Blue Aeroplanes were an art rock group from Bristol, active during the 1980s and 1990s. They are often compared to the Velvet Underground on a lot of music websites, but to my mind this is a lazy comparison based on the jangliness of their guitars and the semi-spoken style of their lead singer. Anyway, recent output has included a lot of compilations, so maybe it's time to ask, "whatever happened to...?"
With regard to personnel, it sometimes seems that anyone who was anyone in the Bristol music scene of the time was either a member or in some way collaborated. One of the few constants was group leader/vocalist Gerard Langley. The original core of the band included Langley's brother John on drums, Nick Jacobs on guitar, and multi-instrumentalist Dave Chapman. At their peak (around "Swagger" and "Beatsongs"), the Aeroplanes' lineup also included guitarist Angelo Bruschini, guitarist Rodney Allen, bassist Andy McCreeth, drummer Paul Mulreany, and guitarist/keyboard player Alex Lee... but it didn't stop there, with another eight musicians listed in the credits for "Beatsongs", for example. My favourite Blue Aeroplanes-related artiste is Caroline Trettine, who I saw live in 1990 - her album "Be A Devil" is amazing (and features guitar contributions from other Aeroplanes members).
For a short while (1989 - 1991, roughly), the Blue Aeroplanes almost became quite big. "Swagger" was their highpoint, an awesome album featuring contributions from Michael Stipe and Peter Buck of R.E.M. and spawning two singles that charted in the UK ("Jacket Hangs" and "...And Stones"). This was followed up by "Beatsongs" and their most commercial offering in the singles market, an inspired cover of Paul Simon's "Boy In The Bubble".
Always impressive live, the Aeroplanes' on-stage presence was much augmented by the presence of Wojtek Dmochowski, their Polish dancer. When I saw the band in the mid-90s, he danced frenetically non-stop for the entire gig. Kind of puts Bez shuffling about with some maracas in perspective...
One other thing... having formed in 1983, the Aeroplanes have since been through their fair share of record labels: Abstract (1984), Fire (1985), Restless (U.S.), Ensign (a division of Chrysalis Records), Beggars Banquet, Nectar...
If anyone can help me fill in the gaps (particularly in the discography) please contact me.
Coats Cowardice and Caprice Julie Spitting Out Miracles Ceiling Roses In the Mystery Season Ticket To A Bad Place Days Of 49 Teaching English Through Sex And Death Winter Sun What Do You Mean (What I Said) Do the Dead Know What Time It Is?
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Bury Your Love Like Treasure Oct 1987 Format(s): 12" Catalog #: BLAZE23T (Fire) UK chart: DNC
Bury Your Love Like Treasure ?
Veils Of Colour May 1988 Format(s): 12" Catalog #: BLAZE24T (Fire) UK chart: DNC
Veils Of Colour Complete Blessing Weird Heart Le Petit Cadeau De Don Juan Severn Beach Police (38 Divinity) Action Painting Who Built This Station In The Midwest Old Men Sleeping On The Bowery 88 Out Ashtrays From Mt Etna Gunning The Works King Of The Soap Box Tolerance Etiquette Continually Torn Apart Days Of '49 I Wanna Be Your Lover Warhol's Fifteen Shame Couple In The Next Room Stripped
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World View Blue EP ??? 1990 Format(s): 7", 12", cassette-single, CD Catalog #: ENY??? (Ensign) UK chart: DNC
World View Blue ?
Swagger Feb 1990 Format(s): LP, cassette, CD Catalog #: CCD1752 (Ensign) UK chart: ?
Jacket Hangs World View Blue Weightless ...And Stones Love Come Round Your Ages Applicant What It Is Anti-Pretty Careful Boy Picture Framed Cat-Scan Hist'ry
Jacket Hangs Feb 1990 Format(s): 7", 12", CD-single Catalog #: ENY628 (Ensign) UK chart: 72
Jacket Hangs Razor Walk Different Now (12", CD only) Big Sky (12", CD only)
...And Stones May 1990 Format(s): 7", 12", cassette-single, CD-single Catalog #: ENYCD632 (Ensign) UK chart: 63
...And Stones ?
Loved EP Oct 1990 Format(s): 10", 12", CD-single Catalog #: ENY636 (Ensign) UK chart: DNC
You (Are Loved) You're Going To Need Somebody Sweet Jane World View Blue (acoustic version)
Yr Own World Jul 1991 Format(s): 7", CD-single Catalog #: ENY647 (Ensign) UK chart: DNC
Yr Own World Pony Boy Mis-Firing (CD only) Autumn Journal XXIV (CD only)
Beatsongs Aug 1991 Format(s): LP, cassette, CD Catalog #: CCD1856 (Ensign) UK chart: ?
