Feature: What THE MOTORS mean to me

April 11th, 2020 by GRTR! HQ

Joe Geesin reveals his first vinyl purchase and a longer term love of the pop rock band The Motors

The Motors - 1978

Many will remember the track ‘Airport’, by The Motors, or at least recognise it, a pop track often played on television when aeroplanes are shown. A 1978 pop classic. And so is ‘Forget About You’, from the same album Approved By The Motors, noted for its similarity to the old Match Of The Day tune.

Those two tracks made an impact on me, aged 8 years old, at a time when musical interests took in the Star Wars OST, ABBA and even David Soul (I still have the latter’s Playing To An Audience Of One LP somewhere). But they were gifts, and that Approved By was my first vinyl purchase. Not quite the birth of my record collecting but it definitely was a very early seed.

That album I wore out, and as I hit my teens (then a Madness collector and on the verge of my heavy metal eureka moment) I started looking for the singles, a decent condition LP to replace the well played original, and I discovered their first album (Motors 1, 1977) and their final third album, Tenement Steps (1980).

The Motors’ sound took pub rock and rock’n'roll of the early 70s, most clearly on their debut, and via pop (the keyboard led tracks written by pianist Andy McMaster, prior to the first album), and transcended punk, missing it completely, to finish off as new wave pop.

As I went on to discover, the band’s roots were with bassist/guitarist/vocalist Nick Garvey, originally a roadie for The Flamin’ Groovies, and keyboardist / singer songwriter Andy McMaster, whose paths crossed in pub rock band Ducks Deluxe. Check out their track ‘Coast To Coast’ and I hope you’ll be hooked like I was.

After a break, the two came together again in The Motors, and although much of the second album was written first, McMaster wanted to explore the stage so was taught the basic bass rudiments for the debut that took off nicely from the pub rock roots.

The band were completed by drummer Ricky Slaughter and guitarist Bram Tchaikovsky. After the more keyboard led second album, McMaster and Garvey were back to a duo, the other two fed up of being hired sidemen. Slaughter would play in Fallen Angels, and Bram Tchaikovsky went solo (and well worth checking out). The third album was completed with bassist Martin Ace (ex-Man) and drummer Terry Williams (ex-Man, later Dire Straits).

The band split soon after, with Nick Garvey doing some session work (including with Paul McCartney) and working in A&R at Polydor. Andy McMaster more recently issued a solo album Agenda 21.

I will always love The Motors – other musical tastes have moved on but I collect this band and am always on the lookout for world-wide pressings. Check out my collection here http://www.joegeesin.com/Motors.pdf

Back in the 00s, I had the pleasure of interviewing Nick Garvey for sleevenotes for the Captain Oi label, for expanded editions of the albums, and again (with Andy McMaster too) for a 4 disc The Virgin Years, which added a live CD of BBC material. Full circle.

Recommended albums
The Virgin Years (4CD, clam shell box)

Tracks
Airport
Dancing The Night Away

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09:00-12:00 The Best of 2024 (Melodic Rock)
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14:00-16:00 The Best of 2024 (Singer Songwriter)