The Blue Aeroplanes Information & The Blue Aeroplanes Links at HealthHaven.com

The Blue Aeroplanes are an English rock group based in Bristol, the mainstays of which: Gerard Langley, brother John Langley and Wojtek Dmochowski originate from the earlier New Wave “Art band” Art Objects (1978-81).

[edit] History

The Blue Aeroplanes first album 'Bop Art' released in 1984, contains material that was considered for a follow up to Art Objects only album, 'Bagpipe Music'. Gerard Langley's poetic lyrics (largely spoken) were combined with a heavily guitar-centric band that went on to release Tolerance (1986) and Spitting Out Miracles (1987) plus several singles and EPs whose B-sides were brought together in the compilation FriendLoverPlane (1988) all on the Fire label.

In 1989 the band released probably their most critically acclaimed album, Swagger this time on a major label Chrysalis/Ensign. This was followed up by Beatsongs which was recorded in the United States and released in 1991. This second album on the major label was their highest charting, reaching no.33 in the UK album charts. A second compilation of rare B-sides and out-takes, FriendLoverPlane2 (Up In A Down World), was released in 1992.

The follow-up to Beatsongs was delayed until 1994 and marked another label change, this time to Beggars Banquet. This new album, Life Model and its follow-up on the new label, Rough Music (1995), showed that the band could consistently produce high quality albums. Broken & Mended from Life Model was the band's last single to chart and is a favourite at gigs.

A long break and another label change to ArtStar preceded before Cavaliers was released in 2000. Then following negotiations with EMI who now owned the rights to Swagger and Beatsongs, The Blue Aeroplanes made a surprise return to this major label. EMI re-released Swagger Deluxe as a 2-CD version in January 2006 and an album of new material called Altitude later that year. The group then recorded an album of cover versions of classic tracks that were original recorded by artists signed to the Harvest Label. This album, called Harvester, was released by EMI in 2007.

As well as the two FriendLoverPlane compilations, several other compilations have been released in recent years. Huh! The Best of The Blue Aeroplanes (1987-1992) was released by EMI/Chrysalis in 1997 and featured many of the songs from Swagger and Beatsongs. Also in 1997, Warhols 15 The Best Of The Blue Aeroplanes (1985-1988) was released and covered the preceding period when the band was signed to Fire records. In 1996 Fruit (live 1985-1995) was released on Fire records and covered 10 years of live performances recorded at various venues. Then in 2001, ArtStar released Weird Sh*t which featured both rare tracks and alternative versions of some of the band's best-known songs from Swagger through to 'Cavaliers.

In 2008 and 2009 limited edition live albums were released and sold at the annual Christmas gig at Fiddlers in Bristol. Live in Cheltenham (2008) and Skyscrapers (2009) were limited to just 100 copies each and each featured songs not included on the other live CD. An eagerly awaited new album, When Things Are Good, is set for release in early 2010 and includes '25 Kinds of Love' which the band have been performing at live gigs.

[edit] Live performances

Much of the appeal of The Blue Aeroplanes lies in their excellence as a live act. Happy headlining gigs in small indie venues or supporting big acts such as REM and Siouxsie & the Banshees on major international tours, the The Blue Aeroplanes have a reputation for keeping their set list as fresh as the line-up of guitarists. Frontman Gerard Langley has a huge stage presence, always wearing his trademark shades even at night in dark venues, and will move from casually introducing songs and making cryptic comments to answering questions from the audience back to his half-sung, half spoken snarling delivery of his lyrics. Memorable performances include the band's 1992 appearance at Glastonbury which was broadcast on BBC Radio 1, the famous finale at the Hammersmith Apollo when 12 guitarists were seen on stage performing 'Breaking in My Heart' and not to forget, the now annual appearance at Fidders in Bristol.

[edit] Discography

[edit] Albums

1) Bop Art, 2/84, LP, Party PART1; ?/85, LP, Abstract ABT009; 12/94, CD, Regeneration Records RGNR 4001

Control Of Embassies
Pinkies Hit The Union
Gunning The Works
Owls
Outback Jazz
Chelsea Wallpaper
Bagpipe Music
Built In A Day
Unsquare Dance [CD only]

Note: Reissued for one pressing only on Abstract as part of a general deal with them that never happened. CDs were pressed only for the 10th anniversary gig in London.

