Bands I wish I'd been in #5 - A Certain Ratio

A Certain Ratio (ACR) are a post-punk band formed in 1977 in Wythenshawe, Manchester, England. While originally part of the punk rock movement, they soon added funk and dance elements to their sound. This coincided with super funking drummer Donald Johnson joining. They are sometimes referred to as "post punk funk". The band's name was taken from the lyrics of Brian Eno's song "The True Wheel" from the 1974 album Taking Tiger Mountain (By Strategy).

The group's longest serving original members are Martin Moscrop (guitar, trumpet), Jez Kerr (bass, vocals) and Donald Johnson (drums, vocals, bass) who joined after the first drummer less single (All Night Party/Thin Boys). Two of the original members subsequently left the band: Simon Topping (left in 1983 for Quando Quango and later joined T-Coy), plus guitarist Peter Terrell, who left in 1982. Keyboardist Andy Connell, who joined in 1982, left to form Swing Out Sister in 1985.

A Certain Ratio's first recording contract was with Factory Records in 1979. They released The Graveyard and The Ballroom only on cassette in 1980. This led them to put out  To Each..., released in 1981. Their first album was blighted by a studio technician who reset all of the panel prior to the final mixdown. The impact of which significantly hindered the final pressing, with the final mix not truly reflecting their new found funky dynamic.

Despite being signed to Factory (and the labels notoriously industrial aesthetic) ACR were heavily influenced by the NYC funk scene. Their sound incorporated latin tinges too. Their magnificent second album Sextet featured NYC vocalist Martha Tilson and captured the funky vibe that To Each... had hinted at.  

This was followed up by I'd like to see you again, the cover of which showed the band in the Hacienda nightclub. The album took the band even further away from the bleaker landscapes of the traditional Factory artists (Joy Division, Section 25, Crispy Ambulance etc). I'd like to see you again was the last album to feature Topping and Terrel.

The second age of ACR is regarded by some as their best. The keyboard work of Andy Connell and sax of Tony Quigley fleshed out their sound. As someone who saw a lot of the band at this time (Lance Corporal Franks of the notorious ACR Barmy Army reporting for funk patrol sah!) their gigs became euphoric events. 

Studio albums Force and Good Together followed (the latter their first for a major label). The album failed to produce a hit, leading to the band's departure from the label, which whilst I'm sure was very frustrating for the band was never important for their fans. In the early 1990s, they signed with Rob's Records, owned by New Order manager Rob Gretton.

The trio of albums they released in the 90's acr:mcr, Up in Downsville and Change the station all hit the spot. With the title track of the second of those albums in particular becoming a firm favourite on the PNUK dancefloor (@ The Foundry, Shoreditch) at the turn of the millennium.

In 1990 Creation Records reissued the albums on CD and in 2002 Soul Jazz Records reissued the albums with bonus tracks (but using the same masters as the Creation editions.) Further re-issues and a live recording from 1980 have also been made available on the LTM label.

A Certain Ratio were initially managed by Tony Wilson. They feature in the film 24 Hour Party People where Tony Wilson (played by Steve Coogan) described them as "having all the energy of Joy Division but better clothes." Martin Moscrop was Musical Supervisor of 24 Hour Party People.

I reckon I must have seen the band over 30 times and from the very first gig at the basement in Brighton to the most recent one in East London they have consistently sent me home happy with their unique mix of Manc samba, punk and fundamentalist funk!

Although the band does not play full-time any more, they continue writing, recording and performing. Jez Kerr has released a thoroughly enjoyable solo album 'Numb Mouth Eat Waste' and it is hoped that the band will follow up their 2008 release Mind Made Up in due course. And if they are looking for a second guitarist to splatter wah wah guitar all over their funk, then I am available!

