Blanket of Secrecy
Encyclopedia
Blanket of Secrecy was a British
New Wave
trio that existed for a short time in the early 1980s. The band is notable for the fact that the band members, true to their band name, were never officially identified, using only the pseudonym
s Tinker, Tailor and Soldier. This led to some speculation in the music press regarding their true identity.
Their music was synthpop
, similar to their contemporaries A Flock of Seagulls
, although comparisons to The Attractions
(Elvis Costello
's backing band) were also made.
At the time Ears Have Walls was recorded, BoS also reportedly recorded an entire second album, which has yet to see the light of day. The band broke up before the record could be released.
Additionally, the single "Say You Will" bears a writing credit of Tinker/Spy. ASCAP has identified "Spy" as Phil McWalter. The song "Yo Yo" was credited to Tinker/Sailor, and Maher has identified "Sailor" as artist Ron Chadwick.
The Attactions connection trumpeted by some appears to be entirely incorrect, as no involvement by any of the Attractions in the Blanket of Secrecy project has yet come to light, although Pete Thomas
played drums on two songs recorded for the second, never-released album. The song "Lovers", meanwhile, was written by Jack Hues
and Nick Feldman
(a.k.a. Nick De Spig) of Wang Chung
, and arranged by Hues. One-time Wang Chung member "Hogg" (Dave Burnand) also appears on the album. The connection between the two bands is that Bechirian co-produced Wang Chung's first album, back when that group was known as Huang Chung.
's C'est C Bon
record from 1983. Bechirian produced, and all three played on the album, as well as co-writing two of the songs. Bechirian also produced Nick Lowe
's 1983 album The Abominable Showman
, which featured backing vocals from Marsh and a Marsh–Howell song called "Cool Reaction".
Walls Have Ears/Ears Have Walls is also still waiting for a CD re-issue.
Side Two:
All songs written by Tinker/Tailor except as indicated
All songs published by Intersong Music/Plangent Visions Music, Inc. ASCAP except as indicated
Copyright 1982 Warner Bros. Records, Inc.
Produced and Directed by Roger Bechirian
Recorded at Ampro Studios and Rockfield Studios
Mixed at Rockfield
Assistant engineers, Rob Keyloch at Ampro and Paul Cobbold at Rockfield
Additional musicians:
Hogg - saxophone
Jack Hues
- arrangements on "Lovers"
Originally mastered by Aaron Chakraverty at The Master Room
LP design - Heeps Willard (a pseudonym for Barney Bubbles
)
Photography - Brian Griffin
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
New Wave
New Wave music
New Wave is a subgenre of :rock music that emerged in the mid to late 1970s alongside punk rock. The term at first generally was synonymous with punk rock before being considered a genre in its own right that incorporated aspects of electronic and experimental music, mod subculture, disco and 1960s...
trio that existed for a short time in the early 1980s. The band is notable for the fact that the band members, true to their band name, were never officially identified, using only the pseudonym
Pseudonym
A pseudonym is a name that a person assumes for a particular purpose and that differs from his or her original orthonym...
s Tinker, Tailor and Soldier. This led to some speculation in the music press regarding their true identity.
Their music was synthpop
Synthpop
Synthpop is a genre of popular music that first became prominent in the 1980s, in which the synthesizer is the dominant musical instrument. It was prefigured in the 1960s and early 1970s by the use of synthesizers in progressive rock, electronic art rock, disco and particularly the "Kraut rock" of...
, similar to their contemporaries A Flock of Seagulls
A Flock of Seagulls
A Flock of Seagulls are an English New Wave band originally formed by brothers Michael "Mike" Score and Alister "Ali" James Score , with Frank Maudsley , Michael Kuby , H.J...
, although comparisons to The Attractions
The Attractions
The Attractions were best known as the backing band for Elvis Costello between 1978 and 1986, and again from 1994 through 1996. They also released one album as an independent entity in 1980.-History:...
