Rats exclusive

suss · In the Long Grass

Rats exclusive

ArrGee · Back To Boomtown

I suspect it was just a mistake. Looking at the cover it doesn't look like too much effort went into it.

In contrast, the Teenage Kicks CD gives the Rats a promient billing, yet ignores the Clash & the Pistols who also appear.

61MY8X3YPPL._SS500_.jpg

suss · In the Long Grass

Yes, almost certainly a mistake as I can't honestly believe there was anything deliberate or Machi......erm, underhand going on. Never ceases to amaze me how much slips through checks or proof reading though.

Interesting contrast with the TK cd. I've got that one and never noticed omission of Clash/Pistols. Just goes to show how we see or don't see what we choose. Doubt anyone other that Rats fans would spot the omission on Heartlands.

Not quite in same category but I remember early Banana Republic singles going out proclaiming forthcoming album 'Bongo Crazy'.

Any other glaring errors or subsequently changed sleeves etc etc, especially in Rats catalogue? I remember we covered Gerry Cott being on the V Deep reissue CD sleeve shots.

Were there any mispressings?

I once bought OMD single (might have been Souvenir?) that played Messages instead, completely wrong track whatever it was. Gave that to a fan from school. Still have a Men They Couldn't Hang LP with same tracks both sides.

Not aware of any Rats rarities like that but no doubt ArrGee, Wes, Derek, BTR will know more???

Mark L · Loudmouth

Similar vein - 1985 In The Long Grass tour programme advertising Greatest Hits album 'coming soon' - entitled 'Trapped'

This appeared in 1994 entitled 'Loudmouth' to include some Geldof solo output

suss · In the Long Grass

You're right. I'd forgotten about that one, and the brief excitement it stirred in me (bit like long awaited current Rats album 'out soon').

Bit of a no win situation for band at that time I guess. Any issue would have been slaughtered as a cash in on back of Live Aid. Even if they had pledged half the profits it would have been another nail in their coffin in financial terms.

Always wonder what optimum slot for a Greatest Hits is (as in when overall in career as opposed to release date just before Christmas). 85 would have been a good year for Rats to cash in in normal circumstances I reckon. Advertise all their big ones with the "bonus" new track(s) (Drag Me down maybe?) and regenerate some interest. Not an uncommon ploy.

Live Aid eh? Saved millions of kids. Killed a band blankstare .

noelindublin · Loudmouth

Call me pedantic but I always hate when the band is billed as The Boom Town Rats. Think this is mostly an American thing, in the same way then cannot spell proper English words, and always use Farenheit instead of Celsius.

Not sure if I mentioned this before but I vaguely remember some English pop magazine mentioning that Flexipop magazine had a free Boomtown Rats flexi single called 'Dun Longhair'. Forgivable in that some in Dun Laoghaire cannot spell the name of their town either!

suss · In the Long Grass

Coincidentally...

First album up on eBay at the mo (cassette version) with 2 x 'track 1' listed/mis-printed on side 1. Do vaguely recall seeing this listed once before.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=130756005531&clk_rvr_id=380901853704#ht_796wt_1186

suss · In the Long Grass

noelindublin wrote:
Call me pedantic but I always hate when the band is billed as The Boom Town Rats. Think this is mostly an American thing, in the same way then cannot spell proper English words, and always use Farenheit instead of Celsius.
Not sure if I mentioned this before but I vaguely remember some English pop magazine mentioning that Flexipop magazine had a free Boomtown Rats flexi single called 'Dun Longhair'. Forgivable in that some in Dun Laoghaire cannot spell the name of their town either!

Interestingly (debatable), Bound for Glory only refers to 'boom town rats' so Geldof adapted for his purposes, but tend to agree that once he'd done that the least the press and promoters could do was get it right. Must have been (slightly) preferable to being called Bob Gandalf though.

As for Dun Laoghaire....to back up your point smile

jamieuka · House on Fire

suss wrote:
Any other glaring errors or subsequently changed sleeves etc etc, especially in Rats catalogue?

A certain 7inch picture disc supposedly allowing free access to a gig springs to mind... unless anyone here actually managed to redeem theirs (I tried and failed).

suss · In the Long Grass

Blimey, that really is a Rats exclusive..or exclusion at least.

Assume that by time that disc was out gigs weren't sold out so you could pay to get in and not have a completely wasted trip, not that that's the point.

First time I've heard of anyone that tried to redeem (suspect most wanted to keep for the collection). Did you follow up or complain to record company out of interest?

ArrGee · Back To Boomtown

jamieuka wrote:
suss wrote:
Any other glaring errors or subsequently changed sleeves etc etc, especially in Rats catalogue?
A certain 7inch picture disc supposedly allowing free access to a gig springs to mind... unless anyone here actually managed to redeem theirs (I tried and failed).

