When the Kiwi indie label got a chance to record a live album by the Manchester band, the tensions fraying the group almost destroyed the record company – as documented in a new book
Unlike back home in the UK, where the band had the backing of taste-makers such as John Peel but meagre record sales, the Fall were minor stars in New Zealand. In fact, if there was a barometer of New Zealanders’ distinctive musical tastes in the early 80s, it was their unparalleled support of the Fall. When Gap Records from Australia licensed the Fall for the territory, their single
Three months ago Helene, who runs Sydney’s Stranded venue, and Ken West … managed to convince the Fall’s manager, Kay Carroll, that they were eminently suited to bringing her bunch of Northern Soul Boys over to Australasia … A tour was born. Being a Wellingtonian by birth , Helene thought NZ would benefit from the Fall, and maybe even vice versa.
Doug Hood , Craig Scanlon of the Fall and Chris Knox at Sounds Unlimited record store in Auckland in August 1982.Documenting the Fall’s live show seemed a good idea given Smith’s preference for playing live. During that tense TV appearance in Australia Smith had said: “We’re very much a live band, it’s not the same as the records, it’s the only reason we keep playing.” Knox and Hood had two cracks at capturing the band at their best. The first night was a bit of a downer, at least for some.
These forecasts came true quite quickly, as European and American record importers and mail-order buyers tracked down this obscure label on the other side of the world and brought Flying Nun into contact with markets they desperately wanted to reach. Flying Nun ordered up a pressing that far exceeded anything they had done up to that point. A report in theStar hailed the development as the “first time a Kiwi indie label has managed to make inroads into the British market”.
Unfortunately, I neglected to send Mark his free copies and first he knew about it was when he saw a copy for a vastly inflated price in his local vinyl purveyor. I got the 20-minute rant down the phonelines and it transpired that his memory had it that the LP was to be an Australasian release only! Shit! I’d fucked up big time and cost poor old Flying Nun quite a few bucks and a great deal of embarrassment.
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