The Jazz Butcher Conspiracy - Southern Mark Smith (Big Return) | Viewer request 

i had the priviledge of meeting the Jazz Butcher, aka Pat Fish, several times... a genuinely nice guy, a great lyricist, a great musician. First time i met him was in a beer garden behind an English pub where he was playing. he was scribbling in his notebook, but took time out to buy me a pint (or seven) for turning up

Hi guys I'm really glad you liked this. It is quite hard to find the track info online. He does name check the band in the song with the line " me and Max and Dave and Jones we think you have to go out there and stop it". Pat Fish, Max Eider, David J. and Owen Jones. It took a lot of digging to find who played the organ but it was Owen Jones. This was my very first suggestion on Into The Music. Greg was talking about the music he heard on Uni radio i the 80s so I mentioned this song thinking he might have known it. The next day I got home from work, turned on the Marc Riley show and the first words out of his mouth were " R.I.P. Pat Fish aka The Jazz Butcher ". He then played this song. I couldn't believe it. I sent Greg another message telling him he just died. Greg said he'd play a song and he played the song Angels which was quite appropriate. Thanks again for playing this. Take care guys.

I know they had a moderately successful song on my alternative station ,but I didn’t recognize any of the songs I sampled before listening to this. That being said enjoyed this a lot. In my search I found they did an excellent cover of The Modern Lovers Roadrunner.

Wow, I wasn't expecting to like this, but how can you not. So many mid 80s sounds in one song, yet still distinctive and beautiful. Robert Smith guitar, then Roddy Frame guitar, but a sound of his own. I've always heard of him, but never gave them the chance.

Brilliant thanks

I’m not familiar with The Jazz Butcher, although I have heard this song before. It’s a really nice period piece. The jangling guitars, the ordinary bloke having a great go vocals and the sardonic lyrics. It’s certainly nostalgic for me and gives me a fuzzy glow. RIP Pat Fish.

Dear Chaps, Thank you very much for this. I remember The Jazz Butcher as being from Northampton as I was also from the Midlands. I never saw them but I had friends who knew / saw them. They were on Glass Records and used John A. Rivers for production. This reminds me of an old school friend who's band also had an album on Glass and they used John A. Rivers' studio, which I think was in Leamington Spa. For some reason, the song really reminded me of Orange Juice. You may want to try Orange Juice - Falling and Laughing (am I the only one that thought that). To brighten up your day, here are a couple of songs. I know that off camera, you often discuss what is the greatest ever dub reggae track. Here is the answer. (in my humble opinion this is one of the greatest songs of all time of any genre - for some reason I always find this song quite emotional) Augustus Pablo - King Tubby Meets Rockers Uptown What were you doing when you were about 18 or 19 years old? This is what The Pop Group were doing. (what have I done with my life?) The Pop Group - We Are Time (Live Glastonbury 1979) Keep up the good work chaps

Great song, I do know this track thanks to Glenn. Really enjoyed the show thanks all.

Nice one! I've never heard of this before, but it's right up my mid 80s indie ally. It has a Postcard feel about it, even though he's southern. I'll need to add it to a playlist. Thx guys!

enjoyed this deep cut

The best, The Jazz Butcher

Discogs says almost everyone on the album is uncredited, but gives Pat Fish (under various names), Max Eider, David Haskins (bass), ? (organ) (could be any of them) and Owen Jones (drums) (not the impractical idealist who writes for The Guardian). For what it's worth, I was picking up all sorts of probably-intentional lyrical and musical references in both versions, as well as the obvious one in the title of this one, and thought this wild thing even camper than Beethoven until I found that was later. Like Jon, I prefer this version. I was even getting hints of "All the Way from America", especially in the outros. I'd have thought a southern Mark E Smith would come from somewhere like Wilmslow. (OK boy, let me hear you spell Wilmslow - a lyrics reference so obscure I'll have to post the YT ID glB6ZJfrEzs).

I'm wondering if Andy checked out the other version of this song. I agree with Jon. This one is much better. I'm pretty sure Andy will feel the same. A few of my other favourite songs by them are Nothing Special, Partytime and Next Move Sideways. Like SMS Partytime has two versions and again I prefer the redone version. Their song Who Loves You Now sounds like a sugary sweet love song if you don't pay close attention to the lyrics. Pat Fish' dark sense of humour at it's best.

How about some Nightingales? I’d recommend ‘The End Began Somewhere’. from ‘Four Against Fate’. Over 40 years in the business and Rob Lloyd and his fabulously talented band are writing some of the best independent music around.

My favourite Pat Fish trivia... he helped Spacemen 3 get signed by Glass, and he is the only person I know credited as "spliff roller" on an album, Spacemen 3's "Dreamweapon" We need loadsa Spacemen 3 on the channel ;-) Good tune!