Cook Da Books (also known as Cook The Books, Big In France and Da Books) were a British indie band from Liverpool, who were formed in 1980 by former members of pub/cabaret circuit groups The Dogems and Brooklyn, and the initial line up consisted of Kevin Kunky Kelly on guitar and vocals, Peter 'Digsy' Deary on vocals and guitar, Owen Moran on bass and vocals, Tony Prescott on keyboards, and John Legget on drums. The band never managed to land a major record deal, and were signed to indie labels throughout their career, with much of their music being tackling themes of the day, though they did also contribute music to a couple of film soundtracks. They initially gained attention with their acclaimed and politically charged debut single 'Piggie In The Middle 8', which included provocative lyrics about the Toxteth riots, and after the band's manager played a demo to well-known reggae producer Dennis Bovell, he agreed to produce the track at his Studio80 in London. A further deal was reached with Probe Records to release the record in the emerging independent market, and it was the first record ever released on the Probe label. The single brought them to the attention of musician Vladimir Cosma, who included three tracks by the band on the soundtrack to his French film 'La Boum 2' in 1982, and when 'Your Eyes' was released as a single it reached number one in Europe and Hong Kong, selling over 900,000 copies and earning the band a gold disc. It brought the band international recognition, while remaining relatively unknown in their home country, and it wasn't until I heard 'I Wouldn't Want To Knock It' on the John Peel show in 1983 that I first became aware of the band. Following positive feedback about the single, Peel offered the band two sessions, in 1983 and 1984, and they also taped one for fellow Radio One DJ Simon Bates.
In 1984, they donated the demo version of 'Piggy In The Middle 8' to Ronnie Flood's 'Jobs For the Boys' compilation album, released to highlight the lack of employment available in Thatcher's Britain, particularly Liverpool. Though the soundtrack to 'La Boum 2' was released on Polymer Records, and they were also signed to 10 Records (part of Virgin Records), Cook Da Books remained fiercely independent throughout their career, running their own label, Kiteland Records, as they firmly believed that by being independent meant that they had the freedom to choose whatever they wanted to do, and have whatever product they wanted marketed how and when they wanted it. In 1985 they sang the song 'Spartakus', written by Vladimir Cosma, for the soundtrack of the French sci-fi cartoon TV series 'Les Mondes Engloutis' ('Spartakus And The Sun Beneath The Sea'), and later that year they performed a concert with Joan Armatrading at the Gammage Performing Arts Center in Arizona. When Tony Prescott left, the remaining three members became simply Da Books, and re-emerged a year later with a cover of Stevie Wonder's 'Living For The City' on the Probe Plus label, and they contributed yet another song to a film soundtrack, with their 'The Lookout Is Out' becoming the theme song for the 1986 animated film 'Asterix In Britain'. After the band broke up in 1988, Peter 'Digsy' Deary went on to front Smaller, featuring his brother Stephen on drums, and was famously celebrated in the Oasis song 'Digsy's Dinner', from their debut album 'Definitely Maybe'. The band continue to hold a place in the hearts of fans who remember them from the 80's, and it's a shame that they never had the breaks which could have seen them become as big as fellow Scouse outfits like The Teardop Explodes, Frankie Goes To Hollywood or China Crisis, as this collection of their non-album singles and b-sides shows.
In 1984, they donated the demo version of 'Piggy In The Middle 8' to Ronnie Flood's 'Jobs For the Boys' compilation album, released to highlight the lack of employment available in Thatcher's Britain, particularly Liverpool. Though the soundtrack to 'La Boum 2' was released on Polymer Records, and they were also signed to 10 Records (part of Virgin Records), Cook Da Books remained fiercely independent throughout their career, running their own label, Kiteland Records, as they firmly believed that by being independent meant that they had the freedom to choose whatever they wanted to do, and have whatever product they wanted marketed how and when they wanted it. In 1985 they sang the song 'Spartakus', written by Vladimir Cosma, for the soundtrack of the French sci-fi cartoon TV series 'Les Mondes Engloutis' ('Spartakus And The Sun Beneath The Sea'), and later that year they performed a concert with Joan Armatrading at the Gammage Performing Arts Center in Arizona. When Tony Prescott left, the remaining three members became simply Da Books, and re-emerged a year later with a cover of Stevie Wonder's 'Living For The City' on the Probe Plus label, and they contributed yet another song to a film soundtrack, with their 'The Lookout Is Out' becoming the theme song for the 1986 animated film 'Asterix In Britain'. After the band broke up in 1988, Peter 'Digsy' Deary went on to front Smaller, featuring his brother Stephen on drums, and was famously celebrated in the Oasis song 'Digsy's Dinner', from their debut album 'Definitely Maybe'. The band continue to hold a place in the hearts of fans who remember them from the 80's, and it's a shame that they never had the breaks which could have seen them become as big as fellow Scouse outfits like The Teardop Explodes, Frankie Goes To Hollywood or China Crisis, as this collection of their non-album singles and b-sides shows.
01 Gone To Black (b-side of 'Piggie In The Middle Eight' 1981)
02 In Da' Papers (b-side of 'I Wouldn't Want To Knock It' 1983)
03 Low Profile (single 1983)
04 Caress Me Like A Flower (Snorkel Jacket Mix) (12" single 1984)
05 Golden Age (b-side of 'Caress Me Like A Flower')
06 You Hurt Me Deep Inside (b-side of 'Caress Me Like A Flower')
07 Living For The City (Bullring Mix) (12" single 1986)
09 How Could You Be So Low? (b-side of 'Living For The City')
10 Givin’ Up The Acid (b-side of 'Living For The City')
11 England Might As Well Be Cuba (b-side of 'Living For The City')
Merci beaucoup! Such an underrated band, should have been massive...
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