The March Violets - Turn To The Sky 12" (1986)

Turn To The Sky 12"
1986 Rebirth VBRX27
THE MARCH VIOLETS
Simon "Detroit" Denbigh (v),  Cleo Murray (v),Tom Ashton (g), Laurence "Loz" Elliot (b), Dr. Rhythm (d), Andy Tolson (d)

Track Listing A1. "Turn To The Sky" B1. "Never Look back" B2. "Deep" (Deeper Mix)

nWu BONUS "Turn To The Sky" (Original 12")

Turn To The Sky (Lyrics) Ooooooo-oooooh You took the words right from my lips, without asking I've played the scene before and I won't be the one left crying And if you think that love's for sale, well I'm not buying What you've bought before you can buy no more 'Cause I'm all out of love, I can't take no more Ooooooo-oooooh Tonight is fading fast the sun is rising I've been down so many times now I'm realising Real love is hard to find take it while you can get it I don't know if he's still here you keep telling me to forget Still I wake at night and I call your name Dreaming of you I wake at night always the same I call your name but you sleep right through And love is the light in your face turn to the sky I know now I know now love won't pass you by Love is the light in your face turn to the sky I know now I know your eyes don't lie All the vicious games we play they mean nothing to me All I know is your touch and the way love should be Deep down within your eyes a war is raging What you fought before you can fight no more 'Cause inside your heart is breaking Still I wake at night and I call your name Dreaming of you I wake at night always the same I call your name but you sleep right through And love is the light in your face turn to the sky I know now I know now love won't pass you by Love is the light in your face turn to the sky I know now I know your eyes, your eyes don't lie Still I wake at night and I call your name Dreaming of you I wake at night always the same I call your name but you sleep right through And love is the light in your face turn to the sky I know now I know now love won't pass you by Love is the light in your face turn to the sky I know now I know your eyes don't lie Love is the light in your face turn to the sky I know now I know now love won't pass you by Love is the light in your face turn to the sky I know now I know your eyes don't lie

The March Violets - Deep 12" (1985)

Deep 12"
1985 Rebirth VRB2612
THE MARCH VIOLETS
Simon Denbigh (v), Cleo Murray (v), Tom Ashton(g) ,Laurence Elliot (b), Dr. Rhythm (d)

Track Listing A1. "Deep" B1. "Eldorado" B2. "Electric Shades"

nWu BONUS "Deep" (Deeper Mix)

The March Violets are an English goth rock band of the 1980s, incorporating singers of both sexes, drum machine rhythms and echo laden electric guitar, much in the way of scene mates The Sisters of Mercy, who also originated from the city of Leeds. Seven March Violets' singles have made it into the UK Indie Chart; Natural History LP also was an indie hit (#3, 1984).

History

The original band members met while at Leeds University in 1981. Tom Ashton and Laurence "Loz" Elliot played lead and bass guitar, while vocals were handled by both Simon "Detroit" Denbigh and Rosie Garland. Percussion was provided by a drum machine, a feature that a number of bands in the burgeoning Leeds scene had in common. Fellow student Andrew Eldritch, lead singer of The Sisters of Mercy, released the bands first single on his Merciful Release label in 1982. The "Religious As Hell" single consisted of four tracks that reflected strong punk and garage rock influences in the guitar work, along with contrasting vocals from the two singers. Denbigh's male vocals varied from being essentially spoken to a harsh yelling, whereas Garland's were high pitched and almost operatic. The band garnered positive reviews for this first release, which was soon followed in 1983 by a second single for Merciful Release. "Grooving In Green" featured a more confident sounding production, aided by a more powerful sounding drum machine, and received more positive reaction from the UK national music press.

