I missed it out. Back in 2014 Punkhouse Records from the UK released an EP worth of songs of the Swansea, Wales, band The Lost Boys. Songs that had been recorded back in 1981. They were released in clear vinyl, a 7″ with four songs. I had no clue of it.

Today exploring the web I heard the song “Underpass”, that’s the opening track of the EP. It sounds great. The other songs on the record are “Happy Song” also on the A side and “Boring” and “I Can Do Anything” on the B side.

The EP was released in limited quantities. There was a first edition of 150 copies and then there was another version of 100 copies that came with a bonus cassette.

All of the songs on the EP were recorded on April 12 at Majestic Studios in Clapham except “I Can Do Anything” that was recorded at Howards, Uplands, in Swansea. The first three songs were produced by Bryan Evans.

The band was formed by Paul Battenbough on lead vocals, guitar and keyboards. Richard Cowell on vocals, bass and keyboards, Dai Steward on lead guitar and Jeremy Ratcliffe on drums.

Now, the tape that came with the second edition of the 7″ was a totally new EP. It was called “The Statuemakers EP” and included four songs as well, “The Statuemakers” and “Who are the Meek Ones?” on the A side and “Element of Truth” and “Tired Wings” on the B side. These songs date from between 1980 and 1982. Songs are credited to Battenbough and Cowell.

In general all of their songs are credited to them too. Only I can see an extra credit for lead guitar to a Max Sommers in “I Can do Anything”.

I look for information about the band members. Paul Battenbough has been in No Thee No Ess. Richard Cowell was in Rag Foundation. Jeremy Ratcliffe was on The DC10s (who also have a 7″ on Punkhouse Records).

I look for more info about them and found this post. I see that the band was formed in the Uplands area of Swansea. In 1981 Dai Steward left the band and Max Sommers, the one mentioned in the EP credits, replaced him. Max was a geology student at the time it seems.

The band’s first gig was at Old Nicks in Swansea Marina. The band would later have a regular evening slot at The Coach House pub.

I learn that more recordings were made. There was a session recorded at Tony Visconti’s studio but none of the tapes have survived. How bad. The song “Who are the Meek Ones?” from “The Statuemakers EP” was actually recorded at Howard Cooze’s basement studio in Glanmor Road, Swansea. This track was included in a compilation EP called “Sex Violence and the Eternal Truth” released by Sonic International Records in 1981 and where they appear with other bands like The Venom, What to Wear and The Dodos.

The band would disband in 1982. Drummer Ratcliffe is also no longer with us.

Then a great find. Max Sommers has a Soundcloud account. There he has uploaded a full set from the bands reunion gig in 2005. On these recordings the drummer was Huw Rees. They are 10 songs: “Underpass”, “Boring”, “In a Special Way”, “Upset”, “Happy Song”, “Stand Still”, “Where are the Lost Boys?”, “Sole Survivor”, “When Love Comes Your Way” and “Lucan”.

Good stuff! Any Wales readers out there? Do you remember them?

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Listen
The Lost Boys – Underpass