The Blades

Lineup: (1977-81) Paul Cleary - bass & vocals Lawrence Cleary - guitar Pat Larkin - drums opposite: Tour magazine, circa 1980 with the original lineup on the cover. l-to-r: Lar Cleary, Pat Larkin, Paul Cleary
Lineup: (1982-86) Paul Cleary - guitar & vocals Brian Foley - bass & vocals Jake Reilly - drums with The Blue Brass: (1983-) Frank Duff - trumpet Paul Grimes - trombone opposite: The Blades in 1982 l-to-r: Brian Foley, Paul Cleary, Jake Reilly

Bio:

Undoubtedly the best band to come out of Dublin after the Radiators From Space. The original trio featured brothers Paul and Lar Cleary on bass and guitar respectively, and drummer Pat Larkin. They played mod/powerpop songs, all written by Paul Cleary and all infused with power chords and poppy hooks. They released three brilliant singles but the planned LP for Energy Records never came to pass and, disillusioned, Lar and Pat left the band.

As a result, many songs in the original trio's set were never released ("Stood Up Again", "Still Holding Hand", "Lets Go Down To The Dance", "So", "Change Your Mind"). There is much interest in this material now, with interested parties ready to do a CD, but Paul Cleary is reputeldy not keen.

Devoid Media cover showing a quartet lineup in 1982
l-to-r: Brian, Paul, Jake & Lar

     

In concert at Sir Henry's in 1985 ticket stub courtesy Frank Hickey

• Energy Records decide not to proceed with the planned LP. Disillusioned, Pat and later Lar leave the band, replaced by Brian Foley & Jake Reilly. Lar appears on "The Bride Wore White".

Notes:
The only Blades single to chart in Ireland, entering the charts on 16 October 1983 for a short 2 week run, peaking at #28.

tracks: Young Gifted and Black (live)

Notes:
Also includes a Paul Cleary solo track ("Show Some Concern")

 

 

 

side one:
The Last Man in Europe
Downmarket
That's Not Love
Talk About Listening
Got Soul
Truth Don't Hurt [French LP bonus track]

side two:
Chance To Stop
Don't Break the Silence
Those Were The Days
Pride
Boy One
Waiting
Stand By Me Now [French LP bonus track]

Notes:
Recorded at Windwill Lane Studios Dublin in 1984 for Elektra but released on Reekus Records in February 1985.
Produced by John Porter & Richard Mainwaring

Guests:
Pete Beachill: trombone
Paul Carrack: piano, synthesizer
Mel Collins: sax
Martin Drover: trumpet
John Porter: electric sitar
Mick Weaver (AKA Wynder K. Frog): Hammond organ
The Sapphires: backing vocals

 

side one:
Ghost of a Chance
Animation
Muscle Men
Stranger Things Have Happened
The Rules of Love
Hot for You

side two:
Some People Smile
The Bride Wore White
Revelation of Heart Break
You Never Ask
Too Late

tracks:
A Chance To Stop
The Last Man In Europe

tracks: Ghost Of A Chance

1. Sadlands
2. Revelations of Heartbreak
3. Break the Silence
4. Break Down
5. Talk About Listening
6. Lost Again
7. It's No Use
8. Tears That Tell The Truth
9. Downmarket
10. Got Soul
11. My Girl
12. The Bride Wore White
13. Tears of a Clown
14. Building Sounds
15. You Never Ask
16. Memeory Lane
17. Young Gifted and Black
18. Heatwave
19. Ghost of a Chance
20. Hot for You
21. Downmarket

1. Intro...Time Tunnel
2. Last Man in Europe
3. Sadlands
4. Real Emotion
5. Revelations of Heartbreak
6. Lost Again
7. Pride
8. My Girl
9. Boy One
10. Tears that Tell
11. Downmarket
12. Those were the Days
13. Alice in Washington
14. Got Soul
15. Not So Blue (AKA Memory Lane)
16. Young Gifted and Black
17. Ghost of a Chance
18. Hot for You
19. Heatwave
20. Downmarket

1. The Last Man in Europe
2. Ghost of a Chance
3. Sadlands
4. Real Emotion
5. Hot for You
6. Pride
7. Boy One
8. Tears that will Tell
9. Lost Again
10. Show Some Concern
11. Revelations of Heartbreak
12. My Girl
13. Downmarket
14. Those were the Days
15. I Heard a Cry
16. Not So Blue (AKA Memory Lane)
17. Same Old Song
18. Young Gifted and Black

We need your help to correct and/or complete this entry. If you can provide more information about this band, have scans, photos or any other memorabilia we can use, or spare copies of any releases, then please get in touch.