Maximum Joy
Encyclopedia
Maximum Joy were a post-punk
band from Bristol
, England
.
When the Glaxo Babies
split in 1979, Tony Wrafter formed Maximum Joy with Janine Rainforth (vocals/clarinet), and they were later joined by Dan Catsis and Charlie Llewellin (of Glaxo Babies), and John Waddington (formerly of The Pop Group
, on guitar and vocals). After a few singles on Y Records
in 1981 and 1982, the band released the Adrian Sherwood
produced album Station MXJY in October 1982. After a subsequent single, a cover of Timmy Thomas
' "Why Can't We Live Together
", recorded with Dennis Bovell
, the band split.
A retrospective, Unlimited was released in 2005, and Station MXJY was reissued on CD in Japan in April 2008, containing bonus track versions of the singles "Stretch", "White and Green Place", "In the Air", and "Why Can't We Live Together".
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...
band from Bristol
Bristol
Bristol is a city, unitary authority area and ceremonial county in South West England, with an estimated population of 433,100 for the unitary authority in 2009, and a surrounding Larger Urban Zone with an estimated 1,070,000 residents in 2007...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
.
When the Glaxo Babies
Glaxo Babies
Glaxo Babies were a Bristol-based UK post-punk group, formed in late 1977. There were three distinct phases in the bands life and after initially breaking up in 1980, they reformed in 1985, only to finally break-up again in 1990.-First phase:...
split in 1979, Tony Wrafter formed Maximum Joy with Janine Rainforth (vocals/clarinet), and they were later joined by Dan Catsis and Charlie Llewellin (of Glaxo Babies), and John Waddington (formerly of The Pop Group
The Pop Group
The Pop Group are a British post-punk band from Bristol, England, formed in 1978, whose dissonant sound spanned punk, free jazz, funk and dub reggae. Their lyrics were often political in nature...
, on guitar and vocals). After a few singles on Y Records
Y Records
Y Records was an independent record label set up in 1980 by Dick O’Dell in the United Kingdom, and distributed by Rough Trade.-History:Artists included The Slits, Shriekback and a number of groups that were associated with the Bristol Indie Bands from the late 1970s: The Pop Group, Glaxo Babies,...
in 1981 and 1982, the band released the Adrian Sherwood
Adrian Sherwood
Adrian Sherwood is an English record producer best known for his work with dub music as well as for remixing a number of popular acts such as Coldcut, Depeche Mode, The Woodentops, Primal Scream, Pop Will Eat Itself, Sinéad O'Connor, and Skinny Puppy...
produced album Station MXJY in October 1982. After a subsequent single, a cover of Timmy Thomas
Timmy Thomas
Timmy Thomas is an American R&B singer, keyboardist, songwriter and record producer, best known for the hit song, "Why Can't We Live Together".-Career:...
' "Why Can't We Live Together
Why Can't We Live Together
Why Can't We Live Together is a song by Timmy Thomas from the album Why Can't We Live Together. The song is notable for its sparse, stripped-down production, which featured only a Hammond organ, percussion from an early rhythm machine and Thomas's passionate, soulful vocal...
", recorded with Dennis Bovell
Dennis Bovell
Dennis Bovell is a reggae guitarist, bass player and record producer. He was a member of the British reggae band Matumbi, and released dub-reggae records under his own name as well as the pseudonym 'Blackbeard'....
, the band split.
A retrospective, Unlimited was released in 2005, and Station MXJY was reissued on CD in Japan in April 2008, containing bonus track versions of the singles "Stretch", "White and Green Place", "In the Air", and "Why Can't We Live Together".
Albums
- Station MXJY (1982, YY RecordsY Records was an independent record label set up in 1980 by Dick O’Dell in the United Kingdom, and distributed by Rough Trade.-History:Artists included The Slits, Shriekback and a number of groups that were associated with the Bristol Indie Bands from the late 1970s: The Pop Group, Glaxo Babies,...
) - Unlimited: 1979-1983 (2005, Crippled Dick)
- Station MXJY + Bonus Tracks (2008, Beat Records, Japan)
Singles
- "Stretch" (1981, YY RecordsY Records was an independent record label set up in 1980 by Dick O’Dell in the United Kingdom, and distributed by Rough Trade.-History:Artists included The Slits, Shriekback and a number of groups that were associated with the Bristol Indie Bands from the late 1970s: The Pop Group, Glaxo Babies,...
) - "White and Green Place" (1982, Y)
- "In The Air" (1982, Y)
- "Do It Today" (1982, Y)
- "Why Can't We Live Together" (1983, Garage)