The Members - Discography

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At The Chelsea Nightclub (Virgin 1979)

Electricity
Sally
Soho A Go Go
Don't Push
Solitary Confinement
Frustrated Bagshot
Stand Up and Spit
Sound of the Suburbs
Phone in Show
Love in a Lift
Chelsea Nightclub

Originally intended to be an all live album but the idea was canned as being too risky.

The Members 1979 debut is also their best. The only downside of the original album release was the inclusion of the different version of 'Suburbs', but that is not the case here. From the reggae-tinged instrumental Electricity through to the punky, Who-like Chelsea Nightclub, you will be taken on a journey of intelligent arrangements and singalong choruses, all topped-off with excellent Steve Lillywhite production - The Members have never sounded better.

In particular, you wonder why lead guitarist Nigel Bennett wasn't more widely recognised. The solos on here are top class. JC's thin, spaghetti-western Fender twang compliments Nigels rockier tone perfectly. If there's a lesson in how to utilise two guitarists in one band and yet still leave plenty of room for vocals, bass and drums, just refer to The Members first album. There are no obvious fillers, all tracks contribute to the album.

This one has THE sound - punk, pop, rock, reggae, it's all here and all at the same time too. The Camberley boys done good. Recommended. Amazon Review

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	The Choice Is Yours (Virgin 1980) The Ayatollah Harmony Goodbye to the Job Physical Love Romance Brian Was Flying Again Normal People Police Car Clean Men Muzak Machine Gang War

The second Members LP increases the breath of their musical landscape to include a nod to the contemporary Two Tone scene (the instrumental opener “The Ayatollah Harmony”) and even a bit of Rockabilly (the opening to “Normal People”) as well as their tried and tested combination of Punky Reggae which makes up most of the set. Though more varied than the previous album “Chelsea Nightclub”, this one doesn’t quite reach the cohesiveness and effervescent charm of their debut, but it has many good moments.

The best song for me on the whole record is “Brian Was”, which starts out as an almost jokey ballad before becoming a damning indictment of the workaday drudge and how it drives so many to crack up. Other highlights are a neat version of Larry Wallis’s “Police Car” and the raucous “Goodbye to the job which provides a good counterpoint to “Brain Was”. Overall it’s a consistent LP which is slightly stymied by a weakish production.


	Working Girl The Family The Model Chairman of the Board Boys Like Us Going West Radio Fire (in my Heart) You and Me Against the World We the People

The third and final LP by the Members is perhaps the least satisfying, which is all the more galling because there are decent songs here and nifty playing (including a definite Funk influence and a mood which recalls the Clash’s work during the 80s), which are undone by the 80s production values being grafted on by producer Martin Rushent that don’t do the band too many favours or justice to the material.

Things start off well enough with the single “Working Girl” and the upbeat “The Family” and even the unusual treatment of Kraftwerk’s “The Model” which receives a lopping Reggae beat keeps the momentum going and is an inventive take on the original. As the LP progresses the funky dance influence takes over which doesn’t really suit the band and apart from “Radio” the songs don’t stay in the memory, over-powered by a rampant brass section. It’s a shame they couldn't develop the ideas of “Working Girl” over the course of an LP, because what we’re left with is two good singles and a lot of filler.