On this day, 10 May 1985, pop/rock band The Colourfield played Cardiff University. Formed by frontman Terry Hall following his departure from The Specials and Fun Boy Three, the group pivoted towards a sophisticated "jangle pop" and acoustic-based sound. The band had just released their debut album Virgins and Philistines. The album peaked at #12 in the UK album charts.
Virgins and Philistines failed to gain a large audience due to difficulty in marketing an album with such a diverse sound—it mixes 1960’s and early 1970’s pop music with more acoustic based melodies and string arrangements. The album is often regarded as the direct musical predecessor to the later work of The Lightning Seeds in the 1990s, with whom singer Terry Hall would later collaborate in a songwriting role whilst providing occasional vocals.
Virgins and Philistines contained all original material except "The Hammond Song" (a cover of The Roches song), and "Can’t Get Enough of You Baby" (written by Linzer/Randell and originally recorded by ? & The Mysterians), which was the only track that received much airplay. The album was recorded at Strawberry Studios in Stockport (near Manchester) and was produced by Hugh Jones and Jeremy Green, and engineered by Chris Jones.
Setlist
The Colourfield
Pushing Up the Daisies
Faint Hearts
Your Love Was Smashing
Cruel Circus
Yours Sincerely
Sorry
Hammond Song
Virgins and Philistines
Thinking of You
Can't Get Enough of You Baby
Armchair Theatre
Take
Castles in the Air