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MARINA RECORDS


Main songwriters Ian Runacres (guitar/vocals) and Phil Lukes (bass/vocals) most probably never sounded better. Kinda like Manchester’s Nile Rodgers & Bernard Edwards they create killer grooves a la Chic and The Real Thing. Melodies galore & disco euphoria plus beautiful vocals. To Love And Be Loved! Daft Punk meets Everything But The Girl.
Gorgeous chord progressions, disco strings and wah-wah guitars - just listen to I Just Need A Friend. 70s Soul - beamed into today! The title song pays homage to Northern Soul classics by Candi Staton and Phyllis Hyman. There’s also a healthy dose of Todd Rundgren in there. The Sound Of Philadelphia meets The Sound Of Manchester.
DD’s female vocalist Sam Heywood shares lead vocals with Ian Runacres and Phil Lukes. Check out her stunning performance on It’s Not True! Featuring superb trumpet action by Jon Board.
What The Funk (Theme) - DD getting down and dirty - sounds like the sexy love child of Funkadelic and Paul McCartney & Wings’ Zoo Gang. Like a lost funky 70s movie theme.
Ian Runacres formed DD in Manchester, and soon got trumpet player Andy Diagram on board who later joined The Pale Fountains and James. They created their unique mix of Post-Punk, New Wave, Jazz, Disco, 60s French Pop and Soundtracks. The NME called their mix of styles “the real mutant disco”. SOUNDS even voted them the “city’s best band”. The band played their first ever gig at the legendary Factory in Manchester, recorded sessions for John Peel, Janice Long and Kid Jensen, and went on their own eclectic journey. Always maintaining their unique DD sound.
Now they are back. With a truly fabulous album. On Marina - the perfect home for them. Let’s get (it) on... the road to happiness.
TRACK LISTING
Side A:
1. I Just Need A Friend
2. Road To Happiness
3. To Love And Be Loved
4. We All Need Love
5. Incurable Romantic
Side B:
1. Really Should Know Better
2. Sugar Coated
3. Can’t Come Back
4. What The Funk (Theme)
5. It’s Not True

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- Ltd LP
- £24.99
- Cat Number
- MA97LP
- Release date
- 24 May '24
Driven by main man David Scott’s exceptional songwriting and sophisticated arrangements, Making Tapes For Girls is a goldmine of pop gems – full of witty & colourful lyrics about the affirmative & healing power of music and pop escapism.
The title track evokes memories of those days of compiling a C-30/60/90 for your loved one or secretly adored one: “I didn’t know how to say the right thing / So I left it to Joni and Paul...”. Those mix tapes that came straight from your heart & soul – “the nub of it, the truth of it, the ‘you’ of it.” It is another Pearlfishers classic in the vein of My Dad The Weatherfan and Even On A Sunday Afternoon and also David Scott’s nod to Terry Hall’s The Colour Field.
All of these 12 new tracks could have made it easily onto such a tape. Kisses On The Window is a very personal and straightforward love song, with a beautiful string quartet arrangement. Hold Out For A Mystic, most definitely the only song in pop history which references Henri Matisse and Billy Childish in the same line (“The Fauve and the Stuckist man”), is built around a cosmic ELO acoustic guitar sound, while Put The Baby In The Milk channels Carole King jumping through some harmony hoops à la Laura Nyro. We experience more name dropping in The Word Evangeline, a rumination on all songs featuring that name, from The Cocteau Twins to Emmylou Harris to Matthew Sweet. Yellow & The Lovehearts is a wonderful two part suite that takes us from full-on shiny pop to a glacial Simon & Garfunkel soundscape. We are even visiting a Fleetwood Mac-ish vibe in Until I Knew Happy – listen to that great cosmic country banjo solo which creates a fantastic widescreen sound! The super poppy We’re Gonna Make A Hit Record, Boy features the great line: “And we’ll sing it out for Judee Sill and Tony Bourdain”.