2) Tolerance, 11/85, LP, Fire FIRELP3; 5/90, CD, Fire FIRECD3

Arriving
Journal Of An Airman
Rare Flowers
Warhol's Fifteen
30-Love
Lover And Confidante
Tolerance
Ups
When The Wave Comes
Soul (Seen And Unseen)

Note: A European edition was issued with three extra tracks from the _Lover And Confidante_ EP added.

3) Spitting Out Miracles, 10/87, LP, Fire FIRELP10; 5/90, CD, Fire FIRECD10

Coats*
Cowardice And Caprice*
Julie*
Spitting Out Miracles*
Ceiling Roses
In The Mystery*
Season Ticket To A Bad Place
Bury Your Love Like Treasure
Days Of 49*
Teaching English Through Sex And Death
Winter Sun
What Do You Mean (What I Said)*
Do The Dead Know What Time It Is?* - based on the poem by Kenneth Patchen

Note: Originally released with a flexi-disc of Rodney Allen performing "Days Of 49" and Ian Kearey performing "Cowardice And Caprice". Neither musician was in the band at the time. It's these two versions that are on _Friendloverplane_. The CD says tracks marked with '*' are remixed.

4) Friendloverplane, 11/88, 2 LP, Fire FIRELP15; CD, FIRECD15; ?/88, LP, Restless 7 72314-2; CD, ? [USA release]

Veils Of Colour
Complete Blessing
Weird Heart
Le Petit Cadeau De Don Jua
Severn Beach
Police (38 Divinity)
Action Painting (New version)
Who Built This Station In The Midwest
Old Men Sleeping On The Bowery
88 Out
Ashtrays From Mt. Etna
Gunning The Works (New version)
King Of The Soap Box
Tolerance (New version)
Etiquette!
Continually Torn Apart
Days Of 49 (New version)
I Wanna Be Your Lover
Warhol's Fifteen (New version)
Shame (New version)
The Couple In The Next Room
Stripped
Cowardice And Caprice (New version) [LP only]
Breaking In My Heart [LP only]

Note: Available in both a light and dark blue sleeve design. Issued in the USA as a single LP and on a 17-track CD (missing "Complete Blessing", "Weird Heart", "Police (38 Divinity)", "Days Of 49", "I Wanna Be Your Lover", "The Couple In The Next Room", but has "Cowardice And Caprice").

5) Swagger, 2/90, LP, Ensign CHEN13; CS, ZCHEN13; CD, CCD1752; 2/90, CD, Chrysalis F2 21752 [USA release]; 2/21/2006, 2 CD, EMI [reissue]

Jacket Hangs
World View Blue
Weightless
...And Stones
Love Come Round
Your Ages
The Applicant - based on the poem of the same name by Sylvia Plath
What It Is
Anti-Pretty
Careful Boy
Picture Framed
Cat-Scan Hist'ry

Reissue bonus CD:

S.T.R.A.N.G.E. (previously unreleased)
Love Come Round (Hurdy-Gurdy version) (previously unreleased)
Razor Walk
Different Now
Big Sky
88 Out (live) (previously unreleased)
I Wanna Be Your Lover (live) (previously unreleased)
Careful Boy (Nicky Campbell Radio 1 session version) (previously unreleased)
What It Is (Michael Stipe version)
...And Stones (DJ Bootleg)
You Are Loved
You’Re Going To Need Somebody
Sweet Jane
World View Blue (acoustic version)

6) World View Blue, 6/90, CD, Chrysalis, F2 21818 [USA release]

You (Are Loved)
You're Going To Need Somebody
Razor Walk
I Wanna Be Your Lover (live)
Bury Your Love Like Treasure (live)
Different Now
Sweet Jane
World View Blue (acoustic version)

Note: USA release only.

