We now do requests. Oh yes. For reasons that will become much clearer early next year, I’ve been spending time sifting through my dim and very distant past in order to put together a history of the Norwich music scene. My partner in sifting, although he doesn’t realise it yet, is a lovely man called Push.

Push manned the Orbit desk at The Maker before my time, was the Editor of Muzik magazine during my time, and is wholly responsible for providing the stepping stones I needed to become a music journalist in the first place. Without him, my life would have been very different. I don’t say it enough, but I think he knows. Thanks Push.

He was dragged up in the sticks, Swaffham to be precise, and hit the bright lights of Norwich as a teenager in the late Seventies, just before punk began to wander its way up the A11. It could be a long and tiring journey in those days, especially when the horses had to be rested near Thetford for the night.

We were talking the other day about where it all started for Norwich, musically. I know a man who could tell me all I need to know about the Fifties and Sixties, the one about when The Beatles played in Prince Of Wales Road and all that, but I’m much more interested in how things developed for the homegrown bands. During the late Seventies, a couple of things happened that we think proved pivitol.

1) Nick Raynes, former tour manager to likes of The Teardrop Expoldes, arrived at the University of East Anglia as Entertainments Officer. The Lower Common Room is legend among anyone who even remotely liked music in Norwich, with a who’s who line-up passing across its stage. All thanks to Mr Raynes.

2) I was a too young remember this, but Push wasn’t. Apparently, Ace Records on Lower Goat Lane was the record shop of choice. It was stuffed full of US imports, lots of soul records, and as such was frequented by the more discerning customer. There was a small section of records, with no browser (the only thing called browsers in those days were the bits of card or plastic that separated the different sections in record racks). It was this small section that Push poured over, watching it grow over the summer of 1977 until it had taken over the whole shop.

And it was this combination, we think, that planted the musical seeds in a hundred heads of both UEA students and City soul boys alike. Let’s form a band. And boy, did they form bands.

Popular Voice, pictured here, I know very little about. They were certainly one of the more accomplished bands, musically. During the early Eighties record labels would sign pretty much anything that string a note or two together, makes you wonder why Popular Voice didn’t crack it. Sure I’ll find out sooner rather later.

Push got quite excited when he discovered I had a single by them. Here it is then Push, the b-side as requested will be forthcoming.

More hear…
- The BBC website is often a thing to behold and their Peel archive is quite handy, if not a little frustrating. you’ll find Popular Voice recorded a Peel session in Maida Vale 4 on 28 June 1982. Four tracks, but can you listen to them. Nope. Really, what is the point?
- Push pointed me in the direction of The Norwich Music wiki, it is a fine thing to behold. Behold for yourself here.