Marine Girls
Encyclopedia
Marine Girls were a post-punk
group from Hatfield, Hertfordshire
. The group was formed in 1980, by two sixth form school friends: Tracey Thorn
and Gina Hartman. Originally, Thorn just played guitar and Hartman was the lead vocalist and percussionist. Thorn overcame her shyness and started singing too by the time they started making records. They were later joined by Jane Fox on bass and her younger sister, Alice, on joint vocals and percussion.
and The Raincoats
, the group applied the DIY ethic of the time to record a self-produced and self-released cassette called A Day By The Sea. They went on to record an album Beach Party which was recorded in a garden shed and released on In-Phaze then re-released by Dan Treacy of Television Personalities
for his label Whaam! Records. In October 1981, Thorn moved to Hull to attend university, and Hartman left the band in 1981 to pursue other musical projects whilst the Fox sisters both went on to art school in Brighton. The group still performed together and released a second album, Lazy Ways, in April 1983.
From 1982, Thorn concentrated on her studies and her growing personal and professional relationship with fellow Hull
student Ben Watt
. As Everything But The Girl
, their first single included a re-recording of the Marine Girls song, "On My Mind".
Marine Girls formally disbanded in 1983. Thorn achieved success with Everything But The Girl, while the Fox sisters recorded as Grab Grab the Haddock.
Beach Party was named as one of Kurt Cobain
's 50 favourite albums in his diaries. The two albums were reissued as a "two-fer" on CD by Cooking Vinyl in 1997.
Marine Girls recorded two Peel Sessions. Their first one contains five songs; "Don't Come Back", "Love To Know", "He Got The Girl", "Fever" and "A Place in the Sun".
Their second Peel Sesssion contains four songs; "Lazy Ways", "That Day" (otherwise unavailable by Marine Girls although reworked by Grab Grab the Haddock), "Seascape" (otherwise unavailable by Marine Girls although reworked by Tracey Thorn
for her debut solo album A Distant Shore
) and a cover version
of "Love You More" by Buzzcocks
. Thorn doesn't sing on this Peel Session.
Post-punk
Post-punk is a rock music movement with its roots in the late 1970s, following on the heels of the initial punk rock explosion of the mid-1970s. The genre retains its roots in the punk movement but is more introverted, complex and experimental...
group from Hatfield, Hertfordshire
Hatfield, Hertfordshire
Hatfield is a town and civil parish in Hertfordshire, England in the borough of Welwyn Hatfield. It has a population of 29,616, and is of Saxon origin. Hatfield House, the home of the Marquess of Salisbury, is the nucleus of the old town...
. The group was formed in 1980, by two sixth form school friends: Tracey Thorn
Tracey Thorn
Tracey Anne Thorn is an English pop singer and songwriter. She is best known as being one half of the duo Everything but the Girl, which is currently on extended hiatus.-Personal life:...
and Gina Hartman. Originally, Thorn just played guitar and Hartman was the lead vocalist and percussionist. Thorn overcame her shyness and started singing too by the time they started making records. They were later joined by Jane Fox on bass and her younger sister, Alice, on joint vocals and percussion.
History
Contemporaries of acts such as Young Marble GiantsYoung Marble Giants
Young Marble Giants were a post-punk band formed in Cardiff, Wales in 1978. A trio, their music was constructed around the powerful and minimal instrumentation of brothers Philip and Stuart Moxham along with the vocals of Alison Statton.-History:...
and The Raincoats
The Raincoats
The Raincoats are a British post-punk band. Ana da Silva and Gina Birch formed the group in 1977 while they were students at Hornsey College of Art, London, England.-Career:...
, the group applied the DIY ethic of the time to record a self-produced and self-released cassette called A Day By The Sea. They went on to record an album Beach Party which was recorded in a garden shed and released on In-Phaze then re-released by Dan Treacy of Television Personalities
Television Personalities (band)
The Television Personalities are an English group with a varying line-up. The only constant member is singer–songwriter Dan Treacy , who uses the band as a vehicle for his music...
for his label Whaam! Records. In October 1981, Thorn moved to Hull to attend university, and Hartman left the band in 1981 to pursue other musical projects whilst the Fox sisters both went on to art school in Brighton. The group still performed together and released a second album, Lazy Ways, in April 1983.
From 1982, Thorn concentrated on her studies and her growing personal and professional relationship with fellow Hull
University of Hull
The University of Hull, known informally as Hull University, is an English university, founded in 1927, located in Hull, a city in the East Riding of Yorkshire...
student Ben Watt
Ben Watt
Benjamin Brian Thomas Watt is a British musician, DJ, and record producer, best known as one half of the duo, Everything but the Girl.-Family:...
. As Everything But The Girl
Everything but the Girl
Everything but the Girl was a two-person English band, formed in Hull during 1981, consisting of lead singer and occasional guitarist Tracey Thorn and guitarist, keyboardist, and singer Ben Watt . They are currently inactive although vocalist Tracey Thorn hinted that they may reform someday...
, their first single included a re-recording of the Marine Girls song, "On My Mind".
Marine Girls formally disbanded in 1983. Thorn achieved success with Everything But The Girl, while the Fox sisters recorded as Grab Grab the Haddock.
Beach Party was named as one of Kurt Cobain
Kurt Cobain
Kurt Donald Cobain was an American singer-songwriter, musician and artist, best known as the lead singer and guitarist of the grunge band Nirvana...
's 50 favourite albums in his diaries. The two albums were reissued as a "two-fer" on CD by Cooking Vinyl in 1997.
Marine Girls recorded two Peel Sessions. Their first one contains five songs; "Don't Come Back", "Love To Know", "He Got The Girl", "Fever" and "A Place in the Sun".
Their second Peel Sesssion contains four songs; "Lazy Ways", "That Day" (otherwise unavailable by Marine Girls although reworked by Grab Grab the Haddock), "Seascape" (otherwise unavailable by Marine Girls although reworked by Tracey Thorn
Tracey Thorn
Tracey Anne Thorn is an English pop singer and songwriter. She is best known as being one half of the duo Everything but the Girl, which is currently on extended hiatus.-Personal life:...
for her debut solo album A Distant Shore
A Distant Shore
A Distant Shore is Tracey Thorn's first solo album, released in 1982. Recorded by Pat Bermingham for just £138, the album reached number two in the UK Indie Chart in 1983...
) and a cover version
Cover version
In popular music, a cover version or cover song, or simply cover, is a new performance or recording of a contemporary or previously recorded, commercially released song or popular song...
of "Love You More" by Buzzcocks
Buzzcocks
Buzzcocks are an English punk rock band formed in Bolton in 1976, led by singer–songwriter–guitarist Pete Shelley.They are regarded as an important influence on the Manchester music scene, the independent record label movement, punk rock, power pop, pop punk and indie rock. They achieved commercial...
. Thorn doesn't sing on this Peel Session.
Discography
| Year | Title | Type | UK Indie Chart UK Indie Chart The UK Independent Chart or Indie Chart is a chart of the best-selling independent record releases in the UK.- History :In the wake of punk, small record labels began to spring up, as an outlet for artists that were unwilling to sign contracts with major record companies, or were not considered... Position |
|
|---|---|---|---|---|
| December | 1981 | "On My Mind" / "The Lure Of The Rockpools" | Single | |
| March | 1982 | Beach Party | Album | #29 |
| February | 1983 | "Don't Come Back" / "You Must Be Mad" | Single | #21 |
| April | 1983 | Lazy Ways | Album | #4 |