(Elvis Costello
Elvis Costello
Elvis Costello , born Declan Patrick MacManus, is an English singer-songwriter. He came to prominence as an early participant in London's pub rock scene in the mid-1970s and later became associated with the punk/New Wave genre. Steeped in word play, the vocabulary of Costello's lyrics is broader...
's backing band) were also made.
Releases and chart history
The band's lone LP was titled Walls Have Ears in the UK, and Ears Have Walls in the US. The group can been seen in shadow on the album's back cover, and more clearly in the video for the associated single "Say You Will". Released in 1982, the album and single received some airplay on both sides of the Atlantic.At the time Ears Have Walls was recorded, BoS also reportedly recorded an entire second album, which has yet to see the light of day. The band broke up before the record could be released.
Speculation about the band's identity
At the time of the group's one and only LP release, there were three main theories about the identity of the musicians involved with Blanket of Secrecy.- Theory #1: Noting the album credit "Directed by Roger BechirianRoger BechirianRoger Béchirian is a noted engineer and record producer, a key player in the 70’s new wave scene best known for his work with Nick Lowe, Paul Carrack, Elvis Costello, The Undertones, Dave Edmunds, Squeeze, Trashcan Sinatras and more recently Bell X1....
", some assumed that meant that all songs and instruments must be by Bechirian.
- Theory #2: Some thought the album was actually by the Attractions. Known primarily as Elvis Costello's backing group, The Attractions (a three-piece band, just like BoS) had issued one LP in 1980 that had been produced by Bechirian. Additionally, The Attractions were known to favour pseudonyms—the "Brain/Hart" writing team that penned several songs on their 1980 album Mad About The Wrong Boy was later revealed to be Attractions keyboardist Steve NieveSteve NieveSteve Nieve is an English keyboardist, best known for his work with Elvis Costello and the Attractions and Elvis Costello and the Imposters.-Musical career:...
and his wife, poet and lyricist Fay Hart. Finally, the Attractions shared the same music publishing company as Blanket of Secrecy (Plangent Visions Music, Inc.), the same record label (F-Beat), and the same management company (Jake RivieraJake RivieraJake Riviera is a music business entrepreneur best known for his management of such performers as Elvis Costello and Nick Lowe and as co-founder of pioneering British indie label Stiff Records.Riviera was in school bands and local groups in north-west London in the 60s, and became road manager of...
's Riviera Global Productions).
- Theory #3: Several reviews at the time mentioned the name Pete Marsh as the possible main-man of the band. Marsh had been an original member of Easy Street, a mellow acoustic act of the 1970s whose ranks also included Richard James BurgessRichard James BurgessRichard James Burgess is a studio drummer, music-computer programmer, recording artist, record producer, composer, author, manager, marketer and inventor. He was the producer for Spandau Ballet's first two albums.-Education:...
, who went on to produce plenty of synthpopSynthpopSynthpop is a genre of popular music that first became prominent in the 1980s, in which the synthesizer is the dominant musical instrument. It was prefigured in the 1960s and early 1970s by the use of synthesizers in progressive rock, electronic art rock, disco and particularly the "Kraut rock" of...
in the 1980s.
Actual identity
Extensive research by Blanket of Secrecy fan Gary L. Maher eventually identified the participants definitively as:- Pete Marsh ("Tinker") – vocals and guitar
- Roger BechirianRoger BechirianRoger Béchirian is a noted engineer and record producer, a key player in the 70’s new wave scene best known for his work with Nick Lowe, Paul Carrack, Elvis Costello, The Undertones, Dave Edmunds, Squeeze, Trashcan Sinatras and more recently Bell X1....
("Soldier") – keyboards and backing vocals, percussion, producer, engineer and mixer - Andy Howell ("Tailor") – bass and backing vocals
Additionally, the single "Say You Will" bears a writing credit of Tinker/Spy. ASCAP has identified "Spy" as Phil McWalter. The song "Yo Yo" was credited to Tinker/Sailor, and Maher has identified "Sailor" as artist Ron Chadwick.
