The Jazz Butcher

All

105 releases between 1983 & 2022
2022
The Highest in the Land
It's not often that an artist gets to do a Bowie by consciously carving their personal epitaph into the grooves of their final LP. The Highest in the Land is that rarity of an album, and it could not have been made by a more brilliantly poetic and fearlessly sarcastic writer than Pat Fish, also known as The Jazz Butcher.
Purchase Now
( www.tapeterecords.de )
[The Highest in the Land cover thumbnail]
Tapete Records CD/LP/digital
Never Give Up
In loving memory.
Purchase Now
( cargorecordsdirect.co.uk )
[Never Give Up cover thumbnail]
Glass Modern 7er
2021
Dr Cholmondley Repents: A​-​sides, B​-​Sides and Seasides
Four CD box set gathering A-sides, the would-be hits along with B-sides, tangential 12-inch tracks (the C-sides), and an excellent session for Los Angeles radio station KCRW from 1989.

Includes over a dozen indie chart hits including ‘Southern Mark Smith’, ‘Girl Go’, ‘The Human Jungle’, ‘16 Years’ plus a host of truly eclectic Butcher tunes from his early Glass recordings through his time at Creation.

Purchase Now
( thejazzbutcher.bandcamp.com )
[Dr Cholmondley Repents: A​-​sides, B​-​Sides and Seasides cover thumbnail]
Fire Records 4xCD
2018
The Violent Years
Purchase Now
( thejazzbutcher.bandcamp.com )
[The Violent Years cover thumbnail]
Fire Records 4xCD
2017
The Wasted Years
Featuring ‘Bath Of Bacon’, ‘A Scandal In Bohemia’, ‘Sex And Travel’ and ‘Distressed Gentlefolk’.
Purchase Now
( thejazzbutcher.bandcamp.com )
[The Wasted Years cover thumbnail]
Fire Records 4xCD
Brave New Waves Session
The Jazz Butcher’s Brave New Waves session was recorded on June 5th, 1988 in CBC Studio 13 in Montreal. The recording is taken from CBC Archives reels and remastered at Grey Market Mastering in Montreal, by Harris Newman.
Purchase Now
( www.stormingthebase.com )
[Brave New Waves Session cover thumbnail]
Artoffact Records LP,CD
2016
[VA: Abus Dangereux #126 cover thumbnail]
Abus Dangereux CDR
2015
[All The Saints cover thumbnail]
Fire Records CD
2013
[VA: Northampton Under Glass II cover thumbnail]
White Elephant Records CD
2012
Last of the Gentleman Adventurers
Crowd-funded in under 12 hours, recorded on 2" tape, lush and warm..
Purchase Now
( thejazzbutcher.bandcamp.com )
[Last of the Gentleman Adventurers cover thumbnail]
Tundraducks Records LP;CD
No Known Predators ( project : wilson)
[No Known Predators cover thumbnail]
2011
A Compilation Of Songs And Performances By Alan Moore And Friends ( collaboration : Alan Moore)
Contribution: Trampling Tokyo
[A Compilation Of Songs And Performances By Alan Moore And Friends cover thumbnail]
CD
2010
VA: Now That's What I Call Northampton Vol #1
Contribution: [ mercy, all_the_saints, wildlife ]
[VA: Now That's What I Call Northampton Vol #1 cover thumbnail]
Grass Roots Records CD
2009
VA: Nation Of Saints
Contribution: She's On Drugs
50 Years Of Northampton Music
[VA: Nation Of Saints cover thumbnail]
Dodgem Logic CD
2007
VA: Uncle Andy's Christmas CD (2007)
Contribution: After Hours (Velvet Underground)
We finally asked Pat if he wanted to record one and he said he wouldn’t do a Christmas song, but he would record something … and oh did he do something special for us. He came round and recorded a beautiful version of Afterhours
[VA: Uncle Andy's Christmas CD (2007) cover thumbnail]
CD
2005
VA: 1000 Songs
Contribution: Holiday
This release by the German newspaper "Süddeutsche Zeitung" combines a book and a CD.
[VA: 1000 Songs cover thumbnail]
CD/booklet
November, 2005 Demo (Demo) ( project : wilson)
Two song demo.
[November, 2005 Demo cover thumbnail]
Premier Studios CDR
2004
VA: Straight Through The Sound Barrier ( project : wilson)
Contribution: Quality People (Wilson)
[VA: Straight Through The Sound Barrier cover thumbnail]
Heyday Records CD
2003
The Jazz Butcher's Free Lunch
"You're not a band. You're a crack team of international restaurant critics" - Curtis E. Johnson
Purchase Now
( www.amazon.com )
[The Jazz Butcher's Free Lunch cover thumbnail]
CD
April, 2003 Demo (Demo) ( project : wilson)
Two song demo.
[April, 2003 Demo cover thumbnail]
CDR
2002
2002 Demo (Demo) ( project : wilson)
Six song demo.
[2002 Demo cover thumbnail]
CDR
2001
Cake City
Glass-era compilation.
Purchase Now
( www.amazon.com )
[Cake City cover thumbnail]
Vinyl Japan
2000
[Glorious And Idiotic cover thumbnail]
ROIR CD
Rotten Soul
Well, I'm back from America. We had a good old time of it, and by the end of the tour we had worked 5 songs off the new record into our live set. The title of the new waxing, incidentally, is Rotten Soul.
Purchase Now
( www.amazon.com )
[Rotten Soul cover thumbnail]
Vinyl Japan
VA: Songs For Summer
Contribution: Indian Summer (Beats Happening)
[VA: Songs For Summer cover thumbnail]
Oglio Records
Guest Pass Disc
This was a limited edition CD made available to help fund the JBC tour across the US.

Along with the CD you got an autographed photo and tickets to the JBC show of your choice.

Although it is a "home made" CDR, it was officially released by the JBC and would be pre-paid for pick-up at the show.

