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

Guest · Post by **Guest** » 01 Jan 2004, 14:00

...............to here. A brief summary of the band and the song in question can be found at:

http://www.edinburgh.gov.uk/libraries/p ... alves.html

I saw them play a few times in places like Tiffanys and Clouds. They were a great live act with some catchy tunes. Their singles are still traded among the punk fraternity. The record was released on Bruce Findlay's Zoom label. Bruce owned a string of record shops and went on to manage Simple Minds. More info at:

http://www.schoolhousemanagement.co.uk/aboutbruce.htm

Guest · Post by **Guest** » 15 Mar 2004, 21:23

Is the single available on any currently-available compilations that anyone knows about... I've never heard it (though I've discussed it in the pub once or twice!) and would love to know how it sounds!

ali · Post by **ali** » 15 Mar 2004, 21:53

Alex

You can download all the valves great tracks at your peril here. Just copy and paste this in to your browser:-

http://www.34q.com/valves/03%20-%20Ain' ... obello.mp3

cheers
ali

Guest · Post by **Guest** » 15 Mar 2004, 21:58

Hmm, doesn't work for me. I get a plug-in error.

Guest · Post by **Guest** » 15 Mar 2004, 22:09

However, I did get it to work by going to http://www.34q.com/valves/ and then downloading it from there.

I think I should probably add at this point that downloading copyrighted music in this fashion is illegal and that we do not condone it. Consequently, I shall be deleting these messages as soon as I get time - might take a day or two though.

Absolutely brilliant by the way and the first time I've heard it in many years! Nice one Ali.

Guest · Post by **Guest** » 15 Mar 2004, 23:19

Excellent! Thank you Ali! A classic 7" and the first post by a long-time lurker. Portyweb doesn't get any better than this.

ali · Post by **ali** » 15 Mar 2004, 23:37

Bob
You need to chill a bit - you're getting a bit of a reputation for being an old bossy boots around here.

There's nothing officially available from the band (at the moment

!) so no sales are being lost.

Trust me - the valves are more than happy for people to hear their music.

Guest · Post by **Guest** » 15 Mar 2004, 23:54

Be gentle with Bob. As Moderator, he has to toe the line -- after all, he's responsible. Er, is that what I meant to say?

Ahhh... The Valves must have been great live.

I was in Aberdeen in the 70s/80s and my big local bands in my student days were Nervous Choir (Goth) and Toxic Ephex (Punk)... I have a Toxic Ephex track on the Crass compilation "Bull***t Detector Volume II" but don't know which track it is because I've lost the sleeve!

Now there's an album I must dig out. Or, on the other hand, there's probably a reason why I haven't played it for 15 years.

Guest · Post by **Guest** » 16 Mar 2004, 07:45

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 · Post by **Gedge** » 16 Mar 2004, 14:24

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.

Guest · Post by **Guest** » 18 Mar 2004, 21:13

Well, I would like to hear that as well. Does it have lyrics?

I think the Valves classic has lain dormant for too long and it's time it was re-released. Or maybe some local skate punk thrash metal band could cover it? With members of the Community Council on kazoo and backing vocals. I'm serious, this is the best idea I've had in ages!

Surrealist · Post by **Surrealist** » 18 Mar 2004, 21:49

Spike · Post by **Spike** » 18 Mar 2004, 21:57

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.

Guest · Post by **Guest** » 19 Mar 2004, 22:15

Spike! Great to hear from you and thanks for guesting on this thread. Fans of the Valves, old and new, will be delighted to hear that I have just been contacted via the Edinburgh punks Yahoo site by 'Fletch' who has posted a link to more Valves stuff, including a BRILLIANT live version of 'Ain't No Surf' recorded at the Rock Garden back in 1979. Takes a while to download but well worth the wait.

http://www.fletchweb.myby.co.uk/valves/

Ali - j'accuse you of being in fact Pada. How do you plead?

Spike · Post by **Spike** » 20 Mar 2004, 10:05

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

C'mon - fess up!

Skeely · Post by **Skeely** » 20 Mar 2004, 13:32

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.

Guest · Post by **Guest** » 20 Mar 2004, 14:22

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!

CruisinÃ¢â‚¬â„¢ down Bath Street, my surfboard in my hand (in my hand)
IÃ¢â‚¬â„¢m lookinÃ¢â‚¬â„¢ for a woman thatÃ¢â‚¬â„¢s lookinÃ¢â‚¬â„¢ for a surfinÃ¢â‚¬â„¢ man (surfinÃ¢â‚¬â„¢ man)
Everybody says IÃ¢â‚¬â„¢m crazy cos they just donÃ¢â‚¬â„¢t know
AinÃ¢â‚¬â„¢t no surf in Porto-bell-o

