“Bashing Out The Chords” is the first ever vinyl LP from Trash. It contains all seven of the studio tracks recorded from 1977 – 1979, complemented by a further seven cover versions from a 1976 rehearsal. Pete Townshend thought the band were “bloody great” but no LP was issued during their lifetime.
Detour Records are delighted to put this right with a definitive release complete with rare photos, comprehensive sleeve notes, full recording details and a discography.
Trash were formed in Autumn 1976 in distinctly un-punk Weybridge by Mick Brophy (guitar, harmonica), Keith Steptoe (bass), Steve Pearce (drums) and co-lead singers Simon Wright and Jane Wimble. Jane bailed out in early 1977 and Steve was replaced by Brian Devoil. A recording contract with Polydor resulted in first single Priorities / Look in November 1977. Brian left to go prog with Twelfth Night, to be replaced by Simon Butler-Smith. In February 1978 the band entered Roundhouse Studios with the legendary Shel Talmy producing. The resulting Polydor single N-N-E-R-V-O-U-S / Page 3 vanished without trace on its release in June 1978. The final recording session was in March 1979 at Surrey Sound Studios with Nigel Gray. Mick was by now living in Manchester where he had formed a new band called The Cheaters, featuring lead guitarist Neil Cossar. Neil temporarily expanded Trash to a five-piece to record In On All The Secrets and What Do You Think About That?
Trash were very anti 1976-as-year-zero and this is reflected in the choice of cover versions included here: Editions Of You (Roxy Music), Pills (Bo Diddley via the New York Dolls), I’m Waiting For The Man (Velvets) and Let’s Spend The Night Together (Stones). Hippy Hippy Shake had been a hit for the Swinging Blue Jeans, but Mick brought it up to date with a Wilko Johnson one-note guitar solo. Louie Louie featured an intro borrowed from the Stooges. 96 Tears was a thank-you to Eddie And The Hot Rods.
Trash were single-minded, young, energetic and unsophisticated and were savvy enough to transform these limitations into virtues. This LP shows that for Trash “bashing out the chords is the name of the game”!
Simon Wright, April 2023
FEATURES
In On All The Secrets
What Do You Think About That?
N-N-E-R-V-O-U-S
Page Three (Dumb Blondes)
Priorities
Look
Mixed Up
96 Tears
Editions Of You
Pills
I’m Waiting For The Man
Hippy Hippy Shake
Louie Louie
Let’s Spend The Night Together
