In the beginning there was rhythm

New answers, like....

nope, but they'll probably be selling it already in their shop (Sounds of the Universe, Ingestre Place, WC1). what type of music is on it?

Post-punk/Avant Dance circa 1978-81 as far as I can make out. I think ACR are on it, and poss. 23 Skidoo. I'm hoping for a few surprises along the lines of a brit version of Disco, Not Disco.

re: 23 Skidoo - are the re-issues around yet? and are they on vinyl? Sounds of the Universe had the Gospel Comes to New Guinea 12", but nothing else the last time i was in.

The 23 Skiddo reissues are out on CD. Wouldn't know about the vinyl.

Skidoo, damnit.

this at least gives an indication, from pennyblackmusic.com

A Certain Ratio / Human League - Shack Up / Being Boiled

12" on Soul Jazz Cat No : SJR057

Limited edition (500 copies in the UK) 12”. Two classic tracks re- issued together as a sampler from Soul Jazz Records forthcoming ‘In The Beginning There Was Rhythm’ compilation that features tracks by A Certain ratio, The Slits, The Pop Group, Cabaret Voltaire, Throbbing Gristle, Gang Of Four and more! This 12” features two songs that show the birth of dance music out of punk - A Certain Ratio’s cover of the rare groove classic ‘Shack Up,’ originally recorded by the group Banbarra, alongside The Human League’s ‘Being Boiled’, the first release by the group and one of the first all-electronic dance records to be recorded in England.

[this heat, 23 skidoo are also on the comp]

The Banbarra version is better.

The Banbarra version is better That wouldn't be hard (and I love ACR).

ForcedExposure.com says:
Side A: A Certain Ratio - "Shack Up". Side AA: Human League - "Being Boiled". "2 Tracks taken from the In The Beginning, There Was Rhythm compilation album, to be released on Soul Jazz Records in January 2002. A Certain Ratio's early cover of the US group Banbarra's 'Shack Up' features the amazing funk drumming of new recruit Donald Johnson. The Banbarra track had been popular on the Northern Soul circuit and whilst ACR made music that expressed the depressed, decaying sound of an industrial city in decline they were also true to their other Nothern roots which in Manchester, Leeds, Wigan and other Northern towns had been for many years playing US Soul, Funk and R'n'B. ACR would carry these two sensibilities throughout their career going on to embrace many other styles of dance music along the way including Disco, Reggae, Jazz and Brazilian music... Sheffield became a focal point for DIY-electronic groups at the end of the 70s. The two most successful were Cabaret Voltaire and The Human League. Whilst Cabaret Voltaire stuck to their roots, signing to, and staying on, a fledgling new label, Rough Trade Records, The Human League would go on to international stardom as their experimental late-70s electronic music turned into 80s synth-pop. At the beginning, both these groups were interested in electronic music and how this music could be created within a punk ethos. Consequently, the all-electronic 'Being Boiled' was created on a two-track tape recorder in mono!"

LP announced on SoulJazz site, but no details yet.

Siren Disc website - inform of release date 14th Jan 2002

Souljazz - In The Beginning There Was Rhythm, CD $18.99 A collection of artists who grew out of punk and embraced dance music. Includes A Certain Ratio, 23 Skidoo, Gang Of Four, The Slits, The Human League, Throbbing Gristle, Cabaret Voltaire and others. Country: UK. Release Date: 14-Jan-02

Anyone got this mutha yet? I can't find it anywhere or even any info about what's on it, apart from DJM's info upthread. Yet apparently it exists - it's been reviewed in the bloody Times even.

There's an ad for it on the back of this month's Wire. But doesn't Martian also point out it's not actually released until the 14th??

JANUARY 28th 2002 is the release date.

