The La's Terry Christian Radio Session - Key 103, 1989

Early 1989. Key 103 Studios, Manchester, UK
Band Members: Lee Mavers (guitar, vocals), John Power (bass), Barry Sutton (guitar) & Chris Sharrock (drums)
The La's, in the middle of recording the Mike Hedges version of their debut album, play four songs on Terry Christian's radio show on Key 103 Manchester.
I've uploaded the full clip to preserve the banter between the band and Terry, as I think it's hilarious, but the songs played are:
- Timeless Melody
- IOU
- Feelin' ("Good one!")
- Failure
Small Pockets, keep it talkin' lad.

[@ToneLa]

This one is in Lee's tuning if you wanna play along in acoustic. Get a good tuner change th A440hz calibration to A432. His manager sent me this it's legit. Open chords... Feeling is A F# D, middle 8 is A D F# (for the fall) Feelin is E with the 1st string plucked for the bassline, chorus is A / G E x 2, F sharp falling back to E Ask me if you want any more T X

[@davidbothwell9669]

yeah that's brilliant , what about Liberty ship ? or others ?

[@ToneLa]

What do you need brother? A mate of mine made this site years ago www.oocities.org/mavers81/ It stands me in good stead even now. Check it out! Comment back if you need further help. T x

[@samrobinson141]

Can I ask what a middle 8 is Tone? I'm into song writing but don't really know what I'm doing ha, no music theory or anything. Cheers

[@davidbothwell9669]

+ToneGarvey great help cheers!

[@ToneLa]

bless you. Dont pervert yourself with knowledge. I taught myself guitar, Take shere she goes. you know the dark bit in the middle? Middle 8 refers to the kick drum, 8 instances, and the rest of the instruments (especially the gaps) fill that in count it on your fingers or on a table or in your head, Usually a middle 8 is because songs are four kicks four times (verse) then a chorus then more verse then the middle Middle 8 is simply a reference to the middle section's beats. It can be different. It don't even have to be there. be FREE music have NO RULES but when it works you know it works. In feelin', middle 8 is Cammy or Barry's guitar solo the notes in it match the notes Lee sings in the verse, therein lies the genius And when it finishes, I call that the "fall" I dunno I taught myself theory If I can you can too! But to answer.. a middle 8 is the middle 8-bar length of music that splits a song in two. There She Goes is special as some think it starts with a chorus Fuck that shit. I just want people to know how to play it The middle 8 in Feelin' is when Lee stops singin and the solo starts. the chords change to make it darker, the voice is gone but the lead guitar lifts the melody over everything I hope this helps T x

[@wormsnake1]

The songs flow as natural as a flowing river into the sea. Pure talent and natural ability. There’s no acoustic MTV session that is as good as these sessions. Acoustic brilliance and technically a high standard of playing. It’s just so effortless and the vocals are bang on stunning. To go back and hear this is kind of bitter sweet. One can’t help feeling that “so much was wasted”. The sad thing about time is that you can’t rewind it and you can never go back. What a band!!❤️🙏🎼.x

[@InParticularNobody]

Electric skiffle from the Merseysippi delta.

[@RollingPeople97]

I just can't stop coming back to Lee's music and its magicical pull.

[@davidhope2506]

100% talent. It's the tunes, la'. John Power was the perfect foil for Lee.

[@susantodd3233]

Yes!

[@Kickbox72]

Love it. There is something about the la's that I'll never get sick of.

[@therealiesvault]

Words can't describe how good the La's were. They may not have stayed for as long as us la's fans wanted but they created some of the best music known to man and I for one am thankful they gave us what they did

[@jambojones162]

A real clockwork, hypnotic feel with the la's, they were unique in a way

[@ToneLa]

What way is that la? EVERY way?

[@russellkabir3462]

my mind just cools down every time i hear these songs... super awesome songs...

[@thebetbetunderground9548]

These are some of my favorite versions of Feelin' and Timeless Melody. Heck, if the entirety of the album had been recorded this way (with a bit of better sound quality), it'd be one of the best listening experiences we can ever have. Here, the band just sounds like they were simply jamming and feeling the breeze, while unconsciously delivering some of the best, most magical music known to man.