At this point, the band appeared to fall out of favour with Andrew Eldritch, and they established their own Rebirth record label to handle future releases. The "Crow Baby" single shortly followed, and repeated the pattern of good reviews and a good showing in the UK independent record chart. The title track of the next single, "Snake Dance", was arguably the band's creative high point. Additional female vocals were provided by Cleo Murray, and for the two final independent releases, "Walk Into The Sun" and "Deep", Rosie was no longer a part of the band. The bands sound was also changing towards a more pop-oriented sound, and Simon Denbigh was pushed out of the band before going on to form The Batfish Boys.

An increasingly commercial sounding March Violets began to receive negative reviews from the music press. The accusations of selling out worsened as the band signed to major label London Records, which also saw them add drummer Andy Tolson to the line up. The subsequent "Turn To The Sky" single was released through London Records, although still bearing the Rebirth imprint. Reviews were disparaging, and despite featuring on the soundtrack to the film Some Kind of Wonderful, the band failed to find a new audience and broke up in 1987.

Following the split, Tom Ashton went on to perform with Hard Rain and long running goth band Clan of Xymox, while Cleo Murray briefly fronted the Lovecraft in the early 1990s.

Rosie Garland went on to become an acclaimed poet and cabaret performer, performing under the name Rosie Lugosi. She then became the victim of a stalker, with the court case being lead article in the Manchester Evening News.

The March Violets - Walk Into The Sun 12" (1984)

Walk Into The Sun 12"
1984 Rebirth VBR2412
THE MARCH VIOLETS
Simon "Detroit" Denbigh (v),  Cleo Murray (v),Tom Ashton (g), Laurence "Loz" Elliot (b), Dr. Rhythm (d)

Track Listing A1. "Walk Into The Sun" B1. "Lights Go Out" B2. "Essence"

nWu BONUS "Turn To The Sky"

Walk Into The Sun (Lyrics) Statues slowly click their fingers Catch the beat and born again Come into the drawing room She draws them in That smoke filled room Broken glasses token smiles Dust is fine so she breathes it in she Circulates with ermine hands Picking the wallflowers one by one Now walk Into the sun Statues moving in the ballroom On the dancefloor all is bright Vicious sins of gentlefolk I love my horse that's the joke Find your picture in the mirror Find your portrait on the wall Turn the sundial back again This is a dance for everyone Walk with me now The sun machine is coming down And we're gonna have a party Statues slowly click their fingers Catch the beat and born again East is west and west is east Follow me into the garden Find your future in the crystal Leave your friendship in the hall Follow me now this is the way This is a dance for everyone Limited quantities of the 12" came with a free sticker, with the Walk into the Sun logo, and "The March Violets . Walk into the Sun . 1984" written around the edge.

Turn To The Sky (Lyrics) Ooooooo-oooooh You took the words right from my lips, without asking I've played the scene before and I won't be the one left crying And if you think that love's for sale, well I'm not buying What you've bought before you can buy no more 'Cause I'm all out of love, I can't take no more Ooooooo-oooooh Tonight is fading fast the sun is rising I've been down so many times now I'm realising Real love is hard to find take it while you can get it I don't know if he's still here you keep telling me to forget Still I wake at night and I call your name Dreaming of you I wake at night always the same I call your name but you sleep right through And love is the light in your face turn to the sky I know now I know now love won't pass you by Love is the light in your face turn to the sky I know now I know your eyes don't lie All the vicious games we play they mean nothing to me All I know is your touch and the way love should be Deep down within your eyes a war is raging What you fought before you can fight no more 'Cause inside your heart is breaking Still I wake at night and I call your name Dreaming of you I wake at night always the same I call your name but you sleep right through And love is the light in your face turn to the sky I know now I know now love won't pass you by Love is the light in your face turn to the sky I know now I know your eyes, your eyes don't lie Still I wake at night and I call your name Dreaming of you I wake at night always the same I call your name but you sleep right through And love is the light in your face turn to the sky I know now I know now love won't pass you by Love is the light in your face turn to the sky I know now I know your eyes don't lie Love is the light in your face turn to the sky I know now I know now love won't pass you by Love is the light in your face turn to the sky I know now I know your eyes don't lie