Saturday, November 11, 2006

Fay Ray

fay rayBangor Wales' Fay Ray, named after photographer William Wegman's dog, debuted in 1980 with the 7" single "Family Affairs" (Surey Sound Records) and three live tracks on a 101 Live Letters compilation. They signed to Elektra/Warner Brothers and released "Contact You" in 1982. The record did not sell. A follow-up was recorded but the label pulled the plug and kept the masters. The record was not released and the band broke up. There is a rumor that "Contact You" will be released on CD next year along with bonus tracks.

Fay Ray was:
Sheila Macartney (Brook) - vocals, guitar organ (later in Turnstone)
John Lovering - guitars (now a professor at Cardiff University)
Owen Hughes - drums
Tony Travis - bass, backing vocals
Jeff Taylor - saxaphone, accordion, flute, backing vocals

See Fay Ray's "Modern Lovers" video on YouTube.
See Fay Ray's "Heatwave" video on YouTube.

Go to the download page to get Fay Ray - "Love is Strange"

29 Comments:

Blogger Jim N said...

The flute solo in the middle is completely unexpected. Also, I agree with the central message of this song. Love IS danger, and love IS strange.

1:31 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

I had never heard of them, so this post was a nice surprise. And, by the way, thanks as always; I really love this site.

12:19 PM  
Blogger Andrew said...

Great discovery. I love the cheesy organ.

AC

9:16 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

I am actually one of the two people that bought the record "Contact You" when it came out. I've been looking for a it on CD or MP3 for a while. Hope the rumor of a CD is true.

3:18 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

I was at Bangor University when Fay Ray were active. All of my mates and I were huge fans and we all bought the album. We also went to every gig. They were an excellent band who deserved some real success.

I was in a little band myself at the time and Sheila once asked us to accompany her on some folk songs she was doing for a play she was in...then she promptly neglected to arrange rehearsals! Never mind, we still love you! Remember The Singing Bears?

3:45 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

I really liked Contact You when I bought it, and have looked for years for a CD. I hope the rumor is true too!

4:39 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

I saw Fay Ray at Dalton in London 1982.
There were 26 people at the gig!
They were an incredible band.
I have all the MP3s for the tracks on "Contact You".
Contact ME if you're a genuine fan!
I'll open a Google Account after posting this as Anonymous.

TBF

6:48 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

I've bought the Fay Ray contact you lp at least five times, but haven't had a copy in a decade or two. I could use the mp3's.

8:18 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Contact you is one of my all time favourite Albums. Although I never got to see Fay Ray play live I did see their previous incarnation 'Hot Water' play support at Erics a number of times and I bought both the singles. Still have them somewhere.

They were a little more folk /bluesy as Hot Water with 2 famle singers and fitted into the Deaf School vibe that was big in Liverpool at the time.

Shame they only made 1 album.

9:57 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

I play the band on my show at WRSU-FM - New Brunswick NJ (88.7FM)

I recorded the vinyl to CD so I dont beat up the album.

Ed Wong

1:58 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

I heard the song played on Duke University's college radio station once back in '82. I vaguely remembered this snatch of lyrics, "I didn't kill. I didn't Hate. It doesn't matter 'cause it's all too late,' and over the years it's been bugging me what song it is!

Every so often over the years I'd google it, but nothing ever turned up.

It randomly popped into my head to try it tonight. I got a hit.
http://www.inthe80s.com/nuclearwar/h.shtml

From there I found the video on youtube.

I love the internet. The more time passes, the MORE likely - not the LESS likely - you are to find that obscure thing you are looking for.

3:02 AM  
Blogger Unknown said...

This comment has been removed by the author.

11:29 AM  
Blogger Unknown said...

This comment has been removed by the author.

12:24 PM  
Blogger Unknown said...

Apologies - above links were missing a letter, so don't work. This is the right link to Heatwave. You'll find links to other Fay Ray vids there too.

3:24 AM  
Blogger Unknown said...

I have a copy of the Hot Water single, "Get Lost" c/w "Bird's Eye View"on Duff Records [Fay Wray bfore the were Fay Wray. Have treasured it for a long time.
Yes, rumours of the "Contact You" alum on vinyl are true and the "lost album" still exists.
I play my "Contact You" album at least 4 times a year, I traesure the vinyl and it's still in mint condition.
One of the great lost bands.

6:16 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

I bought contact you in 1981 after hearing Heatwave on Tiger Tim on Clyde radio, I think....
I lost the record in a move and managed to pick a promo copy up from the states for the grand total of 6 quid and that was delivered ,in perfect condition! in 2005 ish.... what was good was it sounded even better than in 1982, and I am amazed they never went further as they were far more talented than some around at the time.
I was amazed at the video footage on youtube.....FANTASTIC!
pete

6:46 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

me again, having read about the master copy, that wil explain why every record shop I went into had no record at all of the album
pete

6:48 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Loved both Hot Water and Fay Ray. The Hot Water gig at the Ogwen Valley Festival was a high point of my youth along with Fay Rays Plas Coch Rock nites and sweaty gigs at the Victoria Hotel. Have all the singles, the cassette of John Peels sessions and the LP. We all really thought they would break through with the album. Shame it all hit the buffers.

6:19 AM  
Blogger Brays said...

We like the sound of these youngsters {although they must be quite elderly now!)
Fay & Fay Bray

8:28 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Thank you Brays.
You're right - we are all quite elderly now, but still get together to do the occasional gig. More fun now the pressure to succeed has gone...

5:24 AM  
Anonymous Michael said...

I bought "Contact you" in 1982 in a local record store, because it was an offer. The more time passed the more I realised and still do, that I got the chance to get one of the best records of the whole new wave era. It's such a shame, that this band didn't make it. They should have! I'm looking for the CD for about 20 years now. I will never surrender... Thanks for this album! I love you.

8:30 PM  
Blogger Unknown said...

>Thank you Brays.
You're right - we are all quite elderly now, but still get together to do the occasional gig. More fun now the pressure to succeed has gone...

Cant believe its truly you. But you guys are awesome, maybe you record some singles guys? Your sound is really catchy.

12:51 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Sounds of my childhood!

If I recall correctly Fay Ray did a follow up EP to Contact You with a track "Just another Love song"

Anyone got a copy of that?

3:42 PM  
Blogger Unknown said...


We didn't release a follow-up E.P. but we did record three demo tracks in the hope of making another album, which included Another Love Song.
Can send u an MP3 if you like

6:04 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

There was [unfortunately] no follow up EP.
We did record four demos to try to get WEA interested in another album, which included "Just Another Love Song".
Copies of these now seem to be floating round the internet, and some cheeky blighter on YouTube even tried to claim copyright!!

8:42 AM  
Blogger Unknown said...

CD due out November and a one off gig to promote it in Bethesda north Wales 3/11/18

8:29 PM  
Blogger Unknown said...

It is and they play Bethesda neuadd ogwen 3rd November

8:30 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

There was a wonderful Fay Ray gig at Neuadd Ogwen in Bethesda last night for the release of the remastered Contact You LP onto CD!! For all you fans out there, contact them on their FB page to find a copy.

6:19 AM  
Anonymous Michael said...

Woooow! This Michael again (see above, a few years ago) :-)) Another few years have passed, but my patience finally seems to lead me to a happy end! Take a look on the band's face book site. From there I got the chance to order "Contact you" as a CD, 5 additional tracks on it. I hope I'll hold it in my Hands next week. Go out and tell the whole world to buy it, as this Album still deserves to be noticed. I still love you! Thanks for beeing a constant part of "The Soundtrack of my Life"!

9:55 AM  

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