The Obvious Identity

The Obvious Identity
Recording by Cardiac Arrest
Released	June 1980
Recorded	June 1980
Genre	Rock, new wave, art punk
Label	Private release
Producer	Tim Smith
Cardiac Arrest chronology

The Obvious Identity is a self-released album by English rock group Cardiacs, their first album of any sort, released under the group's earlier name of Cardiac Arrest. The album format was cassette tape, and it was only sold at concerts. The album title came from a name which the band used for a short time prior to taking on the Cardiac Arrest name. Two songs featured the band's original lead singer, Michael Pugh. (Pugh's only other appearance with the band on record was on the "A Bus for a Bus on the Bus" single.)

The album was produced by Cardiacs leader Tim Smith at Crow Studios in Kingston upon Thames, Surrey, UK. It was recorded with the punk/DIY ethic in mind as Smith had little cash to invest in the project. The master tapes were duplicated onto as many old cassette tapes as Smith could find. An anonymous member of the band has been quoted as commenting that "the recordings were so shit it wouldn’t matter if they were copied onto washing-up sponges."[1] About 1000 cassettes were produced.

Reissues and alternative versions of album tracks

The Obvious Identity has never been reissued, and is consequently one of the rarest Cardiac Arrest/Cardiacs releases. However, many of the pieces from it have either been reissued on other Cardiacs releases or have had live versions appearing on other albums.

"Bite 3/a" is the only track from The Obvious Identity that has never been reissued in any form.
"To Go Off and Things" was re-recorded for the 1984 album The Seaside. As a live favourite, versions of it have appeared on most of the Cardiacs live albums.
"The Obvious Identity", "Rock Around The Clock" and "A Game For Berties Party" were all included on the 1989 Archive Cardiacs compilation.
A live version of "Cameras" appeared on the 1988 live album Cardiacs Live.
A shorter live version of "Visiting Hours" (retitled as "Visiting") appeared on the live album All That Glitters Is a Mares Nest.
Live versions of "Pip As Uncle Dick But Peter Spoilt It", "Rock Around The Clock", "Let Alone My Plastic Doll", "Leaf Scrapings", and "A Balloon For Berties Party" appeared on the 2005 live album The Special Garage Concerts Vol I.
Live versions of "The Obvious Identity", "Visiting Hours", "A Game For Berties Party" and "Pilf" appeared on the 2005 live album The Special Garage Concerts Vol II.

Track list

All tracks are written by Tim Smith except where indicated.

Side one
No.	Title	Writer(s)
1.	"The Obvious Identity"
2.	"Visiting Hours"
3.	"Pip As Uncle Dick But Peter Spoilt It"
4.	"To Go Off And Things"
5.	"Rock Around The Clock"	Tim Smith, Colvin Mayers
6.	"Leaf Scrapings"	Tim Smith, Cardiac Arrest

Side two
No.	Title	Writer(s)
1.	"A Game For Berties Party"	Smith, Cawthra
2.	"Cameras"	Cawthra (arr. Smith)
3.	"Bite 3/a"
4.	"Pilf"
5.	"Let Alone My Plastic Doll"
6.	"A Balloon For Berties Party"

Personnel

Peter "Zip" Boker (Michael Pugh) - Vocals (Tracks 1 and 7)
Philip Pilf (Tim Smith) - Guitar and Synth (Vocals on remaining tracks)
Patty Pilf (Jim Smith) - Bass
Duncan Doilet (Colvin Mayers) - Vocals and Synth
Little Bobby Shattocks (Mark Cawthra) - Drums

gollark: Orbital lawsuit lasers or disown them entirely.

gollark: I think if you are to *lend* people money instead of just giving them it you should try and set out clear repayment terms in advance and possibly charge interest if it's long term.

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gollark: Well, you shouldn't trust people just because of "love".

References

"Band biography at Cardiacs homepage". Retrieved 2008-12-09.

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[cardiacsofficialbio-1] "Band biography at Cardiacs homepage". Retrieved 2008-12-09.