Record / CD / Tape
Bette Davis And The Balconettes
1996

“I think I was the tape-op on that Oasis demo tape.

Did I ever tell you about my exploits with The Stone Roses and the Happy Monday's, lol.

Quality post.”

“From the hip, via the fingertip. Poor BDB, lol.”

“"Lets Wrestle and Coco Rosie are great." Priceless, absolutely priceless.”

“I think you make some very interesting points here, 'Tenchahoy'. Perhaps it's true that Manchester doesn't take the piss out of itself enough. I agree that certain bands and scenes are fawned over ad nauseum.

There are many 'Manchester classics' that I hope never to hear again for the rest of my life. But it's not the fault of the music ITSELF that it is picked apart until there is nothing left. I'm sure if we could all go back and listen to those aforementioned tracks with entirely fresh ears, we may once again hear their genius.

Manchester District Music Archive is passionate about telling the untold stories of this city.

I, for one, am often more excited by the accompanying recollections that people upload than the artefacts themselves. I love the social history element. But it is natural, with a user-led Archive, that famous bands, venues and scenes will crop up more than others.

I can assure you that the contents of this site has absolutely fuck all to do with Manchester City Council's agenda for tourism.

Last year we put on the 'Electrospective' event, which celebrated electro-funk and black music culture pre-rave, pre-Hacienda. We are currently planning a similar event exploring Gay music culture in Manchester from the 1950s to the present day. I think these are two examples of stories that deserve to be told.

On another point, I too, played in a band that was completely out of step with the Oasis clones of the day. We were totally ignored as well! I sympathise with what you are saying here, but I think it's important to avoid being too reactionary and idealistic, as I was for a while. You can shut out all the great stuff that's out there.

FYI: Since its inception, MDMArchive has had precious little funding and survives because volunteers like me compose responses like this at home, at twelve minutes past midnight just for the sake of it.

It is fair to point out, though, that without Manchester Digital Developement Agency's help and advice over the years, there might not BE an Archive for us all to rant and rave on.

Sometimes you have to look at the bigger picture.

And, yes, everyone knows that Factory put out some fucking wack records. But what about Marcel King's 'Reach Out For Love?' That's my favourite. Do the Balconettes have a bomb like that in the back catalogue? ;-)

Thanks for sharing your thoughts, anyway. That is what this site is for.

Here's to more uploads and ranting.

Abigail”

“Said my bit regarding Mcr music, and have deleted my previous comments. LOL”

“Bette Davis and the Balconettes were an amazing band and easily the best thing out of Manchester, I totally agree with your thoughts regarding the manchester music scene, it is self celebratory to the point of revisionism, where certain raconteurs remininscences have become the official history, disregarding the many scenes that occurred outside of the mainstream. This archive is of course vital to the real history of Manchester music...for the record i delight in playing Balconettes songs to music lovers from all over the world and they are usually equally delighted to hear them.”

“Thanks Dave, if you go to Mediumwave podcast at : mediumwave.podomatic.com you can hear a recent
interview we did. Episode 18.”

“aw what a great interview, was talking with Rodger who took lots of photos and did some driving for you, asked if he had any video, sadly he didn't, but, been listening a lot lately, gets better with age. Good Luck, one day would like to make a documentary about you, or even a dramatisation like the Runaways!!!! that so needs to be done...”

“Ha Ha - it would be appalling!!!!

I actually have video footage from a couple of gigs somewhere. Thanks for your kind comments.”

“appalling yes, necessarily so!!
That video is priceless!
thank you for everything you did! I thought music was dead back then, thought nothing else would surprise me, but then i heard a tape you did and realised, you were jumping on the corpse of rock and roll, making it dance again!”

“Shortly after I read this post, a couple of weeks ago, I found the whole Bette Davis' back catalogue in a charity shop in South London. Quite spooky really!”

“Wow! I only have this seven. :-(”

“This and a couple of the others are signed too. I will do a bout of scanning soon and post them!”