They Could Have Been Bigger Than the Beatles

by Television Personalities

Overview

Television Personalities split up in 1982, after five years as D.I.Y. pioneers. It turned out to be a temporary development (although Ed Ball, Dan Treacy's artistic foil, never did return, busying himself by turning his side project, the Times, into a full-time -- sorry -- proposition), but the split was marked by the mysterious compilation They Could Have Been Bigger Than the Beatles. An unannotated collection of re-recorded versions of tracks from their first two albums, early singles, and unreleased outtakes, this should by all rights be a complete mess. Funnily enough, it works a treat, being more consistently entertaining than 1982's Mummy Your [sic] Not Watching Me, though not as conceptually perfect as 1981's excellent And Don't the Kids Just Love It. Highlights include a much-improved new version of "David Hockney's Diaries" and the gentle freakbeat of "The Boy in the Paisley Shirt" and "Psychedelic Holiday." Treacy also pays tribute to the then-forgotten Creation, with enthusiastically sloppy versions of "Painter Man" and "Making Time." The original Whaam! release of this album came in hand-painted black-on-tan sleeves with no liner notes or other information. ~ Stewart Mason

Product Details

Release Date:	09/13/2024
Label:	Imports
UPC:	0809236002112
Rank:	99660

Album Credits

Performance Credits

Television Personalities   Primary Artist

Technical Credits

Phil Vinall   Remastering
Dan Treacy   Composer
Kenny Pickett   Composer
Eddie Phillips   Composer
Ernesto Phillips   Composer
Alan McGee   Liner Notes
Philip Vinali   Remastering
Barry Woodward   Remastering