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The Perfect Disaster

From Alfawiki
The Perfect Disaster
Company typeBand
IndustryMusic
Founded1980
Headquarters
England
Area served
United Kingdom
ProductsAlbums, singles, EPs

The Perfect Disaster was an English alternative rock group originating from Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire, England, established in 1980. Over their career, they produced four albums before dissolving in 1991. Phil Parfitt, the vocalist and guitarist, remained the sole consistent member throughout the band's existence.

History

Initially named Orange Disaster, the band featured Parfitt alongside Ken Renny on bass and Alison Pate on guitar. This lineup released a seven-inch EP titled "Something's Got to Give" through Neuter Records in 1980. Subsequently, they adopted the name The Architects of Disaster. Parfitt and Pate were joined by Tony Pettitt (bass), Nod Wright (drums), and Paul Wright (guitar). This formation issued a single, "Cucumber Sandwich"/"Friendly Fire," before breaking up. Wright and Pettitt departed to create Fields of the Nephilim, while Parfitt brought in Grant Davidson on bass—later succeeded by John Saltwell—along with Dan Cross on guitar and Malcolm Catto on drums.

In 1984, the group rebranded as The Perfect Disaster and released their self-titled debut album on the French label Kampa in 1985. By 1987, they had signed with Glass Records, which reissued their debut album and put out a twelve-inch EP. After Saltwell and Pate exited, multi-instrumentalist Josephine Wiggs became part of the band. The group then transitioned to Fire Records, under which they launched Asylum Road in 1988. Following Catto’s departure, Phil Outram and Martin Langshaw took over drumming duties for their third album, Up, which reached number fifteen on the UK Indie Chart and included tours alongside The Jesus and Mary Chain. In 1989, Wiggs left to join The Breeders, prompting Saltwell’s return. The band released the Rise EP and their final album, Heaven Scent, in 1990 before disbanding in 1991.

After the breakup, Parfitt collaborated with Jason Pierce of Spiritualized and formed Oedipussy, releasing Divan in 1995 with guest appearances from Terry Bickers of The House of Love and Levitation (band). In 2014, performing as Philip Parfitt, he issued a solo record titled I'm Not the Man I Use to Be on Milltone Head Recordings.

The Perfect Disaster (1985) Kampa (France); reissued (1987) Glass

French Version Track List
Side One
  1. "What Could I Do/Given The Opportunity/" - (Philip Parfitt, Danny Cross, Allison Pate, John Saltwell, Malcolm Catto) - 3:21
  2. "Dawn In The Dark Woods" - (Parfitt) - 3:07
  3. "What's Happening To Me" - (Parfitt, Cross, Pate, Saltwell, Catto) - 3:04
  4. "Hiding From Frank" - (Parfitt) - 2:20
  5. "In The Pink" - (Parfitt, Cross, Pate, Saltwell, Catto) - 4:35
Side Two
  2. "New Beginning" - (Parfitt, Pate) - 3:39
  3. "Teddy Edward" - (Parfitt, Pate) - 2:51
  4. "Keep Loves Feet On The Ground" - (Parfitt) - 2:40
  5. "Memories" - (Parfitt, Pate) - 3:28
  6. "Stetson" - (Philip) - 3:22
Reissue Track List
Side One
  1. "What's Happening To Me?" - (Philip Parfitt, Danny Cross, Allison Pate, John Saltwell, Malcolm Catto) - 3:04
  2. "Dark Woods" - (Parfitt) - 3:07
  3. "What Could I Do?" - (Parfitt, Cross, Pate, Saltwell, Catto) - 3:21
  4. "Hiding From Frank" - (Parfitt) - 2:20
  5. "In The Pink" - (Parfitt, Cross, Pate, Saltwell, Catto) - 4:35
Side Two
  2. "New Beginning" - (Parfitt, Pate) - 3:39
  3. "Teddy Edward" - (Parfitt, Pate) - 2:51
  4. "Keep Loves Feet On The Ground" - (Parfitt) - 2:40
  5. "Memories" - (Parfitt, Pate) - 3:28
  6. "Stetson" - (Philip) - 3:22
  7. "Over You" - (Lou Reed) - 3:00
Band Members
  • Philip Parfitt – lead vocals and saxophone
  • Danny Cross – lead guitar and pixiphone
  • Alison Pate – rhythm guitar and backing vocals
  • John Saltwell – bass guitar and backing vocals
  • Malcolm Catto – drums and organ

