Just as Martin babbles on about that “this has to be the greatest record from Sweden ever” I once again have to say that this has to be one of the best 7inches from UK/Scotland…EVER!! The whole record oozes creativity. From the packaging to the clever and super catchy song writing. According to the news clips that followed my copy Radio Iceland is dedicated to “the strongest independent nation on Earth”(“…Like Sweden’s a mini-America now…” ha ha) I guess that’s not true monetary wise anymore. How much do Iceland cost these days? One song that I would love to hear that’s mentioned in the Northern Lights news clip is “Hysteric Esoterics” about Aleister Crowley. “Crowley is just a fun thing…” ha ha ha.
I think this is their only output which is a shame. If anyone has anything to share please do!!!
Country: UK
Year: 1980
Label: Fault Line
Format: 7″
Songs:
Radio Iceland
Do The Executive.mp3
I agree about the greatness of this record, and it’s been on my want list for quite a few years, without me actually searching that active for it. I think I will do that now as it’s just as great as I remembered it to be. Very cool name as well. I love the guitar chugga-chugga in Radio Iceland and the Levi’s/ samurai rhyme in the first verse. Listening to that song again makes me realize that they don’t song “Radio Iceland/ Break a leg, break a leg” which I always sing whan I sing along to it.
Great!
Yes!!
I jst saw that it says “Tack till…” on the inner sleeve. How odd as that’s Swedish and not Icelandic. Maybe they still managed to fool someone that they actually were from the world’s strongest economy.
Yeah I thought about “Tack till…” too but wasn´t too sure it might be spelled like that in Icelandic too? Any icelanders here?
From what I can remember from my time at Iceland it’s “Tackur tillur”
Love this shit!
I know where Mission of Burma(Myanmar) got their sound… : )
Bloody hell – some bands are just so much better / cleverer than all the others, it’s scary. What a gemm!!!
oh my, finally this greatness found its way to a blog #:~D
you have a great taste !
that “Radio,Radio” chorus is so cool.
They were from a small town very north of Scotland (Inverness) and thanked “all the bands in our street” -how cool is that !?
One genius put “Radio Iceland” on KBD 007 a few years back.
I even had the chance to listen to both songs from this 7″ from a well-recorded concert- but can´t find them any more -shame…
Not much is known of their history , but as a footnote :
one member used to live in Germany a few years back (or still does).
My copy unfortunately misses that plastic-bag and inserts (wasn´t there a sticker included with a few copies , aswell ???)
BTW, one another band from their “not-a-hotbed-for-Punk” area
was that ridiculously obscure band RADIO CITY, with a sole 7″ of 1980/81 (they were from from Thurso)
(you can check out VOLUME book for R.C. 7″ !)
G.R.E.A.T. and thanks alot !!!
Inverness is actually a fairly big town by Scottish standards. I visited Thurso once (Radio City’s home) when I was a kid, that is small and is so far north it’s almost in the sea. Great record, and cheers Peter for all that scanning. Isn’t that the sticker 2nd row, far right?
All the inserts are scanned here, even the sticker Behjan :). Just look at what the files are called.
to correct what i wrote above:
i decipher that they sing “Radio Iceland, Reykjavik-Reykjavik” in the chorus
Haha, yes Behjan. That makes way more sense than “break a leg, break a leg”. Thanks for that.
Tis true, the live tape’s great too!
Hi, gittarist here.
I`ve remastered the single for cd ( the cover is the same but smaller )
It`s on a vinyl look cd and looks cool. and will be sending a limited number to http://www.kaidavidsontrust.com/ to try and generate some cash for a good cause. Kai was our original bass player and a friend til the end.
2 live recordings from 1980 are also being worked on at the moment where most of the rest of the material can be heard. I`ll post here when they are ready.
I`ve never heard the `break a leg` one before.
btw. In the last chorus the repeat is Rekjavik-Keflavik
lowdownkids: what live tape do you have?
bbunch of poofs
You’re a real punx aren’t ya.
We’re all poofs here.
Thats my uncles band. Hell yeah!!!
Hi Ruairidh, your cousin’s covering Radio I.
who do i need to talk to re releasing the live tapes properly?
Njal hi,
I have tried out just a few minutes ago to order that CD you mentioned
already here this August and gave the URL as to order it there (do they have them already?) but I can´t come through while I have contacted them.
Can you please tell me (us?) how I can order that CD?
thanks,it´s much appreciated as I am very interested in that one and also any progress yet with the 2 Live recordings you mentioned also you are working on -when are they gonna be released?
thanks alot for any info,as I am VERY interested in anything by T.I.I. !
Peter, my copy came with a lyric sheet that I can’t find on your scans. Should I scan it for you, or am I just blinder than I think I am?
does any one have the lyrics for these two great songs?
Here’s the lyric for Radio Iceland
Do the executive isn’t on the lyric sheet so I’ll have to listen to it to get it right, don’t have the time right now but I can tell you off the top of my head that his moped starts first time. There IS a good quality gig recording from 1980 with more top tunes and half of another gig somewhere.
Radio Iceland
No MacDonalds or Levis
Suzuki or Samuri
Peugeot or Fiat
These Cultures Synthesize
No room for Motor Biking,
I’d rather be a viking
Like Leif Eiriksson
And his Father
Radio Iceland, Reykjavik! Reykjavik!
Radio Iceland, Reykjavik! Reykjavik!
Radio Iceland, Reykjavik! Reykjavik!
Radio Iceland, Reykjavik! Reykjavik!
It’s better than Britain,
Faster than France
Discovered by Irishmen,
It’s mystery and Romance.
No TV on Thursday,
no top of the pops.
Magnus Magnussons Mastermind,
is pulling out all the stops.
An Independent History (Independent History)
with Geothermal Energy (Geothermal Energy)
Volcanic like Surtsey (Volcanic like Surtsey)
North of the North sea (North of the North Sea)
No Holidays in America,
No Holidays in Granada,
I want to turn the wireless on,
To Listen to the Nordic Saga.
Thanks a lot Angus. And what a great lyric!!
I don’t want to correct, Angus, but I thought the last line of Radio Iceland was:
Cash out my 401K/and buy the country, yeah!
Would love to hear their take on Dead Kennedy’s once more… ‘Highland Region, Uber Alles’!! I kid you not :-)
Ron has a copy
Got this in a box under the stairs! Saw them in Eden Court once shortly after Peel made them mini indie stars. They came out half dressed with body paint etc singing “what did you expect?” . Brilliant. Totally pissed off the crowd, I loved it.
This 45 was a gift from one of the intrinsic guys-and i was damned proud of ihm and them!
I’m still waiting for the following song ….square peg ’round hole or something like that ;o)
To whom it may concern: far behind iceland and the northsea exxon rises, where everything means nothing…. a thousand years ago……
Seeing as it’s 9 years since njal posted above saying the live stuff was coming out, I think we can assume that’s not going to happen and seeing as it would be a pity for it to slip into obscurity, here , for your listening pleasure…
https://youtu.be/qaRmcrR_ERk