GoinÃ¢â‚¬â„¢ to Fun City, got my woody parked right outside (right outside)
Got my baggies on my knees and IÃ¢â‚¬â„¢m havinÃ¢â‚¬â„¢ a jungle ride (jungle ride)
They ask me what I am Ã¢â‚¬â€œ IÃ¢â‚¬â„¢m a surfinÃ¢â‚¬â„¢ man
See I got my malibu in my hand

RidinÃ¢â‚¬â„¢ on the crest of an oil slick, I donÃ¢â‚¬â„¢t care (I donÃ¢â‚¬â„¢t care)
Got the smell of the big city sewage in my hair (In my hair)
Gas works are cominÃ¢â‚¬â„¢ into sight
Gonna be a gas Fun City tonight

ali · Post by **ali** » 20 Mar 2004, 15:04

Bob,
I am not a Valve but I do live with Valve's guitarist Ronnie Mackinnon's lovely sister.
And Alex, don't get me started on the Lurkers. I used to roadie for them back in the late seventies.

Cheers,
Ali

Spike · Post by **Spike** » 20 Mar 2004, 17:56

Is this time and place to confess that I used to have a HUGE (and unrequited, I might add) crush on the very lovely Ronnie Mackinnon when I was 17?

Guest · Post by **Guest** » 20 Mar 2004, 21:33

ali wrote: And Alex, don't get me started on the Lurkers. I used to roadie for them back in the late seventies.

Ali

Actually, I'm feeling quite guilty for dismissing a single I havn't heard for over 20 years. Apologies to any Lurkers fans.

Guest · Post by **Guest** » 20 Mar 2004, 21:35

Bob wrote: GoinÃ¢â‚¬â„¢ to Fun City, got my woody parked right outside

http://www.henniker.org.uk/images/place ... n-city.jpg

Guest · Post by **Guest** » 20 Mar 2004, 23:21

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 · Post by **Spike** » 21 Mar 2004, 01:34

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

I probably would have said yes!

Spike · Post by **Spike** » 31 Mar 2004, 19:41

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

Guest · Post by **Guest** » 31 Mar 2004, 20:20

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!

Guest · Post by **Guest** » 31 Mar 2004, 22:45

After the Mudsharks folded

But the Mudsharks are still going! http://www.mudsharks.org/prologue.htm

I used to be a member a few years back but sadly let it slide when I left Aberdeen.

Guest · Post by **Guest** » 02 Apr 2004, 07:44

following on from Spike's e-mail from Pada.
Ronnie and Pada met up with Gordon (Teddy) the other night. Gordon is in touch with Dave who's over in Belgium still following the rock n roll lifestyle! Gordon has himself been approached regarding Valves re-releases so theres definitely a lot of interest out there.
No Valves in Joppa Bob - try Duddingston instead!
Shirley Manson's house is in Eastfield. I knew the family she bought it from. I don't suppose she gets to spend that much time in it.

Guest · Post by **Guest** » 02 Apr 2004, 07:48

Ooops - seem to have forgotten to log in before posting above!

Guest · Post by **Guest** » 02 Apr 2004, 07:50

Bob! Help! Site doesn't seem to want to let me log in. Is it because I'm in favour of the Superstore?
ECM

Post by **administrator** » 02 Apr 2004, 17:10

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 · Post by **Spike** » 04 Apr 2004, 18:37

Anonymous wrote:following on from Spike's e-mail from Pada.
Ronnie and Pada met up with Gordon (Teddy) the other night. Gordon is in touch with Dave who's over in Belgium still following the rock n roll lifestyle! Gordon has himself been approached regarding Valves re-releases so theres definitely a lot of interest out there.
No Valves in Joppa Bob - try Duddingston instead!
Shirley Manson's house is in Eastfield. I knew the family she bought it from. I don't suppose she gets to spend that much time in it.

Sorry but you are wrong - Pada is still very much in contact with the Valve who currently resides in Joppa!

ecm · Post by **ecm** » 06 Apr 2004, 07:32

Hi Spike,
Check your pms!

Spike · Post by **Spike** » 06 Apr 2004, 08:23

Thanks - I would if I could but I can't see the button for my PMs. I can't even see how to access my profile on here, only the forums. And trust me, I've searched!

ecm · Post by **ecm** » 06 Apr 2004, 09:25

Hi Spike,
When I arrive at the forum there seems to be a choice of "log-in" and "log-in to check private messages" along with other links along the top of the page and if I just log-in, the link for checking pms then disappears!! Perhaps if you are automatically logged in on each visit to the site then you're not seeing the link for checking pms.
I wasn't sure if I'd actually sent the pm properly as nothing showed up in my "sent box" so I sent the message twice (hopefully you'll have received one at least!).

Spike · Post by **Spike** » 06 Apr 2004, 10:07

I'm permanently logged in so I'll try logging out then in again and se if that solves the problem!

Thanks.

-----------------------

Edited to add I can't log out either! There's no button!

Talk Porty ~ Portobello

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

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

however

Punk-tastic