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THE POETS – Try Me Again (Fan Club Release) CD/DVD
Glasgow’s Poets were one of those rare bands that had their own uniquely identifiable sound, characterized by George Gallacher’s sublime lead vocals and Hume Paton’s distinctive 12-string guitar melodies. It’s a deeply haunting, often romantic sound, but with an underlying gristle and grit, born of the hard scrabble northern clubs and ballrooms where they first made their mark.
The Poets’ half-dozen singles and various unreleased demos have been packaged on vinyl and CD in several configurations over the years, but this new ‘Fan Club’ edition is an upgrade on previous releases. Along with a 23-track music CD, there’s also a second DVD disc with home movies, TV clips, and more unreleased music.
The CD’s tracklisting is identical to the Scotland’s No 1 Group CD released about a decade ago (reviewed in UT#19), except that one of the demo tracks, “Why You Still Go On,” has been re-titled “Loving This One.” The A’s and B’s of all six singles are included, along with a hefty pile of unissued-at-the-time demos, ranging from the tough, primitive punk R&B of “Miss Queen Bee” to the breathtaking ballad, “I’ll Keep My Pride.”
Although it features just six tracks—three of them photo montages—the DVD is a treat for long-time fans. Along with a clip of them performing “Now We’re Thru” on Shindig, there are two home movie segments, one showing footage of them onstage at Airdrie Town Hall in front of hundreds of adoring fans, synched up to a rough live tape of them doing “Midnight Hour.” The photo montage tracks accompany an acetate version of “Try Me Again” (making its first appearance, I believe), a longer take of “Baby Don’t You Do It,” and “Dawn” by the Pathfinders, Gallacher’s post-Poets outfit.
This set is a limited edition of just 500 copies so snatch it up and dig it while you still can. (MS)
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