All About Eve - Music Collector 

 In August 1990, Music Collector ran a feature on All About Eve, detailing the bands early history. In the wake of their new album - Touched By Jesus - we now present a follow-up article, charting the band's career from 1987 to the present day.

1987 was a memorable year for the Eves. In the spring of that year they achieved their first chart success with the release of Our Summer. Produced by Wayne Hussey and Simon Hinkler of The Mission, this powerful melody reached Number 3 in the indie charts, and made an impressive tribute to the first Summer of Love, in this, its anniversary year. The single was released in two formats . The 7" version was backed by Lady Moonlight , while the 12" had a long version of the A-side and an extra song, Shelter From The Rain, which featured a guest appearance by Wayne Hussey.

The follow-up single, Flowers In Our Hair, was seen by many as the Eve's admission of their love for the Hippie ideology. Its chiming guitars and hopeful words left the listener feeling cheerfully optimistic. The song was undoubtedly a happy and positive number, and this is perhaps why it has become one of the band's most popular tracks. Flowers In Our Hair was released on a 7" and 12" format, as well as in a special 7" promotional release. The single made No. 91 in the Gallup poll, but topped the indie charts, thus making a fitting finale to the band's indie career.

On April 16th 1987, the Eve's signed to Phonogram Records. In The Clouds was relaunched as the bands debut release for Phonogram, and reached No. 47. As well as the traditional formats, 7" test pressings, 12" promos, and a special 'poster pack' version of the 7" format were released.

By now, Mark Price had joined the band on drums, and the quartet were complete. The recording of the band's first album commenced, and their growing core of fans eagerly awaited its debut.

In the mean-time, Wild Hearted Woman, a stormy and seductive number, was released. Slight variations were made to the record, CD and cassette issues, and there was a special limited edition 12", which came in a numbered pack with a free badge.

In February 1988, the band's first album - All About Eve - was released. Although produced by former Yardbird Paul Samwell-Smith - who brought both experience and expertise to the Eve's music - the album was not an immediate success. Critics condemned it for its hippie undertones, and suggested that the band was worthy of greater things. To promote the album, Phonogram issued a one-sided promo 12", called Flowers In Our Hair and containing five of the album tracks. Test pressings of the album were also released, with white labels and a printed report form Phonogram's press office.

Throughout 1988, the singles released from the album reached the Top 40. The newly remixed, catchy Every Angel achieved a No. 30 placing, while the soulful Martha's Harbour climbed to No. 10. The band performed the latter song on Top Of The Pops, with Julianne enveloped in a sumptuous velvet dress, and looking more like a latter-day princess than a modern-day pop-queen. Naturally, as a former indie band, the Eve's were accused of 'selling out', but the song proved to be popular, and undoubtedly the T.O.T.P performance opened their music up to a wider audience.

Several rare issues of Martha's Harbour were released, among them two special editions of the 12" in a deluxe pack with a free poster. Both versions are numbered, and one is signed as well. The release of the album was followed by a tour, which included two nights at London's prestigious Royal Albert Hall. It was fully evident that All About Eve were now a permanent fixture in the British pop music scene, and this was confirmed when the album All About Eve, achieved a double gold status.

Towards the end of 1988, the Eve's began work on a new album, which Julianne now describes as 'a collection of dramatic songs'. In 1989, prior to the release of the LP, the first of these songs was released. Called Road To Your Soul, it was a melodious track, and did not disappoint fans. It was backed with Pieces Of Our Heart on both seven and twelve inch, although the latter contained the additional track - Hard Spaniard. A limited edition 12" was also issued, with a release of only five thousand, and a free print.

Shortly afterwards, the album itself was released. Scarlet And Other Stories, produced once again by Paul Samwell-Smith, was issued in October 1989, and featured eleven new songs. The cassette and CD contained extra tracks. It was an impressive collection, although criticised by some fans for being too 'main-stream'.

The Eve's last release that year was lifted from Scarlet, and continued the band's unbroken run of Top 40 hits. December was a beautiful and evocative tune, which gave full scope to Julianne's lilting voice. It was backed by the mellow Drowning, although a special 7" numbered, picture disc which contained an extra track - Paradise (89 Remix) - was also issued. The 12" featured the 'Narnia Mix' of December, as well as Drowning and The Witches Promise. All four songs were issued as a 10" limited edition with poster.

In the wake of Scarlet, the Eve's played a number of gigs throughout Britain. All did not go smoothly however, for at a packed Astoria show on the 19th November, Tim Bricheno, the band's guitarist, was attacked by a member of the security staff. Tim was quite badly assaulted, and the whole band was clearly shaken up by the incident.

