Magazine Article

The excellent on-line music magazine "Caught in the Act" on the "Stick It In Your Ear" web site includes in its May 2010 edition a long and detailed article about Robb Johnson and Irregular Records, which you can read at www.siiye.co.uk/E4/PAGE_099.html. (It's nearly fifty pages long! - so don't overlook the "next page" blue triangle at the bottom left corner of each page.) There are also a couple of introductory paragraphs at www.siiye.co.uk/E4/PAGE_004.html.

New Issues

"Man Walks Into a Pub" (IRR077) - Robb Johnson

To be released on 20th September 2010. Distribution by Proper.

Track list:

• Man Walks into a Pub
• A True History of Couscous
• Les Deux Magots
• Dark Star
• A Bracelet from Paris
• A Very Small Piece of thev Real World
• Charlie
• The Wrong Train
• Thomas Among the Dandelions
• Someone Else Can Save the World
• Stay Free
• A Place in the Country
• The Justice Bus
• Pennypot Lane

"The Ghost of Love" (IRR076) - Robb Johnson & The Irregulars

Released on 30th November 2009. Distribution by Proper.

Track list:

• Fairytales In Feltham
• Rehoused In Hounslow
• Jubilee Gardens
• Father Christmas Down Hounslow High Street
• Wooden Snowmen
• Meanwhile, On Planet Earth
• Crisis
• Poundshop Christmas
• Magic Pockets?
• The Ghost Of Love
• Motorcycle Diary
• The Midnight Clear

4-CD set - "Margaret Thatcher: My Part in her Downfall - Deluxe" (IRR075) - Robb Johnson & The Irregulars

Released on 10th August 2009. Distribution by Proper.

A four-CD set, including:

• the first two vinyl albums ("Skewed, Slewed, Stewed & Awkward" and "Small Town World"), plus bonus tracks;
• a collection of recordings with The Irregulars;
• and a collection of solo Robb Johnson recordings.

Some of the tracks on CDs 3 & 4 appeared on the deleted "This is the UK Talking" CD and the first "Margaret Thatcher - My Part in Her Downfall" CD; but there's also a lot of tracks previously unreleased, including some very rare Ministry of Humour stuff! The set comes with a 24 page booklet with pretty comprehensive notes, & some great photos.

"Margaret Thatcher: My Part in her Downfall - Deluxe" will be released on 10th August.

Limited Edition Irregular Records Sampler: FOR GAZA

This Irregular Records sampler CD is limited to 100 copies, which will be individually numbered. They will be on sale at most of Robb Johnson's gigs anywhere. Money raised from the sampler CD will go to MAP - Medical Aid for Palestinians.

Tracks:

• Inexcusable - Robb Johnson
• Snow is Freedom - Tracey Curtis
• Chasing Hope - Eirlys Rhiannon
• Alibi of Innocence - Jon Harvison
• Boulevard des Hommes - Monique
• Miss Appleton's Bell - Mike Scott
• Love in Another Language - Maggie Holland
• Elvis Lives Here - Swill & the Swagger Band
• Anytown - George Papavgeris
• We Can Make the World Stop - Alun Parry
• Devil on the Wind - The Men They Couldn't Hang
• Jenin: David Rovics
• Everybody Goes home - Robb Johnson, Pip Collings and Jamil & Nadeem Surraj

We Can Make the World Stop (IRR070) - Alun Parry

Released on 28th August 2009. Distribution by Proper.

Tracks:

• We Can Make The World Stop
• Run Patsy Run
• The Limerick Soviet
• Together
• Princess Deborah
• Waiting For The Lovers
• John Lennon Said
• Hello Barren Desert
• Any Change At All
• Chasing Yourself
• Take The Mother's Name
• All Hail To The Market

Devil on the Wind (IRR069) - The Men They Couldn't Hang

Released 1st June 2009. Distribution by Proper.

Tracks:

• Devil on the Wind
• The Ragged Shoreline
• Beast of Brechfa
• Mrs Avery
• Reservoir
• Overseas
• Heartbreak Park
• Aquamarine
• A Real Rain Coming
• Hard To Find
• Lost World

The Men They Couldn't Hang return with their first album in 6 years on the eve of their 25th anniversary. "Devil on the Wind" combines a legendary live ferocity with a still undiminished lyricism to create an essential rock folk hybrid for volatile modern times.

Long considered one of the finest live experiences thrown up by the British music scene, TMTCH have harnessed their passionate live power to create a kaliedoscopic, fully realised album of folk, rock and country influences. Ably steered by producer Pat Collier, the material ranges from international panoramas to intimate personal vignettes, all played with a seasoned sureness that still erupts into adrenalin pumped ferocity...

Buy "Devil on the Wind" from Amazon.co.uk for £8.98 with free postage!

Love and Death and Politics (IRR068) -
Robb Johnson & The Irregulars

Released 27th October 2008. Distribution by Proper.

Tracks:

• Spirit of 45
• Saturday Night in Albion
• Little Angels
• The Bigger the Car
• Hard Money
• Soweto
• The Great West Road
• The Prince and Pt Gentle
• Postcard from Blackpool
• Even Steve McQueen
• I am not at War
• The Tail End of the Miracle
• Two Left Feet
• Cheers

"Love & Death & Politics" is the latest studio CD from Robb Johnson and the Irregulars. Read the backstories to the songs here.

Buy "Love & Death & Politics" from Amazon.co.uk for £9.99 with free postage!

The Commons (IRR067) - David Rovics

Released 19th November 2007. Distribution by Proper.

