the Valves - 'Ain't No Surf in Portobello'

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[ali]

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[ali]

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Some of you old punks may be intestested in taking a look at this Yahoo group:

http://launch.groups.yahoo.com/group/Ed ... unks1970s/

Some of you may even remember Louise, or Spike as she was known at the time.

There are similar groups out there for fans of the Rezillos/Revillos, the Scars etc.

Ali - just covering my derriere. I'm sure you're right although I would like to get official permission to use 'Ain't No Surf' on the website. Are you in touch with any of the band members?

[Gedge]

On the subject of songs featuring Portobello, the last but one Salsa Celtica album (not sure what it's called but it's got a picture of a cow on the front) has a track about Portobello including the sound of seagulls at the beginning.

And a very fine album it is.

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[Surrealist]

[Spike]

Oh, what joy! Valves tracks on the net! Am listening to Linda Vindaloo as I type - probably my favourite Valves track ever.

And the Valves were on my favourite punk bands from Edinburgh. I've lost count of the number of times I saw them while living there.

Thanks for this, Bob.

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[Spike]

Hmmm, Ali certainly has all the hallmarks of being a Valve!

C'mon - fess up!

[Skeely]

Excellent stuff - I spent thursday listening to the Valves in my office. I'd never heard of them before. Linda Vindaloo and Robot Love were highlights for me.

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LOVE that live version of 'Ain't No Surf'. We all know what the chorus is of course, but for the benefit of those of you who want to sing along, here is what I have been able to decipher of the verses. We've been singing it all morning!

Cruisin’ down Bath Street, my surfboard in my hand (in my hand)
I’m lookin’ for a woman that’s lookin’ for a surfin’ man (surfin’ man)
Everybody says I’m crazy cos they just don’t know
Ain’t no surf in Porto-bell-o

Goin’ to Fun City, got my woody parked right outside (right outside)
Got my baggies on my knees and I’m havin’ a jungle ride (jungle ride)
They ask me what I am – I’m a surfin’ man
See I got my malibu in my hand

Ridin’ on the crest of an oil slick, I don’t care (I don’t care)
Got the smell of the big city sewage in my hair (In my hair)
Gas works are comin’ into sight
Gonna be a gas Fun City tonight

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[Spike]

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Spike

While your 'confession' is arguably on-topic I fear it may be around a quarter of a century too late. Now, if only your crush had been on the very lovely Bob Jefferson I think you would find it would have been fully requited!

[Spike]

Why didn't you bloody well ask me out then????

I probably would have said yes!

[Spike]

Bumping this cos I had an interesting e-mail from Pada a few days ago and I don't think he'll mind if I post bits of here.

Pada wrote: "Pada here. I hope you're not disappointed that Dee appears to be the only one left playing music.

Teddy lives in Barcelona teaching Spanish students how to teach English to Spaniards (I think that's the right way round).

Ronnie is still working in the printing trade - still an awfy nice guy. Chummed him to Ricky Jobson's bash at the Caley brewery during last year's festival, where Stuart Adamson's son and daughter accompanied Ricky and Bill during a brief (and amazing) Skids tribute.

After the Mudsharks folded I worked in the Scottish Office for some years and am now working in IT for a terribly dull insurance company. Haven't ouched a guitar in a long time, but stiil listen to awful lot of music - the older I get the more 60s music I seem to listen to - strange.

Ronnie and I have noticed some interest various parties releasing a CD of Valves singles, demos etc. However, we need to be able to contact Teddy and Dave to keep it legal, so any assistance from yourself or contacts would be welcome.

Pada"

And that's that! I edited out some personal info about each member, but wanted to post the rest, because if anyone can help track down Dave and Teddy, there will be a way forward to getting the Valves' back catalogue rereleased! And I'm sure lots of us would love to get their hands on Valves CDs. I know I would...

Spike

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So, you aren't going to tell them which ex-Valve member is living in Joppa then (the posh end of Portobello Spike, in case you don't know)?

Shirley Manson allegedly owns a house in Porty, though I've never seen her in Scotmid. I saw her do a pretty reasonable cover of one of my favourite songs earlier this evening - the Stones 'Wild Horses'.

I believe Polly Phillips lives here too. She toured with one of my favourite bands, the Revillos in Japan a few years ago as a backing singer. She is also a talented artist in her own right. See:

http://www.littlenimo.com/pollyphillips.html
http://www.netrhythms.co.uk/reviewsp.html#polly

Stick them all together and you've got a Porty super group performing 'Ain't No Surf' on the beach!

It could happen!

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[administrator]

ecm - I will take a look at your account and email you re your logging on issue. No-one should be able to post as a guest in any case and I have now altered the permissions settings for this forum to prevent this happening in the future.

[Spike]

[ecm]

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