Oh yes. When The Sun Comes Back To The West Coast definitely lives up to its title – a return to the catchy Byrds harmonies of The Pearlfishers’ Marina debut The Strange Underworld Of The Tall Poppies.
Most of the album was recorded at La Chunky Studios in Glasgow where everything is vintage – from an old Ludwig kit, old Wurlitzer electric piano and Fender Rhodes keyboards to tons of vintage microphones and compressors. It made a big stamp on the overall sound to an album which is most probably the best one by The Pearlfishers yet.
TRACK LISTING
01. Making Tapes For Girls
02. Kisses On The Window
03. Hold Out For A Mystic
04. Put The Baby In The Milk
05. Until I Knew Happy
06. The Word Evangeline
07. We’re Gonna Make A Hit Record, Boy
08. Yellow & The Lovehearts
09. The Wild Lives
10. Protect The Heart That’s Beating
11. When The Sun Comes Back To The West Coast
12. Sweet Jenny Bluebelle

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- 2xLtd LP
- £30.99
Usually ships within: 2-10 days - Cat Number
- MA95 (#RSD23)
- Release date
- 22 Apr '23
IF THERE ARE ANY REMAINING COPIES THEY WILL BE MADE AVAILABLE ONLINE AT 8PM ON MONDAY APRIL 24TH).
20th Anniversary Edition of the long-deleted fifth album by THE PEARLFISHERS from 2003.
Deluxe 2-LP set in a beautiful gatefold sleeve with enhanced artwork and all lyrics. The album has been remastered and features four previously unreleased bonus tracks. Non-Returnable.
Masterful, melody-laden classic pop music, driven by main man DAVID SCOTT’s exceptional songwriting which has often been compared to PAUL MCCARTNEY, BURT BACHARACH, JIMMY WEBB, TODD RUNDGREN and BRIAN WILSON.

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- 2xDeluxe LP
- £27.99
Usually ships within: 2-10 days - Cat Number
- MA91
- Release date
- 8 Apr '22
- Format Info
Deluxe 2-LP vinyl edition in a beautiful gatefold sleeve with enhanced artwork and complete lyrics.
Deluxe 2-LP vinyl edition... [ + ]
Three albums of masterful, classic pop music, driven by main man David Scott’s exceptional songwriting which was often compared to Paul McCartney, Burt Bacharach, Jimmy Webb, Todd Rundgren and Brian Wilson. The beautifully crafted arrangements include woodwinds, trumpet, flugel horns, banjo – and real strings! “David Scott’s compositions sound something like The Carpenters and Burt Bacharach – except much more poppy, upbeat, and current!” (Babysue).
These albums also feature some of the finest Scottish musicians. Duglas T Stewart of BMX Bandits co-wrote two songs. Norman Blake of Teenage Fanclub contributed backing vocals on “The Young Picnickers” and co-produced four tracks on “Up With The Larks”. Mick Slaven, one of the most unique guitarists ever (Jazzateers, James Kirk, Paul Quinn & The Independent Group), plays on “Across The Milky Way”. So does trumpet maestro Colin Steele who later recorded an entire album of Pearlfishers songs in terrific jazz arrangements (“Diving For Pearls”, 2017).
“The Young Picnickers” was selected ”Indie album of the month” in MOJO magazine. “Up With The Larks” was recently voted one of “Scotland’s favourite albums” in The Herald.
“Save the world! Save the world! From this grotesque exhibition…
TRACK LISTING
A
We’re Gonna Save The Summer
An Ordinary Day Out In The Suburbs
We’ll Get By
Blue December
B
You Justify My Life
Battersea Bardot
The Young Picnickers
Once There Was A Man
C
Over & Over
Every Day I Read Your Stars
Strawberries In The Snow
Stella Painted Joy
D Bonus Tracks
Already There
David Vs. Godzilla
The Loneliest Bonfire
Since You’ve Asked

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- 2xDeluxe LP
- £27.99
Usually ships within: 2-10 days - Cat Number
- MA92
- Release date
- 8 Apr '22
Three albums of masterful, classic pop music, driven by main man David Scott’s exceptional songwriting which was often compared to Paul McCartney, Burt Bacharach, Jimmy Webb, Todd Rundgren and Brian Wilson. The beautifully crafted arrangements include woodwinds, trumpet, flugel horns, banjo – and real strings! “David Scott’s compositions sound something like The Carpenters and Burt Bacharach – except much more poppy, upbeat, and current!” (Babysue).