Personal ACR Top 10

1. Si firmir o grido (Womad festival live version)

2. Knife Slits Water (12")

3. Rialto (Sextet)

4. Sesamo Apriti - Corco Vada (I'd like to see you again)

5. Flight (12")

6. Do the Du (Casse) (12")

7. Brazilia (12")

8. Mello (12")

9  Guess who?  (12")

10. Abracadubra (Sir Horatio 12")

Album[edit]

• The Graveyard and the Ballroom (December 1979) – FACT 16 [cassette] 
• To Each... (1981) – FACT 35 
• Sextet (1982) – FACT 55 
• I'd Like To See You Again (1982) – FACT 65 
• Force (1986) – FACT 166 
• Good Together (1989) – A&M ACR 550
• acr:mcr (1990) – A&M 397 057-2
• Up In Downsville (1992) – ROB20 
• Change The Station (1997) – ROB50
• Mind Made Up (2008) – reissued via LTM (2010)

Singles[edit]

• "All Night Party" / "The Thin Boys" 7" – FAC 5
• "Shack Up" / "And Then Again (live)" 7" – FBN 1
• "Flight" / "Blown Away" / "And Then Again" 12" – FAC 22
• "Do The Du (Casse)" / "The Fox" / "Shack Up" / "Son And Heir" 12" – FACUS 4
• "The Double 12" " (12" 2 x 12", 7 tracks) – FACT 42 – Italian Import inc FAC 22 and FACUS 4
• "Waterline" / "Funaezekea" 12" – FAC 52
• "Knife Slits Water" / "Tumba Rumba" 7" – FAC 62-7
• "Knife Slits Water" / "Kether Hot Knives" 12" – FAC 62-12
• "Guess Who?" (Parts 1 and 2) 12" – FBN 17
• "I Need Someone Tonight" / "Don't You Worry 'Bout A Thing" 12" – FAC 72-12 (
• "Life's A Scream" / "There's Only This" 12" – FAC 112
• "Life's A Scream (Edit)" / "There's Only This (Edit)" 7" – FAC 112P
• "Brazilia" / "Dub" 12" – FBN 32
• "Wild Party" / "Sounds Like Something Dirty" 12" – FAC 128
• "Mickey Way (The Candy Bar)" / "Inside" / "Si Firmi O Grido" 12" – FAC 168
• "Greetings Four" EP – "The Runner" / "Inside" / "Bootsy" / "Fever 103" (all session versions) 12" – MASO 70004
• "Bootsy" / "Inside" 7" (Australian only) – FAC 1667
• "Bootsy (Remix)" / "Mickey Way" 12" (Australian only) – FAC 16612^[9]
• "The Big E" – A&M
• "Backs to the Wall" / "Backs to the Wall (Dub)" / "Be What You Wanna Be" (ACR version) 12" – ACRY 517
• "Your Blue Eyes" / "Thin Grey Line" / "Coldest Days" 12" (also on 7") – ACRY 534
• "Won't Stop Loving You (Bernard Sumner version) / "Repercussions" (ACR remix) / "Love Is The Way" (Instrumental) 12" – ACRY 540 – UK No. 55^[7]
• "Won't Stop Loving You (Bernard Sumner version) / "Won't Stop Loving You (Norman Cook remix) / "Won't Stop Loving You (Cook Instrumental) – ACRY 540 – This was essentially a hurried re-press by A&M in an attempt to push the single up the singles chart (it failed).
• "Good Together" – EP – A&M 12"
• "Shack Up (Machine)" / "Shack Up (Man)" / "Shack Up" (Norman Cook remix) / "Party Up" 12" – ACRYDJ 590 – Promo only
• "The Planet" / "Loosen Up Your Mind" 12" – 12 ROB 2
• "27 Forever (Bubble Bath Mix)" / "27 Forever (Fix Mix)" (both remixed by Jon Dasilva) 12" – 12 ROB 5R
• "Mello" / "Dub" / "27 Forever" (Jon Dasilva remix) / "Moist Dub" 12" – 12 ROB 6R
• "Tekno" / "Tekno" (Way Out West remix) 12" – 12 ROBS 18
• "Soundstation Volume 2" EP – "Samba 123" (Fila Brazilia remix) / "Yeah Boy" (Sons of Samarkand remix) / "Yeah Boy" (DJ Die) 12" – 12 ROBS 22
• "Shack Up" / Human League – "Being Boiled" 12" – SJR 57-12 (Soul Jazz Records)

Compilations and live albums[edit]

• A Certain Ratio Live in America (Live Album, 1985) – DOJO 47 (Castle Communications)
• The Old and the New (Singles Compilation, 1986) – FACT 135
• Looking for a Certain Ratio (Remixes, 1994) – CRE159B
• Early (2002) – SJR60 (Soul Jazz Records)
• Live in Groningen (2005) – LTM 2443

Thanks to Wikipedia for discography!