[@69birdboy]

they were so well battle hardened by rehearsals and still had the excitement...greast combo..relaxed with all the muscle memory

[@ToneLa]

This is my favourite La's I'd take this sesh doing any song. How could it be better? All wood and voices and strings. It rattles, it rolls... Fucking hell, me and you more than anyone should be tired of this by now, but... fat chance

[@ryansams1268]

I wish Lee would give us another album. It's been nearly 30 years! I haven't even been alive that long!

[@KevinPeroni]

No wonder Lee hated the official recordings. This is how they're meant to be heard, no effects, straight forward bliss.

[@lennon1482]

the la's... effects?

[@thebetbetunderground9548]

The band had a way of making the songs bounce so perfectly, it all almost has a hypnotic effect.

[@ToneLa]

Natural vibration Caverman... may you still be around & abound in these dark times (the dark times are when the light shines the strongest)

[@thebetbetunderground9548]

@@ToneLa man it's good to hear from you again. I'm still here, always here, always listening. I got diverted many many times, but always go back to listening and playing. Many things have happened. I've moved around, coming and going to many places. I've fathered a child, busied myself with different jobs, all the while recording and writing here and there. Nothing major has come up yet. But maybe the universe may give me a call one of these days. Who knows? Mavers. What could he be up to these days? Who knows? Maybe he's doing the same. Maybe he's still listening and playing. Maybe he would come out to play again in time. Or someone like him would take the torch. Who knows? Yes, these are rather dark times. But darkness inevitably eats itself up and then light begins to ascend again, and it'd be even brighter than before. Such is life, I guess. How have you been in these weird times, mate?

[@Andy78L]

I think all bands around that time and since would struggle to get that raw and authentic sound The La's achieved. Their music sounds proper Northern and so bloody full of feeling.

[@soulscanner66]

Thanks for sharing. Not many songs by the Las, but lots of recordings like this that surpass their studio recordings. I like them best in little live jam sessions like this. That's what makes them so interesting; every time they played it was different; they always looked for a new sound.

[@tonydeltablues]

great, unique voice (Lee M)

[@lennon1482]

"have you played any of those oxford balls?" what a strange question

[@thebetbetunderground9548]

The way the drums just lock in with the rhythm guitar...perfect timing.

[@matthewjdouglas6471]

Absolutely, like a freight train. Just blowing through the desert. There one minute, gone the next. The la's could have been absolutely massive. There is so many people who don't even know about them. Just the single which everyone knew and was a hit. They could of done anything. I'm sure they could have sold out Huge venues like no problem. If they only carried it on. I wonder what there songs would of sounded like if they went just full on electric like almost something like Alice in chains guitar rig. Crazy idea but I would love to hear them go heavy at times

[@paul66990]

Too talented to be commercially successful.​@@matthewjdouglas6471

[@Givingitashot]

This is pure diamond! Thanks for posting.

[@jamesdavies5266]

FFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFOOKIN' BRILLIANT! X

[@Buccarado]

Ah, always love coming back to these lads at the end of the day.

[@markasmaridias1836]

true legends. raw as fook .

[@kaysussex4991]

Love them even more now fueled with nostalgia for those wonderful days

[@shank1ey040176]

Brilliant! Thanks for uploading!

[@19911995]

untouchable at that time

[@tomasdepom]

ETERNOS...

[@matthewjdouglas6471]

I owe you. Such a good tune. All the tunes are the class though. I just get that feeling

[@cupovdmt]

just wish they'd done a few more..those merseycats were-a- cookin'

[@tonydeltablues]

Back to listen again.....I keep coming back....

[@dennisclancy6729]

Just wonder how many songs Lee mavers wrote. If I look like him at 58, after going through similar shit. I'll be more than happy

[@handsomegrackle]

@RollingPeople97 same here .... this timeless melody version is the best I've heard

[@tomredman8903]

This is the true la’s sound I think

[@GreyRose93]

Beautiful :D x

[@GT380man]

For the first time, I’m getting a sense of what Lee was after. This sounds several decades more ancient even that the late-eighties it is. Dragged out of sone much older epochal time. When all you had was pure rhythm & a few stretched bits of animal gut.

[@blakemcnamara9105]

You mean the '60s?

[@Lennonlover06]

​@@blakemcnamara9105 skiffle was 50s

[@thewordis...terrychristian4560]

wasn't the Summer of 89 , this was January or February 1989 live on the show between 7-8pm

[@ToneLa]

Cheers!

