Drought Shout by Radioactive Sparrow

This was Radioactive Sparrow’s 47th album in their official catalogue. It wasn’t conceived as an album but is the bundling together of four EPs recorded during the long, hot summer of 1989 (the band’s busiest and most productive year). At that time the band were all living in Cardiff, but Heaving was especially reclusive, spending many hours in a bedsit writing. Tony was working long, heavy-going shifts painting sets for the Welsh National Opera (at CTS) and on his days off, he and Bill would drive down to Bridgend to record the tracks that ended up being assembled for the EPs. For the first EP Jiggery Pukery, Heaving took part; and on the third one, veteran stand-up songsmith and regular Sparrow opening act, Chris Hartford joined for two songs, including his memorable lead vocal on ‘Waitin’ For A Rise’.

The four EPs were:

Jiggery Pukery
Best Woman in the World
Ecce Sicko
Slips (orig)
Lionel Criminal

Chud Flood
Waitin’ For A Rise
Shoot the Pope
Way Too Long
Rollin’

Drout Shout
Bowman’s Capsule
If You Can’t See, You Must Be Blind
Chud Flood
So Fucked Up

‘Fake’ Demo Tape for Promoters
Spinning Bowl
Fierce Desire
Children of the Box
[lost 4th track]