THIRTEEN AT MIDNIGHT - Last True Friends (1985)

"A shamefully underrated band, an absolute must for any fans of synthpop."


Country:
UK
Genre:
Electronic
Style:
New Wave, Synth-pop

Members:
Neil Howes - Vocals, Synthesizers, Sequencers, Guitars
Geoff Hemsley - Drums, Percussions
Dean Brannagan - Vocals, Keyboards (1982 only)
Dave Turner - Keyboards
Greg Sager - Bass
Vic Healey - Sax

VIDEO:
"Time is Tight 12 inch"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ueTxHVQtkFM&feature=related

Credits:
Climb Down/On The Beach 82
Vocals, Guitar, Keyboards [Sequencer], Synthesizer, Written By Neil Howes
Keyboards - Dean Brannigan (tracks 03, 04) and Dave Turner
Drums, Percussion - Geoff Hemsley
Vocals, Written-By - Dean Brannigan , Neil Howes
Backing Vocals - Molly & Polly (Molly Jackson and Polly Jackson who also worked for The Boomtown Rats, Elvis Costello, The Specials...) (tracks 02, 05, 07)
Bass - Greg Sager
Engineer, Producer - Phil Chilton (record producer and studio owner, also worked for Alien Sex Fiend, Action Pact, The Exploited etc.)
Saxophone - Vic Healey
Written By - J. Carter , M. Daniel (track 07)

VIDEO:
"Other Passengers"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pa58D0nlwD0

Tracklist:

01 Time Is Tight
02 Other Passengers
03 Climb Down
04 On The Beach
05 Skin Deep
06 Last True Friends
07 Shack Up
08 Time is Tight (12 inch)

CLIMB DOWN (12") (1982)

10 Climb Down
11 On The Beach
12 Other Passengers (Club Mix Francaise)

Link to download:
http://rapidshare.com/files/289836631/thirteen_at_midnight_.rar

Another brilliant obscure band from Sudbury, an absolute must for any fans of synthpop.
Originally Neil Howes and Jeff Hemsley were in The Dials, which was a punk band circa 1978-1980.

"On this date in 1979, The Dials released their debut single, "All I Hear". It was backed by "Running". The Middlesex, England punk/power pop band released just two singles before disbanding in 1980."

NEIL HOWES:

"Neil Howes is currently living in Nottingham UK, and has a band called Koda Cola."

More info:
http://kodacola.com/home.html

http://www.myspace.com/kodacola1

http://www.youtube.com/user/kodacola

Drummer Geoff Hemsley:
"Hi I was the drummer in the Dials -Geoff Hemsley.
After this single 'All I hear" the band recorded 'Get up and Dance' with the B side 'I thought her nose was bleeding but it was not'. It was a great time and the band gigged a lot on the London scene. We got friendly with 'The Members' and did some great supports with them at the old Marquee, Music Machine, The Venue. There is good live recording of the Dials at the Venue Victoria 1980.
The band didn't split but morphed into the house new dance scene as the group 'Thirteen at Midnight"
The original singer died very young which destroyed the band and by the early 1980's the punk thing had run its course." You can download all from The Dials here:
(http://thep5.blogspot.com/2008/07/dials-all-i-hear.html)

Finally here are two reviews about "Shack Up":

"Obscure take on the Seventies funk classic from Thirteen At Midnight. Tougher to find than the twelve inch and a different mix too."

"Great new wave / disco / boogie version of the Banbarra classic."

This is all you can find about them.

I'm a pretty big fan of them since the very first time i heard the awesome "Time Is Tight" on a radio back to '84. This is exactly one of those songs i am mad about and can listen all the day. Another one is "Other Passanger" i have played to death:)

This is a spectacular album with a catchy dance music supported fully by dynamic synthesized sounds. Their songs are pumped with energy and with elaborate synths which comparable to Blancmange, Human League and early Ministry, and in sompe parts even to Thopmson Twins. What more to say? I just can repeat what i have written about Ganzheit. Thirteen At Midnight is among the best '80s band at least to me.






GEOFF HEMSLEY (Drummer)

Geoff has a wealth of talent. From TV sessions to live playing, from touring to tutoring. Geoff has recorded soundtracks for acclaimed BBC television series 'Holding On', ITV series 'Prince Among Men' and 'Sex and Death' starring Martin Clunes. He works with soul man Geno Washington and has toured the UK and Europe many times. In 99 Geoff was on the UK support slot for the legendary blues guitarist BB King. He has frequently appeared at the Edinburgh festival and appeared on the BBC TV show Edniburgh Nights hosted by Mark Lamar. You can hear Geoff on Genos latest album ' The return of the G'-www.genowashington.com. In addition Geoff has recorded many albums incuding 'Whats in the Pot', 'Change your thougts you change your life'. On top of that he has played on records like 'Here After' and 'In our lifetime' for the songwriter Jamie Marshall. Geoff was a regular tutor at the Musicians institue london and for schools in the borough of Chelsea.
(http://www.lccm.org.uk/tutors.php?TutorId=11)

"I have been playing professionally since 1981. For the past 10 years I have been the regular drummer for Geno Washington and the Ram Jam Band.
Since then the band have been on tour backing Pauline Black, Eddie Floyd 2008, PP Arnold and Jimmy James 2009. Like all musicians I have other bands I play with, but Geno is the main commitment
I have been playing since 1976 and had drum lessons with John Taylor of Footes drum store in Golden Square Picadilly."
(http://www.myspace.com/geoffhemsley)

More info:
http://www.myspace.com/geoffhemsley

http://www.myspace.com/genoramjamband

http://www.facebook.com/srch.php?nm=Geoff+Hemsley#/profile.php?id=769112674&hiq=geoff%2Chemsley&ref=search


I ask the band members to send me more info if they see this!