Asylum Road (1988) Fire

Tracklist
Side One
  1. "The Crack Up"
  2. "Stop Crying Girl"
  3. "All the Stars"
  4. "Call It a Day"
  5. "In Conference Again"
  6. "Mooncraters"
Side Two
  2. "T.V. (Girl on Fire)"
  3. "In the Afternoon"
  4. "Evil Eye"
  5. "What's the Use of Trying?"
  6. "The Night Belongs to Charlie"
Lineup
  • Phil Parfitt – guitar, vocals
  • Alison Pate – guitar, vocals
  • Dan Cross – guitar
  • Josephine Wiggs – bass, cello
  • Martin Langshaw – percussion

Up (1989) Fire

Tracklist
Side One
  1. "'55" – lyrics by Phil Parfitt; composed by Parfitt and Dan Cross
  2. "Shout" – lyrics by Parfitt; composed by Parfitt and Cross
  3. "It Doesn't Matter" – lyrics by Parfitt; composed by Parfitt and Cross
  4. "Down (Here I Go)" – lyrics by Parfitt; composed by Parfitt and Cross
  5. "Down (Falling)" – lyrics by Parfitt; composed by Parfitt and Cross
  6. "Down (Down)" – lyrics by Parfitt; composed by Parfitt and Cross
Side Two
  2. "Hey Now" – lyrics by Parfitt; composed by Parfitt, Cross, and Josephine Wiggs
  3. "Go Away" – lyrics by Parfitt; composed by Parfitt and Cross
  4. "B52" – lyrics by Parfitt; composed by Parfitt and Cross
Additional tracks
  2. "Garage" – lyrics by Parfitt; composed by Parfitt and Cross
  3. "Time to Kill" – lyrics by Parfitt; composed by Parfitt and Cross
Personnel
  • Phil Parfitt – lead vocals, rhythm acoustic and electric guitars
  • Dan Cross – lead electric, acoustic, Spanish guitars, organ, piano
  • Josephine Wiggs – bass, backing vocals, piano, cello, double bass
  • Martin Langshaw – drums (tracks 1, 7, 11)
  • Phil "Jak" Outram – drums (tracks 2, 6, 8, 9)

Heaven Scent (1990) Fire

Tracklist
  1. "Rise" - (lyrics: Phil Parfitt; music: Parfitt, Dan Cross) - 2:58
  2. "Father" - (lyrics: Parfitt; music: Parfitt, Cross) - 4:05
  3. "Wires" - (lyrics: Josephine Wiggs; music: Parfitt, Cross, Wiggs) - 4:54
  4. "Takin' Over" - (lyrics: Parfitt; music: Parfitt, Cross) - 3:26
  5. "Where Will You Go With Me" - (lyrics: Parfitt; music: Parfitt, Cross) - 2:52
  6. "Little Sister (If Ever Days)" - (lyrics: Parfitt; music: Parfitt, Cross) - 5:18
  7. "Shadows" - (lyrics: Parfitt; music: Parfitt, Cross) - 5:22
  8. "Sooner or Later" - (lyrics: Parfitt; music: Parfitt, Cross) - 2:42
  9. "It's Gonna Come to You" - (lyrics: Parfitt; music: Parfitt, Cross) - 4:36
Bonus Tracks
  2. "Lee" - (lyrics: Parfitt; music: Parfitt, Cross) - 3:52
  3. "Mood Elevators (Original Version)" - (lyrics: Parfitt; music: Parfitt, Cross) - 3:38
  4. "Bluebell (Live)" - (lyrics: Parfitt; music: Parfitt, Cross) - 4:08
  5. "B52 (Live)" - (lyrics: Parfitt; music: Parfitt, Cross) - 13:15
Band Members
  • Phil Parfitt – lead and backing vocals, guitars
  • Dan Cross – guitars, backing vocals, organ
  • Josephine Wiggs – bass guitar, backing vocals, cello
  • Jon Mattock – drums (tracks 1-10), percussion (tracks 1-10)
  • Phil Outram – drums (tracks 11-13)

Singles and EPs

  • "Something's Got to Give" (1980) Neuter (as Orange Disaster), three tracks
  • "Something's Got to Give" (1981) Vogue (as Orange Disaster), two tracks
  • "Cucumber Sandwich" (1982) Neuter (as Architects of Disaster)
  • Hey Hey Hey EP (1987) Glass
  • "TV (Girl on Fire)" (1988) Fire
  • "Time to Kill" (1988) Fire
  • "Mood Elevators" (1989) Fire
  • Rise EP (1990) Fire
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