Cuban Heels -

Cuban Heels were a Scottish new wave band that debuted with a 1978 standalone single on self-press Housewive’s Choice. After a lineup shuffle, they released the 1981 Virgin album Work Our Way to Heaven. Singer John Milarky first fronted Glasgow punks Johnny & the Self Abusers, the root band of Simple Minds.

Members: John Milarky (vocals), Paul Armour (bass), Laurie Cuffe (guitar), David Duncan (drums), Nick Clarke (bass)

Background

Cuban Heels sprung from Johnny & the Self Abusers, a pioneering Scottish punk sextet that disbanded on November 11, 1977: the release date of their standalone single, “Saints and Sinners.” John Milarky co-fronted the Abusers with fellow singer Jim Kerr, who retained four members (including childhood friend Charlie Burchill) in Simple Minds.

Milarky retained his friend, guitarist Ali Mackenzie, for Cuban Heels, named after a Sixties high-heeled boot style. They rounded the band with bassist Paul Armour and drummer David Duncan. Mackenzie soon cleared for guitarist Laurie Cuffe, who jammed beforehand with Armour and Duncan in their native Greenock.

On March 24, 1978, Cuban Heels released their debut single: “Downtown,” a Petula Clark cover backed with “Do the Smok Walk,” a Laurie Cuffe original. The single appeared in a red-back Sixties-style picture sleeve on Housewive’s Choice, a DIY one-press.

A. “Downtown”
B. “Do the Smok Walk”

In the 31-month gap between singles, Armour cleared for bassist Nick Clark, fresh from the Berlin Blondes.

1980–81 Singles

In November 1980, Cuban Heels released their second single: “Walk On Water,” a new group-written original backed with “Take a Look,” a 1978 demo. The single appeared on Ali Mackenzie’s Cuba Libre indie, which also issued singles by The Shakin’ Pyramids, a rockabilly revival trio.

A. “Walk On Water”
B. “Take a Look”

Cuban Heels signed with Virgin Records, which issued their June 1981 third single “Sweet Charity,” a self-produced song backed with “Pay as You Go,” recorded with early Magazine producer Mick Glossop, a recent soundman for Chaz Jankel, Interview, The Ruts, and The Skids.

A. “Sweet Charity”
B. “Pay as You Go”

On August 7, 1981, Cuban Heels released their fourth single, “My Colours Fly,” a taster from their upcoming album, backed with “Cuba Libre,” an ode to their recent label.

B. “Cuba Libre”

Work Our Way to Heaven

Cuban Heels released their singular album, Work Our Way to Heaven, in October 1981 on Virgin.

The album contains eleven group-written originals, including “My Colours Fly” and a re-recorded “Walk on Water.”

Work Our Way to Heaven features the recent four-piece lineup: singer John Milarky, guitarist Laurie Cuffe, bassist Nick Clark, and drummer David Duncan.

Musically, the album presents post-punk rock with Skids-like martial authority, embodied on “A Matter of Time.”

A1. “Liberty Hall” (2:58)
A2. “Move Up a Grade” (3:30)
A3. “Where the Days Go” (4:10)
A4. “A Matter of Time” (3:02)
A5. “Homes for Heroes” (3:45)
A6. “The Old School Song” (3:50)

B1. “Walk on Water” (2:57)
B2. “Hard Times” (4:05)
B3. “Coming Up for Air” (4:16)
B4. “Work Our Way to Heaven” (3:57)
B5. “My Colours Fly” (3:00)

The Cuban Heels self-produced two tracks (“A Matter of Time,” “Hard Times”) and co-produced “Where the Days Go” and “My Colours Fly” with Nick Launay, a soundman on 1980/81 titles by Jane Kennaway, Kate Bush, Killing Joke, Phil Collins, Positive Noise, Public Image Ltd., The Slits, and XTC.

Prior XTC soundman John Leckie produced the balance of Work Our Way to Heaven in sequence with titles by The Atrix, Bill Nelson, De Press, and The Wake. Steve Hillage remixed the album amid work on the twin 1981 Simple Minds records Sons and Fascination and Sister Feelings Call.

Virgin lifted the re-recorded “Walk on Water” as a single, backed with “Hard Times.” Select copies contained a bonus flexi-disc with “Matthew and Son,” a Leckie-produced cover of the early Cat Stevens song.

Discography: