Tara Milton and Nick Baker formed Five Thirty whilst still at school near Oxford in 1983, and after recruiting drummer Steve Beatty they played their first official gig in May 1984. Baker decided to leave the band in March 1985, and 21 year-old American replacement Shawn Gwin (formerly of the bands East Cambodia and The Numbers in New Orleans) was spotted advertising his services in the then popular weekly Phoenix List. They quickly recorded demos of Gwin's songs 'Weight Of The World', 'Catcher In The Rye', 'Mood Suite' and 'Suburban Town' before Gwin left to return to New Orleans, and the band released their demos as a 12" vinyl single titled 'Catcher In The Rye' in 1985. Paul Bassett took over on guitar and vocals after Gwin left,and then the original drummer Steve Beatty was replaced by Keith McCubbin and finally Phil Hopper. This line-up (Milton/Bassett/Hopper) then signed to Atco/East West Records in 1990 and released four singles and their only album 'Bed' in 1991. The group disbanded in 1992, but left behind a considerable body of work which was released in 1990 and 1991, including a cover version of 'My Sweet Lord' for the anti-poll tax album 'Alvin Lives (in Leeds)'. I've always had a soft spot for their decision to go down the indie/psyche/rock route at the height of BritPop, and the fact that they recorded so much material which was given away as b-sides to their singles. I'll be the first to admit that the first four tracks are not really representative of the band's sound, and so even though they are not as well-known as some other bands of the period, do give them a try, and if you like what you hear then do get the 'Bed' album, as it's even better.
Track listing
01 Weight Of The World (b-side of 'Catcher In The Rye' 12" single 1985)
02 Catcher In The Rye (12" single 1985)
03 Mood Suite (b-side of 'Catcher In The Rye' 12" single 1985)
04 Suburban Town (b-side of 'Catcher In The Rye' 12" single 1985)
05 Air Conditioned Nightmare (single 1990)
06 Judy Jones (b-side of 'Air Conditioned Nightmare' 12" single)
07 The Things That Turn You On (b-side of 'Air Conditioned Nightmare' 12" single)
08 Mistress Daydream (b-side of 'Air Conditioned Nightmare' 12" single)
09 Coming Up For Air (b-side of 'Abstain!' 12" single 1990)
10 My Sweet Lord (from the 'Alvin Lives (In Leeds)' anti-poll tax album 1990)
11 Hate Male (b-side of '13th Disciple' 12" single 1991)
12 Out To Get In (b-side of '13th Disciple' 12" single 1991)
13 Come Together (b-side of '13th Disciple' 12" single 1991)
14 Something's Got To Give (b-side of 'Supernova' 12" single 1991)
15 Still Life (b-side of 'Supernova' 12" single 1991)
16 Cuddly Drug (b-side of 'You' EP 1991)
17 Slow Train Into The Ocean (b-side of 'You' EP 1991)
