The Chords - So Far Away

 December proved to be a good month for shortening my ever growing vinyl wants list. One of the records I was very pleased to unearth 'out in the wild' was the debut (and only) studio album by The Chords, So Far Away, released on Polydor records in 1980. I'd bid on Ebay copies in the past but they always seemed to go for more than I wanted to pay, so was more than happy to find this copy for £10. It doesn't have the free 7" that was included with initial copies, but there's always the chance that I'll find that separately another time.

I'd had most of The Chords 7" singles for a while, although 'One More Minute' still alludes me, but this was the first time I'd ever owned the album, and what a treat it is. Labelled as a mod revival band, they also take their influence from the UK punk and new wave scenes, sounding, in places, not to dissimilar to The Jam circa 1978/1979. The album kicks off with probably their most recognisable track, 'Maybe Tomorrow', which was released as a single in 1980, troubling the Top 40 at number 40. When their other singles charted, if at all, they were all just outside the Top 40. Side two of the album also kicks off with another of their singles, 'Something's Missing'.

The majority of the tracks on the album were written by lead guitarist Chris Pope, one co-written with Billy Hassett, and one attributed to Billy on his own. There are also a couple of great cover versions: 'Hold On I'm Coming' and the Beatles 'She Said, She Said'.

The Chords remain yet another band who 'could have been', or more likely 'should have been'. Their career however was blighted by a series of incidents, some self-inflicted, but many inflicted upon them. After a couple of John Peel sessions, a couple of Top of the Pops appearances, supporting The Jam and The Undertones, a solitary studio album, and a handful of modestly placed singles, they decided to call it a day in 1981.

Other items associated with the mod revival which may be of interest:

 Eddie Piller presents The Mod Revival

Millions Like Us, The Story of the Mod Revival, 1977 - 1989