Burning The Ground Exclusive 1980
“Birth Of A Nation” is the debut 7″ EP by Liverpool-based post-punk group Nightmares In Wax managed by Francesco Mellina. Nightmares in Wax released only one EP during its brief existence, but that sole release was unforgettable. Neither did the band truly die, rather it evolved into the even more memorable Dead or Alive.
Singer Pete Burns already had one failed group behind him when he formed Nightmares in Wax. The Mystery Girls also included Pete Wylie, Julian Cope, and Phil Hurst, and managed to play their first and final show on the same night. That gig, opening for Sham 69 at Liverpool’s legendary punk club Eric’s, took place on November 4, 1977. The group folded immediately after, with the members going their separate ways.
Pete Burns returned to the music scene with Nightmares in Wax, in February 1979, alongside an interminably shifting lineup that even the most devoted fan could barely keep track of, had the band actually had such loyal creatures. They didn’t, and Burns himself later claimed the group was deliberately attempting to be the worst in history. Regardless, Nightmares in Wax did slowly gain a following, mainly comprising “real loonies,” as the singer himself described them.
One of these hardy souls was Pete Fulwell, head of the local Inevitable Records label. The band’s lineup still hadn’t solidified, but Inevitable offered them a deal all the same. Burns was joined at the session by his former Mystery Girls’ compatriot, drummer Phil Hurst, keyboardist Martin Healy, bassist Walter Ogden, and guitarist Mick Reid. The ensuing EP, Birth of a Nation opened with “Black Leather,” a roaring homage to motorcyclists and musically a tribute to Iggy Pop’s “Sister Midnight.” The song also contained a hint of things to come, when halfway through, the group suddenly broke into K.C. & the Sunshine Band’s “That’s the Way” — subsequently revived by Burns for Dead or Alive’s first hit single.
The EP was released in February 1980 and sold respectably, but the lineup had already splintered. Bassist Ogden was first to go, replaced by a new member named Ambrose, who subsequently followed his predecessor into Hollycaust, an early incarnation of Frankie Goes to Hollywood. Reid, too, left, and filling in the now considerable gaps were ex-Upsets Sue James, the singularly named Mitch, and music vet Joe Musker, formerly drummer with Merseybeat legends the Fourmost. Nightmares in Wax now continued to exist more as a concept than as a functioning band; still, in May 1980, the group was offered a local radio session. There, without warning and mere minutes before recording began, Burns decided to change the group’s name to Dead or Alive. This, he claimed, was because he didn’t want to be associated with the arty bands now permeating the Liverpool scene: Echo & the Bunnymen, Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark, Dalek I Love You, and so forth. Nightmares in Wax was dead, Dead or Alive was born, and Burn’s rise to stardom was now beginning in earnest.
After the success of Dead Or Alive, The EP was later reissued in 1985 as a 12″ which omitted the track “Girls Song”.
SIDE A:
Black Leather 5:03
Lyrics By – Burns
Music By – Healy
SIDE B:
Girls Song 3:23
Written-By – Healy, Burns
Shangri-La 3:32
Written-By – Healy, Reid, Burns*
VINYL GRADE:
Vinyl: Near Mint
Sleeve: Near Mint
RELEASE INFORMATION:
Label: Inevitable (2) – Inev 002, Inevitable (2) – INEV 0002
Format: Vinyl, 7″, 33 ⅓ RPM
Country: UK
Released: 1980
Genre: Rock
Style: New Wave, Post-Punk
CREDITS:
Artwork [Design] – Steve Hardstaff
Bass – Pete Loyd*
Drums – Phil*
Guitar – Mick*
Keyboards – Martin*
Lacquer Cut By – MB*
Photography By – Dave Bailey*
Photography By, Other [Claps] – Geoff Davies (2)
Producer – Noddy Knowler
Vocals – Pete Burns
NOTES:
Comes in a clear poly zip bag holding black RK Records sleeve in a folder printed both sides.
Special thanks to Pete Fulwell, Lynne, John, Penny, Noddy, for encouragement.
Thanks Ambrose and Paul Hornby.
Find the 7″ EP at DISCOGS
VINYL RESTORATION:
-DjPaulT
burningtheground.net
THE GEAR:
Turntable: Pro-Ject Debut Carbon (DC)
Cartridge/Stylus: Ortofon 2M Black
Turntable Isolation Platform: ISO-Tone™ Turntable Isolation Platform
Platter: Pro-Ject Acryl-It platter
Stabilizer: Pro-Ject Record Puck
Phono Pre-amp: Pro-Jec Tube Box DS2
DAC: Alpha Design Labs GT40a USB DAC
Record Cleaning: VPI HW 16.5 Record Cleaning Machine
Artwork Scans: Epson Workforce WF-7610 Professional Printer/Scanner
SOFTWARE:
Recording/Editing: Adobe Audition 3.0 (Recording)
Down Sampling/Dither: iZotope RX Advanced 2
Artwork Editor: Adobe Photoshop CS5
Click Removal: Manual
FLAC/MP3 Conversion: dBpoweramp
M3U Playlist: Playlist Creator
RESTORATION NOTES:
All vinyl rips are recorded @ 32bit/float
FLAC (Level Eight)
Artwork scanned at 600dpi
Password: burningtheground
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