[Guest Pass Disc cover thumbnail]
CDR
1998
This Is Sumo ( project : sumo)
This inaugural disk is decidedly un-Butcheresque, with a keyboard-heavy attack of quasi-techno rhythms. Pat was known to dabble in reverb and noise, but the results were moody, melancholy textures, quite unlike the flash of This is Sumo.
[This Is Sumo cover thumbnail]
creation_records
1997
¡Excellent! The Violent Years
Millions of years ago, dinosaurs ruled the Earth. Today the Galileo Space Probe orbits mighty planet Jupiter. The Jazz Butcher Conspiracy first appeared in June 1982 in the back room of the Black Lion in Northampton. They finally drank the bar dry in a small town in in Mallorca on the 20th August 1996
[¡Excellent! The Violent Years cover thumbnail]
creation_records
This Is Sumo (Demo) ( project : sumo)
Unlike the Creation "This Is Sumo" release, Pat sings lead on all tracks.
[This Is Sumo cover thumbnail]
cassette
Audio Aquatic (Demo) ( project : sumo)
"Audio Aquatic" was an early working name for Sumosonic. Most tracks from this tape are the same as the later "Sumosonic Demo Cassette".
[Audio Aquatic cover thumbnail]
cassette
1996
Draining The Glass
Glass Records era compilation.
Purchase Now
( www.amazon.com )
[Draining The Glass cover thumbnail]
Fire Records
Come, Friendly Spacemen ( project : sumo)
The single features: Come, Friendly Spacemen, Monks Of Kung Fu, and Come, Friendly Spacemen (version)
[Come, Friendly Spacemen cover thumbnail]
creation_records CD
Come, Friendly Spacemen (Club) ( project : sumo)
There is a limited-edition vinyl 12er single in the clubs, featuring the long version of Come, Friendly Spacemen alongside re-mixed by Tom Withers of drum n bass combo Override and Johnny Octopus of Octopus Records. The "Sushi" mix is a full on, dark-hearted progressive house tune with an evil bass; the "Jackson Hole" Mix is an insane collision between stadium pop and drum & bass which has to be heard to be believed. The 12er will also feature Monks Of Kung Fu. Any DJ is urged to get in touch with Creation to get a copy.
[Come, Friendly Spacemen (Club) cover thumbnail]
creation_records 12er
VA: Can You Talk To The Dude #2 ( collaboration : Four One And Only's)
Contribution: The U.F.O. Man (Jonathan Richman)
Tribute To Jonathan Richman & The Modern Lovers Volume 2
[VA: Can You Talk To The Dude #2 cover thumbnail]
Aliénor Records CD
VA: Creation Price
Contribution: Girls Say Yes
The Creation Records Promotion Sampler, Distribution Sony Music
[VA: Creation Price cover thumbnail]
Creation/Sony CD
1995
Sixteen Years
At a time when there would appear to be no need for it, here they come again. That Purveyor of some of the most heavenly and enduring pop non-hits you're ever likely to hear has regrouped his gang of aging sociopaths and built himself, in the barns and sheds of Northamptonshire, a band.
[Sixteen Years cover thumbnail]
creation_records
Illuminate
1994 live line-up stumbled through a series of tunes and such under Butcher's direction, aided and abetted by a number of the usual suspects; Alex Lee on guitar, Alex Green on saxes, that sort of thing.
[Illuminate cover thumbnail]
creation_records LP;CD
[VA: Creation Unreleased cover thumbnail]
creation_records CD
1994
[VA: Abus Dangereux #21 cover thumbnail]
Abus Dangereux (magazine) mini CD
VA: Can You Talk To The Dude #1 ( collaboration : Four One And Only's)
Contribution: The U.F.O. Man (Jonathan Richman)
Tribute To Jonathan Richman & The Modern Lovers Volume 2
[VA: Can You Talk To The Dude #1 cover thumbnail]
Aliénor Records CD
[The Patron Saints of Teenage cover thumbnail]
creation_records CD
1993
[Sweet Water cover thumbnail]
creation_records
Waiting For The Love Bus
There's a clean, simple sound to a lot of this that Condition Blue detractors might appreciate. I'm ten years older now than when I made Bath, and right now, after all that morbid stuff, it only really feels like about three. There's rockin' shit and there's a big ballad or two and some weird little pop songs and a nice family sing-along about penguins. I hope you like it.
[Waiting For The Love Bus cover thumbnail]
creation_records, TriStar Records
Western Family
For loonie completists only, for sure, though, if you listen through the muck, you'll see that we did our bit.
[Western Family cover thumbnail]
creation_records CD
VA: Un Automne '93
Contribution: Rosemary Davis' World Of Sound
French Various Artists Compilation.
[VA: Un Automne '93 cover thumbnail]
Virgin CD
Archidoxe ( collaboration : Michel Bulteau)
Pat Fish: instruments & machines
[Archidoxe cover thumbnail]
Cavale CD
l'esprit formidable (Demo) ( project : eg)
[l'esprit formidable cover thumbnail]
cassette
1992
Unconditional
One of the better Creation-era compilations. Canadian release.
[Unconditional cover thumbnail]
Polygram
Peter Murphy (Demo) ( project : eg)
[Peter Murphy cover thumbnail]
Hanoitone Recordings cassette
1991
Condition Blue
For all the pain and crap from which this record was made, the actual sessions were a gigantic and wonderful party. This was warmly received by The Outside World, less popular among those who counted themselves JBC afficionados. This IS the sound of me having fun, and getting me to do that in those dark days of mid-1991 was no small job.
[Condition Blue cover thumbnail]
creation_records, sky_records LP;CD
Edward's Closet
So you've got a CD player, have you? I've got a headache and an abiding dislike of expensive food crews in dumb baseball hats. I've been in Edward's Closet and he wasnt't in. "That JBC", they mutter at the bus-stop, "turned left at the light a Long Time Ago".
[Edward's Closet cover thumbnail]
creation_records CD
[She's A Yo-Yo cover thumbnail]
Sky Records CD
The Black Eg ( project : eg)
Karel's two brothers, Otto and Emil, arrived in Vienna, having taken advantage of the new freedoms introduced by the enlightened government of Vaclav Havel, and Karel obtained in a second hand store and ancient sequential circuits drum machine and a primitive sampler. The Black Eg was born.
[The Black Eg cover thumbnail]
creation_records CD;LP
[VA: American Pensioners On Ecstasy cover thumbnail]
creation_records
The First Three Thousand Years (Demo) ( project : The Vaguely Familiar)
Pat Fish, Richard Formby, Sumishta Brahm
[The First Three Thousand Years cover thumbnail]
cassette
We Are the Traffic (Demo) ( collaboration : Cambodia)
Demo tracks from the August 1991 Pat Fish and Cole Coonce collaboration. Written at the Nitronic Research Wind Tunnels, Los Angeles, California.

