Theodore And Friends [CD]

The Adventures are one of the most underrated bands of the 1980s. They released a clutch of fine singles and albums in the guitar-based melodic pop-rock vein between 1985 and 1993. The first of these, "Theodore And Friends", has been reissued by Lemon with 7 bonus tracks.

Pat Gribben and Terry Sharpe grew up together in Belfast and they played in The Starjets, whose sole album "God Bless The Starjets" was released by Epic in 1979. They later put together The Adventures, the other band members being Pat's wife Eileen, Spud Murphy and Tony Ayre. Under the management of Simon Fuller, they eventually signed to Chrysalis Records.

The "Theodore And Friends" album, the title of which was inspired by the John Wyndham science fiction novel `The Midwitch Cuckoos', opens with the jangly `Always' which is followed by what guitarist Gribben feels should have been the first single off the album - the impressive `Feel The Raindrops'. This track highlights the band's qualities; Terry Sharpe's powerful vocal, augmented perfectly by Eileen Gribben's vocal harmonies, some fine guitar work by Pat Gribben and all underpinned by a solid rhythm section.

In a parallel universe, `Send My Heart' would have been a chart-topping smash. Somehow it only reached #58 in the UK, although these days the same number of sales would probably be enough to secure a #1 position! An up-tempo, melodic gem with killer chorus (and some particularly haunting harmonies), this song is probably the best example of what the band were all about.

The original side one concludes with `Two Rivers' and `Don't Tell Me'. The gentle guitar of the latter reminds me somewhat of The Pale Fountains - another underappreciated band of the time.

Side two opens with `Another Silent Day' - a good track in its own right but probably, as Pat Gribben agrees in the sleeve notes, not the ideal choice for the first single. Next is the storming `When The World Turns Upside Down' which features a terrific soulful vocal from Terry Sharpe. It wasn't released as a single, but perhaps it should have been as it's a catchy number with an incessant chorus that, once heard, stays lodged in the brain! `Love In Chains' is another sparkling cut, before the album closes with `Lost In Hollywood' and the darker `These Children'.

There are gems to be found among the bonus tracks too (all of which were originally extra tracks on various single formats). `Nowhere Near Me' is the pick of the bunch and eclipses many of the tracks on the album. There are extended remixes of `Feel The Raindrops' and `Send My Heart' and two live recordings - `These Children' and a fiery cover of the Talking Heads track `Life During Wartime - along with `Happy Depression' and `Tristesse En Vitesse'.

The Adventures went on to achieve their highest UK chart placing with 1988's #20 hit `Broken Land' from the Elektra album "The Sea Of Love". Followed by 1989's "Trading Secrets With The Moon" and 1993's "Lions And Tigers And Bears", these were all worthy albums, chockfull of classic song writing and melodic nuggets which deserved more success. The band split up after "Lions..." although they have reformed on occasions since and it is to be hoped that one day they will record some fresh material.

In the meantime, this re-mastered reissue will no doubt be warmly received by the fan base and will hopefully also introduce their work to an audience that may have overlooked them the first time around. "Theodore And Friends", it's good to have you back in print!

Although listed as a favourite in Q magazine this truly wonderful album remains impossible to find. One tape which is nearly worn through is all I have. Any fan of music cannot fail to be won over by this, nothing they recorded after comes anywhere near. So much better than Trading Secrets. if you want to listen to a hidden gem of the 80's then this is the album for you. Two Rivers, Feel the Raindrops, These Children are particular favourites.

This is the album that got me seriously into pop music. I remember hearing the track "Feel The Raindrops" on the radio and not having a clue who they were or how to find it. I heard it several times without knowing the artist. It remains one of my top ten favourite tracks. I then heard them on a session on radio, and eventually bought the album. It is relentless guitars and harmony vocals, the first four tracks being all killers. There are some more adventurous (!) moments at the end which drift it away from being pure pop. I am not sure any album I have ever heard has a better first 4 tracks than this. Anyone who likes 80s music should have it. But heres the problem - Its not available on CD! Hopefully someone will read this and fix that!