I e-mailed the record company . They provided me with the following details:

'In The Beginning, There Was Rhythm: The rise of dance music after punk' Label: Soul Jazz Records Cat No: SJR LP/CD57 Release Date: Jan 28, 2002

Tracklisting: 1. A Certain Ratio -­ Shack Up 2. 23 Skidoo ­- Coup 3. Gang Of Four -­ To Hell With Poverty 4. The Human League -­ Being Boiled 5. The Slits -­ In The Beginning, There Was Rhythm 6. This Heat -­ 24 Track Loop 7. Throbbing Gristle -­ 20 Jazz Funk Greats 8. A Certain Ratio -­ Knife Slits Water 9. Cabaret Voltaire -­ Sluggin For Jesus 10. The Pop Group -­ She Is Beyond Good And Evil 11. 23 Skidoo -­ Vegas El Bandito

― Wayne Spencer, Tuesday, 8 January 2002 01:00 (twenty-four years ago)

If they had this out four years ago, before half of it had been reissued in some form, there would have been a much greater need for it. Oh well. Still worth picking up. Hope the liners are nifty.

Oh dear - I have most of this already. No surprises.

Its a great album. Go out and buy it and come to ACR's gig in london 29 March Martin ACR

Some may be interested in this Further Info of event

Andrew Weatherall is to play the retro clubbing event ‘1977’ at London’s Electrowerkz in March. As a homage to 70s club life, the night will host a live gig from former Factory records act, A Certain Ratio, their first in five years Also providing DJ sets on the night will be Specials main man Jerry Dammers and Soul Jazz along with a live set from Cabaret Voltaire founder Richard H Kirk. For further info, call the Electrowerks on 020 7837 6419

Martin forgot to plug the upcoming ACR comp, heh.

I will supply the info:

A Certain Ratio - Early, 2CD

SOUL JAZZ label release features the best of the first 5 years of ACR plus a bonus CD featuring rare sessions, B-sides & 12" mixes. Country: UK. Release Date: 25-Mar-02

I just heard this compilation, and I must say, if those stereotypes about weedy English fag singing were unfounded before, A Certain Ration certainly brought them to life. Terrible, terrible stuff. I probably dislike this stuff even more than Michael Taylor.

"I probably dislike this stuff even more than Michael Taylor probably does", I should say!

Well stick with Stevie nicks then, dq.

So M. Moscrop speaks. I will be at that gig come hell or high water, and DJM is back on form with this wonderful news.

ITBTWR is still an opportunity missed - plenty of good stuff missed out and no excuse for duplicating the two 23 Skidoo trax off 9 o'clock Drop. Maybe they're saving it up for later releases?

i guess the Soul Jazz label doesn't consider fucking a rhythm too... as they've included a censored version of the Slits' title tune on this compilation.

only 11 tracks besides, most of them available elsewhere (as noted above), with a crap booklet which doesn't tell us anything we don't already know.

yikes.

Agree with Dr. C: I won't be buying this for the same reason as I didn't buy the Don Letts reggae comp on Heavenly: I pretty much like it all but there are only a couple of things there I don't own already. If I didn't, I'd probably think it was a complete blinder.

I can't tell whether I have known / liked enough of this stuff that I would consider *everything* a crushingly obvious choice. Which obscurities would you have added, Ari or Dr. C? Which of the existing stuff would you lose?

All gripes aside, this is a great introduction for people who aren't all that familiar with this period. Some things I'd include on a second volume: PiL - "Careering"
Birthday Party - "Guilt Parade"
23 Skidoo - "IY"
Dif Juz - "Diselt"
Cabaret Voltaire - "Protection"
Fad Gadget - "Back to Nature"
Magazine - "The Light Pours Out of Me"
Ruts DC - "Push Yourself (Make It Work)"
The Human League - "Almost Medieval"
Associates - "Amused as Always"
Shriekback - "Accretions"
The Cocteau Twins - "Wax and Wane"
Josef K - "Sorry for Laughing"
Swell Maps - "Big Empty Field"
The Comsat Angels - "Be Brave"
Section 25 - "Be Brave"
Savage Republic - "Film Noir"
Mission of Burma - "Trem Two"

I'm sure I'm leaving plenty out.

If that selection came out as vol 2, Andy, I think I'd be bitching that it was taking too much of a alternative rock direction and moving too far from the skewed funk / dance feel of most of this first volume.