7) Beatsongs, 8/91, LP, Ensign CHEN21; CS, ZCHEN21; CD, CCD1856; 8/91, CD, Chrysalis F2 21856 [USA release]

Huh
Yr Own World
Angelwords
Fun
Cardboard Box
My Hurricane
Aeroplane Blue
Jack Leaves Back Spring
Colour Me
Streamers
The Boy In The Bubble
Sixth Continent

8) Friendloverplane 2, 10/92, LP, Ensign CHEN28; CS, ZCHEN28; CD, CDCHEN28

You (Are Loved)
Pony Boy
Different Now
World View Blue (acoustic version)
...And Stones (Lovers All Around mix)
Razor Walk
Growing Up, Growing Down
Autumn Journal XV
Here It Comes
For Tim Collins
Talkin' On The Other Phone
You're Going To Need Somebody
Missy Lane
Stranger
Trouble, Tell Me I'm Alive
Big Sky
Mis-Firing
Disney Head

9) Life Model, 2/94, LP, Beggars Banquet BBQLP 143; CS, BBQMC143; CD, BBQCD143; 8/94, ? [USA release]

Broken & Mended
(I'm A) Smart Drug
Ghost-Nets
Frightened At Night
Daughter Movie
Open
Honey I
Vade Mecum Gunslinger
Mercury (Hold Protect Love)
Fragile

10) Rough Music, 1/17/95, LP, Beggars Banquet BBQLP 167; CS, BBQMC167; CD, BBQCD167; 1/17/95, CD, Beggars Banquet 92516-2 [USA release]

Detective Song
Sugared Almond
Scared
Worry Beads
Contact High!
A Map Below
James
Whatever Happened To Our Golden Birds?
Wond'ring Wild
Saint Me And The Devil
Dark
Secret Destination
Dear, Though The Night Is Gone

11) Fruit, 6/96, CD, Fire FIRECD 57

Aeroplane Blues (live)
Jacket Hangs (live)
Police (38 Divinity) (live)
The Boy In The Bubble (live)
Daughter Movie (live)
Hand On Heart (live)
Weightless (live)
...And Stones (live)
Broken And Mended (live)
True Heart (live)
Warhol's Fifteen (live)
Detective Song (live)
Worry Beads (live)
Pony Boy (live)
Surf Classic (live)
New Caucasian Maps (live)

12) Weird Shit, 12/12/96, CS, self-released; 2/26/2001, CD, Cargo UK SFCD 041

Cassette:

Showing Off To Impress The Girls (alternate version) (1980)
Mau Mau (1981)
Train Time (1984)
Popsicle Pete (1984)
Pre-Fab Buildings (1988)
(On The Trail Of) Persephone's Shoes (1984)
Smoke Hole (1985)
Picture Framed (alternate version) (1981)
Jacket Hangs (alternate version) (1989)
Love Come Round (alternate version) (1989)
Hard Times of Old England (1986)
88 Out (live) (1989)
Mean Time (alternate version) (1991)
Paper Plane (alternate version) (1995)
Imperial (1993)
Star Below (1996)

CD:

Showing Off To Impress The Girls (alternate version)
Mau Mau
Train Time [incorrectly listed as 'Ticket Time']
Popsicle Pete
(On The Trail Of) Persephone's Shoes
Through The Smoke Hole
Pre-Fab Buildings
Jacket Hangs (alternate version)
Love Come Round (alternate version)
Vade Mecum Gunslinger No. One
Mean Time (alternate version)
Blood Red Roses
Streets Of Laredo
Roundheads (On Every Corner)
Camus In The Pocket

Note: The cassette was a limited edition of 100 and sold at gigs, featuring artwork by Doug Smith. The tracklisting was typed onto 4" squares of paper and hand glued.

13) Huh!: The Best, 1987-1992, ?/97, CD, Chrysalis 101

Jacket Hangs
Huh!
Colour Me
Razor Walk
Growing Up, Growing Down
Fun
Weightless
And Stones
You (Are Loved)
Jack Leaves And Back Spring
Anti-Pretty
Disney Head
Yr Own World
What It Is (remix)
Lovething/Higherthing
Sixth Continent

Note: Only source for "Lovething/Higherthing".

