Trixie's Big Red Motorbike
Encyclopedia
Trixie's Big Red Motorbike were an indiepop band formed in the Isle of Wight, United Kingdom, in 1981.
They released two singles, one e.p. and one flexidisc. A vinyl compilation album of their music was released by Accident Records in 1995.
The influential British DJ John Peel said Trixie's Big Red Motorbike "wipe the floor with the competition"
A retrospective album will be released on Lobby Lud Records in February 2012.
A copy of the single was sent to BBC Radio 1 DJ John Peel, who played it on his show and invited the band to record a session. On 28 July 1982 they recorded four songs, and these were broadcast on 24 August.
Their second record was the e.p. "Five Songs", recorded in Portsmouth. 500 copies were pressed, and this also came with photocopied sleeves.
, and she was invited to join them for their second John Peel session, recorded 17 August 1983. She also joined them for a recording session at Rod Gammons Sound Studio on the Isle of Wight. At this session three songs were recorded: "That's the End of That", which was released as a 7" flexidisc,"Norman and Narcissus" and "In Timbuktu". Their next single release was "Norman and Narcissus" (Lobby Lud Records). This was the band's first entry in the U.K. indie chart.
Mark contributed one song "Once I've Seen Him", and played guitars on an e.p. by Sarah Goes Shopping, a band formed by Twa Toots leader Sarah Brown. The TBRM song "That's the End of That" was covered by the New York band The Poconos.
in Shanklin. Writing in Honey (magazine) he said "Melanie sings as if doing her fingernails at the same time", and called them "talented". They were interviewed by Alvin Smith for the St Albans fanzine "Wally's Dog" in summer 1983. Their flexidisc was issued with this fanzine. There was also an interview in an Isle of Wight fanzine in 1983. In "Caught In Flux" magazine Mike Appelstein wrote that TBRMs songs were "among the sweetest, breeziest songs I've ever heard, complete with minimal instrumentation, thin/understated vocals, and melodies to die for."
They released two singles, one e.p. and one flexidisc. A vinyl compilation album of their music was released by Accident Records in 1995.
The influential British DJ John Peel said Trixie's Big Red Motorbike "wipe the floor with the competition"
A retrospective album will be released on Lobby Lud Records in February 2012.
Formation and early recordings
In 1981 Telephone Technician Mark Litten and his sixth-former sister Melanie began performing cover versions of songs by The Undertones and The Marine Girls. At this time they were known as "Pocket Money". These early recordings are now lost. Their first original song was "Invisible Boyfriend", and this became their first single under the name Trixie's Big Red Motorbike. This was recorded at "Trixieland"-a box-room in their house on the Isle of Wight. The recording equipment was very primitive, and the single was one of the first "lo-fi" releases in the UK. Only 100 copies were pressed, and the record came with photocopied sleeves and no labels.A copy of the single was sent to BBC Radio 1 DJ John Peel, who played it on his show and invited the band to record a session. On 28 July 1982 they recorded four songs, and these were broadcast on 24 August.
Their second record was the e.p. "Five Songs", recorded in Portsmouth. 500 copies were pressed, and this also came with photocopied sleeves.
Jane Fox
By this time TBRM had become friendly with Jane Fox of The Marine GirlsMarine Girls
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...
, and she was invited to join them for their second John Peel session, recorded 17 August 1983. She also joined them for a recording session at Rod Gammons Sound Studio on the Isle of Wight. At this session three songs were recorded: "That's the End of That", which was released as a 7" flexidisc,"Norman and Narcissus" and "In Timbuktu". Their next single release was "Norman and Narcissus" (Lobby Lud Records). This was the band's first entry in the U.K. indie chart.
Later work
In 1984 a compilation album of Isle of Wight bands was released. TBRM contributed two tracks: "When He's by my Side" and "Fairytales". These were the last studio recordings by the band. In 1986 a compilation cassette of various indie bands was released by In Der Tat, a German record company. TBRM contributed two tracks: "That's Quite a Lot" and "I'm Gonna Ride Away", both recorded at Trixieland. Around this time Melanie moved off of the Isle of Wight, and TBRM disbanded.Mark contributed one song "Once I've Seen Him", and played guitars on an e.p. by Sarah Goes Shopping, a band formed by Twa Toots leader Sarah Brown. The TBRM song "That's the End of That" was covered by the New York band The Poconos.