Some stuff I'd put on :

Clock DVA : Blue Tone

Au Pairs : We're So Cool

Section 25 : Wretch

The Passage : Fear

Bush Tetras : Too Many Creeps

Pop Group : Thief of Fire

Ludus : She She

Blurt : My Mother is a Friend of An Enemy Of The People

Marine : Life in Reverse

I see your point, Tim. So how's this:

PiL - "Careering"
23 Skidoo - "IY"
The Pop Group - "We Are Time"
Cabaret Voltaire - "Protection"
Fad Gadget - "Back to Nature"
Magazine - "The Light Pours Out of Me"
Ruts DC - "Push Yourself (Make It Work)"
The Human League - "Almost Medieval"
Associates - "Amused as Always"
Shriekback - "Accretions"
Section 25 - "Be Brave"

11 songs, just like the 'first volume'! I'd dance to all of these.

Both fine lists... I'm still worried that the series isn't goign to throw up much stuff which would *surprise* me. Here's hoping though.

That's *if* it turns out to be a series. Which I still very much hope it will. Pinksi Zoo, anyone?

Saw Pinski once, supporting Pigbag. Very splendid.

Ned could put together a Nine O'Clock Drop Dead compilation of mid-'80s goth bands...

Talking of Pigbag (sort of), "Bob Hope Takes Risks" by Rip Rig & Panic would be amongst the first on any similar list of mine.

Ned would be better at hippy stuff I think, Andy. "Nine O'Clock Drop Off" we could call it. Or "Ned's Nine O'Clock Nod Out".

a crap booklet which doesn't tell us anything we don't already know.

This is my one complaint about the Soul Jazz comps; I wish the reggae sets had some sort of liner notes.

As it is, having heard only three or four of these songs, I'm looking forward to picking it up.

the reggae comps *do* have liner notes, at least the non 100% Dynamite ones do. but there's not much to say about the 100% Dynamite ones - they're all big, big tunes, and just put together in a pretty random fashion after the first volume.

got it the other day there, found myself listening to 'being boiled' on repeat and realised it was time to go to sleep

What is the version of 'Knife Slits Water' on here? I have the original 12 inch and the Sextet version, but this is neither. It's around 9 and a half minutes long and doesn't seem to have Martha Tilson on it. The keyboards are much more prominent and there are some wired jazz-funk keyboard squiqqles throughout, along with a spoken intro. The phrase 'take a chance and dance' is repeated from time to time.

Is it the Peel Session version, or summat else?

J.Worrell to thread! (I e-mailed you 'bout this last week Jeff, but you're ignoring me!)

did not ACR release a whole setta "remixed" ACR classiXoR abt four yrs ago (iirc i reviewed em for wire and thought them somewhat smooth = lame)

Wired = Wierd

Sqiqqles = Sqiggles

Yes mark, it could be from that. I wouldn't call this version lame, but not as alien as the orig.

Sorry, Dr.C! I've been away (and I never check the mailbox I quote on ILX anyway - it's for spam only). Anyway, I'll e-mail you off- board.

Jeff - got your e-mail and all is now clear! Thanks!

It IS the original 12" which is on ITBTWR. I *thought* I owned it. In fact when I checked I found that what I thought was the KSW 12" is in fact the Waterline 12". But I have the 7" of KSW, which is the same as the album version, or close to it.

I have the 7" of KSW, which is the same as the album version, or close to it
Still Donald singing on the 7" and not Martha though, IIRC.

Incidentally, the B-side of that 12" has the last thing ACR did in their "old" style (i.e. in the Flight/Waterline/Sextet vein, before they went all latin ... and then later all crap). It only last two minutes tho' (then cuts to a horrible dub version of "Hot Knights"), so prolly not worth buying just for this.

**and then later all crap**

Where do you reckon they went crap? Whilst 'I'd like to see you again' is a bit tame I rather like it (I have a high tolerance for slappy bass funkin') and I love 'Force'. I even rate Good Together, although I suppose it's a disappointment after Force. Some of the singles are a bit drab though, particularly 'Life's A Scream'. I suppose 1990 is where we parted company - I really didn't like ACR:MCR, even though it wasn't really that different from Good Together, and I haven't even heard anything after that, including the remixes. Am I missing anything good?

flip answer: when Tony Quigley joined (the Live in America 85 recording is alright tho', as is "Mickey Way")

B-but Quigley's soprano sax solo on 'And Then She Smiles' is heartbreaking.