14) Warhol's 15 - The Best Of The Blue Aeroplanes 1985-1988, ?/2002, CD, Nectar 530

Lover & Confidante
Veils Of Colour
Cowardice And Caprice
Action Painting
Ups
Warhol's Fifteen
Ceiling Roses
King Of The Soap Box
Weird Heart
Julie
Bury Your Love Like Treasure
Arriving
Severn Beach
Season Tiocket To A Bad Place
Tolerance
Journal Of An Airman
When The Wave Comes
Spitting Out Miracles
Breaking In My Heart
Soul

Note: Only CD source for studio version of "Breaking In My Heart".

15) Cavaliers & Roundheads, 6/13/2000, 2 CD, Swarf Finger 38

Cavaliers Part 1
Cavaliers Part 2
Cavaliers Part 3
Cavaliers Part 4
Cavaliers Part 5
Cavaliers Part 6
Cavaliers Part 7
Cavaliers Part 8
Cavaliers Part 9
Cavaliers Part 10
Cavaliers Part 11
Cavaliers Part 12
Jazz Baby
Get Out!
Top Of The Pops
Star Cross'd
Ghosts
Here Comes The Queen
Smiler With The Knyf
Roundheads

16) Altitude, 04/03/2006, 1 CD, EMI CDCHSP4132

Bristol Byzantine/Raise The Roof High
Tree Full Of Starlings
Surreal Thing
Hexanal
Star Below
Up In A Down World
Adulthood
Bright Star Catalogue
Multinational
Beautiful Is (As Beautiful Does)
Bristol Byzantine

[edit] Singles

1) Action Painting & Other Original Works Of..., 2/85, 12", Fire FIRE 2

Action Painting
Le Petit Cadeau De Don Juan
Ash Trays From Mt. Etna
Police (38 Divinity)

2) Lover & Confidante And Other Stories Of Travel, Religion & Heartbreak, 3/85, 12", Fire FIRE 8

Lover And Confidante
Who Built This Station In The Midwest
Weird Heart
Breaking In My Heart

3) Tolerance, 10/86, 7", Fire BLAZE 12S; 12", Fire BLAZE 12T

Tolerance
When The Wave Comes Down [7" only]
Teaching English Through Sex And Death (remix) [12" only"]
Complete Blessing [12" only]
The Couple In The Next Room [12" only]

4) Bury Your Love Like Treasure, 10/87, 12", Fire BLAZE 23T

Bury Your Love Like Treasure
King Of The Soapbox
Vice King's Son
Continually Torn Apart

5) The Janice Long Session, 4/88, 12", Night Trax SFNT 009

Cowardice And Caprice
Coats
What Do You Mean?
Shame

6) Veils Of Colour, 5/88, 12", Fire BLAZE 24T

Veils Of Colour
Spitting Out Miracles (remix)
Arriving
Built In A Day

Note: Came with free poster.

7) Jacket Hangs, 2/90, 7", Ensign ENY 628; CS, ENYMC 628; 12", Ensign ENYX 628; CD, ENYCD 628

Jacket Hangs
Razor Walk
Different Now [12" only]
Big Sky [12" only]

8) ...And Stones, 5/90, 7", Ensign ENY 632; CS, ENYMC 632; 12", Ensign ENYX 632; CD, Ensign ENYCD 632

...And Stones (remix/edit)
...And Stones (LP version)
...And Stones (Lovers All Around mix) [12"/CD only]
...And Stones (Lovers Uptown Vocal mix) [12"/CD only]

12", Ensign, 12", ENYXR 632

...And Stones (Gangly Bootleg Mix) Part 1
...And Stones (Gangly Bootleg Mix) Part 2

9) The Loved EP, 10/90, 10", Ensign ENY 10636; 12", Ensign ENYX 636; CD, Ensign ENYCD 636

You (Are Loved)
You're Going To Need Somebody
Sweet Jane
World View Blue (acoustic version)

10) Yr Own World, 7/91, 7", Ensign ENY 647; CS, ENYMC 647; 12", Ensign ENYX 647; CD, Ensign ENYCD 647

Yr Own World
Pony Boy
Mis-Firing [12"/CD only]
Autumn Journal XXIV [12"/CD only]

11) The Boy In The Bubble, 10/91, 7", Ensign ENY 649; CS, ENYMC 649; 12", Ensign ENYX 649, CD, Ensign ENYCD 649

The Boy In The Bubble
Talkin' On The Otherphone
Disney Head [12"/CD only]
Huh (Remix) [CD only]

12) Stranger, 5/92, Flexi 7", Given out at Bristol University gig.