cassette
1990
Cult Of The Basement
If things seemed weird back in February 1989, when we made this baby, the Weird were going shopping on bikes. In a farmhouse in the dead of winter, in personal circumstances too bizarre and complex to relate, we set about making our "commercial suicide" album. For the first time, I felt, we had made an album that really sounded like us. This record does have personality. One of my favourites, this.
Purchase Now
( www.amazon.com )
[Cult Of The Basement cover thumbnail]
creation_records, Rough Trade
[Girl-Go cover thumbnail]
creation_records CD
[We Love You cover thumbnail]
creation_records 12er
[VA: Pensioners On Ecstasy cover thumbnail]
creation_records
She's On Drugs
Double A sided single for the Australian market.
[She's On Drugs cover thumbnail]
Shock 7er
1989
Big Planet, Scarey Planet
Early 1989 was, indeed a strange and desperate time after all that triumphalist Tory looting that had been going on. We listened to a lot of hip-hop and soul music at the time, and I think that we considered ourselves sufficiently HARD to take the whole fucker on in an l.p. Possibly with a more "clued-in" producer and a bit more self-discipline we could have come up with something like what we were looking for.
[Big Planet, Scarey Planet cover thumbnail]
creation_records, Genius
New Invention
We trust that you will get off on it.
[New Invention cover thumbnail]
creation_records
1988
Fishcotheque
Having ended up on Creation Records, which I took as a bit of a validation, I was keen to get as far away from all those "w" words that had followed my group around. The sessions were chaotic and funny. What disappoints me is that it came out sounding so SMOOTH and tidy. But I like Fishcotheque; I wish there more records as good as it.
[Fishcotheque cover thumbnail]
creation_records, Relativity Records
Spooky EP
Thanks for the money. We'll be spending it on weapons and drugs. The first thing that you have to understand about this disc is that it is not an L.P.: it is a single and a radio session nailed together for your amusement.
[Spooky EP cover thumbnail]
creation_records
[Spooky 12er cover thumbnail]
creation_records 12er
[VA: Doing It For The Kids cover thumbnail]
creation_records
[Spooky 7er cover thumbnail]
creation_records 7er
1987
VA: Oozing Through the Ozone Layer
Contribution: Elephant Man
This very rare cassette was compiled by Mark Webber and released on his bedroom-based label. The sleeve features artwork by Natty Brooker of Spacemen 3 (who are featured on the cassette) and Spiritualized. The drawing is also titled Oozing Through the Ozone Layer.

