SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: TELEVISION PERSONALITIES – TUNE IN, TURN ON, DROP OUT – RADIO SESSIONS 1980-1993

TELEVISION PERSONALITIES
TUNE IN, TURN ON, DROP OUT – RADIO SESSIONS 1980-1993
FIRE RECORDS

Television Personalities formed at the tail end of the UK punk scene, in 1977. They released their debut EP, Where’s Bill Grundy Now? (referring to the infamous television interviewer who interviewed The Sex Pistols). Their sound was a bridge between punk and the then current New Wave. They eventually signed to Mute records and released their debut album in 1981 (…And Don’t The Kids Just Love It?). Beginning in 1980, they made numerous appearances on UK radio, including the influential John Peel show. This new collection brings together John Peel sessions, Andy Kershaw appearances as well as songs the band recorded in the U.S for radio stations WBMR and WFMU.

Quite why Television Personalities never made it as big as other bands from the same era remains a mystery. Their albums and singles were well-written songs that stayed with the listener long after the needle has lifted off the record. The songs on this collection prove that they could also produce incredible music ‘live’ on the radio. The songs here are not the same as the albums/singles but they are close.

Songs like “Silly Girl” and “I Still Believe In Magic” come off a bit more exciting and interesting. Lead vocalist and principal songwriter Dan Treacy sounds engaged and tells his stories brilliantly, set to some great instrumentation from his band. “Salvador Dali’s Garden Party” still brings a smile to my face and “Picture Of Dorian Gray” is outstanding. Treacy’s voice is perfect and the sparse arrangements fit perfectly.

The recordings sound great, with the UK radio sessions sounding sonically better than the U.S. counterparts. But, again, all the sessions sound great and are brilliant documents of Television Personalities at this time. It also shows a band who was willing and able to appear live and promote their post-punk brand of rock ‘n’ roll. It is sparse, and a little rough at spots, but overall Television Personalities had their own style and their own distinct sound. Tune In, Turn On, Drop Out – Radio Sessions 1980-1993 is a great sampler and an excellent starting point for people not overly familiar with the band.

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