---

"Themes For The Well Dressed Man" This is the Housemartins first demo tape. This was sold at the very first Housemartins gigs when they were a duo. I cannot remember when from but probably the Hull Adelphi or Spring street Theatre, Hull, when they supported Billy Bragg which I think was 84.(I have a very poor recording of Billy Bragg where he mentions the support act, something about cardigans, I'll have to dig it out) Anyway this is before Norman Cook joined, before Hugh Whitiker and even Ted Key They were still in the Gargoyles, who were better than the Housemartins! The sound is not great but very listenable. (I would rate it a B) This is from a twenty two year old tape that is nearly worn out, If anyone has a better copy please post it. Some of the tracks were used later with different lyrics/(Skatsburg became Johannesburg) turned into different songs/ Time Spent Thinking has a little of I smell winter in it (I think so anyway) And Taxi to singapore is Coal train to Hatfield main. Tracks 01 All men are the same 02 When will I be released 03 Skatsburg 04 Swansea 05 Singapore 06 It's history 07 Time spent thinking 08 The day I called it a day 09 Taxi to Singapore If you do get a copy of this, be prepared to be humming "Swansea with me" for weeks.

---