Source: Pulp Wiki

[VA: Oozing Through the Ozone Layer cover thumbnail]
Globe of Bulbs cassette
Speedy Gonzalez
Acoustically and lively delivered cover tunes. Essential.
[Speedy Gonzalez cover thumbnail]
Glass Records 7er
1986
Distressed Gentlefolk
We were deeply confused young men when we made this record. Max, Jones and I had all been drinking dangerously for over a year now. Generally, we had it down in concert. In just about every other department, however, we were coming to bits, individually and collectively, and to me this record actually shows the morbid state of things at the time.
Purchase Now
( www.amazon.com )
[Distressed Gentlefolk cover thumbnail]
glass_records, BigTime Records
Bloody Nonsense
The Jazz Butcher and his group are not in the business of belonging; they are too old and too obstreperous to conform to some attention-seeking image or commercially viable formula. Rather, they bring their not inconsiderable talents to bear on whatever happens to be in the way at the time. The results can only be described as essential.
[Bloody Nonsense cover thumbnail]
BigTime
Hard
This record is all about love. Don't let the psychic molestation syndrome get to you. This is our loudest record to date, which is something to do with the elephants.
[Hard cover thumbnail]
Glass Records 7er, 12er
Conspiracy
Ever wondered what Max and I get up to away from the glamour of the modern stage? No, probably not, but let me tell you that there is nothing we like better that to get our teeth into those Big Questions.
[Conspiracy cover thumbnail]
Glass Records LP
[Angels cover thumbnail]
Glass Records 12"
Conspiracy
Ever wondered what Max and I get up to away from the glamour of the modern stage? No, probably not, but let me tell you that there is nothing we like better that to get our teeth into those Big Questions.
[Conspiracy cover thumbnail]
Glass Records 12er
[VA: A Big Time Sampler cover thumbnail]
BigTime 7er
[Angels cover thumbnail]
BigTime 7er
1985
Sex And Travel
Having exhausted the initial stick of JB songs, I was obliged for the first time to write about my life as it was at the time. I think that now we had started to learn about actually creating recordings rather than just recording the sound of a bunch of pals fooling around. This one I'd actually defend at length if I had to.
[Sex And Travel cover thumbnail]
Glass Records
Hamburg
We were all disappointed at the way this came out. The concert was great, but logistics prevented us from making anything much more than a glorified bootleg. Still, live albums are best as souvenirs anyway, so I guess some people regard it fondly. Lots of entertaining photos to look at anyway...
[Hamburg cover thumbnail]
glass_records, Rebel LP
The Gift Of Music
This record collects together the various singles that have been issued in England to date under the much-abused name of the Jazz Butcher, to wit: me. I rather like having them all in one place like this - it makes for a nice, noisey muck-it-up sort of disc that is ideal for leisure time at home, on the beach, in you local club.... hell, ANYWHERE!!!
[The Gift Of Music cover thumbnail]
Glass Records
Real Men
Real Men, the kind who never sit together on buses in case they get their medallions tangled.
[Real Men cover thumbnail]
Glass Records 12er
The Human Jungle
The title comes from a rather noir little TV series from the early Sixties wherein the great Herbert Lom played the extremely sexy and not entirely unbrilliant Dr. Alexander Kordu, a psychiatrist with the handy ability to sort out even the most appalling cases within sixty minutes.
[The Human Jungle cover thumbnail]
Glass Records 7er, 12er
[Christmas With The Pygmies cover thumbnail]
Glass Records 7er
VA: Abstract Magazine #5
Contribution: Leaving It Up To You (John Cale)
[VA: Abstract Magazine #5 cover thumbnail]
Sweatbox 12er
VA: Gunfire & Pianos
Contribution: Lost In France (Scott/Wolfe)
The Jazz Butcher contribution subsequently appeared as an additional track on The Gift of Music.
Source: Perfection As A Hipster 2000-10-10 (Tuesday, 10th of October 2000 - 24 years 65 days ago)
[VA: Gunfire & Pianos cover thumbnail]
Situation Two
1984
A Scandal In Bohemia
The Albatross. A record, I feel, of its time. We were young(ish) and cocky and I think it shows. I still haven't learned to sing on this one, which bugs me too. Still, it was cheap and cheerful, and it helped us to meet an awful lot of people.
Purchase Now
( www.amazon.com )
[A Scandal In Bohemia cover thumbnail]
Glass Records
Marnie 12er
An attempt to force a meeting between the steaming tropical jungles of Bangladesh (where the tigers live) and the frozen stepps of Siberia (where the Siberian tigers live).
[Marnie 12er cover thumbnail]
Glass Records 12er
[Roadrunner cover thumbnail]
Glass Records 12er
VA: Another Spark
Contribution: Inside Your Heart (Velvet Underground)
[VA: Another Spark cover thumbnail]
Another Spark cassette
VA: Shadow and Substance (The Wonderful World Of Glass Volume 2)
Contribution: Affection (Jonathan Richman)
A lovely interpretation of the Jonathan Richman classic which was originally released in 1979 on the Back In Your Life LP by Jonathan Richman And The Modern Lovers.
Source: Perfection As A Hipster 2000-10-10 (Tuesday, 10th of October 2000 - 24 years 65 days ago)
[VA: Shadow and Substance (The Wonderful World Of Glass Volume 2) cover thumbnail]
Glass Records LP
VA: What A Nice Way To Turn Seventeen # 3
Contribution: Water
Originally issued with the magazine 'What A Nice Way To Turn Seventeen' Issue 3. Publishing details, credits and brief biographies contained in the magazine. Assembled at Woodbine St. Recording Studios, Leamington Spa with thanks to John A. Rivers.
[VA: What A Nice Way To Turn Seventeen # 3 cover thumbnail]
Rather Records LP
[Marnie 7er cover thumbnail]
Glass Records 7er
City of Silver
Contribution: President Reagan's Birthday Present
"Originally the song appeared on a compilation from 1983 called 'City of Silver, which came out on Plastic Head Records. It was an imaginary compilation of bands from Los Angeles, one of which was 'The Plymouth Fastbacks' who performed 'Red Russians Shot My Rocket Down'. Max and I (we were, in fact, 'The Plymouth Fastbacks') were sent a little sequenced bass loop. We simply climbed on back of that and wigged out; The song on 'Sex & Travel' is a remodelling with the whole band."
Source: Pat Fish - from "Miracles & Wonders" 2000-10-10 (Tuesday, 10th of October 2000 - 24 years 65 days ago)
[City of Silver cover thumbnail]
Plastic Head Records LP
1983
Bath Of Bacon
It's really just the sound of a few mates failing to take seriously the fact they they've got an l.p. to make. It seems VERY early eighties now, but you must remember that there was a LOT of crap for us to clear out of the way in those days.
[Bath Of Bacon cover thumbnail]
Glass Records LP;CD
Southern Mark Smith
Recorded in the summer of 1983 in a place called Wellingborough, a small town in the middle of England where even the children are scarey!
[Southern Mark Smith cover thumbnail]
Glass Records 7er
VA: What A Nice Way To Turn Seventeen # 2
Contribution: The Chinese Envoy (John Cale)
The Jazz Butcher cover version is unavailable elsewhere. Interestingly enough, the same must be said about the other contributions ... The Rag Dolls were an early and short-living band of Dave Kusworth (Jacobites), Missionary Boy features Nikki Sudden himself on vocals (and is therefore better than the version that appears on The Bible Belt LP with Lizard on vocals) while Sad Go Round was The Swell Maps (!) in disguise. Obviously essential, this highly sought after split single came with a fanzine.
Source: Perfection As A Hipster 2000-10-10 (Tuesday, 10th of October 2000 - 24 years 65 days ago)
[VA: What A Nice Way To Turn Seventeen # 2 cover thumbnail]
Rather Records LP
Blood on the Cats
Contribution: The Jazz Butcher Meets Count Dracula
heavier mix compared to "Draining..." version. The backing vocals are persistent through the entire song unlike "Draining..." version
Source: MonkeeMan 2021-07-01 (Thursday, 1st of July 2021 - 3 years 161 days ago)
[Blood on the Cats cover thumbnail]
Anagram LP,VHS