I'll bring mine to Blackheath and see if they'll let me in biggrin

I have to confess I never got the 7" until a good while after they had called it a day. I got it for 25p at my local record store. I only know that because it was written in permanent marker on the cover.

jamieuka · House on Fire

suss wrote:
Blimey, that really is a Rats exclusive..or exclusion at least.
Assume that by time that disc was out gigs weren't sold out so you could pay to get in and not have a completely wasted trip, not that that's the point.
First time I've heard of anyone that tried to redeem (suspect most wanted to keep for the collection). Did you follow up or complain to record company out of interest?

The ITLG tour was to call at my then local Oxford Apollo 1985-02-21. Well in advance, I phoned the box office to make enquiries about whether it was possible to redeem. To be honest, I didn't hold out much hope but it kind of irked me that someone should make good on this offer. Of course, I bought the disc as a fan and wasn't about to give it up easily! The box office didn't know anything but pledged to find out. I don't know how venues get booked, then or now, but when they called me back they gave the impression they'd contacted the band's management or similar. The response was that the management (or whomever) had tried to put something in place but it had come to nought. The venue was apologetic but couldn't help further, apart from selling me a couple of tickets (which of course was always going to be my fallback position!) I do recall seriously doubting whether the venue had actually managed to speak to anyone offical at all but at least I could say I tried.

I think I'm right in saying that the ticket picture disc caused the entire single to be banned from the charts, not good news financially, so I figured the band were keen not to lose further money by giving away free entry to gigs. I've always wondered whether the single would have actually made it if it hadn't been banned. I suspect it wouldn't have placed higher than the previous single, whose place was 'inflated' anyhow by nefarious purchasing tactics.

Jules · The biggest Geldof fan in the world, bar none!

Jamie you're originally from Oxford?

For some reason I missed them in '85. Bad fan blankstare

sheppardmk · Lookin' After Number 1

I used the 7" ticket picture disc to get into the London Dominion. Even better they let me keep the disc

suss · In the Long Grass

I was at that Apollo gig '85! If memory serves me I ended up sitting in a balcony seat so sales must have been reasonable. Was also the gig where I very first 'spoke' to band after hanging about at stage door. Remember Geldof noticing my well worn FAOS t-shirt and commenting 'that's an old one'. I of course mumbled something utterly incoherent and then laughed maniacally whilst simultaneously turning bright red and backing away rapidly. HE had spoken to ME. Life was complete biggrin

Memory is failing fast now but also recall considering buying a spare 'Dave' 7" ticket for use at a gig but for whatever reason never did. Presumably the initial outlay. Guessing it was nigh on £2 in those days? No idea what average Rats gig was by then - £12? £15? False economy or what....

That said, I'd have been more than miffed if I had Jamie's experience. Sounds like sheppardmk had the proverbial dream ticket. Didn't do Dominion on that tour for some reason - but did do Hammersmith Palais, Croydon and Eastbourne as well as Oxford.

ArrGee, you should try your luck at Blackheath, although single possibly worth more than cost of entry now wink

ArrGee · Back To Boomtown

suss wrote:
ArrGee, you should try your luck at Blackheath, although single possibly worth more than cost of entry now

I'd be surprised if it was worth much. But having looked on internet, there aren't any out there...

suss · In the Long Grass

Did see one on eBay fairly recently but wasn't up for much - pretty sure less than £10, maybe half that.

What is reckoned to be the most sought after Rats offering out of interest, as in highest value. I've never seen the promo of first album that includes Born to Burn anywhere, even for sale, much less in the flesh. Anyone got that?

What else is worth keeping as an heirloom...if anything?? Apologies if on earlier threads I've overlooked. Happy to be redirected.

Mark L · Loudmouth

Back on errors etc, the early US versions of 'Rain' had the same cover and label as the UK 'Dave' single. This was then changed to be the same cover as 'Tonight', but with the correct title 'Rain' printed on the cover.

-- Edited by Mark L on Tuesday 4th of September 2012 02:29:46 AM

jamieuka · House on Fire

Jules wrote:
Jamie you're originally from Oxford?

Originally from Benson, South Oxfordshire, now in sunny Devon.

jamieuka · House on Fire

suss wrote:
I was at that Apollo gig '85! If memory serves me I ended up sitting in a balcony seat

Our paths almost crossed! I was in the stalls, maybe 10 rows back, too chicken to go to the stage door, to my eternal regret. I recall them opening with a couple of numbers, one of which I was surprised not to recognise, then BG did a 5 minute rant about "them" ruining Oxford just like Dublin etc etc then went into Neon Heart... would be nice to be reminded of the entire set list!

