A long time ago in what seems like a galaxy far far away there was a professor's kid from Chapel Hill, North Carolina, who grew up in half a dozen different parts of the US and his name was David Bowman or Maready, who was in a few bands, including one with with Kurt Ralske of Ultra Vivid Scene, and then started up a one man band called Nothing But Happiness, up in that New York City, that released a classic single 'Narcotics Day' on the UK Remorse Label in 1985, followed by an LP 'Detour', the following year. You may or may not have heard of them (is a one man band still 'them' or is it 'him'?). Ahhh, but our circle starts to form a year or so earlier .......
Setting the scene 1: The classic 'Narcotics Day' by Nothing But Happiness from 1985.
In 1984 I released a compilation LP on the original Glass Records label, called ‘Shadow & Substance (The Wonderful World Of Glass Vol. 2)’, intended to show the label as part of, or at least allied with, the UK/US International Pop Underworld of the day. Alongside tracks by Half Japanese, Cheri Knight & Bruce Pavitt (of Sub Pop, which at that time was a cassette fanzine type thing), sat ‘Nothing But Happiness’ & ‘King Of Culture’, two connected ‘groups’ that I heard, and indeed met in Manhattan’s Lower East Side in 1982, through Pam Weiner of Green Records, from Tampa Bay FLA. I used to write to labels or bands I had seen reviewed in Option Magazine back in those days, exchanging discs or tapes with them, which is how I first connected with Bruce, Calvin Johnson, Jad Fair and Pam.
Cut to: 30+ years later, Glass Records is ressurrected as Glass Redux, to give me something to do in my old age, and I spot David Bowman on Facebook. Next thing you know he’s telling me about the unfinished 2nd NBH LP from 1991, "Retour', goes off to Seattle to finish it, sends it to me, I love it, and here we are, closing the circle and maybe drawing a new one up.
Cut to: 30+ years later, Glass Records is ressurrected as Glass Redux, to give me something to do in my old age, and I spot David Bowman on Facebook. Next thing you know he’s telling me about the unfinished 2nd NBH LP from 1991, "Retour', goes off to Seattle to finish it, sends it to me, I love it, and here we are, closing the circle and maybe drawing a new one up.
"Retour" by Nothing But Happiness on Glass Redux REDUXCD011 will be arriving soon.
Setting the scene 2: The b side 'Couldn't Make You Mine' by Nothing But Happiness from 1985.
Narcotics Day & Couldn't Make You Mine (performed and written by David Maready ©Stargirl Music 1985; additional vocals: Carol Rutz Black; recorded and mixed by Bill Carey; mastered by Mario Salvati at Sorcerer Sound NYC)
They call it rain
It's still the same
As freezing as
The same
Our favorite television show
In black and white
We're all alone
Freezing cold
In bright sunlight
Don't go away
Don't go away from me
You're far away
Gold gold
Silver gold
Gold
Paper money
Sun and sun and
Sun and sky and
Maybe snow
My sister holds her hand
Above her heart
She's sleeping deeply
Deep in sleep in
Florida today
I wonder what
She's feeling
Is she in pain?
Gold gold
Master Charge
Visa
American Express
They call it rain
It's still the same
As freezing as
The same
Our favorite television show
In black and white
We're all alone
Freezing cold
In bright sunlight
Don't go away
Don't go away from me
You're far away
Setting the scene 3: Two songs by Nothing But Happiness from the 1986 LP 'Detour'
Performed and written by David Maready; Kurt Ralske: bass vibrations; Elsie: additional vocals; recorded, mixed and mastered by Bill Carey 1986
just going deeper than UVS, kurt and crash. thank you for the post. mark was a genius. bobine gets his props as well.
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