Pauline Murray And The Invisible Girls/ Pauline Murray And The Invisible Girls 1980 | URBANASPIRINES

Pauline Murray And The Invisible Girls: Pauline Murray And The Invisible Girls 1980

The Invisible Girls were a British rock band formed in Salford, Greater Manchester in 1978 to provide a musical backdrop to the recorded output of Salford punk poet John Cooper Clarke. The band's nucleus was Joy Division and New Order producer Martin Hannett and keyboardist Steve Hopkins, with contributions from Pete Shelley of Buzzcocks and Bill Nelson of Be-Bop Deluxe, amongst others. The band played on the first solo album by Pauline Murray (lead singer of Penetration), the eponymous Pauline Murray and the Invisible Girls and some singles, and later with Nico for her 1982 single "Procession".

The Invisible Girls was a band formed in Salford, Greater Manchester, in 1978, to provide backing music for punk poet John Cooper Clarke*. It initially featured Factory Records producer Martin Hannett on bass guitar, Steve Hopkins on keyboards, 10cc drummer Paul Burgess, and guitarist Lyn Oakey. This line-up played on Cooper Clarke's debut album Où est la maison de fromage?, before they named themselves the Invisible Girls.   

*where and how I discovered the Invisible Girls backing Dr John Cooper Clarke*

An obviously brilliant follow up from Kostas today after the Penetration posting yesterday!

I bought their first single and album when they came out

read on here . . . . .

For Kostas *

The Invisible Girls back John Cooper Clarke - BEASLEY STREET

The Invisible Girls back John Cooper Clarke - Evidently Chicken Town

PENETRATION: Moving Targets 1978 + Coming Up For Air 1979 | URBANASPIRINES

 Penetration: Moving Targets 1978 + Coming Up For Air 1979

Kostas does his usual in depth profile of Pauline Murray and PENETRATION first two albums - we loved Pauline and The Invisible girls but this a much more comprehensive look at her origins!

A KOSTAS Special

Kostas says?

"Penetration is a punk rock band from County Durham, England formed in 1976. They re-formed in 2001 with several new members. Their debut single, "Don't Dictate", is now acknowledged as a classic punk rock single and their debut album, Moving Targets (1978), is still widely admired. The band's lineup was lead singer Pauline Murray, Robert Blamire (bass), Gary Smallman (drums) and Gary Chaplin (guitar). Chaplin left in March 1978 being replaced with Neale Floyd, with second guitarist Fred Purser (later of NWOBHM act Tygers of Pan Tang) joining in July. The band dissolved in late 1979. They reformed in 2001 with original members Murray, Blamire and Smallman, and Steve Wallace and Paul Harvey drafted in as new guitarists. Pauline Murray was a force to be reckoned with. Easily one of the best singers to come out of English punk rock."

read on here . . . .

Pauline Murray and Invisible Girls - Dream Sequence [my connection as fearing I was too old for punk proper this sound hit me and bought this when it came out!)

King Crimson: Discography 1969 - 1974 | URBANASPIRINES

 King Crimson: Discography 1969 - 1974 

Kostas start with this "King Crimson are an English progressive rock band formed in London in 1968 by Robert Fripp, Michael Giles, Greg Lake, Ian McDonald and Peter Sinfield. Guitarist and leader Fripp has remained the only constant member throughout the band's long history. If there is one group that embodies progressive rock, it is King Crimson.Led by guitar/Mellotron virtuoso Robert Fripp, during its first five years of existence the band stretched both the language and structure of rock into realms of jazz and classical music, all the while avoiding pop and psychedelic sensibilities. The absence of mainstream compromises and the lack of an overt sense of humor ultimately doomed the group to nothing more than a large cult following, but it made their albums some of the most enduring and respectable of the prog rock era “ read on at the link (above )

 

 01. In the Court of the Crimson King (1969)

02. In the Wake of Poseidon (1970)

03. Lizard (1970)

04. Islands (1971)

05. Larks' Tongues in Aspic (1973)

06. Starless and Bible Black (1974)

07. Red (1974)

Kostas does his usual thorough job on King Crimson discography from ’69-’74 and this is well worth the follow up on those fans interested in their origins. Fripp continues to fascinate ad his posts on Facebook on guitar playing are now legendary as are his videoblog entries with his wife Toyah and these are more light hearted and funny . . . check the names of their rabbits

Robert Fripp YouTube page

Robert at Home no 1 

(there are 27 by my count and if you play guitar these are essential (of course!)

