The Sea Urchins
Encyclopedia
The Sea Urchins were an indie pop
band from West Bromwich
, England
formed in 1986. They were the first band to release a single on Sarah Records
.
release, and is highly coveted among vinyl record collectors. With the following year's double-A-side "Solace"/"Please Rain Fall" they began to show more mod-rock influences. Both singles were successful in indie terms, but Sarah Records were unwilling to commit to an album, and Duffy and Martin left. Woodcock took over on bass, with James Roberts adding guitar. The band released one more single for Sarah ("A Morning Oddyssey" in 1990), but disagreements about the next single saw them move on to Cheree Records, who issued "Please Don't Cry" in 1991. The band split up in summer 1991. Two albums were subsequently released; Sarah Records issued a compilation of the band's material for the label, including the flexi-disc tracks, as Stardust in 1992, while Fierce Recordings issued a live album in 1994.
James Roberts, Cooksey, and Woodcock later formed the band Delta. James Roberts, Patrick Roberts, and Robert Cooksey also formed The Low Scene.
Indie pop
Indie pop is a genre of alternative rock music that originated in the United Kingdom in the mid 1980s, with its roots in the Scottish post-punk bands on the Postcard Records label in the early '80s, such as Orange Juice, Josef K and Aztec Camera, and the dominant UK independent band of the mid...
band from West Bromwich
West Bromwich
West Bromwich is a town within the Metropolitan Borough of Sandwell, in the West Midlands, England. It is north west of Birmingham lying on the A41 London-to-Birkenhead road. West Bromwich is part of the Black Country...
, 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...
formed in 1986. They were the first band to release a single on Sarah Records
Sarah Records
Sarah Records was a UK independent record label active between 1987 and 1995, best known for its recordings of indie pop.The label was formed in Bristol in 1987 by Clare Wadd and Matt Haynes, and grew out of the fanzine scene at the time, Haynes having previously edited Are You Scared To Get...
.
History
The initial line-up was James Roberts (vocals), Simon Woodcock (guitar), Robert Cooksey (guitar), Mark Bevin (bass), Bridget Duffy (tambourine, organ), and Patrick Roberts (drums). Their first two releases were flexi discs given away with fanzines in 1987. Bevin left, to be replaced by Darren Martin. Their "Pristine Christine" single was the first Sarah RecordsSarah Records
Sarah Records was a UK independent record label active between 1987 and 1995, best known for its recordings of indie pop.The label was formed in Bristol in 1987 by Clare Wadd and Matt Haynes, and grew out of the fanzine scene at the time, Haynes having previously edited Are You Scared To Get...
release, and is highly coveted among vinyl record collectors. With the following year's double-A-side "Solace"/"Please Rain Fall" they began to show more mod-rock influences. Both singles were successful in indie terms, but Sarah Records were unwilling to commit to an album, and Duffy and Martin left. Woodcock took over on bass, with James Roberts adding guitar. The band released one more single for Sarah ("A Morning Oddyssey" in 1990), but disagreements about the next single saw them move on to Cheree Records, who issued "Please Don't Cry" in 1991. The band split up in summer 1991. Two albums were subsequently released; Sarah Records issued a compilation of the band's material for the label, including the flexi-disc tracks, as Stardust in 1992, while Fierce Recordings issued a live album in 1994.
James Roberts, Cooksey, and Woodcock later formed the band Delta. James Roberts, Patrick Roberts, and Robert Cooksey also formed The Low Scene.
Members
- James Roberts (born 4 March 1970) - vocals, acoustic guitar
- Robert Cooksey (born 14 November 1969) - lead guitar
- Simon Woodcock (born 2 December 1969) - rhythm guitar, bass
- Bridget Duffy (born 28 June 1970) - vox organ, tambourine (1986–1989)
- Patrick Roberts - drums
- Mark Bevin (born 21 January 1970) - bass (1986–1987)
- Darren Martin - bass guitar (1987–1989)
Singles
- "Pristine Christine" (1987), Sarah (UK IndieUK Indie ChartThe 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...
#11) - "Please Rain Fall"/"Solace" (1988) Sarah (UK Indie #4)
- Recorded 30.10.88 (1988), Fierce
- "A Morning Odyssey" (1990), Sarah
- "Please Don't Cry" (1991), Cheree
Compilation appearances
- "Cling Film" on The Kvatch flexi (1987), Kvatch
- "Summershine" on Sha-La-La Flexi 5 (1987), Sha La La
- "Pristine Christine" on There And Back Again Lane (1995), Sarah
- "Pristine Christine" on Rough Trade Shops Indiepop 1 (2004), Rough Trade
- "Pristine Christine" on CD86 (2006), Sanctuary