Albums

16 releases between 1983 & 2022
2022
The Highest in the Land
It's not often that an artist gets to do a Bowie by consciously carving their personal epitaph into the grooves of their final LP. The Highest in the Land is that rarity of an album, and it could not have been made by a more brilliantly poetic and fearlessly sarcastic writer than Pat Fish, also known as The Jazz Butcher.
Purchase Now
( www.tapeterecords.de )
[The Highest in the Land cover thumbnail]
Tapete Records CD/LP/digital
2012
Last of the Gentleman Adventurers
Crowd-funded in under 12 hours, recorded on 2" tape, lush and warm..
Purchase Now
( thejazzbutcher.bandcamp.com )
[Last of the Gentleman Adventurers cover thumbnail]
Tundraducks Records LP;CD
2000
Rotten Soul
Well, I'm back from America. We had a good old time of it, and by the end of the tour we had worked 5 songs off the new record into our live set. The title of the new waxing, incidentally, is Rotten Soul.
Purchase Now
( www.amazon.com )
[Rotten Soul cover thumbnail]
Vinyl Japan
1998
This Is Sumo ( project : sumo)
This inaugural disk is decidedly un-Butcheresque, with a keyboard-heavy attack of quasi-techno rhythms. Pat was known to dabble in reverb and noise, but the results were moody, melancholy textures, quite unlike the flash of This is Sumo.
[This Is Sumo cover thumbnail]
creation_records
1995
Illuminate
1994 live line-up stumbled through a series of tunes and such under Butcher's direction, aided and abetted by a number of the usual suspects; Alex Lee on guitar, Alex Green on saxes, that sort of thing.
[Illuminate cover thumbnail]
creation_records LP;CD
1993
Waiting For The Love Bus
There's a clean, simple sound to a lot of this that Condition Blue detractors might appreciate. I'm ten years older now than when I made Bath, and right now, after all that morbid stuff, it only really feels like about three. There's rockin' shit and there's a big ballad or two and some weird little pop songs and a nice family sing-along about penguins. I hope you like it.
[Waiting For The Love Bus cover thumbnail]
creation_records, TriStar Records
1991
Condition Blue
For all the pain and crap from which this record was made, the actual sessions were a gigantic and wonderful party. This was warmly received by The Outside World, less popular among those who counted themselves JBC afficionados. This IS the sound of me having fun, and getting me to do that in those dark days of mid-1991 was no small job.
[Condition Blue cover thumbnail]
creation_records, sky_records LP;CD
The Black Eg ( project : eg)
Karel's two brothers, Otto and Emil, arrived in Vienna, having taken advantage of the new freedoms introduced by the enlightened government of Vaclav Havel, and Karel obtained in a second hand store and ancient sequential circuits drum machine and a primitive sampler. The Black Eg was born.
[The Black Eg cover thumbnail]
creation_records CD;LP
1990
Cult Of The Basement
If things seemed weird back in February 1989, when we made this baby, the Weird were going shopping on bikes. In a farmhouse in the dead of winter, in personal circumstances too bizarre and complex to relate, we set about making our "commercial suicide" album. For the first time, I felt, we had made an album that really sounded like us. This record does have personality. One of my favourites, this.
Purchase Now
( www.amazon.com )
[Cult Of The Basement cover thumbnail]
creation_records, Rough Trade
1989
Big Planet, Scarey Planet
Early 1989 was, indeed a strange and desperate time after all that triumphalist Tory looting that had been going on. We listened to a lot of hip-hop and soul music at the time, and I think that we considered ourselves sufficiently HARD to take the whole fucker on in an l.p. Possibly with a more "clued-in" producer and a bit more self-discipline we could have come up with something like what we were looking for.
[Big Planet, Scarey Planet cover thumbnail]
creation_records, Genius
1988
Fishcotheque
Having ended up on Creation Records, which I took as a bit of a validation, I was keen to get as far away from all those "w" words that had followed my group around. The sessions were chaotic and funny. What disappoints me is that it came out sounding so SMOOTH and tidy. But I like Fishcotheque; I wish there more records as good as it.
[Fishcotheque cover thumbnail]
creation_records, Relativity Records
1986
Distressed Gentlefolk
We were deeply confused young men when we made this record. Max, Jones and I had all been drinking dangerously for over a year now. Generally, we had it down in concert. In just about every other department, however, we were coming to bits, individually and collectively, and to me this record actually shows the morbid state of things at the time.
Purchase Now
( www.amazon.com )
[Distressed Gentlefolk cover thumbnail]
glass_records, BigTime Records
Conspiracy
Ever wondered what Max and I get up to away from the glamour of the modern stage? No, probably not, but let me tell you that there is nothing we like better that to get our teeth into those Big Questions.
[Conspiracy cover thumbnail]
Glass Records LP
1985
Sex And Travel
Having exhausted the initial stick of JB songs, I was obliged for the first time to write about my life as it was at the time. I think that now we had started to learn about actually creating recordings rather than just recording the sound of a bunch of pals fooling around. This one I'd actually defend at length if I had to.
[Sex And Travel cover thumbnail]
Glass Records
1984
A Scandal In Bohemia
The Albatross. A record, I feel, of its time. We were young(ish) and cocky and I think it shows. I still haven't learned to sing on this one, which bugs me too. Still, it was cheap and cheerful, and it helped us to meet an awful lot of people.
Purchase Now
( www.amazon.com )
[A Scandal In Bohemia cover thumbnail]
Glass Records
1983
Bath Of Bacon
It's really just the sound of a few mates failing to take seriously the fact they they've got an l.p. to make. It seems VERY early eighties now, but you must remember that there was a LOT of crap for us to clear out of the way in those days.
[Bath Of Bacon cover thumbnail]
Glass Records LP;CD

EPs

3 releases between 1986 & 1988
1988
Spooky EP
Thanks for the money. We'll be spending it on weapons and drugs. The first thing that you have to understand about this disc is that it is not an L.P.: it is a single and a radio session nailed together for your amusement.
[Spooky EP cover thumbnail]
creation_records
1987
Speedy Gonzalez
Acoustically and lively delivered cover tunes. Essential.
[Speedy Gonzalez cover thumbnail]
Glass Records 7er
1986
Conspiracy
Ever wondered what Max and I get up to away from the glamour of the modern stage? No, probably not, but let me tell you that there is nothing we like better that to get our teeth into those Big Questions.
[Conspiracy cover thumbnail]
Glass Records 12er

