THE BLUE MIST
"Elijah (What Have We Done?)"/"It's Only Make Believe"
(Molesworth Records HUNTS 690260)
coverpage
introduction
The Blue Mist
Darkness At Noon
The Pleasureheads
Nutmeg
Flowershop
The Charlottes
The Nightjars
80's Cambs rock
(c) Andrew Clifton 2000-1
The Blue Mist had two new members by the time they released their follow-up to "Rozanna"/"The Missing End" in 1984. Richard Mackman (the front seat passenger in the photo below) had replaced Robert Alexander on bass, and Jason Bunting (back seat, right) had joined on keyboards. This photo by student Nick Rea appeared on the back of the sleeve, above an ad for the garage which sponsored the project. Bridge Garage's phone number also doubled as the single's catalogue number.
The record was released by fourth form students at Sawtry Village College as an English project. They booked the band into Flame Studios in London where the two tracks were produced by Mel Simpson (later of Us3) and Phil DaCosta who gave a contemporary poppy sheen to Mark Treadwell's rock songs. Cate Croll's design was chosen for the sleeve.
The disc was an educational success, and a commercial one too despite both distributors ceasing trading within months. In 1985 Blue Mist followed up with "Action" and "Killing Time" on Peeved Records' "A Head Full Of Noise" compilation. When (as Zenith) Jason and the two Adrians represented Sawtry in Rockschool, Adrian Paice made the local news by drumming despite breaking his arm the night before the competition. He later drummed for The Children Of Some Tradition. Blue Mist built up quite a following in the region, evolving through Only On A Sunday, Private Jargon, Boys'll Be Boys and Alice Bare into Curb of whom Adrian Radwell (on drums) and Jason Bunting (on guitar) are members. Richard Mackman is bassist for The Contrast, having been in notable Peterborough bands Eight Days In Cromer and The Vow.
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