The Jazz Butcher (Conspiracy) C/D

Stripey and Chris Barrus to thread!

I quite like The Cult of the Basement, for whatever that's worth. Never understood the "Conspiracy" bit (why is it on some records and not others? What's the difference?)

i'm wondering if their lack of popularity is at least in part due to the almost complete unavailability of their catalogue.

that'll do it!

The comp. "Draining The Glass 1982-86" is available at the moment and is a great intro. to what (I think) was Mr. Fish's peak period; although sadly it doesn't include the glorious "Soul Happy Hour"....

The best things in life are free
But you can give them to the SDP
I want to go to Tesco's store
And buy some drink and fall on the floor.
I don't care for smart new clothes
I don't care for reading books
I don't care for Quinn and Collins
I don't care for magazines

I don't like lemonade
I think milk should not be made
I don't like coffee and I don't like tea
These are the things that mystify me

I don't care for sport or swimming
I don't care for all those nasty old bogies
I don't care what's on TV
I just want to drink til I can't see

I wish I'd been born a tree
Someone'd come and make a barrel out of me
I get in a fury when I'm not in a brewery

Whiskey Vodka Special Brew
All of this is good for you
Gin sling, Cointreau, brandy sour...
Blot right out! Soul happy hour!

Definitely classic. I was only a casual listener in the 80s, but as I picked up more over the years, I've been more than impressed. "Nothing Special" is one of my favourite 80s indie-pop songs.


Vinyl Japan have been re-issuing old JBC stuff:

http://www.vinyljapan.demon.co.uk/bands/jazzbutcher.htm


I never understood the inconsistent 'Conspiracy' usage either...

The "Conspiracy" bit seems to be used when Pat Fish feels as though the band is "the conspiracy" .. When it's basically a Pat Fish solo record, it's the Jazz Butcher.. When there's a conspiracy happening, it's the conspiracy. (Conspiracy not necessarily meaning collaboration on writing.... more of a "bunch of mates" kind of conspiracy.) This is all post-1985, by the way. Prior to that, there was no Conspiracy moniker. (See: Sikkorskis from Hell.)

Anywoo, Fucking classic. Greatest songwriter ever. If you're in the UK, look for gigs by the band Wilson, Pat Fish's latest project.
(also search bins for Max Eider and Sumosonic. And don't search too hard for black eg.)

Condition Blue is a masterpiece.
Also search:
A Scandal in Bohemia
Cult of the Basement (maybe still in print. Easy to get used.)
Distressed Gentlefolk
Sex & Travel (outa print)
Illuminate (outa print)That's a noun, by the way. Short a. Like "We are the Illuminate." < /trivia>
Waiting for the Love Bus (outa print)

re: why he's not more popular in the us with anglophiles

he certainly was well-loved and well-known on the college scene till the high gloss early 90s records. condition blue and love bus - i love them even more than the early stuff but i know they aren't as good. the humor is gone except in the most oblique deadpan whimsy moments like "penguins"; and the lo-fi traded in for solid state chorus effects was very unhip at the time. his only us releases were comps, but the 90s comp "edwards closet" sucked, especially in comparison to its predecessors, bloody nonsense and the sex scandal cd twofer.