Cargo Records

Catfight

A record for fans that can also hold its own as an introduction to a peculiarly individual band that have their own dirty back alley in rock history.

Hefner released records from 1996 through to 2002 and didn't worry the charts too greatly, 46 being their highest placing. They did however find a special place in the hearts of their devoted following who keep vigils for their reformation to this day. Their's is a special kind of 'small' music that rocks but doesn't beat its chest with any bluster, it beckons you with a little finger. Much of their notoriety comes from the patronage of John Peel who had them record 7 sessions for his radio show. Hefner were sometimes wrongly categorized as indie boys in need of a shag but its much truer to say that they had lots of sex, just with the wrong people. Hefner were really a folk band for the mid twenty city dwellers and their songwriter, Darren Hayman always had an ear for the details. Darren was also extremely prolific, although he would disagree; 'I'm not prolific, everybody else is lazy.' These 43 unreleased songs are drawn from a career that saw five albums in six years and 22 singles and eps. Much of the first disk includes songs that were destined to form the basis of Hefner's mellower 6th album and really shouldn't be considered outtakes. They show the band returning to their guitar roots after the electronic experimentation of their last album 'Dead Media'. The two CD then works backward with unreleased songs from all of their records, gradually revealing the scratchy lo-fi punk rock band that existed before their first album that has remained unheard until now.

Track Listing

CD 1
1. The Pines (2001)
2. Gabriel in the Airport (2001)
3. Anne and Bill (2001)
4. Repression Song (2001)
5. I'm Not Surprised (2001)
6. New French Tits (2001)
7. Country Song for Simon (2001)
8. Fist Footed (2001)
9. Dirty World (2001)
10. Your Kitchen (2000)
11. Come on Sister (2000)
12. Dark Days (2000)
13. The Love Has Gone (2000)
14. Hymn for the 1950s Folk Revival (2000)
15. Monkey Man (2000)
16. Louise (2000)
17. Down Street (2000)
18. Hymn for the Telephones (2000)
19. Standing on Jesus (1999)
20. The Little Baby Hefner's Xmas Song for Holland (1999)
21. Somebody's Got to Love You (1998)

CD 2
1. If I Had the Desire (1998)
2. The Hymn for Lisa and Me (1998)
3. OMD (1998) (sample click here)
4. Orange Ball of Hate (1998)
5. Don't Break My Heart (1997)
6. The Girl with the Loneliest Futon in Bethnal Green (1997)
7. The Art of Forgiveness (1997)
8. Underfed (1997)
9. It Breaks My Heart (1997)
10. Smoke (1997)
11. Shit TV (1997)
12. Lemon Pixie Stick (1997)
13. Fully Clothed (1997)
14. How Can I Be Certain (1996)
15. You've Been Prayed For (1996)
16. Colette (1996)
17. No Fucking Just Kissing (1996)
18. Fox (1996)
19. Virgin Friends (1995)
20. Betty Cutts (1995)
21. Affordable Friend (1994)
22. Lank (1994)