Edinburgh Scotland's the Headboys released an album of pop rock in 1979 on Robert Stigwood's RSO label. The first single, "The Shape of Things to Come" was a minor hit and the band planned a U.S. tour to support the album and join the New Wave craze that they reluctantly became a part of. But they soon decided that they were not ready for touring and retreated to the Scottish countryside to record another album. The album was not released and the band split up.
Headboy keyboardist Calum Malcolm has owned Castle Sound Studios in Scotland where the Headboys lp was recorded for over 20 years and has produced records for The Blue Nile, Prefab Sprout and others.
The Headboys were:
Lou Lewis - guitar and vocals
George Boyter - bass and vocals
Calum Malcolm - keyboards and vocals
Davy Cross - drums and vocals
Go to the download page to get The Headboys - "The Shape of Things To Come"
What a great song I havent heard that in about 25 years , at first I didnt even recognize the bands name but as soon as it started up ,brought me right back, so many great tune at that time period it boggles the mind....seriously
ReplyDeleteThankyouthankyouthankyou for this completely unexpected blast from the past. I probably haven't heard this in about 25 years, either. Our very anglophile new wave FM radio station played this to death, and I think the video actually got a bit of play on our fledgling music video show. Another reason to exist in a permanent state of musical nostalgia these days.
ReplyDeleteYes!! This video appeared on Video Concert Hall. I remember this video; loved the song and found this album shortly thereafter (1982 or 1983). I should hook up my record player and give it a listen.
ReplyDeletePlease link this song for download again, I can't find it anywhere! YOU ROCK!
ReplyDeleteÉ róque.
ReplyDeleteRóque loco.
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ReplyDeleteIs the link to the song gone? Am I missing something? I can't seem to find it. If it has been yanked, I am sure there is a story behind it ... Great blog, btw.
ReplyDeleteYes please, please put it back up for download. My Mum used to play this to death and her 7" was totally trashed, I can't find it anywhere! Really interesting, I didn't know they were from Edinburgh (as am I)
ReplyDeleteAs the bassist and co-songwriter in The Headboys I have an entire album's worth of unreleased material and if there are people who would like to hear it I'll see what I can do.
ReplyDeleteLet me know your thoughts.
George Boyter
Would love to hear your stuff George! Loved your band!
ReplyDeletegeorge,
ReplyDeleteI would really like to hear the headboys stuff you've got.
Would mean a lot, 'The shape of things to come' is just awesome.
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ReplyDeleteShame the download has gone, I bought the single and went to see them at the marquee ( the original one in wardour street) and live they were pretty good too.
ReplyDeleteE
The Color Fury did a cover version of The Shape of Things to Come, it was a really good version and worth checking out , George , would be great to here the material that was never re leased
ReplyDeleteCheers
Deryck
I had the album on vinyl. I got rid of them all when I switched to CD's in the 80's. I really regret not having a copy. I used to really like the track 'kicking the cans'.
ReplyDeleteStill have the album on vinyl.
ReplyDeleteNo one these days ever heard of the Headboys until you mention 'The Shape Of Things To Come' or 'Schoolgirls'.
Everyone thinks these songs are from another group.
George,
ReplyDeleteShape has been my favorite song for almost 30 years now. i constantly search the web for insights into your group and was bitter that you didn't have greater success. I know Davy Ross has been ill and have purchased some of Calum's discs he's produced. you should seriously get a myspace page dedicated to the group. And why the hell hasn't the album made it to disc? I burned my album copy (own 3 actually) on an mp3 turntable.
thanks for your posting and you guys did have an impact.
MBicer
Naperville, IL
sixtorules@yahoo.com
A whole load of us bought the album when we were at school. Fantastic. Almost a fan club. I still have the album and still play it. Some amazing tracks on it... not just 'shape...'. Kicking the Kans, Stepping stone. Wanna hear 'shape of...' go to http://punkmodpop.free.fr/mp3.htm
ReplyDeleteRegards to all.
Mike
Awesome tune, awesome album, awesome memories.
ReplyDeleteThanks Dude.
Scott
Toronto, Canada
I have the album, but don't know how to record it to a cd. Does anyone remember 'Kickin the Cans'? I liked that song even better. Although I loved this one as well.
ReplyDeleteMan what a blast...
ReplyDeleteI just went to 'myspace' and listened to Steppin stones, Changing with the times and The Shape.. I have been looking for you guys for so long..
I was 16 when you released this and I am 45 next week. What a birthday present to find these songs again. I have the LP, I think I'm going to invest in a usb record player and copy them to mp3 for my mp3 player as 'Myspace' was not downloadable. If there was a CD I'd gladly buy it. Let me know if there is. Dave from New Zealand
Bought 'The Shape of Things To Come' back on 22nd Nov. 1979...how do I know this?...was having a New Year 'vinyl records' party with friends last night and out came this 45, complete with the date and my name on it. Great song, great memories. Long live nostalgia.
