Gone To Earth were a fine 5 piece band from Manchester that released 2 great albums in 1986-87. They were signed up by Probe Plus records,the Liverpool based label. The band split up in the early 90S,but they are said to be great live."Gone To Earth were the folk punk band. They were the first to do it and nobody else got close. "From manic fiddles and buzzsaw guitars" - Sounds "Beautiful tuneful dramas to metaphorical love song and places where folk meets Country" - Melody Maker managing the unlikely combination of the traditional jigs and reels and punk." (from www.probeplus.co.uk)
Dave Thom - bass, mandolin, acoustic guitar, accordion
Andrew Wright Williams - bass (Vegetarian Bullfighter)
Jane Alexander - vocals (Dogs Went Out the Window)
Harry Hutchinson - drums
Dave Clarke - fiddle, backing vocals, additional guitar
Dave Robinson - guitar, vocals, percussion
Tudor - electric guitar
Brenda Kenny - vocals, percussion (Live & Buried, Blinded in Love, Folk in Hell)
Discography:
"Went Out Of The Window" (PP14, 4 tracks, 1985)
"Live And Buried" (PP15, 5 tracks, 1985)
"Blinded In Love" (PP20T, 3 tracks, 1986)
"Folk in Hell" (PROBE6, 12 tracks,1986)
"Vegetarian Bullfighter" (PROBE 15, 10 tracks, 1987)
Gone To Earth - Dogs Went out the Window
Label: Probe Plus
Catalog #: PP14
Format: Vinyl, 12"
Released: 1985
Tracklist:
A1 Three Drumers
A2 Magician-Live Party version
B1 Rose Red
B2 Liverpool Hornpipe
Gone To Earth - Live And Buried
Label: Probe Plus
Catalog #: PP15
Format: Vinyl, 12"
Released: 1985
Tracklist:
A1 Tippin it up to Nancy
A2 Rose of York
B1 John Ryans Polka
B2 Home by Bearna
B3 Endbit
Gone To Earth - Blinded In Love
Label: Probe Plus
Catalog#: PP 20 T
Format: Vinyl, 12", 45 RPM, Maxi-Single
Country: UK
Released: 1986
Tracklist
A1 Blinded In Love (Long Version)
B1 Martin's One Horned Cow
B2 Never Come Back (version)
Gone To Earth - Folk In Hell
Label: Probe Plus
Catalog#: Probe 6
Format: Vinyl, LP
Country: UK
Released: 1986
Tracklist
A1 No Work Today
A2 Rose Red
A3 Wily Old Bachelor
A4 Rendezvous
A5 Snafu Jig
A6 Never Come Back
A7 Three Drummers
B1 Guns Of Love
B2 Lubyanka Stomp
B3 B2 (Live)
B4 Gates Of Heaven
B5 Johnny Stopped The Tide
Gone To Earth- Vegetarian Bullfighter
Label: Probe Plus
Catalog#: PROBE 15
Format: Vinyl, 12"
Country: UK
Released: 1987
Tracklist
A1 Salford Rumble
A2 Dear John
A3 Did You Really?
A4 Foreign Animals
A5 Kelly's Tractor
A6 Only Our Rivers
B1 Lie So Well
B2 Some Day
B3 Eh La!
B4 Be Yourself
Tracks can be purchased here:
http://itunes.apple.com/gb/artist/gone-to-earth/id128156296
This is not an official video, but it's the only one that I have found:
.
Liverpool Love Song: Gone To Earth (deconstructed, dust to dust)- Rose Red (dawn to swift dust, essence of attar version): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QK0FA1gsETY
ReplyDeleteAn odyssey back through space, dimensions and time to another era on planet Probe Plus, when the label’s eighties existential discovery, Gone To Earth existed, before they exited this mortal coil. Emitting impossibly exciting energy, musical electrons vibrated to highest state exploded to supernova, imploded to dark star, dust to dust, Gone To Earth burned bright, buried and gone in a blink. Ignited by their incandescent flame, impassioned, this is a band which has stamped indelible impression on my brain. Songs seared in my mind, luring like siren through mists of far away lives.
Their releases are still available on vinyl from the Probe Plus online store but largely unrepresented in internet firmament, this small slip of a clip is an oddity. Featuring parts of the band, including original singer and songwriter Dave Robinson, this song is an early composition which featured on a demo cassette, when the band was called Tobacco. Irrepressible blossom, ‘Rose Red’, about war, loss, the fight within ourselves, survived battles, transplantations, transmogrifications and band mutations, Tobacco to Dogs, to thrive in Gone To Earth’s soil.
The only version which I readily have in a format to put up on You Tube, this is not an actual recording, more mystery homily, sod dug from Gone To Earth’s loam, small bud blossomed from its soil and soul. Its secret I will not reveal, except to say, it is not suitable for release. So bear in mind, this is just a sketch, hint of glint of Gone To Earth’s transcendental songs, sadly swallowed by ether of time, quantum of solace in eternal hope of their resurrection and restoration to proper place in musical spheres.
Until Geoff Davies breathes new life into his extraordinary eighties Probe Plus discovery, re-releasing their real recordings for perpetuity, I hope my small effort will, lead you to a greater love of the real thing, to dig deep for remnants of their vinyl, even if you have to unearth the record player gathering dust in the corner.
Please forgive my amateur video attempt.
The proper version of the song can be found, on Probe Plus release no.14, ‘Dogs went out the window’, but only on 12inch vinyl: http://www.probeplus-store.co.uk/index.php?_a=product&product_id=139