C85 / Various C85 / Various CD

UK three CD collection. Following the success of the compilation, The Sun Shines Here (which documented the roots of Indie Pop from 1980-84), the prequel to C86, C85 combines "name" bands with many obscurities making their debut on CD. Several acts on C85 would eventually feature on that NME's C86 collection: Primal Scream, The Wedding Present, the Mighty Lemon Drops, etc, who all had singles released in 1985. C85 bridges the gap between The Sun Shines Here and C86, opening with undoubtedly the most vital British breakthrough band of that year in The Jesus & Mary Chain and closing with the debut from a band who'd have to wait several years for their chance, The Stone Roses. Along the way, we hear many key records by the likes of post-Undertones band That Petrol Emotion, The Woodentops, James, Del Amitri, The Housemartins, and a then largely unknown Happy Mondays. Where discs one and two reflect the predominant indie pop sound with which C86 was most closely associated, disc 3 acknowledges the harder, more angular sounds of that era (encapsulated by the bands on the Ron Johnson label). Alongside band biographies for every track is an introductory essay by one-time NME scribe Neil Taylor, the original co-compiler of C86 and author of the book C86 And All That. In short, C85 is essential for any fan of 80s independent music.

1. The Jesus And Mary Chain Never Understand 2. That Petrol Emotion Keen 3. The Woodentops Move Me 4. The Mighty Lemon Drops Like An Angel 5. Hurrah! Funny Day 6. The Loft Your Door Shines Like Gold 7. James Uprising 8. Shop Assistants All Day Long 9. The June Brides JosefÆs Gone 10. The Wedding Present (The Moment Before) EverythingÆs Spoiled Again 11. The Dentists Pallino 12. The Housemartins Flag Day (Single Version) 13. The Jasmine Minks WhatÆs Happening 14. The Soup Dragons If You Were The Only Girl In The World (Would You Take Me?) 15. Mighty Mighty Throwaway (A Night At The Flicks Version) 16. Happy Mondays Delightful 17. Mccarthy In Purgatory 18. Biff Bang Pow! Love And Hate 19. The Primitives Across My Shoulder (Demo) 20. The Bodines Paradise 21. Perfect Disaster New Beginning 22. The Hit Parade The Sun Shines In Gerrards Cross 23. Microdisney Horse Overboard 24. Miaow Fate 25. The Impossible Years Attraction Gear 26. Primal Scream All Fall Down 27. Sarah Goes Shopping Summer Blues 28. Del Amitri Sticks And Stones, Girl 29. The Passmore Sisters Dance The House Down 30. The Claim Through His Sunglasses 31. Grab Grab The Haddock Last Fond Goodbye 32. The Chesterf!Elds Nose Out Of Joint (Flexidisc Version) 33. The Sedgemorons Drop Dead Darling 34. Yeah Jazz Julie ; The Sea Lions 35. The Word Association Mary Mary 36. The Kamikaze Pilots Sharon Signs To Cherry Red 37. One Thousand Violins Halcyon Days 38. Ronnie Can You Hear Me? Vroom For Romance 39. Go! Service It Makes Me Realise 40. Househunters Shopping City 41. The Snakes Of Shake Southern Cross 42. St Christopher As Far As The Eye Can See 43. The Word Wide Awake 44. Benny Profane Drop Dead (Demo) 45. The Bridge World Of Your Own 46. The Wake Of The Matter 47. Always Late Again 48. In Embrace Shouting In Cafes 49. The Band Of Holy Joy Consumption 50. A Witness Lucky In London 51. Yeah Yeah Noh Prick Up Your Ears 52. Brilliant Corners My Baby In Black 53. Stitched-Back Foot Airman Granular Twilight 54. Pig Bros Excessive 55. The Membranes I Am Fish Eye 56. Age Of Chance Bible Of The Beats 57. The Nose Flutes Girth 58. The Folk Devils English Disease 59. Big Flame All The Irish (Must Go To Heaven) 60. Meat Whiplash Losing Your Grip (Demo) 61. Bog-Shed Fat Lad Exam Failure 62. The Inca Babies Brother Rat 63. Five Go Down To The Sea Singing In Braille 64. The Janitors Chicken Stew 65. The Sinister Cleaners The Gnomes Of Zurich 66. Vee Vv Kindest Cut 67. Splat! Taxi 68. Bob Hope To Die Honeymoon 69. The Blue Aeroplanes I Wanna Be Your Lover 70. Palookas Clear Day 71. Sudden Afternoon Acid Rain (Single Version) 72. The Stone Roses So Young