ReplyDeleteWhat a stunning song; I have the seven inch and the lp. Issue it on CD along with the other stuff George; please!
ReplyDeleteI thought this band was amazing and still do! The piano parts show classical influences and I love every song. I wish I could have seen them live. "Kickin the Kans" was a big hit on FM radio in Virginia about 1979/1980.
ReplyDeleteI converted my vinyl to mp3s and still like the crackle of the vinyl that transferred with the music.
Awesome album. My old man owned a copy, and it would've been one of the first albums I ever listened to. Love 'Schoolgirls' and my personal favourite 'The Ripper'.
ReplyDeleteAnything happen with that unreleased material?
Bradley Hajost, Lancaster, OH USA 08/28/2009
ReplyDeleteGeorge, I am most interested in whatever material you could bring to the light of day! I and my brother both rocketed to the nearest shop to buy your record back when it was released. I will never forget hearing for the first time, "The Shape of Things to Come", on QFM96, here in Columbus, OH. We did not have alternative music stations at that time, so it was amazing to hear such well crafted fresh new music. Your music still sounds very fresh and alive! It's most unfortunate that Americans my age and older had already been stuck in the classic rock time warp. Today, QFM96 mostly plays the same music they were playing back in 1979-80, sans The Head Boys! The alternative stations, like CD101, concentrate mainly on new music. So where does that leave THB? No where. Somehow, someway, a CD must be produced. I'm going to start circulating your music to new and budding professional musicians who will perfect "covers" of your songs so "the masses" will get an appreciation for your musical artistry. Long live The Head Boys music!
Cheers!
Kickin the Kans was the best song, superbly produced, I have just played it to my Scottish girlfriend - should have been a top ten hit. Got it on 7" as well as shape of things to come, brilliant. Dave.
ReplyDeleteThisis a wee gem, forgot the bands name a few years ago,never mind got it now and am I glad,watched the Head Boys on Youtube,magic brought back memories,I am 58 now but still think I'm in my early years when I here classics like this.My son's are going to hear it they are in their early thirties to prove there's life after Oasis boys, this wee belter is the original Brit Pop like so many others back then.Pure nostalgia.
ReplyDeleteTickety-Boo
Rab Dickson
This album has been at, or near, the top of my "must play" list for many years. I recorded it on to CD, and from there to my MP3 player.
ReplyDeleteI waited desperately for the follow-up album that never came.
I really liked the lyrics, too. At times witty (Can you take the mickey, Minnie Mouse?), at others thoughtful (The times they have to change, we're changing with the times), or melancholy (All the money I'm earnin' can't keep the wheels turnin').
I love the shouted chorus in "We're gonna do it like this", and then the band takes off.
It's the little touches I love, too, like the guitar after "the prophet is screaming" in "The Shape of things to come", and the way the piano punctuates the chorus in the same song.
Is there any way to get the un-released material out? Don't forget "A little blackmail goes a long, long way".
There are some odd things about the album though, like the way Silver Linings, an almost mournful song about a lost love (She took the silver lining, and now the Sun don't shine anymore") is followed by Experiments. Don't get me wrong, they're both good songs in their own way, but it's quite jarring to go from one to the other.
One final thing, I heard that the BBC wouldn't play the quite wonderful "Schoolgirls". Is this true?
Thanks.
I have the original vinyl album, and I bought it because I liked the song "Kickin' the Kans". Those were the days!
ReplyDeleteI first saw The Headboys share the bill with Fingerprintz at The Russell Club in Hulme,Manchester.After a few post gig beers with both bands believe it or not The Headboys gave my mate and I a lift home to Wythenshawe on their way to Birmingham.The next day we both bought the album.
ReplyDeleteI love the band, the first album is an absolute classic with not a duff track on it. I saw the band live @ the Marquee in 1980. I taped the show and found it recently in amazing condition, put it through wavelab and sent a copy to the band. Wow, what a great live band they were too.
ReplyDeleteReally hope the LP gets a CD release one day soon.
the Headboys , 1979 I was Always listening for that OFF the WALL, I looked for bands that HAD , Talent Probably too much for the time. They were De Railed by the Mainstream Mega . and it went so for many of bands. Experiments, Kick N the Cans n All the Tracks were Well Written n Arranged. Other bands included , Magogany Rush,Steve Hillage , GONG,Hawkwind,Nazareth,Headboys,Alomic rooster, Verve. Etc
ReplyDeletepHi All You Wonderful People
ReplyDeleteI am humbled by your enthusiasm. Thanks.
I'm heartbroken to report that Davy Ross died in November 2010.
As a tribute to Dave we have resolved to issue the 'lost' second album, (it really was lost) hopefully this year, through Pop Detective records. If this is successful we may secure release of the original album. The problem on that front has been confused ownership rights with Universal who bought up RSO.
