The Hawks, TinTin, Stephen Duffy - Early Releases (1980 - 1984)
"Barbarellas was the epicenter of punk within the West Midlands conurbation and where all the work in front
of the mirror and my two chords would pay off." And so off to art school in 1978 where Stephen was only
allowed in to "Liven the place up". Stephen met up with a bespectacled Nigel John Taylor at a TV Eye
gig and did coffee in Rackhams with Nicholas Bates. He was busy stealing ideas from Kerouac, Hemingway and Warhol.
Duran Duran happened briefly, then Stephen's part in history faded and Duran Duran happened again but
slightly bigger. It seems a snake skin amp could, after all, come between friends.
Stephen went off with Duran's clarinetist (yes, really) to form Obviously Five Believers who trimmed
themselves down, eventually, to The Hawks via The Subterranean Hawks. Featuring fellow Brummie acolytes
David Twist and Dave Kusworth amongst others. They amassed a wealth of unreleased studio demos and one
released single of note before collapsing.
Leaving Stephen to form a new band called TinTin. History will recall the influential hand of Bob Lamb
at this early stage in Stephen's Career. Stephen signed with Warners and was shipped off to
wriggle with Madonna at the Danceteria at New York in 1982. It didn't happen, not in the way it was
mapped out anyway. To give them their due, WEA did try but the world outside Birmingham was not ready for
Stephen Anthony James Duffy.
As a collector, you should be looking at a million white label 7" records to find She Loves Me in 50p
bargain bins for if the seller knows what he has he will charge you a cool £100 easy. Find either Baby Impossible
incarnation for under £60 as well and you will be laughing all the way to the left bank.
Essential Listen: The Classic 7 minute US Remix of Kiss me, a thousand dancefloors will thank you for it.
Essential Buy: Barring the two miracles listed above find a nice clean copy of the Hold It 12" with the bonus
Kiss Me Us Remix 12" as part of the double pack (single sleeve). It houses the essential Kiss Me and the
glorious Blowing Kisses. It should be yours for well under £8.
Chris
~ Click on the cover images for more details ~
| Artist/Composer | Title | Release Year | Format | Cat. Number | Label | Country | Length | Tracks | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
The Hawks | Demos | Demo tape | 56:30 | 16 | ||||
|
The Hawks | Words Of Hope | 1980 | 7 inch | FB001 | Five Believers | United Kingdom | 07:04 | 2 |
|
TinTin | Kiss Me | 1982 | 7 inch | TIN 1 (Int. 249976) | WEA | United Kingdom | 07:05 | 2 |
|
TinTin | Kiss Me | 1982 | 7 inch | P-1176 | Warner Brothers | Japan | 07:05 | 2 |
|
TinTin | Kiss Me | 1982 | 12 inch | TIN 1T | WEA | United Kingdom | 11:38 | 2 |
|
TinTin | Kiss Me | 1983 | 12 inch | X9823T | WEA | United Kingdom | 16:41 | 3 |
|
TinTin | Kiss Me | 1983 | 12 inch | 249822-0 | WEA | Germany | 16:41 | 3 |
|
TinTin | Kiss Me | 1983 | 12 inch | 0-29750 (Canada 92-97500) | Sire | USA | 12:56 | 2 |
|
TinTin | Hold It | 1983 | 7 inch | X9763 (Int. 249763-7) | WEA/Curve | United Kingdom | 08:13 | 2 |
|
TinTin | Hold It | 1983 | 12 inch | X9763T (Int. 249762-0) | WEA | United Kingdom | 15:18 | 3 |
|
TinTin | Hold It | 1983 | 12 inch | X9763T | WEA | United Kingdom | 31:59 | 6 |
|
TinTin | Hold It | 1983 | 12 inch | 0-20142 | Sire | USA | 15:18 | 3 |
|
TinTin | She Loves Me | 1983 | 7 inch | X9843A | WEA | United Kingdom | 09:15 | 2 |
|
Stephen Duffy | Baby Impossible | 1984 | 7 inch | TEN 17 | Virgin 10 Records | United Kingdom | 06:05 | 2 |
|
Stephen Duffy | Baby Impossible | 1984 | 12 inch | TEN 17-12 | Virgin 10 Records | United Kingdom | 12:59 | 3 |