Formed in Oxford, England in February 1986, the much-maligned Talulah Gosh emerged in the aftermath of the New Musical Express's influential C86 promotion. Taking their name from an NME Clare Grogan interview headline, the group came to symbolize a movement that would come to be tagged as 'shambling'. Its hard-core followers indulged in the fashion of wearing asexual basin haircuts (boys) or straight short fringes (girls), plain anoraks, plus the affectation of a child-like innocence. The music borrowed a great deal from the Ramones, Velvet Underground and US 60s girl-groups, while the lyrics dealt with boy/girl relationships but barely mentioned sex in obvious 'rock'n'roll' terms, and their un-elitist sense of fun endeared them to many. The five-piece band consisted of Peter, Pebbles (Elizabeth), Robert (replaced early by Chris), Marigold (Amelia) and her brother Mathew. One of the group's most popular early songs was 'The Day She Lost Her Pastels Badge". They scored two UK Independent Top 5 singles with 'Steaming Train/Just A Dream' and 'Beatnik Boy/My Best Friend', both on the Edinburgh-based 53rd & 3rd label, which were later compiled on the best-selling 'Steaming train EP' in 1987. Elizabeth Price, who left in December 1986, was replaced by Eithne as second vocalist. Price later created the Cosmic English Music label with Gregory Webster (formerly of the Razorcuts) and as a duo also formed the Carousel. One final UK Independent chart hit ensued for Talulah Gosh with 'Bringing Up Baby' the following year. A later album 'The've scoffed The Lot', released on Sarah Records, compiled tracks from various BBC Radio One sessions from both line-ups. The group split in early 1988, due to university commitments and a consensus that the group had run its course. Eithne and Scott later appeared in Saturn V, while Peter, who had briefly played in the final line-up of the Razorcuts, joined Amelia and Mathew in a successful revival of the 'Gosh formula as Heavenly in 1990. Releases:
Beatnik Boy (7") 1986
on 53rd & 3rd Records - AGARR 004
- Beatnik Boy
- My Best Friend
Steaming Train (7"+12") 1986
on 53rd & 3rd Records - AGARR 005
- Steaming Train
- Just A Dream
- Beatnik Boy (12" only)
- My Best Friend (12" only)
Bringing Up Baby (7"+12") 1987
on 53rd & 3rd Records - AGARR 014
the 12" is called "Where's The Cougar Matey?"
- Candy Coated Kisses (new version)
- Thanks A Million (12" only)
- I Can't Get No Satisfaction (Thank God) (12" only)
- Do You Remember? (12" only)
- Sunny Inside (12" only)
Rock Legends Vol.69 (LP+CD) 1987
on Constrictor Records
Talulah Gosh (7"+12") 1987
on 53rd & 3rd Records - AGARR 008
- Talulah Gosh
- Don't Go Away
- Escalator Over The Hill (12" only)
Testcard Girl (7")
on 53rd & 3rd Records - AGARR 016
- Testcard Girl
- Way Of The World
They've Scoffed The Lot (LP) Feb 1991
on Sarah Records - SARAH 604
Backwash (LP+CD) 1996
on K Label - KLP44
Rock Legends (LP) 1998
on 53rd & 3rd Records - AGAS 004
On compilations:
The indie top 20 Volume 1 (LP) 1987
on Beechwood
- Beatnik Boy
Sha-La-La Flexi 2 (FLX) 1987
on Sha La La Flexis - BA 2
with fanzines "Are You Scared to Get Happy? 3" and "Trout Fishing In Leytonstone 3"
- I Told You So
Lets Try Another Ideal Guest House (LP) 1987
on Shelter/Rough Trade
- My Boy Says
Rough Trade Shops Indiepop 1 (CD2) 3-Oct-2004
on Mute - CDSTUMM 239
500 copies with free 7", released by the Rough Trade shop in London
- Talulah Gosh
CD86 (CD) 23-Oct-2006
on Castle Music CMEDD1420
- Talulah Gosh