There is an extremely rare recording of us live at The Marquee - so rare I didn't know it existed until last week- bootlegged by Lou himself!
Action stations - Vintage Headboys is on its way.
George
George, the idea of a new Headboys album is truly amazing. The first album is still among my favourite of all time, great riffs, melodies and lashings of hooks. Classic music from a classic band.
ReplyDeleteDid you ever hear the recording of the Marquee show I bootlegged and sent to Brian Lewis in Dundee ? It was from 13-2-1980 and the priorty that night was not to overrun the curfew, don't think you made it that night because we simple could not get enough. I did get a reply from Lou about 2 months later thanking me for the CD of the show. Said he was surprised at how much he had forgotten the set. If not please contact me through myspace to Siam.
I was very saddened to hear about Davie, great drummer may he R.I.P
Looking forward to any new Headboys, thank you very much.
Take care
Just looked out the album as I got a USB turnrable as a present. Bought the album from a record store in Princes St Edinburgh in 79 I think. The band were in the store promoting the release of the album so I got a fully signed copy stating "I was the first in Edinburgh" Brill single and now I'm about to play the rest of it for the first time in 20 odd years!
ReplyDeleteGeorge,
ReplyDeleteJust to put the record straight. I recorded the Marquee show you have heard not Lou. I sent a copy to Lou after finding the taped I did of that show in 1980. I put it through wavelab and then onto to disc and sent it to an address in Dundee. Glad you liked it.
Hey, could you put that Headboys song back up on the downloads page? How about that whole album? "School Girls" was a fun song and "Silver Lining" had a great piano melody! Where can I buy the album? Thanks!
ReplyDeleteI was going to e-mail Cherry Red Records to suggets that they licence the original album for release, with the single b-sides, 'The Mood I'm In', Double Vision, and Before Tonight as bonus tracks.
ReplyDeleteI own the album and all the singles and made my own cd a couple of years back.
If you are fans of other 70's Scottish bands, then you may see (finally) a release on CD of the Zones album 'Under Influence' with bonus tracks, in the not to distant future......
We rocked to Headboys in the early 80's. Fabulous stuff. Wonderful harmonies, lyrics and keyboards.
ReplyDeleteInnovative and fun.
I still have the album and still play it through the dual, quad amp and altec lansings.....................LOUD!!
Well thanks for your extraordinary patience everyone.
ReplyDeleteLast week, September 26th to be precise, I met with Mark Hershberger aka The Pop Detective with the eponymous label and we've agreed to release 'Vintage Headboys' next spring.
Now investigating re-master of the unreleased songs and digging through boxes of memorabilia. Check out Pop Detective on Facebook for spontaneous news. Posted an old pic this evening.
Album will be a tribute to the lovely Dave who sadly died last year.
George (da bass)
It's been a long journey, and many fans have been emailing, messaging, and calling about when this will be released.....
ReplyDeleteWell....it is here! Official release date is December 1 2013
The Headboys "The Lost Album" can officially be ordered at www.popdetective.com
This albums is one of the best of the New Wave 80's. I listen to it all the time. It is timeless.
ReplyDeleteI have been searching for this song for decades! I loved it when I first heard it on the radio back in the early 80's in NZ. Fantastic to hear it again :-)
ReplyDeleteWhat an amazing song and such a gateway song as to the new face of music that arrived in the 1980s.
ReplyDeleteNever heard this tune during my college days back in the early 1980s, very surprised it never got airplay on any of the college-based or college-marketed stations in that time.
Very happy I discovered this wonderful song in October of 2015 !
Hi,
ReplyDeleteAny chance of obtaining a copy of that near-mythical Headboys Marquee gig?
Many years ago I just missed recording a BBC 'in concert' radio set with the Headboys. Unfamiliar with their songs other than 'Shape...' at the time, I tuned in to hear the middle section of this lush classical piano piece and thought I had the completely wrong channel - it was 'Silver Lining' of course (doh!!!).
My email is wianp@hotmail.co.uk
Cheers,
Ian
Have always loved The Headboys since I first heard them back in 79, just a shame they never did more material, I do believe they were ahead of their time as their music and lyrics were just mind blowing. I am really glad I purchased The Lost Album, takes me right back..............thankyou The Headboys for your music...you certainly were The Shape Of Things To Come............!!!!!!!
ReplyDeleteHi George,
ReplyDeleteIf you're still checking in at this blog post I would love to find out whether you will be re-releasing the original Headboys album. The whole thing was awesome! One of my favourite songs on the album was "Gonna Do It Like This", but they were all wonderful, and I have tried (in vain so far) to find a copy of the record in any format.
Thanks in advance and belatedly for your time and responses here, and it's great to at least know that there are others who are fans of the fabulous music you made!
Best,
Lis / Toronto