The Attactions connection trumpeted by some appears to be entirely incorrect, as no involvement by any of the Attractions in the Blanket of Secrecy project has yet come to light, although Pete Thomas
Pete Thomas
Pete Thomas is best known as the longtime drummer for Elvis Costello. Tom Waits has referred to him as "one of the best rock drummers alive".-Career:...
played drums on two songs recorded for the second, never-released album. The song "Lovers", meanwhile, was written by Jack Hues
Jack Hues
Jack Hues is an English musician, who is best known for forming the 1980s British new wave band, Wang Chung...
and Nick Feldman
Nick Feldman
Nick Feldman is an English musician, who is best known for forming the popular 1980s British new wave band, Wang Chung. In addition to forming Wang Chung, Feldman also was a member of the duo, Promised Land, which featured Jon Moss from Culture Club, was a founding investor in Interactive Ideas...
(a.k.a. Nick De Spig) of Wang Chung
Wang Chung (band)
Wang Chung are an English New Wave musical group.The group found their greatest success in America, with five Top 40 hits in the US, all charting between 1983 and 1987, including "Dance Hall Days" , "Everybody Have Fun Tonight" and "Let's Go!" .-Pre-history: The Intellektuals and 57 Men :Jeremy...
, and arranged by Hues. One-time Wang Chung member "Hogg" (Dave Burnand) also appears on the album. The connection between the two bands is that Bechirian co-produced Wang Chung's first album, back when that group was known as Huang Chung.
Life before and after Blanket of Secrecy
All three BoS members had a hand in Carlene CarterCarlene Carter
Carlene Carter is an American country singer and songwriter. She is the daughter of June Carter and her first husband, Carl Smith....
's C'est C Bon
C'est C Bon
C'est C Bon is an album by Carlene Carter. It was released in 1983 via Epic Records. The album was also her last pop album before switching to mainstream country music for 1990's I Fell in Love...
record from 1983. Bechirian produced, and all three played on the album, as well as co-writing two of the songs. Bechirian also produced Nick Lowe
Nick Lowe
Nicholas Drain "Nick" Lowe , is an English singer-songwriter, musician and producer.A pivotal figure in UK pub rock, punk rock and new wave, Lowe has recorded a string of well-reviewed solo albums. Along with vocals, Lowe plays guitar, bass guitar, piano and harmonica...
's 1983 album The Abominable Showman
The Abominable Showman
The Abominable Showman is a Long Play Record Album by British singer-songwriter Nick Lowe. It was released in 1983 and was Lowe's fourth solo LP.* See 1983 in music.-Side A:# "We Want Action" - 2:35...
, which featured backing vocals from Marsh and a Marsh–Howell song called "Cool Reaction".
- Peter Marsh's musical career goes back at least to 1974, when he released a record with brother-in-law Ken Nicol under the name Nicol and Marsh (a/k/a Nicol & Marsh's Easy Street). They then changed their name to Easy Street and put out two records in 1976 and 1977. Their last record together was a 1978 release called simply Nicol & Marsh. Marsh's next project was Twist, which put out one record called This is Your Life (1979). Between then and BoS, he also worked with VangelisVangelisEvangelos Odysseas Papathanassiou is a Greek composer of electronic, progressive, ambient, jazz, pop rock and orchestral music, under the artist name Vangelis...
and Manfred Mann's Earth BandManfred Mann's Earth BandManfred Mann's Earth Band is a British progressive rock group formed in 1971 by Manfred Mann.-Formation:Having started in the 1960s with a British band that had such hits as "Do Wah Diddy Diddy" and "The Mighty Quinn", then moving on to Jazz Fusion with Manfred Mann's Chapter Three, Manfred's third...
, and released a solo single.
- Roger Bechirian is a noted producer, having worked with Elvis CostelloElvis CostelloElvis Costello , born Declan Patrick MacManus, is an English singer-songwriter. He came to prominence as an early participant in London's pub rock scene in the mid-1970s and later became associated with the punk/New Wave genre. Steeped in word play, the vocabulary of Costello's lyrics is broader...
