 |
Also included on the single
is a new, re-mixed version of "Trash" (from
the 2004 album
"Forty Virgins in the
Afterlife"), with guitar by the Sex Pistols` Steve Jones, plus a hitherto
unreleased track "Wonderful
Day" (featuring Paul McCartney`s current guitarist, Brian Ray).
"Old River Thames" was
recently referred to by former BBC Radio 1 deejay Mike Read as
one of his "Desert Island
Discs". Read nominated the Automatics "Britannia"
album his 'album of the
week' on his Big L Radio (Sky digital 0190 / 1395am) show in early
September 2006.
With guest appearance by The
Automatics` frontman DAVE PHILP performing (with The Stiffs):
"When the tanks roll over Poland
again", "Trash", "She Devils of Beverly Hills",
"A mighty long way from Memphis",
"British Beat", "When the Tanks.. (Reprised)"
In
1984 however, STIFFS lead singer Phil Hendriks needed a label with which
to launch his short lived band IDOL RICH, so out came the DORK logo for
the label`s 3rd. release, IDOL RICH`s "Blaze of love".
Around the same time Blackburn bands EURO-K and VICIOUS RUMOURS (not the
OI! band of the same name) both wanted to release singles and it was decided
that they would all have a better chance with the corporate identity of
the DORK records name. Unfortunately the records all sank without
a trace, receiving little or no airplay, despite the fact that they were
all fine "indie" pop records.
In late 1984 IDOL RICH decided to gamble on a Xmas success with an updated version of the Scottish traditional "Skye boat song" backed by a version of "Stand up"( a new recording of a previously unreleased STIFFS song). Unfortunately the single received little airplay, poor sales and summoned the end for IDOL RICH. To add insult to injury, 2 years later a hideous version of the song by Des O`Connor and Roger Whittaker made the UK Top 10.
Jan.1985
- Phil Hendriks teamed up with Ian Barnes to re-launch the STIFFS with
the "Young Guitars" 12", taking most of IDOL RICH with them.
The record sold briskly,although only 1,000 copies were ever pressed.
At
the same time "VICIOUS RUMOURS" frontman Bob Ramsey found himself without
a band and so he enlisted the STIFFS to play and co-write his new A-side
"Look don`t touch". This 12" maxi came out in mid 1985 featuring
"Look don`t touch" plus the 2 tracks already released on the previous VICIOUS
RUMOURS single. The record was housed in a controversial sleeve which
is not exhibited on this site.
Dork
Records has been dormant from 1985 until 2006, when we decided that it
was about time we unleashed some classy, nay 'classic' records on the world,
since everyone else seems to have given up releasing anything other than'
safe bets'.
First
release under the new regime is The Automatics` "Britannia", an absolute
stunner of an album! Do your lug-holes a favour, grab a copy and help us
to convince this corporate world that there`s life beyond Franz Ferdinand,
Coldplay and Simon Cowell. We can only do it with your support !
DORK RECORDS COMPLETE DISCOGRAPHY
In chronological order - earliest first.
| ARTIST | TITLES |
| 1979 UR - 1 : THE STIFFS | 
"Standard English"/"DC - RIP"/"Brookside riot squad" |
| November 1979 UR - 2 : THE STIFFS | 
"Inside out" / "Kids on the street" |
| March 1984 UR IDOL - 3 : IDOL RICH |  "Blaze
of love" / "( On the ) Peso trail " |
| April 1984 UR OK - 4 : EURO - K |  "Action
man" / "Hollywood pretender " |
| April 1984 UR BOB - 5 : VICIOUS RUMOURS |  "Rita"
/ "Nighthawk" |
| November 1984 UR RICH - 6 : RICHIE McIDOL ( Idol Rich ) |   "Skye
boat song" / "Stand up" |
| 1985 UR - 7 (12") : STIFFS `85 |  "The
Young guitars" / "Yer under attack". |
| 1985 UR - 8 (12") : VICIOUS RUMOURS |  "Look
don`t touch" /"Nighthawk"/"Rita" |
| May 2006 UR PROMO 1 : AUTOMATICS |
"BRITANNIA" (Promo CD E.P.) : "England Expects" / "Britannia" / "British Beat" / "Rule Britannia" |
| June 2006 URCD 001 : AUTOMATICS | "BRITANNIA"
(Album)
1. "Britannia", 2. "When
the sun sinks on England tonight", 3. "British Beat",
|
| 4th December 2006 UR09 : MICHELLE HENDRIKS | "Dumb"
/ "Everlasting" (CD single) |
| 27th November 2006 UR10 : AUTOMATICS | "Old
River Thames" / "Trash" / "Wonderful Day" (CD single) |
| July 2006 DORKVD 001 :THE STIFFS | "LET`S
ACTIVATE" (Live DVD)
Songs performed by THE STIFFS: "Volume Control" ,"Let`s Activate", "Nothing to lose" ,"Standard English", " Sold on you" "Affairs of the heart", "Goodbye my love","Magic Roundabout", "Crazy mixed up emotion", "Brookside Riot Squad","Kids on the street", "Innocent bystander", "DC-RIP", "Inside Out" Guest appearance by The Automatics` frontman DAVE PHILP (with The Stiffs): "When the tanks roll over Poland again", "Trash", "She Devils of Beverly Hills", "A mighty long way from Memphis", "British Beat", "When the Tanks.. (Reprised)" |
CLICK ON RECORD TITLES TO VIEW PICTURE COVERS!!
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