Released June 1980 Label Private release Artist Cardiacs | Recorded June 1980 Producer Tim Smith Release date June 1980 | |
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The Obvious Identity
(1980) Toy World
as Cardiacs
(1981) Genres Rock music, New wave, Art punk Similar Toy World, Archive Cardiacs, The Special Garage C, The Seaside, On Land and in the Sea | ||
The Obvious Identity is the debut album by English rock group Cardiacs (although it was released under the group's earlier name of 'Cardiac Arrest'). It was released solely on cassette and was only sold at concerts. The album title came from a name which the band used for a short time prior to taking on the "Cardiac Arrest" name. This was the only Cardiacs album to feature the band's original lead singer, Michael Pugh, who appeared on two tracks (Pugh's only other appearance with the band on record was on the "A Bus for a Bus on the Bus" single).
Contents
The album was produced by Cardiacs leader Tim Smith at Crow Studios in Kingston upon Thames, Surrey, UK. Recorded with the punk/DIY ethic in mind and - as Smith had little cash to invest in the project - the master tapes were duplicated onto as many old cassette tapes as Smith could find. An anonymous member of the band has been quoted as commenting that "the recordings were so shit it wouldn’t matter if they were copied onto washing up sponges." Eventually, 1000 cassettes were recorded, but only sold at concerts to save on expenditure.
Reissues and alternate versions of album tracks
The Obvious Identity has never been reissued, and is consequently one of the rarest Cardiac Arrest/Cardiacs releases. However, many of the pieces from it have either been reissued on other Cardiacs releases or have had live versions appearing on other albums.
Track List
All tracks written by Tim Smith except where indicated.
Personnel
Songs
1The Obvious Identity2:11
2Visiting Hours4:50
3Pip as Uncle Dick but Peter Spoilt It4:35