Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Ben Mandelson, Fiddle, AssociatedPerformer - KIRSTY MACCOLL, Mixer, Vocals, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer, StudioPersonnel, ComposerLyricist - Chris Gower, Trombone, AssociatedPerformer - Ray Beavis, Tenor Saxophone, AssociatedPerformer - Barry Farmer, Producer, Mixer, Guitar, AssociatedPerformer, StudioPersonnel - Paul Riley, Bass Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Lee Partis, Drums, AssociatedPerformer - John Earle, Saxophone, AssociatedPerformer - Dick Hanson, Trumpet, AssociatedPerformer - Glyn Harvard, Bass Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Malcolm Morley, Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Robert Edmonds, ComposerLyricist - Blanche McAdorey, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 1981 Polydor Ltd. (UK)
Billy Bremner, Guitar, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Gavin Povey, Piano, AssociatedPerformer - Philip Rambow, Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Lu Edmonds, Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Ben Mandelson, Fiddle, AssociatedPerformer - KIRSTY MACCOLL, Mixer, Vocals, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer, StudioPersonnel, ComposerLyricist - Chris Gower, Trombone, AssociatedPerformer - Ray Beavis, Tenor Saxophone, AssociatedPerformer - Barry Farmer, Producer, Mixer, Guitar, AssociatedPerformer, StudioPersonnel - Paul Riley, Bass Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Lee Partis, Drums, AssociatedPerformer - John Earle, Saxophone, AssociatedPerformer - Dick Hanson, Trumpet, AssociatedPerformer - Glyn Harvard, Bass Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Malcolm Morley, Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Blanche McAdorey, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 1981 Polydor Ltd. (UK)
Billy Bremner, Guitar, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Gavin Povey, Piano, AssociatedPerformer - Philip Rambow, Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Lu Edmonds, Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Ben Mandelson, Fiddle, AssociatedPerformer - KIRSTY MACCOLL, Mixer, Vocals, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer, StudioPersonnel - Chris Gower, Trombone, AssociatedPerformer - Ray Beavis, Tenor Saxophone, AssociatedPerformer - Barry Farmer, Producer, Mixer, Guitar, AssociatedPerformer, StudioPersonnel - Paul Riley, Bass Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Lee Partis, Drums, AssociatedPerformer - John Earle, Saxophone, AssociatedPerformer - Dick Hanson, Trumpet, AssociatedPerformer - Glyn Harvard, Bass Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Malcolm Morley, Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Blanche McAdorey, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Royden D. Lipscomb, ComposerLyricist
℗ 1981 Polydor Ltd. (UK)
Billy Bremner, Guitar, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Gavin Povey, Piano, AssociatedPerformer - Philip Rambow, Guitar, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Lu Edmonds, Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Ben Mandelson, Fiddle, AssociatedPerformer - KIRSTY MACCOLL, Mixer, Vocals, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer, StudioPersonnel, ComposerLyricist - Chris Gower, Trombone, AssociatedPerformer - Ray Beavis, Tenor Saxophone, AssociatedPerformer - Barry Farmer, Producer, Mixer, Guitar, AssociatedPerformer, StudioPersonnel - Paul Riley, Bass Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Lee Partis, Drums, AssociatedPerformer - John Earle, Saxophone, AssociatedPerformer - Dick Hanson, Trumpet, AssociatedPerformer - Glyn Harvard, Bass Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Malcolm Morley, Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Blanche McAdorey, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 1981 Polydor Ltd. (UK)
Album review
Polydor never knew what to do with Kirsty MacColl, even after 1981's "There's a Guy Works Down the Chip Shop" brought her the massive hit single she'd been threatening since her emergence two years earlier. A swift follow-through album, Desperate Character, perished through lack of promotion; subsequent singles went nowhere; and a second album was abandoned when the label dropped her. But MacColl simply took her magic elsewhere and, no sooner had she returned to the charts in 1984, than her ex-label was reconsidering its share of her archive. Kirsty MacColl was basically a reissue of Desperate Character, but with its weaker numbers replaced with material from those aborted second LP sessions -- farewell, then, "Mexican Sofa," "Just One Look," and the country version of "Chipshop"; greetings to "Annie," "Roman Gardens," and "Berlin" (an earlier version of the single released independently during 1983). The substitutions really don't affect the overall shape of the record, although it's certainly worth noting that both "Roman Gardens" and "Berlin" were deemed worthy of inclusion on MacColl's From Croydon to Cuba anthology, while Desperate Character itself squeezes a mere three songs onto that set. Overall, however, Kirsty MacColl is more notable for its status as a rarity than for any quality of its own -- upon release, it sold even less than the album it supplanted.
© Dave Thompson /TiVo
About the album
- 1 disc(s) - 12 track(s)
- Total length: 00:35:25
- Main artists: Kirsty MacColl
- Composer: Various Composers
- Label: UMC (Universal Music Catalogue)
- Genre: Pop/Rock Pop
© 1981 Polydor Records Ltd. ℗ 1981 Polydor Records Ltd.
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