Despite this unpleasant event, the Eve's continued touring. They played a special charity show at the Oxford Apollo, in aid of Leukaemia research, and gave three sell-out performances at the prestigious Albert Hall, in April 1990. This was to be the last time that the regular line up of Julianne Regan (vocals), Tim Bricheno (guitar), Andy Cousin (bass) and Mark Price (drums), would play together - for Tim left the group soon after, subsequently becoming a member of The Sisters Of Mercy.

Tim's place in the band was not long left vacant. By chance, the Eve's met up with Marty Willson-Piper, the guitarist with one of Julianne's favourite bands, The Church. Marty was happy to work with the Eve's, and the four began to write together. The period that followed was a remarkably fruitful one, and thirty-five songs were written within four weeks.

In January 1991 the band started recording their third album, under the production skills of Warne Livesey (famed for producing, among others, Midnight Oil, and Julian Cope). Eleven of the thirty-five songs were recorded, and it proved to be an exciting time for all concerned.

As Julianne put it; "It has been a blissfully happy experience. Marty's co-writing and guitar playing have brought many new elements to All About Eve as has Warne's production, keyboard playing and string arrangements. It is a confident, open album where the focus is on songs of high quality from both a writing and performing point of view. We have enlarged and expanded upon the positive elements of All About Eve. .... We are not a band of pre-Raphaelite gypsies, not a bunch of flower toting hippies. We are a band who have created a collection of songs which will, hopefully, both evoke an emotional response in the listener and will also entertain."

On the 18th of February, 1991, prior to the album release, the Eves released the limited edition EP - Thirteen. Thirteen was available only as a picture CD single, and featured live 'favourites', recorded at Glasgow Barrowlands in 1990. The tracks included were In The Clouds, Never Promise Anyone Forever, Scarlet, More Than The Blues and Road To Your Soul. Only 7,500 copies were issued, and since it contained more than five tracks, it was not eligible to enter the Gallup singles chart. This was the last live recording featuring Tim Bricheno, and is highly collectable.

The next release was issued in May 1991, and was called Farewell Mr Sorrow. Backed by Elizabeth Of Glass, it provided fans with a taster of the Eves forthcoming album, and introduced them to Marty Willson-Piper. The 12" and CD picture single featured the additional track All The Rings Round Saturn, and there was a CD picture single available as a limited edition collectors box. On 10th June a special 12" of Farewell Mr Sorrow was released, which contained the band new track Silver Song. The limited edition had a spined sleeve, and all copies were individually numbered, and contained a colour poster of the band.

The success of this single was followed by the release of the melodic Strange Way. Strange Way was an evocative track, with its twisting music and haunting lyrics. While the theme of the abandoned lover is an all too familiar one, the Eves re-worked it into a powerful and positive story, offering hope for the broken-hearted. As Julianne trills, "It's going to take something more than you to break a sprit like mine."

A limited edition of Strange Way was released at the end of July, as a numbered 10" disc in a box pack. Backed with Share It With Me and Drawn To Earth, the edition proved - as ever - to be extremely popular, and ensured that the track attracted much attention when released as a 7". Phonogram delighted Eves fans further by releasing a picture CD limited edition of Strange Way, and a four track gatefold 12", containing two previously unreleased tracks - Nothing Without You and Light As A Feather.

Touched By Jesus clearly maintained the high standards of the Eves previous releases. In Phonogram's words; "It is a confident, open album with the focus on high quality songs where the Eves have enlarged and expanded on the positive aspects of the band." The music certainly provides evocative and entertaining listening, and has not disappointed fans.

The most recent release from the album is a radical remix - undertaken by Matthew Vaughn and Simon Vinestock - of The Dreamer. The single is available as a 7" and 12", signed personally by the Eves, while the 12" and CD formats feature the additional track Road To Damascus, a song that was previously unavailable. The Dreamer is a lively track, which seems to have been strongly influenced by the Manchester music scene. Its surreal lyrics gently twist and turn, confusing the listener with such evocative word-play as "His prose was a line of crows, On a washing line in the summer time." Such lyrics cannot but fail to please All About Eve's many devoted followers.

To promote this impressive album, the Eves have commenced a Touched By Jesus tour of Britain. Their sell-out performances have proved to be as popular as ever. Despite their success, the Eves continue to play at smallish venues, recognising that it is this close-knit and intimate atmosphere that suits them best. Or perhaps it is because of this success - because All About Eve want to acknowledge the respect and warmth that they feel for their many loyal followers. After all, it was undoubtedly the support of these fans which placed the Eves where they are today - at the top.

©Music Collector - December 1991