Kirsty MacColl - Desperate Character (1981)

"Desperate Character" is the first solo album of British singer-songwriter Kirsty MacColl, released in 1981. It contained the singles, "There's A Guy Works Down The Chip Shop Swears He's Elvis"  and "See That Girl". She had previously been recorded as a member of London punk/powerpop band, the Drug Addix, where she was known as Mandy Doubt. She also became a member of The Pogues. The former Stiff Records recording artist from Croydon, England recorded on and off after 1983. The clock goes round and round and I get so tires of this old town. But I still hang around though I know there’s nothing to do, Kirsty MacColl in the duet with Shane MacGowan.  The swing jazz of "The Real Ripper", the kinky reggae of the Hollies "Just One Look", the sumptuous 60s recreations of "See That Girl, Until The Night" and "Hard To Believe", the feisty new wave energy of "Clock Goes Round" and the faux-country cover of George Jones' "He Thinks I Still Care". Kirsty takes the songs beyond parody, particularly "See That Girl", one of the best songs she ever wrote. She also tackles, tongue in cheek, a Shangri-La's style "Teenager In Love".

"Desperate Character" and this release provides an opportunity to refresh memories and make fresh introductions to the one and only Kirsty MacColl.

Track listing

01.  "Clock Goes Round"  (MacColl)  - 2:33

02.  "See That Girl"  (MacColl)  - 2:59

03.  "There's a Guy Works Down the Chip Shop Swears He's Elvis"  (MacColl, Philip Rambow)  - 3:04

04.  "Teenager in Love"  (MacColl)  - 2:33

05.  "Mexican Sofa"  (MacColl, Lu Edwards)  - 3:11

06.  "Until The Night"  (MacColl, Phil Johnstone)  - 3:07

07.  "Falling For Faces"  (MacColl, Lu Edwards)  - 2:28

08.  "Just One Look"  (Doris Payne, Gregory Carroll)  - 2:17

09.  "The Real Ripper"  (MacColl, Lu Edwards)  - 3:20

10.  "Hard To Believe"  (MacColl)  - 2:17

11.  "He Thinks I Still Care"  (Roysden D. Lipscombe, Stephen Duffy)  - 2:54

12.  "There's a Guy Works Down the Chip Shop Swears He's Elvis" (country version)  - 3:42

Released:  1981

Recorded at:  Regent Park Studios

Genre:  New Wave, Pub Rock

Label:  Polydor Records

Producer:  Bazza

Personnel

Kirsty MacColl - vocals

Lu Edmonds, Billy Bremner, Malcolm Morley, Phil Rambow, Bazza - guitar

Glyn Havard, Paul Riley - bass

Lee Partiss - drums

Gavin Povey - piano

Ben Mandelson - fiddle

"Irish" John Earle - tenor & baritone saxophone

Chris Gower - trombone

Dick Hansen - trumpet

Lew Lewis - "vamping"

Blanche McAdorey, Billy - background vocals