, Squeeze, Nick LoweNick LoweNicholas Drain "Nick" Lowe , is an English singer-songwriter, musician and producer.A pivotal figure in UK pub rock, punk rock and new wave, Lowe has recorded a string of well-reviewed solo albums. Along with vocals, Lowe plays guitar, bass guitar, piano and harmonica...
, Dave EdmundsDave EdmundsDavid 'Dave' Edmunds is a Welsh singer, guitarist and record producer. Although he is primarily associated with Pub rock and New Wave, and had numerous hits in the 1970s and early 1980s, his natural leaning has always been towards 1950s style rock and roll.-Early bands:As a teenager Edmunds first...
, Carlene CarterCarlene CarterCarlene Carter is an American country singer and songwriter. She is the daughter of June Carter and her first husband, Carl Smith....
, Trash Can Sinatras, and the reunited Monkees.
- Andrew Howell is best known for having co-written The MonkeesThe MonkeesThe Monkees are an American pop rock group. Assembled in Los Angeles in 1966 by Robert "Bob" Rafelson and Bert Schneider for the American television series The Monkees, which aired from 1966 to 1968, the musical acting quartet was composed of Americans Micky Dolenz, Michael Nesmith and Peter Tork,...
' reunion single "Heart and Soul", from Pool It!Pool It!Pool It!, issued 1987 by Rhino Records, is a pop/rock album by The Monkees. It was the first "reunion album" by the band after their 1986 rebirth, and it marked the return of Peter Tork along with Micky Dolenz and Davy Jones...
. He co-wrote and played many of the instruments on Simon Byrne's album Dream Crazy. He also played bass on Robert Ellis OrrallRobert Ellis OrrallRobert Ellis Orrall is an American singer, songwriter, and record producer. Signed to RCA Records in 1980, Orrall debuted that year with the album "Fixation". His first Top 40 single was "I Couldn't Say No", a duet with Carlene Carter...
's Contain Yourself. Prior to BoS Andrew was also the bass player in South London punk band The Red Lights.
Discography
- Ears Have Walls (U.S., Warner Bros. Records 23722-1, 1982)
- Walls Have Ears (U.K., F-Beat Records XXLP 16, 1982)
- "Say You Will" (extended mix) / "In The Garden" / "Feather In My Hand" (Warner Bros. 12" single)
- "Say You Will" / "Close To Me" (Warner Bros. 45-rpm single)
Walls Have Ears/Ears Have Walls is also still waiting for a CD re-issue.
Album credits
Side One:- Say You Will (4:03) (Tinker/Spy) Intersong Music ASCAP
- Young Heart (3:42)
- Love Me Too (2:46)
- Remember Me and You (3:24)
- Long Cool Glass (3:35)
- Photograph (4:46)
Side Two:
- Yo Yo (3:19) (Tinker/Sailor) Intersong Music ASCAP
- Close To Me (4:16) (Tinker) Intersong Music ASCAP
- Something I Don't Need (3:02)
- Tell Me Baby (3:29)
- Lovers (4:52) (Hues/De Spig) WB Music Corp. ASCAP
- B.O.S. Theme (3:24) (Tinker/Tailor/Soldier)
All songs written by Tinker/Tailor except as indicated
All songs published by Intersong Music/Plangent Visions Music, Inc. ASCAP except as indicated
Copyright 1982 Warner Bros. Records, Inc.
Produced and Directed by Roger Bechirian
Recorded at Ampro Studios and Rockfield Studios
Mixed at Rockfield
Assistant engineers, Rob Keyloch at Ampro and Paul Cobbold at Rockfield
Additional musicians:
Hogg - saxophone
Jack Hues
Jack Hues
Jack Hues is an English musician, who is best known for forming the 1980s British new wave band, Wang Chung...
- arrangements on "Lovers"
Originally mastered by Aaron Chakraverty at The Master Room
LP design - Heeps Willard (a pseudonym for Barney Bubbles
Barney Bubbles
Colin Fulcher aka Barney Bubbles was a radical English graphic artist, whose work primarily encompassed the disciplines of graphic design, painting and music video direction. He is most renowned for his distinctive contribution to the graphic design associated with the British independent music...
)
Photography - Brian Griffin