Robert Fripp at Home

Happy 2026 from Toyah & Robert and Fripp & Eno!

Heroes (King Crimson London 3rd July 2000)

For KOSTAS!

Peter Gabriel - Plays LIVE! 2 CDs 1983 | Urbanaspirines

 Peter Gabriel: Plays Live 1983

Not so interested in Genesis and (not at all after Peter G left!) but Kostas does his usual great profile of Peter G live recordings and if you haven’t considered the thesis you need to check this out

Peter Brian Gabriel (born 13 February 1950) is an English singer, songwriter, musician, and human rights activist. He came to prominence as the original frontman of the rock band Genesis. He left the band in 1975 and launched his solo career with a hit debut single entitled "Solsbury Hill". After Gabriel released four successful studio albums (all entitled Peter Gabriel), his fifth studio album, So (1986), became his best-selling release; it is certified triple platinum in the UK and five times platinum in the US. A 2011 Time report said "Sledgehammer" was the most played music video of all time on MTV.

Producer, Vocals, Synthesizer, Piano, Words By, Music By – Peter Gabriel

Synthesizer, Piano – Larry Fast

Chapman Stick, Bass, Backing Vocals – Tony Levin

Drums, Percussion, Backing Vocals – Jerry Marotta

Guitar, Backing Vocals – David Rhodes

Peter Gabriel - Birdy 1984 on Urban Aspirines HERE

Peter Gabriel - Shock The Monkey (Live in Athens 1987)

And . . . . . 

PETER GABRIEL - SOLSBURY HILL - PLAYS LIVE 1983

Madness: Albums 1979 - 1982 | Urbanaspirines

 Madness: Albums 1979 - 1982

A KOSTAS SPECIAL

Madness are an English ska and pop band from Camden Town, north west London, who formed in 1976. One of the most prominent bands of the late-1970s/early-1980s two-tone ska revival, they continue to perform with six of the seven members of their original line-up. Madness's most successful period was from 1980 to 1986, when the band's songs spent a total of 214 weeks on the UK Singles Chart, jointly holding the record with English reggae group UB40 for most weeks spent by a group in the UK singles chart during the 1980s.

With a sound rooted in ska, but also showing the influence of classic British pop, Madness have enjoyed a long career full of hit singles, influential albums, and satisfied concert audiences. They were known initially for blending ska rhythms with catchy melodies and a nutty sense of humor on their 1979 debut album One Step Beyond, one of the seminal works of the 2-Tone era. The core of the band formed as the North London Invaders in 1976, and included Mike Barson (Monsieur Barso) on keyboards, Chris Foreman (Chrissy Boy) on guitar and Lee Thompson (Kix) on saxophone. They later recruited John Hasler on drums and Cathal Smyth (better known as Chas Smash) on bass guitar. Later in the year, they were joined by lead vocalist Dikran Tulaine.

read on with Kostas here . . . . . .

MORDILLO - Urbanaspirines profile of Argentinian Cartoonist Guillermo Mordillo 1932 -2019

 I struggle to keep up with Kostas’ Urbanaspirines and frequently the running gag is he posts bands I have never heard of (even if they're British!) - [the depths of what you don’t know swappers is oceanic! - ED - R-U-D-E-! I call it!] but he excels today with posting a classic modern cartoonist the exquisite Argentinian MORDILLO!

A profile of whom is well deserved I reckon!

Kostas says:

Guillermo Mordillo (4 August 1932 – 29 June 2019), known simply as Mordillo, was an Argentine creator of cartoons and animations and was one of the most widely published cartoonists of the 1970s . . . . . . read on (link below)

here . . . . .

The White Stripes: Studio Albums 1999 - 2007 6 Albums | URBANASPIRINES

 The White Stripes: Studio Albums 1999 - 2007

 

"Beginning in the late 1990s, the White Stripes sought success within the Detroit music scene, releasing six singles and two albums. They first found commercial success with their acclaimed third album, White Blood Cells (2001), which propelled the band to the forefront of the garage rock movement. Their fourth album, Elephant (2003), drew further success, winning the band their first Grammy Awards. It produced the single "Seven Nation Army", which became a sports anthem and the band's signature song. 