Stranger
Trouble, Tell Me I'm Alive

Note: These are both _Beatsongs_ out-takes.

13) Fun, ?/92, CD, Ensign, CDP 560

Fun
Disney Head
Talkin' On The Otherphone

14) Up In A Down World, 8/93, 12", Fantastic Plastic FP 002

Up In A Down World
Fun (Acoustic)
Breaking In Your Heart (live)
Mean Time

15) Broken & Mended E.P., 1/94, 12", Beggars Banquet BBQ 26T; CD, BBQ 26CD

Broken & Mended
Love Is
Star-Cross'd
Get Out!

16) Detective Song, 12/94, 7", Beggars Banquet BBQ 39; CD, Beggars Banquet BBQ 39 CD

Detective Song
You're Mine And You Always Will Be:

a) Jack Of All Hearts

b) Jealous Town

c) It's Alright

A Map Bellow [CD only]
Top Of The Pops [CD only]

17) Sugared Almond E.P., 3/95, CD, Beggars Banquet BBQ 53CD

Sugared Almond (New version)
Scared (Scared mix)
Bad Moon Rising
Broken & Mended (Acoustic)

[edit] Compilation appearances

1) Bludgeoned, ?/85

Includes different version of "Action Painting".

2) Imminent Episode One, 11/85, LP, Food BITE 1

Includes an alternate version of "Outback Jazz".

3) On The Dotted Line, ?/87, EMI

Includes two live tracks from the ICA, listing unknown.

4) Great Fire Of London, 1/89, LP, Fire FIRELP 8

Includes the uncredited version of Dave Brubeck's "Unsquare Dance" (an out-take from _Bop Art_), and a different version of "Gunning The Works".

5) Lime Lizards, ?/91, CAS, LL1

Includes "Autumn Journal XV".

6) Volume 2, ?/91, CD

Includes the original album version of "Aeroplane Blues" (pre-overdubs, etc).

7) Ruby Trax, 11/23/92, CD, NME NME40CD

Includes "Bad Moon Rising".

8) NME Presents Viva! Eight, ?/92, CD, NME Viva8

Includes "Yr Own World (live)".

9) The Indie Scene 1985 - The Story Of British Independent Music, ?/92

Includes "Action Painting".

[edit] Art Objects

1) Showing Off To Impress The Girls, 7", Heartbeat/Cherry Red Music, ?/80

Showing Off To Impress The Girls
Our Silver Sister (live)

2) Hard Objects, 7", Fried Egg EGG007, ?/80

Hard Objects
Bibliothèque
A Fit Of Pique

3) Bagpipe Music, LP, Heartbeat HB5, ?/81.

Dumbness
Showing Off To Impress The Girls
Conversion/Who Switches Off The Light
Landscape Workers
Batpoem
Miraculous Birth
20th Century Composites
Magog
Passengers Of Fortune
What Am I Supposed To Do?
Underground Market
The Paperweight Flood

Reissue CDREM316 2007

Bonus Tracks:

A Social Occasion (Outtake)
They Can Do That! (Outtake)
Our Silver Sister (Alternate B Side)
New Caucasian Maps (Demo)
Gun Law (Live)

[edit] Gerard Langley

1) Record Player, CD, ?/2001

Paper Plane
Here Comes The Queen
Spiky Young Iconoclast
10000 Miles
New Caucasian Maps
Seymour's Brother Considered As A Drug
Had It Lost It Gone
Art Star
Wishing Up
Hugh
X Celebrity
I Need

2) LIT, CDR, Europa/Art Star, Limited edition of 50.

