8-Ball in the Top Pocket (Extended Version) [Maxi-single]

Description

8-Ball in the Top Pocket (Extended Version) is a three-track Maxi-single by the British singer and songwriter Andy Piercy of After The Fire fame, released on CBS Records in 1983. According to information on the album sleeve the tracks were “taken from the forthcoming LP/Cassette Free Heat“. All tracks were produced by John Eden with Andy Piercy. (Eden actually also produced “Der Kommissar”, the final single released by After The Fire.) Tracks A1 and B2 were co-written by Andy Piercy and Maldwyn “Mal” Pope with track B1 written by Piercy only. The cover was designed by Roslav Szaybo who also did the LP cover design of After The Fire’s Laser Love.

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12-inch Maxi-Single tracklist:

Side One
A1. “8-Ball In The Top Pocket” (Extended Version) – 4:58

Side Two
B1. “Deep Waters (Still Run)” – 4:05
B2. “One Down For The Highway” – 3:50

Note: “8-Ball In The Top Pocket” (the shorter album version of length 4:20) was also released as a 7-inch single with “Deep Waters (Still Run)” on the flip-side (Catalogue No. A3930).

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Andy Piercy, Free Heat (CBS 1983) Unreleased Album

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CREDITS. Produced by John Eden with Andy Piercy. Tracks A1 and B2 were written by Andy Piercy and Maldwyn Pope and track B1 was written by Piercy. Taken from the forthcoming LP/Cassette “Free Heat”. Design by Roslav. Photo by Eric Watson.

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The Free Heat Sessions

After the ATF split, Andy Piercy continued writing material, sending it to Mal Pope in Wales. Mal worked for AMP (ATF’s management) and the two had known each other for some time. The writing paternership worked well.

Then «Der Kommissar» broke into the American charts and a follow up was required. CBS tried to get the band back together without success. At this stage the reworked «One Rule For You» and «Dancing In The Shadows» were recorded in LA under the eye of John Eden. «Dancing in the Shadows» was released but made no impact in the British charts but again made some success in the US charts. The B-side contained a reworking of «Starflight» (this was produced before the split by John Eden and ATF). [Piercy’s revamped «Dancing In The Shadows», as well as the band-reworked «Starflight», were later included on the re-issue version of After The Fire’s CBS Records compilation, Der Kommissar.]

Work started on a new album Free Heat, (an anagram of After The Fire, the other letters create the word “rift”!). The album was recorded across the UK in various studios including The Manor and The Town House.

The next single to be released was «8 Ball in the Top Pocket»/«Deep Waters Still Run». Again this disappeared without impact. The 12″ version, which also contained «One Down for the Highway», was deleted before release.

Musicians who worked on the album with Andy and Mal included Roger Taylor (Queen), Henry Spinetti & Bob Jenkins – drums, John Giblin & Andy – bass, Alan Murphy & John Russell – guitar, Adrian Lee – keys. Mal and John Russell both did some backing vocals. (There is a little debate between Andy & Mal to the final line up)

The album consisted of the following tracks: 8 ball in the Top Pocket / Young Love / Terry / Stop Go / 4th Street, Room 101 / Jewel in the Night / We Gotta Get out of This Place / Young and Wild / One Down for the Highway / Deep Waters Still Run.

At this point a large US tour was being planned, Mal recalls telling his wife that he would be away for some time.

«We’re Looking for Love» was demo’d for a Eurovision entry and recorded at Scarf Studios with Reg Webb and John Russell. Andy had produced demos for the Outfield (then the Baseball Boys) which helped them get a deal and in return the band backed Andy when needed. “That is why they did the Greenbelt gig – their first taste of a big crowd, which went on to become common place for them in the US where they did 2 million + albums”.

CBS were excited about the album and plans were made to make it the company’s first release on CD!

Work on the album had begun to get hard, the demos were not turning into the tracks Andy wished for. Then towards the end of recording the producer, John Eden, told Andy that he “didn’t like” any of the styles, bands or writers he was aspiring to. The whole project was dropped by CBS.

Andy recalls “I think they could have been good but I now realise I didn’t get the production help and direction I needed at the time”

Andy went on to do demos for EMI in the studio in the basement of EMI Manchester Square after CBS released him from the deal. Three tracks were recorded «Somewhere in the World», «Live and Learn» and another.

Quite a few demos were also created for MCA Publishers in their studio at Hyde Park Corner on Piccadily. That was where he also produced demos for T’Pau and the original demo of «Heart and Soul» which went on to be a big smash in the US, (but with somebody else using his ideas!).

Other demos were made at Scarf Studios on the East End, probably paid for by Andy or his manager and yet others done on his 4-track cassette player!

“Oh yes, some others at Videosonics with Denis Weinreck. I really liked those ones best I think. I think I gave all the cassettes away of the demo tapes. Seems a shame now.” [http://www.pk.afterthefire.co.uk/andy/free.htm]