These albums also feature some of the finest Scottish musicians. Duglas T Stewart of BMX Bandits co-wrote two songs. Norman Blake of Teenage Fanclub contributed backing vocals on “The Young Picnickers” and co-produced four tracks on “Up With The Larks”. Mick Slaven, one of the most unique guitarists ever (Jazzateers, James Kirk, Paul Quinn & The Independent Group), plays on “Across The Milky Way”. So does trumpet maestro Colin Steele who later recorded an entire album of Pearlfishers songs in terrific jazz arrangements (“Diving For Pearls”, 2017).
TRACK LISTING
A
Across The Milky Way
New Stars
I Was A Cowboy
Steady With You
B
Sweet William
The Vampires Of Camelon
We’ll Be The Summer
Snow On The Pines
Paint On A Smile
C
Everything Works Out
Shine It Out
When The Highway Ends
Is It Any Wonder
D Bonus Tracks
Over The Headland
Lust At Luss
Wa Wa
On The Waves

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- 2xDeluxe LP
- £27.99
Usually ships within: 2-10 days - Cat Number
- MA93
- Release date
- 8 Apr '22
Three albums of masterful, classic pop music, driven by main man David Scott’s exceptional songwriting which was often compared to Paul McCartney, Burt Bacharach, Jimmy Webb, Todd Rundgren and Brian Wilson. The beautifully crafted arrangements include woodwinds, trumpet, flugel horns, banjo – and real strings! “David Scott’s compositions sound something like The Carpenters and Burt Bacharach – except much more poppy, upbeat, and current!” (Babysue).
These albums also feature some of the finest Scottish musicians. Duglas T Stewart of BMX Bandits co-wrote two songs. Norman Blake of Teenage Fanclub contributed backing vocals on “The Young Picnickers” and co-produced four tracks on “Up With The Larks”. Mick Slaven, one of the most unique guitarists ever (Jazzateers, James Kirk, Paul Quinn & The Independent Group), plays on “Across The Milky Way”. So does trumpet maestro Colin Steele who later recorded an entire album of Pearlfishers songs in terrific jazz arrangements (“Diving For Pearls”, 2017).
TRACK LISTING
A
Up With The Larks
The Bluebells
Send Me A Letter
The Umbrellas Of Shibuya
B
Womack And Womack
London’s In Love
Eco Schools
With You On My Mind
C
Fighting Fire With Flowers
Blue Riders On The Range
Ring The Bells For A Day
I Just See The Rainbow
D Bonus Tracks
Always Running Away From The Pretty Things
Clumsy
Come Home Pretty Bird
How Do You Start Again

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- Ltd LP
- £19.99
Usually ships within: 2-10 days - Cat Number
- MA86LP
- Release date
- 13 Nov '20
The Bathers (aka Chris Thomson) from Glasgow are somewhat of a Scottish national treasure. Listen to these albums, and you’ll know why. Enter a musical universe of intricate arrangements, lush orchestrations, swoony vocals and songs of deep emotional beauty. With nods to Van Morrison, Tom Waits, David Bowie, Tim Hardin and Leonard Cohen. Moody wurlitzers and mesmerising pianos are joined by violins, accordians and acoustic guitars to create a hypnotic, totally unique sound. Chamber pop at its very best.
Liz Fraser of The Cocteau Twins contributes vocals on a couple of songs on “Sunpowder”. A match made in heaven with the music of Chris Thomson. James Grant of Love & Money - Thomson’s fellow musician in legendary 80s pop band Friends Again - supplies backing vocals and guitar on “Kelvingrove Baby”. Isobel Campbell from Belle & Sebastian plays cello on “Lagoon Blues” and “Kelvingrove Baby”.