Singles

26 releases between 1983 & 2022
2022
Never Give Up
In loving memory.
Purchase Now
( cargorecordsdirect.co.uk )
[Never Give Up cover thumbnail]
Glass Modern 7er
2015
[All The Saints cover thumbnail]
Fire Records CD
1996
Come, Friendly Spacemen ( project : sumo)
The single features: Come, Friendly Spacemen, Monks Of Kung Fu, and Come, Friendly Spacemen (version)
[Come, Friendly Spacemen cover thumbnail]
creation_records CD
Come, Friendly Spacemen (Club) ( project : sumo)
There is a limited-edition vinyl 12er single in the clubs, featuring the long version of Come, Friendly Spacemen alongside re-mixed by Tom Withers of drum n bass combo Override and Johnny Octopus of Octopus Records. The "Sushi" mix is a full on, dark-hearted progressive house tune with an evil bass; the "Jackson Hole" Mix is an insane collision between stadium pop and drum & bass which has to be heard to be believed. The 12er will also feature Monks Of Kung Fu. Any DJ is urged to get in touch with Creation to get a copy.
[Come, Friendly Spacemen (Club) cover thumbnail]
creation_records 12er
1995
Sixteen Years
At a time when there would appear to be no need for it, here they come again. That Purveyor of some of the most heavenly and enduring pop non-hits you're ever likely to hear has regrouped his gang of aging sociopaths and built himself, in the barns and sheds of Northamptonshire, a band.
[Sixteen Years cover thumbnail]
creation_records
1993
[Sweet Water cover thumbnail]
creation_records
1991
[She's A Yo-Yo cover thumbnail]
Sky Records CD
1990
[Girl-Go cover thumbnail]
creation_records CD
[We Love You cover thumbnail]
creation_records 12er
She's On Drugs
Double A sided single for the Australian market.
[She's On Drugs cover thumbnail]
Shock 7er
1989
New Invention
We trust that you will get off on it.
[New Invention cover thumbnail]
creation_records
1988
[Spooky 12er cover thumbnail]
creation_records 12er
[Spooky 7er cover thumbnail]
creation_records 7er
1986
Hard
This record is all about love. Don't let the psychic molestation syndrome get to you. This is our loudest record to date, which is something to do with the elephants.
[Hard cover thumbnail]
Glass Records 7er, 12er
[Angels cover thumbnail]
Glass Records 12"
[Angels cover thumbnail]
BigTime 7er
1985
Real Men
Real Men, the kind who never sit together on buses in case they get their medallions tangled.
[Real Men cover thumbnail]
Glass Records 12er
The Human Jungle
The title comes from a rather noir little TV series from the early Sixties wherein the great Herbert Lom played the extremely sexy and not entirely unbrilliant Dr. Alexander Kordu, a psychiatrist with the handy ability to sort out even the most appalling cases within sixty minutes.
[The Human Jungle cover thumbnail]
Glass Records 7er, 12er
[Christmas With The Pygmies cover thumbnail]
Glass Records 7er
1984
Marnie 12er
An attempt to force a meeting between the steaming tropical jungles of Bangladesh (where the tigers live) and the frozen stepps of Siberia (where the Siberian tigers live).
[Marnie 12er cover thumbnail]
Glass Records 12er
[Roadrunner cover thumbnail]
Glass Records 12er
[Marnie 7er cover thumbnail]
Glass Records 7er
1983
Southern Mark Smith
Recorded in the summer of 1983 in a place called Wellingborough, a small town in the middle of England where even the children are scarey!
[Southern Mark Smith cover thumbnail]
Glass Records 7er

Live

5 releases between 1985 & 2017
2017
Brave New Waves Session
The Jazz Butcher’s Brave New Waves session was recorded on June 5th, 1988 in CBC Studio 13 in Montreal. The recording is taken from CBC Archives reels and remastered at Grey Market Mastering in Montreal, by Harris Newman.
Purchase Now
( www.stormingthebase.com )
[Brave New Waves Session cover thumbnail]
Artoffact Records LP,CD
2012
No Known Predators ( project : wilson)
[No Known Predators cover thumbnail]
2000
[Glorious And Idiotic cover thumbnail]
ROIR CD
1993
Western Family
For loonie completists only, for sure, though, if you listen through the muck, you'll see that we did our bit.
[Western Family cover thumbnail]
creation_records CD
1985
Hamburg
We were all disappointed at the way this came out. The concert was great, but logistics prevented us from making anything much more than a glorified bootleg. Still, live albums are best as souvenirs anyway, so I guess some people regard it fondly. Lots of entertaining photos to look at anyway...
[Hamburg cover thumbnail]
glass_records, Rebel LP

Comps.

12 releases between 1985 & 2021
2021
Dr Cholmondley Repents: A​-​sides, B​-​Sides and Seasides
Four CD box set gathering A-sides, the would-be hits along with B-sides, tangential 12-inch tracks (the C-sides), and an excellent session for Los Angeles radio station KCRW from 1989.

Includes over a dozen indie chart hits including ‘Southern Mark Smith’, ‘Girl Go’, ‘The Human Jungle’, ‘16 Years’ plus a host of truly eclectic Butcher tunes from his early Glass recordings through his time at Creation.