[@progforcefield5779]

is right terry! the word was boss I remember the sepultura fans in the cage

[@skelhornsongs]

Boss this.

[@tednruth453]

Bloody brilliant!!!

[@zaphodbeeblebrox9109]

Class act.

[@thebetbetunderground9548]

Failure is played with acoustic guitars only, but, fuck me, it's harder rocking than any distortion-drenched stuff out there.

[@ToneLa]

Failure is astounding here. Love this session, might actually be my favourite La's recording, it just sounds so earthy and the banter is charming :)

[@thebetbetunderground9548]

ToneGarvey Earthy, but with the essence of heaven.

[@soulscanner66]

Yeah, the first two songs were warm ups ... :-)

[@susantodd3233]

Good drummer adds much to it.

[@willdann7497]

Spot on

[@tinaheslop8001]

The La's have to regroup and perform for a farewell concert for Goodison before Everton Fc move to the Docks. Proper band, proper football club, proper City.

[@eighthstv]

Tina Heslop I'm a Utd fan but even I'd put on an Everton shirt for the day to see that! No better band ever

[@wormsnake1]

Great idea!!x

[@BIGNOIDS]

Why not, The Stone Roses reformed and played at the Etihad lol.

[@rongasterable]

Class

[@thebetbetunderground9548]

How twisted is that rhythm guitar playing in IOU, right?

[@DelayedJet]

Yeah, never thought I'd hear Lee playing that *and* singing at the same time. I assumed that he would just simplify it when playing live, but nope.

[@tomjobus5718]

🙏

[@ceedef3091]

Yes

[@69birdboy]

Lee..1 mic recording the backing. Overdub guitars and track some lovely reverby vocals....then release..simple..takes 2 weeks .

[@thegoodsgone1965]

Something happened to Lee.... I don't if it was drugs or what, but you listen to Lee speak here and he's just like a regular guy, then you listen to him in 1991 in that Japan interview or whatever it was and he sounds like he's been possessed.

[@1878Originals]

He seemed quite humble too.

[@thegoodsgone1965]

@@1878Originals for me arrogance is a tell tale sign of insecurity, so being humble is definitely a state of mind you find when someone is doing what they want to be doing/achieving their own idea of success.

[@everymandan4176]

In more ways than 1 he's channeling the spirit of Skip Spence, IMO.

[@nervesinapattern7261]

My first thought was drugs, if you watch that Japanese interview he’s rocking back and forth constantly and is constantly fidgeting with his fingers. It’s hard to know for certain though.

[@therealiesvault]

In my opinion I think he went mad at that point due to a combination of Disillusionment, OCD like tendencies and Heroin. I agree with you something changed inside of him. That Japan interview is almost hard to watch people in the comments were saying it was either Heroin withdrawals or something to do with Autism but I'm no expert on either so I really don't know. Only Lee knows the answer

[@theroyalwe1989]

Have you heard the 'unreleased' version (one that got pulled) or the 2 Meter Session, 3FM version? Just curious, as I'd rate them superior - but understandable if this is still your personal favourite.

[@thebetbetunderground9548]

"Good One!" Haha.

[@sratus]

Effortless

[@yeahyeahyeah-7674]

Wonder what “small pockets keep it talking” means?

[@GT380man]

“We’re poor & trying hard” ?

[@lennon1482]

keep the bongos going

[@BIGNOIDS]

Why didn't they just release albums of sessions instead of trying to recreate the sound in a studio?

[@katiedemore6053]

I agree!

[@stevetobin7495]

Biblical

[@daviddale5820]

Eh, shag ha laaaater.....

[@ytb460]

Sooo Beatlesy and taxmany.

[@jameskelly8301]

+caveman. u jst 'ad me in bits(boss tho)soz to ave 2 metion kids but it was a jam 4 d'radio.And cman it was after 5yrs of 'yeh if that sounds like dat and peopled ad of skind up on the mix-desk.we wouldnt of had go discs n lee in mexican st.off over d'£1,350.555p no wot i mean bud.but thats the funniest thing ive heard 2day wood love to come to ur cave m8

[@susantodd3233]

You take good care of yer self, will ya.