Turn the lights down low - turn up the volume - and get on a trip with these very special, truly cinematic and, yes, quite spectacular albums.
The LP editions are limited to 690 copies each.
TRACK LISTING
1. Lagoon Blues Pt. 1
2. Venice Shoes
3. Gracefruit
4. Never Too Late
5. Fermina Fair
6. Easter – For Edda Van Heemstra
7. Pissoir / The Ornella Mutiny
8. Through The Old Holmwood
9. Sweetheart Sessions
10. Lolita
11. Via D’Oro
12. Ave The Leopards
13. Carnival
14. Easter Sorbonne
15. Lagoon Blues Pt. 2

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- 3xDeluxe LP
- £30.99
- Cat Number
- MA83LP
- Release date
- 28 Sep '18
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- CD
- £18.99
Usually ships within: 2-10 days - Cat Number
- MA83CD
- Release date
- 28 Sep '18
Goosebumps, living up to its title, includes many unreleased cuts and exclusive contributions, as well as selected nuggets from the label catalogue. Includes tracks from SHACK, JAMES KIRK, THE PALE FOUNTAINS, MALCOLM ROSS, PAUL HAIG, THE PALE FISHERS, ALEX CHILTON and many more..
The splendid booklet features more than 100 photographs from the Marina archive. The strictly limited 3-LP edition comes with beautifully designed innersleeves and individually coloured wax. Orange - Yellow – Red.
Marina Records, founded by Stefan Kassel and Frank Lähnemann in Hamburg 25 years ago, is not only known for its distinctive sleeve design which has been praised in several cover art books, but also for its eclectic, unique artist roster and its devotion to classic pop songwriting. Their fabulous The In-Kraut compilation series even turned out to define a genre of its own.
Kickstarting with Brent Cash’s pop smash Digging The Fault Line, Goosebumps features artists as diverse as exceptional Glasgow funk sextet Gazelle and Chris Thomson’s beloved chamber pop outfit The Bathers from the early days of the label - to the lushly orchestrated Morricone-like soundscapes of Starless and jazz trumpeter Colin Steele, two recent signings. Steele gave the wonderful songs of The Pearlfishers the royal jazz treatment with exciting new arrangements. The Pearlfishers themselves recorded seven albums for Marina so far. Their songwriting has been compared to Paul McCartney, Jimmy Webb and Brian Wilson. They contribute the previously unreleased The Time Is Right. They also recorded a fantastic cover version of The Pale Fountains’ Southbound Excursion - under the nom de plume The Pale Fishers. Another exclusive on this compilation.
The Pale Fountains themselves are featured with The Norfolk Broads – a track from their Marina anthology Longshot For Your Love. Pale Fountains songwriter Michael Head makes a second appearance with Dragonfly from the Shack album Waterpistol. Released by Marina in 1995 - and rated by many critics as one of the best British albums of the 90s. In 2001 Marina effectively initiated the reformation of sunshine pop legends The Free Design. McCarran Airport hails from their comeback album Cosmic Peekaboo. Only With You by Norman Blake of Teenage Fanclub and I Wanna Pick You Up by Alex Chilton originate from Marina’s bestselling album Caroline Now! The Songs Of Brian Wilson & The Beach Boys (“Album of the month” in UNCUT).
Eccentric Orange Juice founding member James Kirk recorded his pop-tastic solo album You Can Make It If You Boogie for Marina in 2003. He joins Scottish super-group Port Sulphur on the groovy Orient Express. Felicity, one of his classic Orange Juice songs, is featured in a special, as yet unreleased “Party Mix“. Boogie! Two other Scottish music legends - both of Josef K fame - are featured on Goosebumps: Malcolm Ross and Paul Haig.
Goosebumps - 25 years of pure pop heaven.
