Blab Happy

Blab Happy were a British indie band from Leicester comprising Mick McCarthy, Jon Dennis, Tony Owen and Jeremy Clay. After two EPs released on their own Wisdom label won airplay on John Peel's BBC Radio 1 show, and enthusiastic reviews in New Musical Express, Sounds and Melody Maker, they were signed by Demon Records offshoot F-Beat, for whom they released 2 albums, 1991's "Boat" and 1993's "Smothered". The NME's Gina Morris, wrote of the band: "Blab Happy are a cheerful Leicester four piece, smirking between That Petrol Emotion, Blur, and The Beatles".Morris, Gina (1991) Blab Happy article, "NME", June 1991] Blab Happy toured in their own right and as support to bands such as Radiohead, Kingmaker, Squeeze The band split up in 1993, with singer Mick McCarthy and bassist Tony Owen forming Perfume, who enjoyed the patronage of BBC Radio 1 DJs Steve Lamacq and Jo Whiley, having a minor hit in 1996 with "Haven't Seen You". [Strong, Martin C.: "The Great Indie Discography", 1999, Canongate, ISBN 0-86241-913-1] Jon Dennis meanwhile formed Slinky, who also won airplay from Lamacq and Whiley with two singles produced by John Robb and were finalists in the 1995 In The City contest.

Dennis and Clay went on to work as journalists - Dennis writing and presenting podcasts for "The Guardian", [ [http://arts.guardian.co.uk/fridayreview/story/0,,947286,00.html Radio days | | Guardian Unlimited Arts ] ] and Clay for the "Leicester Mercury". Dennis currently records as part of Loaded Knife, whose 2 singles have won support from Rob Da Bank and Lamacq, and the late John Peel.

Videos

* [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_IIfDPaFZcs Valentine]

Discography

ingles

*"Turned Out Nice Again" (Wisdom)
*"Fruits Of Our Labour EP" (Wisdom)
*"Mad Surge EP" (1991, F-Beat)
*"Down" (?, F-Beat)
*"Inside Out" (?, F-Beat)
*"Never No More" (?, F-Beat)
*"Blinding EP" (1993, F-Beat)

Albums

*"Boat" (1991, F-Beat) (a limited edition LP version came with a bonus 12" EP and a poster)
*"Smothered" (1993, F-Beat)

References