The Obvious Identity is the debut album by English rock group Cardiacs

Cardiacs

Cardiacs are an English alternative rock/psychedelic pop band formed in 1977 and led by Tim Smith. Noted for their complex, varied and intense compositional style and for their eccentric, theatrical stage shows, they have been hailed as an influence by bands as diverse as Blur, Faith No More and...

 (although it was released under the group's earlier name of 'Cardiac Arrest'). It was released solely on cassette and was only sold at concerts. The album title came from a name which the band used for a short time prior to taking on the "Cardiac Arrest" name. This was the only Cardiacs album to feature the band's original lead singer, Michael Pugh, who appeared on two tracks (Pugh's only other appearance with the band on record was on the "A Bus for a Bus on the Bus

A Bus for a Bus on the Bus

"A Bus for a Bus on the Bus" is the only 7" single by Cardiac Arrest, who later became Cardiacs.Until the release of The Special Garage Concerts Vol II, none of the tracks on the 7" had been reproduced anywhere else. The single was supposed to contain four tracks and not three, but the limited...

" single).

The album was produced by Cardiacs leader Tim Smith at Crow Studios in Kingston-upon-Thames, Surrey, UK. Recorded with the punk/DIY ethic in mind and - as Smith had little cash to invest in the project - the master tapes were duplicated onto as many old cassette tapes as Smith could find. An anonymous member of the band has been quoted as commenting that "the recordings were so shit it wouldn’t matter if they were copied onto washing up sponges." Eventually, 1000 cassettes were recorded, but only sold at concerts to save on expenditure.

Reissues and alternate versions of album tracks

The Obvious Identity has never been reissued, and is consequently one of the rarest Cardiac Arrest/Cardiacs

Cardiacs

Cardiacs are an English alternative rock/psychedelic pop band formed in 1977 and led by Tim Smith. Noted for their complex, varied and intense compositional style and for their eccentric, theatrical stage shows, they have been hailed as an influence by bands as diverse as Blur, Faith No More and...

 releases. However, many of the pieces from it have either been reissued on other Cardiacs releases or have had live versions appearing on other albums.

• "Bite 3/a" is the only track from The Obvious Identity that has never been reissued in any form.
• "To Go Off and Things" was re-recorded for the 1984 album The Seaside
  The Seaside (Cardiacs album)
  The Seaside is the third album from English rock group Cardiacs. The album originally featured the second recording of what would become the band's only hit single, "Is This the Life?". It is the last of the band's releases to feature keyboard player/drummer/singer Mark Cawthra and the first to...
  
  . As a live favorite, versions of it have appeared on most of the Cardiacs live albums.
• "The Obvious Identity", "Rock Around The Clock" and "A Game For Berties Party" were all included on the 1989 Archive Cardiacs
  Archive Cardiacs
  Archive Cardiacs is a compilation of tracks from Cardiac Arrest's The Obvious Identity and Cardiacs' Toy World, plus some demo tracks created by Tim Smith and Dominic Luckman, for a side project, that never made it to release until this compilation came out....
  
  compilation.
• A live version of "Cameras" appeared on the 1988 live album Live.
• Live versions of "Pip As Uncle Dick But Peter Spoilt It", "Rock Around The Clock", "Let Alone My Plastic Doll" and "A Balloon For Berties Party" appeared on the 2005 live album The Special Garage Concerts Vol I
  The Special Garage Concerts Vol I
  This is a live album recorded at the three day Garage concerts in London and released exclusively on CD.Cardiacs only played songs that predated 1984, some of which hadn't been heard for many years...
  
  .
• Live versions of "The Obvious Identity", "Visiting Hours", "A Game For Berties Party" and "Pilf" appeared on the 2005 live album The Special Garage Concerts Vol II
  The Special Garage Concerts Vol II
  -Description:This is a live album recorded at the three day Garage concerts in London and released exclusively on to CD.Cardiacs only played songs that predated 1984, some which had never been heard for many years. The tracks, An Ant, Hello Mr...
  
  .

Track listing

1. "The Obvious Identity" (Smith)
2. "Visiting Hours" (Smith)
3. "Pip As Uncle Dick But Peter Spoilt It" (Smith/Cawthra)
4. "To Go Off And Things" (Smith/Cawthra)
5. "Rock Around The Clock" (Smith/Mayers)
6. "Leaf Scrapings" (Smith/Cardiac Arrest)
7. "A Game For Berties Party" (Smith/Cawthra)
8. "Cameras" (Cawthra Arr. Smith)
9. "Bite 3/a" (Smith)
10. "Pilf" (Smith)
11. "Let Alone My Plastic Doll" (Smith)
12. "A Balloon For Berties Party" (Smith)

Personnel

• Peter "Zip" Boker (Michael Pugh) - Vocals (Tracks 7 and 12)
• Philip Pilf
  Tim Smith (Cardiacs)
  Tim Smith is an English singer-songwriter, composer, poet, multi-instrumentalist, record producer and music video director....
  
  (Tim Smith) - Guitar and Synth (Vocals on remaining tracks)
• Patty Pilf (Jim Smith) - Bass
• Duncan Doilet (Colvin Mayers) - Vocals and Synth
• Little Bobby Shattocks (Mark Cawthra) - Drums