Purchase Now
( thejazzbutcher.bandcamp.com )
[Dr Cholmondley Repents: A​-​sides, B​-​Sides and Seasides cover thumbnail]
Fire Records 4xCD
2018
The Violent Years
Purchase Now
( thejazzbutcher.bandcamp.com )
[The Violent Years cover thumbnail]
Fire Records 4xCD
2017
The Wasted Years
Featuring ‘Bath Of Bacon’, ‘A Scandal In Bohemia’, ‘Sex And Travel’ and ‘Distressed Gentlefolk’.
Purchase Now
( thejazzbutcher.bandcamp.com )
[The Wasted Years cover thumbnail]
Fire Records 4xCD
2003
The Jazz Butcher's Free Lunch
"You're not a band. You're a crack team of international restaurant critics" - Curtis E. Johnson
Purchase Now
( www.amazon.com )
[The Jazz Butcher's Free Lunch cover thumbnail]
CD
2001
Cake City
Glass-era compilation.
Purchase Now
( www.amazon.com )
[Cake City cover thumbnail]
Vinyl Japan
1997
¡Excellent! The Violent Years
Millions of years ago, dinosaurs ruled the Earth. Today the Galileo Space Probe orbits mighty planet Jupiter. The Jazz Butcher Conspiracy first appeared in June 1982 in the back room of the Black Lion in Northampton. They finally drank the bar dry in a small town in in Mallorca on the 20th August 1996
[¡Excellent! The Violent Years cover thumbnail]
creation_records
1996
Draining The Glass
Glass Records era compilation.
Purchase Now
( www.amazon.com )
[Draining The Glass cover thumbnail]
Fire Records
1992
Unconditional
One of the better Creation-era compilations. Canadian release.
[Unconditional cover thumbnail]
Polygram
1991
Edward's Closet
So you've got a CD player, have you? I've got a headache and an abiding dislike of expensive food crews in dumb baseball hats. I've been in Edward's Closet and he wasnt't in. "That JBC", they mutter at the bus-stop, "turned left at the light a Long Time Ago".
[Edward's Closet cover thumbnail]
creation_records CD
1987
1986
Bloody Nonsense
The Jazz Butcher and his group are not in the business of belonging; they are too old and too obstreperous to conform to some attention-seeking image or commercially viable formula. Rather, they bring their not inconsiderable talents to bear on whatever happens to be in the way at the time. The results can only be described as essential.
[Bloody Nonsense cover thumbnail]
BigTime
1985
The Gift Of Music
This record collects together the various singles that have been issued in England to date under the much-abused name of the Jazz Butcher, to wit: me. I rather like having them all in one place like this - it makes for a nice, noisey muck-it-up sort of disc that is ideal for leisure time at home, on the beach, in you local club.... hell, ANYWHERE!!!
[The Gift Of Music cover thumbnail]
Glass Records

Projects

14 releases between 1991 & 2012
2012
No Known Predators ( project : wilson)
[No Known Predators cover thumbnail]
2005
November, 2005 Demo (Demo) ( project : wilson)
Two song demo.
[November, 2005 Demo cover thumbnail]
Premier Studios CDR
2004
VA: Straight Through The Sound Barrier ( project : wilson)
Contribution: Quality People (Wilson)
[VA: Straight Through The Sound Barrier cover thumbnail]
Heyday Records CD
2003
April, 2003 Demo (Demo) ( project : wilson)
Two song demo.
[April, 2003 Demo cover thumbnail]
CDR
2002
2002 Demo (Demo) ( project : wilson)
Six song demo.
[2002 Demo cover thumbnail]
CDR
1998
This Is Sumo ( project : sumo)
This inaugural disk is decidedly un-Butcheresque, with a keyboard-heavy attack of quasi-techno rhythms. Pat was known to dabble in reverb and noise, but the results were moody, melancholy textures, quite unlike the flash of This is Sumo.
[This Is Sumo cover thumbnail]
creation_records
1997
This Is Sumo (Demo) ( project : sumo)
Unlike the Creation "This Is Sumo" release, Pat sings lead on all tracks.
[This Is Sumo cover thumbnail]
cassette
Audio Aquatic (Demo) ( project : sumo)
"Audio Aquatic" was an early working name for Sumosonic. Most tracks from this tape are the same as the later "Sumosonic Demo Cassette".
[Audio Aquatic cover thumbnail]
cassette
1996
Come, Friendly Spacemen ( project : sumo)
The single features: Come, Friendly Spacemen, Monks Of Kung Fu, and Come, Friendly Spacemen (version)
[Come, Friendly Spacemen cover thumbnail]
creation_records CD
Come, Friendly Spacemen (Club) ( project : sumo)
There is a limited-edition vinyl 12er single in the clubs, featuring the long version of Come, Friendly Spacemen alongside re-mixed by Tom Withers of drum n bass combo Override and Johnny Octopus of Octopus Records. The "Sushi" mix is a full on, dark-hearted progressive house tune with an evil bass; the "Jackson Hole" Mix is an insane collision between stadium pop and drum & bass which has to be heard to be believed. The 12er will also feature Monks Of Kung Fu. Any DJ is urged to get in touch with Creation to get a copy.
[Come, Friendly Spacemen (Club) cover thumbnail]
creation_records 12er
1993
l'esprit formidable (Demo) ( project : eg)
[l'esprit formidable cover thumbnail]
cassette
1992
Peter Murphy (Demo) ( project : eg)
[Peter Murphy cover thumbnail]
Hanoitone Recordings cassette
1991
The Black Eg ( project : eg)
Karel's two brothers, Otto and Emil, arrived in Vienna, having taken advantage of the new freedoms introduced by the enlightened government of Vaclav Havel, and Karel obtained in a second hand store and ancient sequential circuits drum machine and a primitive sampler. The Black Eg was born.
[The Black Eg cover thumbnail]
creation_records CD;LP
The First Three Thousand Years (Demo) ( project : The Vaguely Familiar)
Pat Fish, Richard Formby, Sumishta Brahm
[The First Three Thousand Years cover thumbnail]
cassette

