New Model Army -

New Model Army was an English art-punk band from Bradford, West Yorkshire, that debuted with a pair of EPs in 1983, followed by the album Vengeance in 1984 on small-press Abstract Records. Between 1985 and 1991, the band released five albums and assorted shortplayers on EMI.

Members: Justin Sullivan (vocals, guitar, keyboards), Stuart Morrow (bass 1980-85), Phil Tompkins (drums, 1980-82), Rob Heaton (drums 1982-98), Jason “Moose” Harris (bass 1985-89), Ricky Warwick (guitar, 1987), Chris McLaughlin (guitar, 1988-89), Ed Alleyne-Johnson (violin, 1988-94), Peter Nelson (bass, 1989-2012), Adrian Portas (guitar 1989-92)

Formation

New Model Army formed in Bradford in the autumn of 1980 when singer–guitarist Justin Sullivan teamed with bassist Stuart Morrow. They took their name from the standing army composed of Parliamentarians: anti-monarchist Roundheads led by Oliver Cromwell during the English Civil War (1642–1651).

The band made their concert debut in October 1980 with drummer Phil Tompkins, who soon cleared for Rob Waddington. In 1983, the lineup stabilized with drummer Robert Heaton, a onetime drum tech for Hawkwind. Sullivan performed under the name “Slade the Leveller” (Levellers were a radical Roundhead faction).

Bittersweet (EP, 1983)

Mar 1983
A: Bittersweet
B1: Betcha
B2: Tension

Great Expectations (EP, 1983)

4 Nov 1983
A: Great Expectations
B: Waiting

1. Recorded: 1983-12-14. First Broadcast: 04 January 1984. Repeated: 19 January 1984
Christian Militia / Small Town England / Running / Falklands Spirit

In February 1984, they performed “Christian Militia” (in lieu of the planned yet lyrically controversial “Vengeance”) on the Channel 4 music program The Tube.

Vengeance

New Model Army released their debut album, Vengeance, on April 4, 1984, on Abstract.

1. “Christian Militia” (Justin Sullivan, Stuart Morrow) – 3:25
2. “Notice Me” (Sullivan, Morrow) – 2:36
3. “Small Town England” (Sullivan, Morrow) – 3:19
4. “A Liberal Education” (Sullivan, Morrow) – 5:27
5. “Vengeance” (Sullivan) – 4:06
6. “Sex (The Black Angel)” (Sullivan, Morrow, Robert Heaton) – 3:25
7. “Running in the Rain” (Sullivan) – 3:52
8. “Spirit of the Falklands” (Sullivan, Morrow) – 3:43

Studio Alaska Studios (Waterloo, London)
Producer Ray “Mond” Cowie New Model Army

Slade the Leveller – vocals, guitar
Stuart Morrow – bass, vocals
Rob Heaton – drums

Production
Mond Cowie – producer on original album.
New Model Army – producer on all other tracks
Ian O’Higgins – engineer
Joolz – artwork (front cover)

The Price (EP, 1984)

Oct 1984
A: The Price
B: 1984

No Rest for the Wicked

New Model Army released their second album, No Rest for the Wicked, in May 1985 on EMI.

A1. “Frightened” (3:41)
A2. “Ambition” (3:08)
A3. “Grandmother’s Footsteps” (4:21)
A4. “Better Than Them” (3:13)
A5. “My Country” (3:40)
A6. “No Greater Love” (3:30)
B1. “No Rest” (5:20)
B2. “Young, Gifted and Skint” (3:09)
B3. “Drag It Down” (3:29)
B4. “Shot 18” (3:11)
B5. “The Attack” (3:36)

Mark Freegard – producer and engineer

Justin Sullivan – vocals, guitar
Stuart Morrow – bass, vocals
Robert Heaton – drums

album reached #22 in the UK Albums Chart.

Better Than Them

In July 1985, New Model Army released Better Than Them, an acoustic EP with two Sullivan–Heaton numbers (Side A) and two Sullivan lone-writes.

A1. “Better Than Them”
A2. “No Sense”
B1. “Adrenalin”
B2. “Trust”

Nov 1985
A: Brave New World
B: R.I.P.

The Ghost of Cain

New Model Army released their third album, The Ghost of Cain, on September 1, 1986, on EMI.

A1. “The Hunt” (4:11)
A2. “Lights Go Out” (3:55)
A3. “51st State” (2:34)
A4. “All of This” (3:29)
A5. “Poison Street” (3:05)*
B1. “Western Dream” (3:51)
B2. “Lovesongs” (3:00)
B3. “Heroes” (4:03)
B4. “Ballad” (3:52)
B5. “Master Race” (2:59)

Justin Sullivan – vocals, guitar
Robert Heaton – drums
Jason ‘Moose’ Harris – bass
Mark Feltham – harmonica on “Poison Street” and “Ballad”

Oct 1986
A: 51st State
B: Ten Commandments

Adrenalin (EP, 1986) Japan
Brave New World (7″ Mix) 5:41
No Sense 2:41
R.I.P. (12″ Mix) 4:09
Trust 2:27
Adrenalin 3:48
Heroin (12″ Mix) 5:26
Brave New World (Piano Mix) 3:24

Feb 1987
A: Poison Street
B: Courage

White Coats (EP, 1987)

14 Sep 1987

A1 White Coats (Full Length Version)
Producer – Sullivan*, Heaton*
Recorded By, Mixed By – Nick Davies*
4:58
A2 The Charge
Producer – Sullivan*, Heaton*
Recorded By, Mixed By – Nick Davies*
3:25
B1 Chinese Whispers
Producer – Sullivan*, Heaton*
Recorded By, Mixed By – Nick Davies*
3:31
B2 My Country (“Live” At Rock City, Nottingham)
Mixed By – Sullivan*, Nick Davies*, Heaton*
3:33

Thunder and Consolation (1989)

New Model Army released their fourth album, Thunder and Consolation, on March 15, 1989, on EMI.

1. “I Love the World” (Justin Sullivan, Robert Heaton) – 5:08
2. “Stupid Questions” (Sullivan) – 3:26
3. “225” (Sullivan, Heaton) – 4:47
4. “Inheritance” (Sullivan, Heaton) – 3:23
5. “Green and Grey” (Sullivan, Heaton) – 5:47
6. “Ballad of Bodmin Pill” (Sullivan, Heaton) – 4:47
7. “Family” (Sullivan, Heaton) – 4:01
8. “Family Life” (Sullivan) – 3:00
9. “Vagabonds” (Sullivan) – 5:21
10. “Archway Towers” (Sullivan, Heaton) – 4:54

Recorded Sawmills Studio (Cornwall
The Manor (Oxfordshire)
New Model Army – producer
Tom Dowd – producer (“Stupid Questions”, “Green and Grey”, “Ballad of Bodmin Pill”, “Family”, “Vagabonds”, “Archway Towers”), mixed by (“Inheritance”)
Andy Wallace – mixed by (“I Love the World”, “Ballad of Bodmin Pill”, “Family”, “Family Life”, “Archway Towers”, “125 MPH”)
Jon Kelly – mixed by (“Stupid Questions”, “225”, “Green and Grey”, “Vagabonds”)
Justin Sullivan – mixed by (“225”)
Robert Heaton – mixed by (“225”)

Musicians
Justin Sullivan – vocals, guitar, keyboards
Robert Heaton – drums, backing vocals, guitar, bass
Moose Harris – bass, keyboards, guitar
Ed Alleyne-Johnson – violin

9 Jan 1989
A: Stupid Questions
B: Nothing Touches