The Korgis

The Korgis were an English art-pop band from Bath, Somerset, that released three albums on Pinnacle-subsidiary Rialto between 1979 and 1981, followed by three further singles on London Records and Sonet between 1982 and 1985. The band was initially a duo comprised of Stackridge veterans James Warren and Andy Davis, who were backed on the first album by assorted sidemen. For the second album, the pair were joined by ex-Neutrons/Shortwaveband violinist Stuart Gordon.

Members: James Warren (vocals, bass), Andy Davis (vocals, guitarist, keyboardist, drums), Stuart Gordon (violin), Phil Harrison (keyboards)


The Korgis

Released 1 July 1979

1. “Young ‘n’ Russian” (Davis, Jakki Ridlington, Warren) – 3:12
2. “I Just Can’t Help It” (Davis) – 3:43
3. “Chinese Girl” (Davis) – 2:19
4. “Art School Annexe” (Davis) – 3:37
5. “Boots and Shoes” (Davis, Warren) – 4:32

6. “Dirty Postcards” (Warren) – 4:45
7. “O Maxine” (Warren) – 2:39
7 .”Mount Everest Sings the Blues” (Warren) – 2:32
8. “Cold Tea” (Warren) – 4:26
9. “If I Had You” (Davis, Sergei Rachmaninoff) – 3:55

Recorded 1978-1979

James Warren – vocals, bass guitar
Andy Davis – vocals, drums, keyboards, mandolin
Stuart Gordon – violin, mandolin, percussion
Phil Harrison – keyboards, percussion
Bill Birks – drums, percussion

Additional personnel
Alan Wilder – backing vocals, keyboards
Glenn Tommey – keyboards
David Lord – keyboards
Al Powell – drums
Kenny Lacey – percussion
Keith Warmington – harmonica
Jo Mullet – backing vocals
Jo Pomeroy – backing vocals

The Korgis – producers
David Lord – sound engineer
Glenn Tommey – assistant engineer
George Rowbottom – art direction
Julian Balme – art direction
Martyn Goddard – photography
Heath Bros. – management
Recorded at Crescent Studios, Bath, Somerset 1977 (track B5), 1978 (tracks A1-A4, B2 & B3) & 1979 (tracks A5, B1 & B4).

“Young ‘n’ Russian” / “Cold Tea” (Rialto TREB 101, March 1979)

“If I Had You” (Single Version) / “Chinese Girl” (TREB 103, May 1979) UK #13

“Young ‘n’ Russian” / “Mount Everest Sings the Blues” (re-issue, TREB 108, October 1979)

“I Just Can’t Help It (Remix)” / “O Maxine” (TREB 112, January 1980)


Dumb Waiters

Released 1 July 1980

1. “Silent Running” Warren 3:05
2. “Love Ain’t Too Far Away” Davis 3:29
3. “Perfect Hostess” Davis 3:21
4. “Drawn and Quartered” Warren 3:20
5. “Everybody’s Got to Learn Sometime” (1999 CD edition includes alternate version) Warren 4:24

6. “Intimate” Davis 3:08
7. “It’s No Good Unless You Love Me” Warren 3:24
8. “Dumb Waiters” Warren 2:42
9. “If It’s Alright With You Baby” Warren 4:06
10. “Rover’s Return” Davis 3:34

James Warren – lead vocals, background vocals, bass guitar, electric guitar, keyboards
Stuart Gordon – acoustic guitar, violin
Andy Davis – electric guitar, keyboards, drums, percussion, background vocals
Phil Harrison – keyboards, percussion

Additional personnel
David Lord – percussion
Stephen Paine – programming
Jo Mullet – background vocals
Ali Cohn – background vocals

Production
The Korgis – producers
David Lord – producer, sound engineer
Nick Heath – direction
Tim Heath – direction
Jeffery Edwards – cover painting
Tim Simmons – photography
Nick Heath, George Rowbottom – art direction
Julian Balme – art direction

Recorded at Crescent Studios, Bath, Somerset, England from October 1979 to March 1980.

“Everybody’s Got to Learn Sometime” / “Dirty Postcards” (Rialto TREB 115, April 1980)UK #5, U.S. #18, Australia #18;

“If It’s Alright with You Baby” / “Love Ain’t Too Far Away” (TREB 118, July 1980) UK #56

“If It’s Alright with You Baby” (Remix) – 3:46 / “Love Ain’t Too Far Away” (12″ TREBL 118, July 1980)

“Dumb Waiters” / “Perfect Hostess” (TREB 122, October 1980)

“Rovers Return” / “Wish You a Merry Christmas” (non-album track) (Warren/Harrison) – 2:53 (TREB 131, December 1980)


Sticky George

Released 10 July 1981

1. “Sticky George” (Harrison, Warren) – 3:36
2. “Can’t We Be Friends Now” (Warren) – 4:01
3. “Foolishness of Love” (Harrison) – 3:31
4. “Domestic Bliss” (Gordon, Harrison, Warren) – 3:15
5. “That Was My Big Mistake” (Davis, Warren) – 4:37

6. “Nowhere to Run” (Davis, Warren) – 4:15
N.B. 1999 CD: Alternate version – 5:17. Original version available on compilations Archive Series and Greatest Hits.
7. “Contraband” (Warren) – 3:18
8. “All the Love in the World” (Davis, Warren) – 4:12
9. “Don’t Say That It’s Over” (Warren) – 2:50
10. “Living on the Rocks” (Warren) – 3:32)

James Warren – vocals, piano, bass guitar
Stuart Gordon – guitar, banjo, violin, percussion, background vocals
Phil Harrison – electric piano, keyboards, synthesizer, drums, spoons

Additional personnel
David Lord – keyboards
Manny Elias – drums
Jerry Marotta – drums
The Korgettes (Sheena Power & Jo Mullet) – backing vocals on tracks A5 and B5
Steve Buck – flute on track B2
Dave Pegler – clarinet on track B2
Chantelle Samuel – bassoon on track B2
Stephanie Nunn – oboe on track B2
Huw Pegler – horn on track B2

Production
James Warren – producer
David Lord – producer, sound engineer, wind and strings arranger
Nick Heath – direction
Jeffrey Edwards – cover painting
Peter Ashworth – photography
Nick Heath, George Rowbottom – art direction

Recorded December 1980 – February 1981, at Crescent Studios, Bath.

“That Was My Big Mistake” (Edit) – 4:01 / “Can’t We Be Friends Now” (‘James Warren & The Korgis’, Rialto TREB 134, April 1981)

“All The Love In The World” (Edit) – 3:38 / “Intimate” (The Korgis, TREB 138, June 1981)

“Don’t Say That It’s Over” (Single Version) – 2:47 / “Drawn And Quartered” (The Korgis/’James Warren & The Korgis’, TREB 142, September 1981)

“Sticky George” / “Nowhere To Run” (‘James Warren & The Korgis’, Rialto 101 470 France, 1981)

“Don’t Look Back” (Warren) 4:16 / “Xenophobia” (Warren) – 2:30 (Non-album single, London Records LON 7, June 1982)

“Don’t Look Back” / “Xenophobia” (Pic disc, London Records LONPD 7, June 1982)


“Don’t Look Back” / “Xenophobia” (1982)

“True Life Confessions” / “Possessed” (1985)

“Burning Questions” / “Waiting for Godot” (1985)


Discography:

  • The Korgis (1979)
  • Dumb Waiters (1980)
  • Sticky George (1981)
  • “Don’t Look Back” / “Xenophobia” (1982)
  • “True Life Confessions” / “Possessed” (1985)
  • “Burning Questions” / “Waiting for Godot” (1985)

Sources:

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