Trixieland
Trixieland was a 7'x7'x7' box-room in the Littens' house in Shanklin, Isle of Wight. It was used for recording TBRM's first single and demos. It was also Mark's bedroom. Recording equipment consisted of a TEAC 1/4" reel to reel tape recorder and an Aiwa tape to tape cassette recorder. There were no mixing facilities. The microphone stands were hand-made from broom handles. Most tracks were created by first recording the drum machine, guitar and vocal together, then adding instruments one by one; bouncing between the two machines. The instruments were very inexpensive: a simple drum machine, a Westbury electric guitar, a non-Fender precision bass, and various percussion instruments. The sound resulting from this set-up was variable in quality, and should probably be described as lo-fi.Interviews and reviews
In 1982 TBRM were interviewed by BBC producer John WaltersJohn Walters
John Walters was a British radio producer and presenter and musician, educated at Durham University...
in Shanklin. Writing in Honey (magazine) he said "Melanie sings as if doing her fingernails at the same time", and called them "talented". They were interviewed by Alvin Smith for the St Albans fanzine "Wally's Dog" in summer 1983. Their flexidisc was issued with this fanzine. There was also an interview in an Isle of Wight fanzine in 1983. In "Caught In Flux" magazine Mike Appelstein wrote that TBRMs songs were "among the sweetest, breeziest songs I've ever heard, complete with minimal instrumentation, thin/understated vocals, and melodies to die for."
Career
TBRM signed a publishing deal with Twist and Shout Music, and received enquiries from several independent record companies. However, they never had a recording contract, a manager or an agent. A combination of shyness, lack of business acumen, and a determination to stick to the DIY punk ethos of the time caused them to miss opportunities again and again. Physical isolation from the centers of the music industry was also a problem. Their first two records were sold by mail order, and in the pre-internet early 1980s, most of their contact with the outside world was by post.Guest members
| 1981-1982 |
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|---|---|
| 1983–1985 |
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Vinyl
| Title and Tracklist | Release Date | Label | Catalogue Number |
|---|---|---|---|
| "Invisible Boyfriend / A Splash of Red" | 1982 | Chew Records | CH 9271 |
| "Five Songs e.p." "Hold Me", "Whatever Happened to the Treetops?", "You Took Him Away From Me", "Trixie's Groove", "One Nation Under a Brolley" | 1983 | - | RAM 510 |
| "That's the End of That" "That's the End of That", "As Soon as She's Gone" (by Clive Pig and Lee Valley) | 1984 | Nathan Records | NAT 001 |
| "Norman and Narcissus / In Timbuktu" | 1983 | Lobby Lud Records | L100001 |
| "Feet on the Street" "When He's By My Side", "Fairytales" plus twelve tracks by other Isle of Wight artists. | 1984 | C-Side Records | C-SIDE 1 |
| "The Intimate Sound of Trixie's Big Red Motorbike" "Trixie's Big Red Motorbike", "Invisible Boyfriend", "A Splash of Red", "Hold Me", "Trixie's Groove", "Whatever Happened to the Treetops?", You Took Him Away from Me", "That's the End of That", "Norman and Narcissus", "In Timbuktu", "When He's by My Side", "Fairytales", "Hold Me (Hands on mix)", "One Nation Under a Brolley (Long version)", "One Nation Under a Brolley (Longer version)", "You Took Him Away from Me (Tea-time mix)", "That's the End of That (Wight noise mix)", Norman and Narcissus (Shanklin version)", "I'm in Love with You (Norton version)". | 1995 | Accident Records | DENT 1 |
Cassettes
| Title and Tracklist | Release Date | Label | Catalogue Number |
|---|---|---|---|
| "Adventures in Trixieland" "Fairytales", "I'm in Love with You", "Hold Me", "One Nation Under a Brolley", "That's the End of That", "Michael and Mandy", "Just a Minute", "Invisible Boyfriend", "Whatever Happened to the Treetops?", "You Took Him Away From Me", "A Splash of Red", "That's the End of That", "One Nation Under a Brolley", "Norman and Narcissus", "In Timbuktu". | 1984 | Lobby Lud Records | LC100004 |
| "Reynard the Fox" "That's Quite a Lot", "I'm Gonna Ride Away" plus twenty-one tracks by various other indie bands. | 1986 | In Der Tat | tat 18 |
CDs
| Title and Tracklist | Release Date | Label | Catalogue Number |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Post-Punk Singles Volume 7 "Hold Me", "One Nation Under a Brolley", "You Took Him Away From Me", "Whatever Happened to the Treetops?", "Trixie's Groove" plus twenty tracks by other Post-Punk bands. | 2000 | - | 07NW0109 |
External links
- http://www.facebook.com/Trixieland Official website
- http://www.last.fm/music/Trixie's+big+red+motorbike TBRM on Last.fm
- http://www.youtube.com/user/TheTrixieland TBRM on YouTube
- http://www.myspace.com/trixiesbigredmotorbike TBRM on MySpace
- http://trixiesbigredmotorbike.bandcamp.com/album/all-day-long-in-blissLobby Lud Records site