Various

32 releases between 1983 & 2016
2016
[VA: Abus Dangereux #126 cover thumbnail]
Abus Dangereux CDR
2013
[VA: Northampton Under Glass II cover thumbnail]
White Elephant Records CD
2011
A Compilation Of Songs And Performances By Alan Moore And Friends ( collaboration : Alan Moore)
Contribution: Trampling Tokyo
[A Compilation Of Songs And Performances By Alan Moore And Friends cover thumbnail]
CD
2010
VA: Now That's What I Call Northampton Vol #1
Contribution: [ mercy, all_the_saints, wildlife ]
[VA: Now That's What I Call Northampton Vol #1 cover thumbnail]
Grass Roots Records CD
2009
VA: Nation Of Saints
Contribution: She's On Drugs
50 Years Of Northampton Music
[VA: Nation Of Saints cover thumbnail]
Dodgem Logic CD
2007
VA: Uncle Andy's Christmas CD (2007)
Contribution: After Hours (Velvet Underground)
We finally asked Pat if he wanted to record one and he said he wouldn’t do a Christmas song, but he would record something … and oh did he do something special for us. He came round and recorded a beautiful version of Afterhours
[VA: Uncle Andy's Christmas CD (2007) cover thumbnail]
CD
2005
VA: 1000 Songs
Contribution: Holiday
This release by the German newspaper "Süddeutsche Zeitung" combines a book and a CD.
[VA: 1000 Songs cover thumbnail]
CD/booklet
2004
VA: Straight Through The Sound Barrier ( project : wilson)
Contribution: Quality People (Wilson)
[VA: Straight Through The Sound Barrier cover thumbnail]
Heyday Records CD
2000
VA: Songs For Summer
Contribution: Indian Summer (Beats Happening)
[VA: Songs For Summer cover thumbnail]
Oglio Records
1996
VA: Can You Talk To The Dude #2 ( collaboration : Four One And Only's)
Contribution: The U.F.O. Man (Jonathan Richman)
Tribute To Jonathan Richman & The Modern Lovers Volume 2
[VA: Can You Talk To The Dude #2 cover thumbnail]
Aliénor Records CD
VA: Creation Price
Contribution: Girls Say Yes
The Creation Records Promotion Sampler, Distribution Sony Music
[VA: Creation Price cover thumbnail]
Creation/Sony CD
1995
[VA: Creation Unreleased cover thumbnail]
creation_records CD
1994
[VA: Abus Dangereux #21 cover thumbnail]
Abus Dangereux (magazine) mini CD
VA: Can You Talk To The Dude #1 ( collaboration : Four One And Only's)
Contribution: The U.F.O. Man (Jonathan Richman)
Tribute To Jonathan Richman & The Modern Lovers Volume 2
[VA: Can You Talk To The Dude #1 cover thumbnail]
Aliénor Records CD
[The Patron Saints of Teenage cover thumbnail]
creation_records CD
1993
VA: Un Automne '93
Contribution: Rosemary Davis' World Of Sound
French Various Artists Compilation.
[VA: Un Automne '93 cover thumbnail]
Virgin CD
1991
[VA: American Pensioners On Ecstasy cover thumbnail]
creation_records
1990
[VA: Pensioners On Ecstasy cover thumbnail]
creation_records
1988
[VA: Doing It For The Kids cover thumbnail]
creation_records
1987
VA: Oozing Through the Ozone Layer
Contribution: Elephant Man
This very rare cassette was compiled by Mark Webber and released on his bedroom-based label. The sleeve features artwork by Natty Brooker of Spacemen 3 (who are featured on the cassette) and Spiritualized. The drawing is also titled Oozing Through the Ozone Layer.

Source: Pulp Wiki

[VA: Oozing Through the Ozone Layer cover thumbnail]
Globe of Bulbs cassette
1986
[VA: A Big Time Sampler cover thumbnail]
BigTime 7er
1985
VA: Abstract Magazine #5
Contribution: Leaving It Up To You (John Cale)
[VA: Abstract Magazine #5 cover thumbnail]
Sweatbox 12er
VA: Gunfire & Pianos
Contribution: Lost In France (Scott/Wolfe)
The Jazz Butcher contribution subsequently appeared as an additional track on The Gift of Music.
Source: Perfection As A Hipster 2000-10-10 (Tuesday, 10th of October 2000 - 24 years 65 days ago)
[VA: Gunfire & Pianos cover thumbnail]
Situation Two
1984
VA: Another Spark
Contribution: Inside Your Heart (Velvet Underground)
[VA: Another Spark cover thumbnail]
Another Spark cassette
VA: Shadow and Substance (The Wonderful World Of Glass Volume 2)
Contribution: Affection (Jonathan Richman)
A lovely interpretation of the Jonathan Richman classic which was originally released in 1979 on the Back In Your Life LP by Jonathan Richman And The Modern Lovers.
Source: Perfection As A Hipster 2000-10-10 (Tuesday, 10th of October 2000 - 24 years 65 days ago)
[VA: Shadow and Substance (The Wonderful World Of Glass Volume 2) cover thumbnail]
Glass Records LP
VA: What A Nice Way To Turn Seventeen # 3
Contribution: Water
Originally issued with the magazine 'What A Nice Way To Turn Seventeen' Issue 3. Publishing details, credits and brief biographies contained in the magazine. Assembled at Woodbine St. Recording Studios, Leamington Spa with thanks to John A. Rivers.
[VA: What A Nice Way To Turn Seventeen # 3 cover thumbnail]
Rather Records LP
City of Silver
Contribution: President Reagan's Birthday Present
"Originally the song appeared on a compilation from 1983 called 'City of Silver, which came out on Plastic Head Records. It was an imaginary compilation of bands from Los Angeles, one of which was 'The Plymouth Fastbacks' who performed 'Red Russians Shot My Rocket Down'. Max and I (we were, in fact, 'The Plymouth Fastbacks') were sent a little sequenced bass loop. We simply climbed on back of that and wigged out; The song on 'Sex & Travel' is a remodelling with the whole band."
Source: Pat Fish - from "Miracles & Wonders" 2000-10-10 (Tuesday, 10th of October 2000 - 24 years 65 days ago)
[City of Silver cover thumbnail]
Plastic Head Records LP
1983
VA: What A Nice Way To Turn Seventeen # 2
Contribution: The Chinese Envoy (John Cale)
The Jazz Butcher cover version is unavailable elsewhere. Interestingly enough, the same must be said about the other contributions ... The Rag Dolls were an early and short-living band of Dave Kusworth (Jacobites), Missionary Boy features Nikki Sudden himself on vocals (and is therefore better than the version that appears on The Bible Belt LP with Lizard on vocals) while Sad Go Round was The Swell Maps (!) in disguise. Obviously essential, this highly sought after split single came with a fanzine.
Source: Perfection As A Hipster 2000-10-10 (Tuesday, 10th of October 2000 - 24 years 65 days ago)
[VA: What A Nice Way To Turn Seventeen # 2 cover thumbnail]
Rather Records LP
Blood on the Cats
Contribution: The Jazz Butcher Meets Count Dracula
heavier mix compared to "Draining..." version. The backing vocals are persistent through the entire song unlike "Draining..." version
Source: MonkeeMan 2021-07-01 (Thursday, 1st of July 2021 - 3 years 161 days ago)
[Blood on the Cats cover thumbnail]
Anagram LP,VHS
3rd party contributions