Third Spain - Third Spain LP

Between 20th June 1985 and 9th October 1986, Third Spain played 29 gigs, during the course of which they performed 48 of their own compositions, and released one self titled LP on Central Slate Records (SLATE 2).

Emerging Phoenix-like from the ashes of Reinheitsgebot when drummer Mark Thomas left that band, Third Spain performed their first four gigs with either a drum machine or guest drummers, until Rick Joslin completed the line-up in October 1985. Their only officially released recordings were actually made before Rick joined, and featured guitarist Maeyc overdubbing the drums afterwards! In fact the final track on the record, 'Winter' was actually a Reinheitsgebot recording, salvaged from an unrelease session the group recorded in Bath in May 1985.

Despite picking up numerous plays from John Peel and Andy Kershaw on their respective BBC Radio 1 programmes and gaining a glowing review in "Sounds" magazine (who described the record as "underground music for subterranean people"), the group somehow managed to completely evade a brush with success.

To avoid confusion, it should be noted that a completely different group with the same name also existed in Bangor during 1980. This group also included Scott Saunders but was otherwise totally unrelated. Their recordings will be posted here in due course.


Here's a complete list of the group's live performances:
20th June 1985 Jazz Room, Bangor (with The Slivey Toads)
8th July 1985 Glanrafon Refectory, Bangor (Welsh Special Games event)
20th July 1985 Treborth Playing Fields, Bangor (with Zombie Noise & Victims Of The Fury)
28th September 1985 Jazz Room, Bangor (with Offspring & Proffwyd - Ethiopa benefit)
11th October 1985 Albion Pub, Bangor
17th October 1985 Angel Pub, Aberystwyth (with Xzma, Bonclust & others)
24th October 1985 Jazz Room, Bangor (with The Creations)
1st November 1985 Victoria Hotel, Menai Bridge (with Maffia Mr Huws & The Ghostriders)
13th November 1985 Victoria Hotel, Menai Bridge (with Steam Radio)
12th December 1985 Jazz Room, Bangor (with Holy Smoke)
20th December 1985 Albion Pub, Bangor (without Scott)
23rd January 1986 Jazz Room, Bangor
21st February 1986 Victoria Hotel, Menai Bridge (with Holy Smoke)
11th March 1986 Jazz Room, Bangor (with Cut Tunes)
26th March 1986 Victoria Hotel, Menai Bridge (with Steam Radio)
12th April 1986 Jazz Room, Bangor (with The Liquidisers)
18th April 1986 Jazz Room, Bangor (with The Paraletics)
26th April 1986 J.P. Hall, Bangor (with Maffia Mr Huws, Anhrefn, Cut Tunes, Datblygu & Fascination)
19th May 1986 Jazz Room, Bangor (with Cut Tunes, Anhrefn & Y Cyrff)
26th May 1986 Bryn-y-Neuadd Hospital, Llanfairfechan (without Scott)
6th June 1986 Victoria Hotel, Menai Bridge (with Anhrefn)
14th June 1986 Castle Hotel, Harlech
19th July 1986 Victoria Hotel, Menai Bridge
16th August 1986 Victoria Hotel, Menai Bridge
23rd August 1986 Dinmor, Penmon (with Ghostriders & others)
26th September 1986 Village Inn, Llanfairfechan
4th October 1986 Jazz Room, Bangor (with Cut Tunes)
6th October 1986 International, Manchester (with Passmore Sisters & I'll Show Harry)
9th October 1986 Jazz Room, Bangor (with Cut Tunes & Anhrefn)


Third Spain - Third Spain (mini-LP)
Central Slate Records - cat. no. SLATE 2
released October 1985

Scott Saunders - vocals

Maeyc Hewitt - guitar/drums
Alan Holmes - guitar
Ian McMillan - bass
with
Mark Thomas - drums (track 7)

1 Splendid View 3.43
2 Haywire 4.15
3 In the Twilight 4.00
4 Wave 4.16
5 September 4.15
6 Australians 4.51
7 Winter 3.58

all songs by Hewitt/Holmes/McMillan/Saunders
song timngs by Stephen Davies

get it here