Augusts1
Augusts1
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You're So Special, Oh So Special or ISENIH #35

Posted about 4 years ago
4:24Another band highly influenced by the Madchester movement, The Farm, was from Liverpool and formed in the early '80s. They were previously named Soul Of Socialism at that time. They changed their name to The Farm when they started practicing at a friends farm(how original eh? haha).It wasn't until '89 that they finally got a record deal and in '90 released "Spartacus". Their first big hit was the song "Groovy Train", which I really recall getting my dance on in the club I frequented at the time. Check out the vid: But their huge hit was the song "All Together Now" which later became used as the anthem for the England National Football Team in '04. Notice the use of Pachelbel's "Canon In D" throughout the song. The video for this song is quite odd I must say though:My favorite song on "Spartacus" however was the very first track "Hearts And Minds" which you can hear at the top of my post. Definitely a jammin' song & uses clips from the movie "Once Upon A Time In America" a classic & epic gangster film directed by Sergio Leone in '84.The Farm went on to release two more albums "Love See No Colour" '92 and "Hullaballoo" '94. Both albums received little attention here in the US. In England some of the singles did chart though. Once the whole Madchester scene died out The Farm's popularity dropped considerably which is unfortunate since there are some wonderful songs on both those albums.
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Comments (17)

  1. darmuzz
    darmuzz says Completely new to me; thanks, August!
    Permalink posted 02/02/2008
  2. annieander
    annieander says They have that happy-go-lightly feel about them that was so indicative of the time. But, no, seriously, I like them.
    Permalink posted 02/02/2008
  3. I am
    I am says Wow. the memories this band conjures up for me. At one point I think 'Spartatcus' was THE tape played when heading to Virgina Beach for a day of surfing. Many thanks for the ride on the 'Way Back Machine'.
    Permalink posted 02/02/2008
  4. Augusts1
    Augusts1 says Yvw *Dar*! *Annie* are you sure you didn't mean Holly Golightly? ahahaha! But yes I do know what you're saying about the feel of the time, it's true. *I Am* yvw. Definitely a walk down memory lane. THE tape for surfing days eh? I can see that. I bet there was alot of 420 & other substances involved too, hehehe.
    Permalink posted 02/02/2008
  5. I am
    I am says Sure there was, I'd like to add that Happy Mondays was also in heavy rotation. I was MAD about Madchester, and in many ways I still am.
    Permalink posted 02/02/2008
  6. Augusts1
    Augusts1 says I was into the whole Madchester scene/bands too like The Charlatans UK, The Soup Dragons(see my previous post on them), Blur, Chapterhouse, The Stone Roses, etc. Of course you were MAD about Madchester since you're still I AM, hehe. I so wanted to live in England so I could be a part of that scene too!
    Permalink posted 02/02/2008
  7. Marigold
    Marigold says All time classics tunes August. I owned the record but never really got into it other then the two songs you captured in the video posted here. I was so sucked into the Stone Roses at that time that everything was measured by them. Nothing really measured up. Out of all the madchester bands you listed, the Charlatans UK came in second as for air time with me. Great post buddy. It is good to see you posting more again! Welcome back!! Cheers!
    Permalink posted 02/02/2008
  8. Augusts1
    Augusts1 says Thanks. Yes definitely classics. I had a feeling if I mentioned TSR that you'd not be too far behind! And how can you measure anyone compared to them, they were one of a kind. It's like trying to compare another band to Blur or Radiohead. But since TSR weren't releasing anything new you had to move on to discover other bands, so these guys fit the bill to a certain extent as well as those other bands.
    Permalink posted 02/02/2008
  9. Marigold
    Marigold says Yeah. I remember that time well trying to find a Stone Roses wanna be band that I liked just as much. I never did find anything that has compared to the them since, so I just gave up and made them my all time favorite band. :)
    Permalink posted 02/02/2008
  10. hawaiianpunch
    hawaiianpunch says I agree. During that time I was so into wanting to drop out of school and move to England, anywhere in England and live out the rest of my days drinking pints in pubs with my mates and stuffing down chips and whatever other English slang I can't think of right now. I was also heavily into 2000 AD, for anyone who's a comics fan and remember wanting to go to supposedly the largest comics store in the world which was in London somewhere.
    Permalink posted 02/02/2008
  11. Sam The Artist
    Sam The Artist says okay thats pretty sweet that they have a double decker bus. but what does falling into mud in reverse have to do with anything? oh, wait, it must have been new technology.
    Permalink posted 02/03/2008
  12. Augusts1
    Augusts1 says *Mike* Blur became my new fave band, that's who took over for TSR & they were up to the task of putting out one fine album after another. Oh how I adored Blur! But Charlatans also were able to keep their noses out of legal trouble & put out fantastic albums. I was so into ALOT of bands at the time & that hasn't changed one bit! *HP* I hear ya. I was dropping out of a marriage in '90 & wanted so to run away to England but I had a career going on in social work that I couldn't leave. I'm into comics a bit but even though, that store sounds like sheer heaven, I can see why you'd want to go there! *Sam* yea that vid for 'Altogether Now' doesn't make alot of sense. But then again now that I've thought about it more, the song is about worldwide unity(they are after all singing & dancing on a map of the world) & in a mud puddle everyone looks the same covered in mud. Wow, that just dawned on me after all these years.
    Permalink posted 02/03/2008
  13. Neill
    Neill says The video for All Together Now is not that strange when you put it together with the lyrics; . Remember boy that your forefather's died Lost in millions for a country's pride Never mention the trenches of Belgium When they stopped fighting and they were one A spirit stronger than war was at work that night December 1914 cold, clear and bright Countries' borders were right out of sight They joined together and decided not to fight All together now, all together now All together now in no man's land (together) All together now (all together), all together now (all together) All together now (together, together) In no man's land (together, together) The same old story again All those tears shed in vain Nothing learnt and nothing gained Only hope remains All together now, all together now All together now in no man's land (together) All together now (all together), all together now (all together) All together now in no man's land (together) All together now (all together now), all together now (all together now) All together now (together, together) In no man's land (together, together) The boys had their say, they said no (all together now) Stop the slaughter, let's go home Let's go, let's go (all together now) Let's go (all together now), let's go home All together now (together, together) In no man's land (together, together) All together now (all together now), all together now (all together) All together now (together, together) In no man's land (together, together
    Permalink posted 02/03/2008
  14. Augusts1
    Augusts1 says *Neill*, you know, I never paid much attention to the lyrics to that song but reading them now I see it's about stopping WWI at xmas. There's a fantastic movie about this temporary truce/celebration too called "Joyeux Noel" of which I saw for the first time just a few months ago. I highly recommend it too! Thanks for posting the lyrics & you & Sam making me think further about the meaning of the vid/song.
    Permalink posted 02/03/2008
  15. Bartleby
    Bartleby says The distinctive sounds of Madchester indeed. I don't remember seeing that clip for "All Together Now." It does seem a bit at odds with the lyrics. Nice one, August (and Neill)
    Permalink posted 02/03/2008
  16. ardyjormkiv
    ardyjormkiv says that has to be one of the weirdest things i've ever seen...but i like your explanation.
    Permalink posted 02/04/2008
  17. Augusts1
    Augusts1 says Thanks Bartleby, it is at odds w/the lyrics, but hey, that's art eh?! lol If you think back to the '80s there were plenty of arty vids that were at odds w/their accompanying song seemingly. Thanks Ardy. It's amazing how time can give you some perspective!
    Permalink posted 02/04/2008

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