The Tables
Encyclopedia
The Tables was an underground/DIY pop group formed in Oslo
, Norway, in 1987, by Bartleby (vocals, real name
Tore Sørensen#, Robert Birdeye #bass, drums, real name Steinar Buholm#, and Reg Trademark #guitar, real name Ståle Caspersen#, from the ashes of a band called The Bottle Collectors. This trio recorded their first 7” EP called “Diary EP”, released on the new-founded Voices of Wonder
label in 1988 #now Voices Music and Entertainment
#.
For their first vinyl album
, “Shady Whims & Obstacles”, released on their own Schtooopid Records in 1990, they recruited Sandy Shore on Farfisa organ
#real name Kjersti Gravklev#, and Mono on drums #real name Benedikte Sterner#. The Tables broke up soon after the release, but the original trio reformed in 1996/97 to record their second album called “Holiday at Wobbledef Grunch”, released on Perfect Pop Records, a small label that was run by the group members and others from the indie-pop scene in Oslo.
However, history repeated itself, the band once again broke up, but reformed in 2000, resulting in their third and final album, “Nevermynd the Hillocks #Treble Without A Cause#”, again on Perfect Pop Records #2002#. The band had a host of different members during their last stage, most of them contributing to their last album. Between their 1st and 2nd album they also recorded 8 songs for a split album
with Astroburger
, under the name Monsters of Doom, consisting of Bartleby, Reg Trademark, Robert Birdeye, Sandy Shore and Mike Mushroom #real name Mikkel Bay Vold#. All the of The Tables and Monsters of Doom output has been released on CD by Oslo-based Perfect Pop Records. The music on all The Tables’ three albums was a mixture of English 60’s popsike #inspired by the Rubble compilation series on Bam Caruso Records) and early indiepop à la TV Personalities, while the Monsters of Doom tracks were more psychedelic and hard-edged. With their whimsy and part surrealistic lyrics and catchy melodies, The Tables achieved a sort of semi-legendary status in the Norwegian underground and other parts of the world.
Oslo
Oslo is a municipality, as well as the capital and most populous city in Norway. As a municipality , it was established on 1 January 1838. Founded around 1048 by King Harald III of Norway, the city was largely destroyed by fire in 1624. The city was moved under the reign of Denmark–Norway's King...
, Norway, in 1987, by Bartleby (vocals, real name
Pseudonym
A pseudonym is a name that a person assumes for a particular purpose and that differs from his or her original orthonym...
Tore Sørensen#, Robert Birdeye #bass, drums, real name Steinar Buholm#, and Reg Trademark #guitar, real name Ståle Caspersen#, from the ashes of a band called The Bottle Collectors. This trio recorded their first 7” EP called “Diary EP”, released on the new-founded Voices of Wonder
Voices of Wonder
Voices of Wonder aka Voice of Wonder Records was one of the most important rock record labels in Oslo, Norway in the early 1990s. The label was fronted by a small and intimate record store on Olaf Ryes plass, which in addition to the labels own artists specialized in the English Earache Records and...
label in 1988 #now Voices Music and Entertainment
Voices Music & Entertainment
Voices Music & Entertainment is a record label based in Oslo, Norway established in 1988 by Ketil Sveen and Dag Krogsvold. In the first years the company was a label focusing on signing and developing Norwegian rock acts...
#.
For their first vinyl album
Gramophone record
A gramophone record, commonly known as a phonograph record , vinyl record , or colloquially, a record, is an analog sound storage medium consisting of a flat disc with an inscribed, modulated spiral groove...
, “Shady Whims & Obstacles”, released on their own Schtooopid Records in 1990, they recruited Sandy Shore on Farfisa organ
Farfisa
Farfisa is a manufacturer of electronics based in Osimo, Italy.The Farfisa brand name is commonly associated with a series of compact electronic organs, and later, a series of multi-timbral synthesizers. At the height of its production, Farfisa operated three factories to produce instruments, in...
#real name Kjersti Gravklev#, and Mono on drums #real name Benedikte Sterner#. The Tables broke up soon after the release, but the original trio reformed in 1996/97 to record their second album called “Holiday at Wobbledef Grunch”, released on Perfect Pop Records, a small label that was run by the group members and others from the indie-pop scene in Oslo.
However, history repeated itself, the band once again broke up, but reformed in 2000, resulting in their third and final album, “Nevermynd the Hillocks #Treble Without A Cause#”, again on Perfect Pop Records #2002#. The band had a host of different members during their last stage, most of them contributing to their last album. Between their 1st and 2nd album they also recorded 8 songs for a split album
Split album
A split album is a music album which includes tracks by two or more separate artists. There have been singles and EPs released in the same nature, which can be referred to as split singles and split EPs respectively...
with Astroburger
Astroburger
Astroburger is a Norwegian band founded by Geir Stadheim, Helge Waaler and R. C. Thrap-Meyer in 1987. Stadheim is the main force in the group and the sole remaining member of the original band.-Members:*2002 Equalize It*2006 They Came from the Sun...
, under the name Monsters of Doom, consisting of Bartleby, Reg Trademark, Robert Birdeye, Sandy Shore and Mike Mushroom #real name Mikkel Bay Vold#. All the of The Tables and Monsters of Doom output has been released on CD by Oslo-based Perfect Pop Records. The music on all The Tables’ three albums was a mixture of English 60’s popsike #inspired by the Rubble compilation series on Bam Caruso Records) and early indiepop à la TV Personalities, while the Monsters of Doom tracks were more psychedelic and hard-edged. With their whimsy and part surrealistic lyrics and catchy melodies, The Tables achieved a sort of semi-legendary status in the Norwegian underground and other parts of the world.
Discography
- The Diary EP (Voices of Wonder, 1989)
- The Lantern Light Flexi 7" (1990)
- From Trash To Gloss (fanclubcassette, 1990)
- Live At Bootleg (fanclubcassette, (1990)
- Shady Whims & Obstacles (Schtooopid Records, 1990)
- Lost On Venus Split-LP w/AstroburgerAstroburgerAstroburger is a Norwegian band founded by Geir Stadheim, Helge Waaler and R. C. Thrap-Meyer in 1987. Stadheim is the main force in the group and the sole remaining member of the original band.-Members:*2002 Equalize It*2006 They Came from the Sun...
under the name Monsters of Doom (Perfect Pop 1991) - Shady Whimps With Spectacles (fanclubcassette, 1993)
- Excerpt From The Bruce Springsteen Report 7" (Farce Recordings 1995)
- Holiday At Wobbledef Grunch (Perfect Pop, 1997)
- Kjære alle sammen cdep/7" (Voices of Wonder, 1997)
- The Tables Play Idle RaceIdle RaceThe Idle Race were a British rock group from Birmingham in the late 1960s and early 1970s who had a cult following but never enjoyed mass commercial success...
7" (Kippers Records, 2000) - See Emily PlaySee Emily Play"See Emily Play" was the second single recorded by the English psychedelic rock group Pink Floyd. It was written by original frontman Syd Barrett and recorded on 23 May 1967. The single featured "Scarecrow" as its B-side...
/Arnold LayneArnold LayneDavid Gilmour, during his solo tour promoting On an Island, unexpectedly added the song to the setlist near the end of the American tour on the 17 April 2006 show at the Oakland Paramount Theatre...
7" (Two Zero Records, 2000) - Nevermynd The Hillocks (Treble Without A Cause) (Perfect Pop, 2003)