Huh! Yr Own World Angelwords Fun Cardboard Box My Hurricane Aeroplane Blues Jack Leaves & Back Spring Colour Me Streamers The Boy In The Bubble Sixth Continent
The Boy in the Bubble Oct 1991 Format(s): cassette-single, CD-single Catalog #: ENY649 (Ensign) UK chart: ?
The Boy in the Bubble Talkin' On The Other Phone (edit) ?
Friendloverplane 2 Nov 1992 (re-released 2002) Format(s): CD, ? Catalog #: 094632196125 (Ensign) UK chart: ?
You (Are Loved) Pony Boy Different Now World View Blue (acoustic version) ...And Stones (Lovers All Around mix) Razor Walk Growing Up, Growing Down Autumn Journal XV Here It Comes For Tim Collins Talkin' On The Other Phone You're Going To Need Somebody Missy Lane Stranger Trouble, Tell Me I'm Alive Big Sky Mis-Firing Disney Head
Broken and Mended Jan 1994 Format(s): CD, ? Catalog #: BBQ26 (Beggars Banquet) UK chart: ?
Broken And Mended (I'm A) Smart Drug Ghost-Nets Frightened At Night Daughter Movie Open Honey I Vade Mecum Gunslinger Mercury (Hold/Protect/Love) Fragile
Detective Song A Map Below You’re Mine And Always Will Be a. Jack Of All Hearts b. Jealous Town c. It’s Alright Top Of The Pops
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Up In A Down World ??? 1994 Format(s): ? Catalog #: ? (?) UK chart: DNC
?
Rough Music Jan 1995 Format(s): cassette, ? Catalog #: BBQ167 (Beggars Banquet) UK chart: DNC
Detective Song Sugared Almond Scared Worry Beads Contact High! A Map Below James Whatever Happened To Our Golden Birds? Wond'ring Wild Saint Me And The Devil Dark Secret Destination Dear, Though The Night Is Over
Sugared Almond EP Mar 22 1995 Format(s): CD-single Catalog #: BBQ53 (Beggars Banquet) UK chart: DNC
Sugared Almond (new version) Scared (Scared mix) Bad Moon Rising Broken And Mended (acoustic version)
Fruit: The Best of the Blue Aeroplanes Live in Concert 1983-1994 Jun 1996 Format(s): CD Catalog #: FIRECD57 (Fire) UK chart: DNC Buy it now while you still can!
Aeroplane Blues Jacket Hangs Police (38 Divinity) Boy in the Bubble Daughter Movie Hand on Heart Weightless ...And Stones Broken and Mended True Heart Warhol's Fifteen Detective Song Worry Beads Pony Boy Surf Classic New Caucasian Maps
Huh!: The Best, 1987-1992 ??? 1997 (re-released Dec 2003) Format(s): CD Catalog #: BBQ26 (Beggars Banquet) UK chart: ? Buy it now while you still can!
Jacket Hangs Huh Colour Me Razor Walk Growing Up Growing Down Fun Weightless ...And Stones You (Are Loved) Jack Leaves And Back Spring Anti Pretty Disney Head Your Own World What Is It Lovething/Higherthing Sixth Continent
Warhol's 15: Best Of 1985-1988 Feb 1997 Format(s): CD Catalog #: NTMCD530 (Nectar) UK chart: ?
Lover & Confidante Veils Of Colour Cowardice And Caprice Action Painting Ups Warhol's 15 Ceiling Roses King Of The Soap Box Weird Heart Julie Bury Your Love Like Treasure Arriving Severn Beach Season Ticket To A Bad Place Tolerance Journal Of An Airman When The Wave Comes Spitting Out Miracles Breaking In My Heart Soul
Showing Off to Impress the Girls Mau-Mau Ticket Time Popsicle Pete On the Trail of Persephone's Shoes Through the Smoke Hole Pre-Fab Buildings Jacket Hangs Love Come Round Vade Mecum Gunslinger No. One Mean Time Blood Red Roses Streets of Laredo Roundheads (On Every Corner) Camus in the Pocket
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The Best of the Blue Aeroplanes ??? 2002 Format(s): ? Catalog #: ? (?) UK chart: ?
?
Altitude Apr 03 2006 Format(s): CD, ? Catalog #: CDCHSP4132 (EMI) UK chart: ? Buy it here now!
Bristol Byzantine/Raise The Roof High Tree Full Of Starlings Surreal Thing Hexanal Star Below Up In A Down World Adulthood Bright Star Catalogue Multinational Beautiful Is (As Beautiful Does) Bristol Byzantine
Harvester May 21 2007 Format(s): CD Catalog #: ? (?) UK chart: ? Buy it here now!
Fireball Hotel Room Stagger Lee Taking Some Time On Outdoor Miner Stop This Train (Again Doing It) It Didn't Work Out Free Four I'm Stranded Maisie
Chinese Brilliance Automotive Oct 18 2010 Format(s): 7" Catalog #: ? (Albino Two) UK chart: ? Buy it here now!
anywhere to return here.
