The big hit single reached #12 in the UK charts in 1979. I suspect I wasn't alone in buying it and 'singing' along as it was played repeatedly at high volume. After all it did seem to capture everything that was so wrong in the world of a 16 year-old:-
The band surprised a lot of folk with the follow-up being very very different from the smash single, thanks to its infusion of reggae.
mp3 : The Members - Offshore Banking Business/Pennies In The Pound
Its the sort of thing that The Clash were lauded for and yet to my ears, this 12" version is as good as anything that came from the bigger and better-known group.
Offshore Banking Business went on to reach #31 in the UK singles charts but was the last time The Members would make a commercial impact.
The b-side is quite brilliant and perfectly encapsulates New Wave . And all credit to Stiff Records for allowing the band's by then deleted debut single to be made widely available on Virgin Records:-
mp3 : The Members - Solitary Confinement
Trivia time.
This single, like much of the band's other early output were among the first bits of work carried out by Steve Lillywhite who in time would become one of the biggest and most in-demand producers in the world. His involvement with The Members came about thanks to their drummer - his brother Adrian Lillywhite.
Happy Listening.
5 comments:
You are so right that Offshore Banking Business could've been a track by the Clash.
Great stuff, JC!
btw: five new posts on Sexyloser since October '10: will THAT get me out of your loser-corner on the right ("Whatever Happened To These Guys?")? You may kee Fil in there if you want ....
Cheers,
Dirk
Offshore is a walloper and what a way to follow Suburbs - although I was always gutted I never got the clear vinyl versh
Your right I was one of those lads in my bedroom listening to it very loud.
I got " the model" by the members sent to me awhile back, have a listen to that its very good.
If you want it sending just say.
Paul
"Radio" was a cute Martin Rushent job.
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