They experimented extensively on their fifth album, Get Behind Me Satan (2005). They returned to their blues roots with their sixth and final album, Icky Thump (2007), which was praised like the band's earlier albums. By the end of the 2000s, the White Stripes accumulated three entries on the US Billboard Hot 100, eleven entries on the US Alternative Airplay chart, and thirteen entries on the UK singles chart. After a lengthy hiatus from performing and recording, the band dissolved in 2011"

Kostas applies his usual thorough exploration of the studio albums from the White Stripes 

Fotheringay: Nothing More (The Collected Fotheringay) 2015 [3 Albums] | URBANASPIRINES

 Fotheringay: Nothing More 

(The Collected Fotheringay) 2015

So Kostas has done his usual excellent profile and well worth it too! 

This is what we need to try n lift the mood here

Fotheringay: l -r Jerry Donohue (guitar), Sandy Denny (vocals, guitar, piano), Trevor Lucas (guitar, vocals), Gerry Conway (drums), Pat Donaldson (bass)

"Fotheringay was a short-lived British folk rock group, formed in 1970 by singer-songwriter and musician Sandy Denny on her departure from Fairport Convention. The band drew its name from her 1968 composition "Fotheringay" about Fotheringhay Castle, in which Mary, Queen of Scots had been imprisoned. The song originally appeared on the 1969 Fairport Convention album, What We Did on Our Holidays, Denny's first album with that group. 

The original Fotheringay released one self-titled album but disbanded at the start of 1971 as Denny embarked on a solo career. Forty-five years later, a new version of the band re-formed featuring the three original surviving members together with other musicians, and toured in 2015 and 2016. "

read on and download here . . . .  

 

A KOSTAS SPECIAL

Fairport Convention: Discography 1968 - 1971 + Meet On The Ledge (2CD Compilation) On Urban Aspirines HERE

For Kostas - Fotheringay - Too Much of Nothing (B. Dylan cover)

'Nothing More' ~ Fotheringay [Sandy Denny]

Klaus Nomi 1981 + Simple Man 1982 | Urbanaspirines

Kostas does his usual standard of profile on someone who I never really got! But I feel like I owe it to him over at Urbanaspirines to share links to this one . . .the story is of course at once fascinating and tragic Nomi being one of the earliest art/music stars to die from AIDS related illness - A Kostas Special

Klaus here . . . .

 Klaus Sperber (January 24, 1944 – August 6, 1983), known professionally as Klaus Nomi, was a German countertenor and baritone noted for his wide vocal range and an unusual, otherworldly stage persona. He was born Klaus Sperber in Immenstadt, Bavaria, Germany in 1944, but moved to New York in the mid-'70s, working as a pastry chef and nightclub singer. One of his sets impressed David Bowie, and Nomi soon found himself backing the star on Saturday Night Live. He was ne of the first prominent persons to die of AIDS, Klaus Nomi mixed rock and disco stylings with a classical and operatic repertoire.

Klaus Nomi 1981 + Simple Man 1982

Kostas [Urbanaspirines! or where’ve ya bin!?] made us a New Year’s present!

Various: New Wave Angels

 Kostas says: This is not a compilation made by a record label. This sampler is made by Kostas of Urban Aspirines and it's not available in the music stores. I tried to do my best and I spended many many hours and days of hard work. If you like it, you can download it, but don't send me stupid comments as: "you didn't put this band or, you forgot this other band". More than 100 names are included in these 4 Compilations. This is "The Santa Aspirines" gift for the new year. My best wishes for Happy New Year 2026.

Various: New Wave Angels

 

Check it out . . . . . . ..  on pain of . . .well not hearing it!

NEW WAVE ANGELS . . . .

And all the way from Sunny Greece comes Kostas (URBANASPIRINES) Christmas message . . . . .

URBANASPIRINES

Jingle Bells on Rubber Chickens

The Cramps: Discography 1978 - 1990 | URBANASPIRINES

THE CRAMPS here

The Cramps: Discography 1978 - 1990

6 disc profile

If you like the Cramps check out Kostas’ discography here above and er, above . . . I never really got their schtick and it didn’t travel well to the UK that I recall but Kostas has done his usually incredibly thorough job so you know it will be worth it!