TRACK LISTING
Tracklist CD:
CD1
1. Brent Cash - Digging The Fault Line
2. Port Sulphur Feat. James Kirk - Orient Express
3. Malcolm Ross - Low Shot
4. Ashby - Already Won
5. The Aluminum Group - Star Wish
6. Shack - Dragonfly
7. Dave Dee, Dozy, Beaky, Mick & Tich - Marina
8. The Secret Goldfish - Holiday Hymn
9. Crocker - Crocker At LAX
10. The Pearlfishers - The Time Is Right
11. Norman Blake - Only With You
12. The Pale Fountains - The Norfolk Broads
13. Colin Steele Quartet - You’ll Never Steal My Spirit
14. Friends Again - Sweet Jane
15. Andy Pawlak - Sunshine Girl
16. Starless - Starless (Sam Barker Axor Mix)
17. James Kirk - Felicity (Party Mix)
18. Gazelle - Fear
19. Skinner - Still Messed Up With You
20. Camping - Von Verpassten Gelegenheiten
CD2
1. Die Zimmermänner - Pampelmusen
2. Marina Unlimited Orchestra - Breezy (Marina’s In The Air)
3. The Pale Fishers - Southbound Excursion
4. Sarah Cracknell - Miles Apart
5. The Bathers - If Love Could Last Forever
6. Jazzateers - Up To My Eyes
7. June & The Exit Wounds - Hey Hey Hey
8. The Kingfishers - I Know You're Down (But I Don’t Really Care
) 9. The Magic Circles - Meet Me In Milan
10. Daniel Dodds - Beautiful
11. The Free Design - McCarran Airport
12. Frank Schmiechen - Die Jungs Sind Zurück
13. Alex Chilton - I Wanna Pick You Up
14. Oscar In Venice - Go For A Walk In The Woods
15. Peter Thomas - Multi-Kolored Mini-Skirts
16. Paul Quinn & The Independent Group - You Have Been Seen
17. Mindstore - PC Streets (Radio Edit)
18. Sugartown - 25 Years
19. Paul Haig - Listen To Me
20. Cowboy Mouth - Goodbye (She Quietly Says)
Tracklist 3LP:
Side 1
1. Brent Cash - Digging The Fault Line
2. Port Sulphur Feat. James Kirk - Orient Express
3. Malcolm Ross - Low Shot
4. Ashby - Already Won
5. The Aluminum Group - Star Wish 6. Shack - Dragonfly
Side 2
1. Dave Dee, Dozy, Beaky, Mick & Tich - Marina
2. The Secret Goldfish - Holiday Hymn
3. Crocker - Crocker At LAX
4. The Pearlfishers - The Time Is Right
5. Norman Blake - Only With You
6. The Pale Fountains - The Norfolk Broads
7. Colin Steele Quartet - You’ll Never Steal My Spirit
Side 3
1. Friends Again - Sweet Jane
2. Starless - Starless (Sam Barker Axor Mix)
3. James Kirk - Felicity (Party Mix)
4. Gazelle - Fear
5. Skinner - Still Messed Up With You
6. Camping - Von Verpassten Gelegenheiten
Side 4
1. Die Zimmermänner - Pampelmusen
2. Marina Unlimited Orchestra - Breezy (Marina’s In The Air)
3. The Pale Fishers - Southbound Excursion
4. Sarah Cracknell - Miles Apart
5. The Bathers - If Love Could Last Forever
6. Jazzateers - Up To My Eyes
Side 5
1. June & The Exit Wounds - Hey Hey Hey
2. The Kingfishers - I Know You're Down (But I Don’t Really Care)
3. The Magic Circles - Meet Me In Milan
4. Daniel Dodds - Beautiful
5. The Free Design – McCarran Airport
6. Frank Schmiechen - Die Jungs Sind Zurück
7. Alex Chilton - I Wanna Pick You Up
Side 6
1. Oscar In Venice - Go For A Walk In The Woods
2. Peter Thomas - Multi-Kolored Mini-Skirts
3. Paul Quinn & The Independent Group - You Have Been Seen
4. Sugartown - 25 Years
5. Paul Haig - Listen To Me
6. Cowboy Mouth - Goodbye (She Quietly Says)