Irregular Records is very pleased to be be releasing "The Commons", the first UK release for US songwriter David Rovics. David has had several albums out on US labels, and is already a favourite of broadcaster Andy Kershaw. This album, a live recording that's a mix of old favourites and new, unrecorded songs, is the first of his albums to be available in shops in the UK.

David is a singer, songwriter & activist very much in the tradition of Woody Guthrie and Phil Ochs. On this album, he's accompanied by singer Allie Rosenblatt and demon banjo player Eric Royer, and this collection of 17 live recordings is a perfect introduction to his work. David's songs are witty, passionate, angry and tender, and provide a perfect alternative voice to the lunacies and lies promoted by the mainstream political media.

Essential listening yet again from Irregular Records.

Buy "The Commons" from Amazon.co.uk for £12.99 with free postage!

All That Way For This (IRR066) - Robb Johnson & The Irregulars

Released 30th July 2007. Distribution by Proper.

Tracks:

• Carrying Your Smile
• Peanuts
• No-one Wants to Look Like You
• The Beautiful Dark
• The Day After Valentine's Day
• Almost The Homecoming Queen
• Moronland
• The Blue Sea Says Yes
• Zapatista Coffee
• Pink Shoes
• Sunny Afternoon In Ilmenau
• On Highway 5

Buy "All That Way for This" from Amazon.co.uk for £12.99 with free postage!

Picture Postcards (IRR065) - Tracey Curtis

Released 27th November 2006. Distribution by Proper.

Tracks:

• Snow Is freedom
• The John Peel Song
• I Should Have Kept It Simple
• If The Death Penalty Were An Olympic Sport
• Miners Against Fascism
• First Riot
• Letters To Mr Bush
• All The Girls Love A Soldier
• May
• The Bristol Museum
• It's Not Fair
• Piccadilly Circus
• The Vegan Police
• I Used To want To Be The Cat
• Rosa's Happy Song

Since releasing her first album last year on UNLaBELLED Tracey has been gigging all over the UK, touring with the likes of Attila The Stockbroker, Chumbawamba, David Rovics and Danbert Nobacon. Everywhere she has impressed audiences and her second recording is now a very eagerly awaited release indeed. Building on the strengths of her first CD, intelligent, melodic folk-poppy songs that manage to personalise political issues with wit, passion and compassion, delivered with a beautiful vocal style, Picture Postcards shows Tracey's increased assurance and authority both as a performer and as a recording artist, without losing any of her characteristic charm and personality. It can only enhance her growing reputation as one of the UK's leading new singer-songwriters.

Buy "Picture Postcards" from Amazon.co.uk for £11.69 with free postage!

Saturday Night at The Fire Station (IRR063) - Robb Johnson & The Irregulars

Released 27th November 2006. Distribution by Proper.

Tracks:

• Ugly Town
• Wooden Snowmen
• The Tin Town Criminals
• Real Cool Purple Shirt
• Lightbulbs
• Passport, Tickets and Guitar
• Saturday Afternoon Red Army
• Martha In The Mirror
• You and This City
• Not In My Name
• Uptheworkers!
• This Is The UK Talking
• Overnight
• Anarchy In Hackney

This is a live recording of Robb's 50th birthday gig last December at Windsor Arts Centre. The 14 songs include current favourites, old favourites and 3 unreleased songs, The Irregulars on this recording are John Forrester (ex The Colour Mary, Pressgang, Twah! recording artiste and currently working with New Model Army offshoot Nozzle) on bass, Andi Tuck (Thatcher On Acid, Schwarzenegger) on drums, with Saskia Tomkins on fabulous electric violin, who has worked with artistes as diverse as Laurie Anderson and Uriah Heep, as well as recording and gigging with Robb in RJ3. There are guest appearances from old chums and living legends Maggie Holland, Graham Larkbey and Roger Watson, plus two songs where Robb duets with his sons Hari and Arvin, aged 8 and 7 respectively. It's a noisy, warts'n'all record of a splendid night out, and Robb, Roger and Saskia had such fun they plan to record Robb's next album together, but they promise it won't be so punkrock, and Robb won't be playing so much electric guitar...

Buy "Saturday Night at the Fire Station" from Amazon.co.uk with free postage!

Elvis Lives Here (IRR062) - Swill and The Swaggerband

Released 29th May 2006. Distribution by Proper.

Swill, vocalist with the legendary The Men They Couldn't Hang, releases a great album of fine songs and fine performances, backed by The Swaggerband, whose members include Tom "Fast Lane Roogalator" Spencer (son of the late, great John B...), and violin legend Bobby Valentino. The album includes songs co-written with TMTCH's Paul Simmonds, Attila The Stockbroker and Robb Johnson, and it is absolutely essential listening.

Buy "Elvis Lives Here" from Amazon.co.uk for £11.99 with free postage!

For My Next Trick (IRR061) - George Papavgeris

Released 20th March 2006. Distribution by Proper.

George's second Irregular release is another extremely well-crafted collection of very fine songs and very fine performances. An an album that carries the traditions of folk songwriting alive and singing onwards into the 21st Century.

Buy "For My Next Trick" from Amazon.co.uk for £11.69 with free postage!

Mr Jeays (IRR060) - Phil Jeays

Released 1st May 2006. Distribution by Proper.

Philip Jeays is the leading exponent of English chanson. Full stop. He writes the sort of highly literate songs that make most other songwriters feel they need to go away and practise a lot more.

Buy "Mr Jeays" from Amazon.co.uk for £11.69 with free postage!