GET THE CRAMPS!

Poison Ivy

THE CRAMPS

Paul Messis: Case Closed 2013 + Songs Of Our Times 2017 | URBANASPIRINES

 Paul Messis: Case Closed 2013 + Songs Of Our Times 2017

Kostas does it yet again and shares another British musician who I have never heard of (well lets face it the depth of your lack of knowledge is staggering -ED - R-U-D-E-!)

Kostas says: "UK based, singer-songwriter now living in Spain, well established underground musician who writes 60s garage, folk-rock, psychedelia and 60s punk sounds. Has had a number of vinyl releases on both, State and 13 O Clock records and also is the founder of his own Market Square Records. That is Paul Messis, a Billingshurst boy “stuck in a 1960s time warp”. Paul plays a form of psychedelic garage guitar rock with an authentic, jangly guitar sound.

Originating from the wild depths of West Sussex; Paul Messis is a singer-songwriter who writes and creates authentic 60s styled garage songs which perfectly suit as a soundtrack, the zeitgeist of his society and generation. While he may be a new face to some, or perhaps a self-described 'unknown', the fact of the matter is Paul and his songs are the real deal! Paul encapsulates many different styles of the garage genre in his songs and music, whilst still sounding new and fresh, songs written from the heart with a hint of personal influence and emotion, all in all making Paul Messis one of the lost great songwriters of his generation and the current underground music scene."

Check him out people and let me know what you think and indeed whether you know who he is . . . . . !?

Janis Joplin: I Got Dem Ol' Kozmic Blues Again Mama! 1969 + Pearl 1971| URBANASPIRINES

 We might have been forgiven for thinking that Kostas over at URBANASPIRINES had pretty much covered all the Janis Joplin material we might need but here’s an in depth look at the two albums ‘Kozmic Blues' and ‘Pearl'!

Janis Joplin: I Got Dem Ol' Kozmic Blues Again Mama! 1969 + Pearl 1971

with some awesome artwork! (love this one)

Previous material including covering my favourite Janis Cheap Thrills (bought when it came out too!)

here:

Big Brother And The Holding Company on Urban Aspirines HERE

Yes - Discography 1969 - 1977 (ROGER DEAN Artist) | URBANASPIRINES

 Yes: Discography 1969 - 1977

So Kostas over at Urbanaspirines does his usual reliable profile of Yes! Nine albums of the prog rock band par excellence and for me with real heroes of music not least Jon Anderson with that uniquely beautiful voice, Alan White (first drummer) Bill Bruford, Steve Howe, Chris Squire and Rick Wakeman (Tony Kaye, Patrick Moraz keyboard players) and as Kostas tells us an ensemble cast over the years of some twenty players

Now I found we enjoyed the first two or three album and bought them pretty much as they came out checked the later albums but didn’t really buy them from the fifth Close To The Edge onward I stopped listening so avidly and cannot really explain why

Kostas tells us . . . . 

"Yes are an English progressive rock band formed in London in 1968. Comprising 20 full-time musicians over their career, their most notable members include lead singer Jon Anderson, bassist Chris Squire, guitarists Steve Howe and Trevor Rabin, drummers Bill Bruford and Alan White, and keyboardists Tony Kaye and Rick Wakeman. Well-known and influential mainstream progressive from the 1970's, and still around in some form ever since, they were highly influential in their heyday, especially notable for the really creative "Relayer", which included at the time Swiss keyboardist Patrick MORAZ who replaced Rick Wakeman. Yes didn't invent progressive rock, but they helped bring it to mainstream audiences, steering the development and definition of the genre. “

read on here . . . .

Now I have said before I think that I asked Roger Dean to come to my Art and Poster shop (Blackwell’s Oxford) and he was one of the most agreeable artists to ever come to the shop amongst many and engage with one of the most extraordinary group of fans (SciFi Yes fans Osibisa fans - ME!, and so on) he was so tolerant of the geekiest of fan base and a thoroughly pleasant agreable man

Roger Dean - Yessongs

Roger Dean Yessongs artwork

Roger Dean - Yessongs inner

Roger Dean  - Relayer