Jules · The biggest Geldof fan in the world, bar none!

jamieuka wrote:
Jules wrote:
Jamie you're originally from Oxford?

Originally from Benson, South Oxfordshire, now in sunny Devon.

I'm originally from Headington and now in Littlemore, so still in Oxford lol. Wish I'd been at that gig. Sorry, back to the right subject now...

suss · In the Long Grass

Sorry, still off topic but it's my topic so I'm allowed...nerr biggrin .

Jules,

You didn't live in that house with the shark crashed through its roof did you?? smile

(in-joke for anyone who's been to Headington)

junkyard_smile · The Elephant's Graveyard

suss wrote:
Memory is failing fast now but also recall considering buying a spare 'Dave' 7" ticket for use at a gig but for whatever reason never did. Presumably the initial outlay. Guessing it was nigh on £2 in those days? No idea what average Rats gig was by then - £12? £15? False economy or what....

Hell, ticket prices down south must have been alot more expensive than up north in those days - I went to see the Rats at the Redcar Bowl in 1984 as part of a few warm up dates prior to the main ITLG tour...ticket price £4.25 and no booking fee...how time have changed.

Jules · The biggest Geldof fan in the world, bar none!

suss wrote:
Sorry, still off topic but it's my topic so I'm allowed...nerr .
Jules,
You didn't live in that house with the shark crashed through its roof did you??
(in-joke for anyone who's been to Headington)

No, very near though. It belongs to Bill Heine, he's a bit of a local celeb and has his own spot on the local radio. Bit of an eccentric and good man. I don't know why people objected to it, they complained about leaking roof. It was his roof no-one elses. The woman who lived opposite loves the shark so much she called her house Shark View. Do you know Headington?

suss · In the Long Grass

Jules wrote:
suss wrote:
Jules,
You didn't live in that house with the shark crashed through its roof did you??

No, very near though. It belongs to Bill Heine, he's a bit of a local celeb and has his own spot on the local radio. Bit of an eccentric and good man. I don't know why people objected to it, they complained about leaking roof. It was his roof no-one elses. The woman who lived opposite loves the shark so much she called her house Shark View. Do you know Headington?

Not well. Went to the Manor Ground and nearby pubs a few times. And used to smile at the shark when passing through on the CityLink or Tube. Did once go to a party being held in the middle of Shotover Woods as well! Nice city Oxford.

As for prices at the Apollo, I could well have been way, way out (and sounds like I was). Prob still got ticket stub somewhere.

Assuming it was nearer £5, that would have been about 5 pints then (well down south anyway - 12 up north??). Daresay you wouldn't get a current name band ticket for under £20 nowadays. Cue deluge of replies saying 5 pints still only a tenner up north even now.

do the rat · The Elephant's Graveyard

You can get 5 pints for a tenner down south if you`re prepared to go to weatherspoons !!!

ArrGee · Back To Boomtown

do the rat wrote:
You can get 5 pints for a tenner down south if you`re prepared to go to weatherspoons !!!

And the beer is superb to boot. I was locked out of the house the other night and with no other alternatives had to take refuge in our local by the station. Had a really nice pint of a summer ale while I waited for the cavalry to arrive to let me in.

jamieuka · House on Fire

Jules wrote:
I'm originally from Headington and now in Littlemore, so still in Oxford lol.

Hope your moved there and weren't admitted :) (in-joke for anyone who's been to Littlemore).

Jules · The biggest Geldof fan in the world, bar none!

No moved there. But you never know biggrin

suss · In the Long Grass

suss wrote:
As for prices at the Apollo, I could well have been way, way out (and sounds like I was). Prob still got ticket stub somewhere.

Apparently I was in Circle K74, for what looks like £4.00 but type isn't clear so might be £4.50.

Eastbourne was £4.50 on same tour, as were Hammersmith and Croydon. Dunno why I thought gigs would have been into double figures by then. Careless comment.

No idea where I found best part of £20 in one month even so, being a layabout impoverished student at the time, plus all the travel and sustenance expenses.

Vague recollections of neglecting and ignoring the girlfriend at the time for the duration. Bit extreme for her to ignore me for the 27 years since though......

Wouldn't have missed the gigs for the world though. Her loss smile .

suss · In the Long Grass

This one takes some beating...getting a typo on band name. To be fair, I wouldn't know how to spell it in Greek.

noelindublin · Loudmouth

I wonder was this single manufacturedfor the Greek market, or was it destined for elsewhere and just happened to be made in Greece? The Rats market in these parts was low enough so doubt there were many in Greece hankering after a single by a fading band. The Rats did a famous gig which ended in a riot in Athens in about March 1982, but the riot was more to do with local politics and cheap Ouzo than the Rats and their music. Greeks and riots .....