3) LIT Volume 2, CDR, Europa/Art Star, Limited edition of 50.

4) LIT Volume 3, CDR, Europa/Art Star, Limited edition of 50.

[edit] Gerard Langley And Ian Kearey

1) Siamese Boyfriends, 3/86, LP, Fire LP4

Nicknames
Snow-Walking
Joe Taylor's / La Morisque
Good Weather
Dear, Though The Night Is Gone
The Famous Aren't

Note: This is dedicated to the Blue Aeroplanes and the Oyster Band. A new version of "Dear, Though The Night Is Gone" later appears on _Rough Music_.

[edit] Rodney Allen

1) Happy Sad, ?/87, LP, Subway Organization, SUBORG2.

Happy Sad
Saturday The If
The Cost Of Living
No One In Particular
Decisions Like These
Julianne
Coming Up For Air
Come Around Suzy
Thrills On Wheels

2) Bittersweet 16, ?/88, CD, Subway Organization, SUBORG17CD

Various artists compilation, includes "Glastonbury" and "Cupid's Bow".

3) Circle Line EP, ?/88, 12", Subway Organization, SUBWAY18T

Circle Line
Will It Rain Tomorrow?
Julianne (new version)
Sometimes

[edit] Lineups

[edit] External links

**Album Credits**
P = Primary member, S = Supporting member
Player	Bop Art	Tolerance	Spitting Out Miracles	Friendlover- plane	Swagger	Beatsongs	Friendlover- plane 2	Life Model	Rough Music
Alex Acuna							S
Joe Allen									P
Rodney Allen				S	P	P	P	P	P
Johnny Baker								S
Bill Bell			S	S
Richard Bell		P	P	P
Tracey Bowen								S
Vivian Bowen								S
Bob Bradley								P	P
Paul Bradley									S
Angelo Bruschini		S		P	P	P	P	P
Antoinette Burrell								S
Steve Bush	S
Dan Catsis	S
Dave Chapman		P	P	P
George Claridge									S
Christian Clarke				S
Ruth Cochrane		P	P	P
John Cornick								S
Richard Crabtree								S
Simon Crump	S
Fiona Davies								S
Stephen Davies	S
Jedrej Dmochowski		S		S
Wojtek Dmochowski	P	P	P	P	P	P	P	P	P
Patrick Duff									S
Chris Evans								S
Nigel Eaton			S		S
Rhian Evans								S
Mark Espiner			S	S
Pat Fish (Jazz Butcher)						S	S		P
Alexandra Frean								S
Matthew Gale			S	S
Roger Goslyn		S		S
Caroline Halcrow				P
Simon Heathfield				P
Bob Hewerdine					S
Clare Hirst					S
Susie Hug								S	S
Nick Jacobs	P	P	P	P	S
Louis Jardine					S
Tom Johnson									S
Rachel Jones								S
Francis Kane									S
Ian Kearey	P	S		P	S	S	S	P	S
Tim Keegan									S
J.J. Key	S					S
Robin Key	S
Dave King			S
Kenny Lacey								S
Elizabeth Lane							S	S
Andrew Lang								S
Gerard Langley	P	P	P	P	P	P	P	P	P
John Langley	P	P	P	P	P		P		P
Alex Lee					P	P	P		P
Jeremy Little								S
Charlie Llewellin	S
Georgia Lowe								S
David Mansfield						S
Jerry Marotta						S	S
Andy McCreeth					P	P	P	S
Paul Mulreany						P	P	P	P
Dave Newton								S	S
Max Noble									S
Iain O'Higgins		S
Nick Powell									S
Roger Power									P
Simon Preston	S
Graham Russell									P
Andy Sheppard									S
Michelle Shocked			S
Bill Stair	S
John Stapleton		P	P	P
Michael Stipe					S
Elaine Summers						S
Danny Timms						S
Neti Vaandrager			S
Marcus Williams									P
Nick Williams								S
Sharon Williams								S
Hazel Winter							P	P
Tony Wrafter	S			S
Jon Wygens									P

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