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Altered Images


Country of origin:

Scotland

Type of music generally:

Bouncy New Wave alternative pop

Status:

No longer recording. Final release of new material, Bite (1983); several Best Of albums have followed

See also:

WIkipedia's entry on Altered Images

Comparisons:

Bits of their sound are similar to Siouxsie and the Banshees, or perhaps this is what it would sound like if the Cranes decided to bop and pop. (Neile)

Covers/own material:

Own, occasional covers

General comments:

Driving new wave pop sound with baby-voice vocals over. Great sense of fun. An under-rated band. (Neile)

Recommended first album:

Happy Birthday is my favourite, but one of the "Best of" will probably be easiest to find. (Neile)

Recordings:


Happy Birthday

Release info:

1981—Epic/CBS—37738

Availability:

unknown

Ecto priority:

Recommended for lovers of bouncy fun pop

Group members:

Claire Grogan—vocals
Jim McKinven—guitar
Johnny McElhone—bass
Michael "Tich" Anderson—drums
Tony McDaid—guitar

Produced by:

Steve Severin

Comments:

This is a really fun album, and some of the songs have run in my head since I first bought the vinyl in 1982. I must say, though, that both times I bought this I got it used—not necessarily worth full price, but over the years I've realized just how charming this music is and I'm glad to have my own copy. (Neile)

Pinky Blue

Release info:

1982—Sony/Epic—983 327 2 (re-released on cd 1994)

Availability:

Wide on release and re-release

Ecto priority:

Recommended for lovers of bouncy fun pop

Group members:

Claire Grogan—vocals
Jim McKinven—guitar
Johnny McElhone—bass
Michael "Tich" Anderson—drums
Tony McDaid—guitar

Comments:

Another poppy boppy fun album. There's a cover here of Neil Diamond's "Song Sung Blue" which really needed to be sung in Claire Crogan's baby voice—you can't take it seriously, which is perfect. I'm also a big fan of the title song "Pinky Blue" and "Funny Funny Me" especially. (Neile)

Bite

Release info:

1983—Portrait/CBS—BFR 38585

Availability:

Vinyl only?

Ecto priority:

Recommended for Altered Images fans

Group members:

Claire Grogan, Stephen Lironi, Tony McDaid, Joyn McElhone, Gerry McElhone

Guest artists:

Peter Vettese—additional keyboards
Holly—additional keyboards
Simon—additional keyboards
Kyoto: Annie Mo & Mark—backing vocals
Morris Michael—backing vocals
Bernie Michael—backing vocals
Leroy Osbourne—backing vocals
Andy Hamilton—saxophone

Produced by:

Mike Chapman

Comments:

My partner couldn't even make it through the first track, but I love the poppy '80s rock with Claire Grogan's baby voice. Happy Birthday is a better album, but this is still good fun. Wow, Claire Grogan looks like Boy George on the cover. (Neile)

Best of Altered Images

Release info:

There appear to be three of these:
  • Best of Altered Images (Connoisseur Collection VSOP CD 177)
  • Reflected Images: The Best of Altered Images (Epic 484339 2)
  • I Could Be Happy: The Best of Altered Images (Sony)


Further info:

Lead singer Claire Grogan is an actress and has appeared on tv shows in the U.K. and in two Bill Forsythe movies, Gregory's Girl and Comfort and Joy.

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DISCLAIMER: Comments and reviews in the Ectophiles' Guide are excerpted from the ecto mailing list or volunteered by members of the list. They are the opinions of music enthusiasts, not professional music critics.

Entry last updated 2021-09-06 19:25:57.
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