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These Things Happen: The Sarah Records Story
Sarah Records was a label that signed the acts no major label would touch but who you wanted to hear. Sarah put out a board game, produced cut 'n' paste fanzines and stuck two fingers up to the mainstream music industry. Sarah was your secret world and it was located in the heart of Bristol. Sarah Records lasted for seven years, nine months and 11 days.
In These Things Happen, those who were there at the beating heart of the indie-pop world reveal the deepest, darkest secrets of what really went into making Sarah’s pop masterpieces. Featuring almost 130 interviews, including at least one member of every single band (as well as the world exclusive first interview with Christine of Christine’s Cat fame), this book is an oral history of a defining moment in pop history.
Who stripped naked on stage to another band’s drum solo? Why did Julian Knowles sleep with his boots on his stomach in Hull? Whatever happened to Mr James C Urchin? All of these burning questions and more will be answered in this book. With no tatty old gig flyer left unturned in the pursuit of exposing the true political pop pandemonium that went on in the wonderful world of Sarah Records.
In These Things Happen, those who were there at the beating heart of the indie-pop world reveal the deepest, darkest secrets of what really went into making Sarah’s pop masterpieces. Featuring almost 130 interviews, including at least one member of every single band (as well as the world exclusive first interview with Christine of Christine’s Cat fame), this book is an oral history of a defining moment in pop history.
Who stripped naked on stage to another band’s drum solo? Why did Julian Knowles sleep with his boots on his stomach in Hull? Whatever happened to Mr James C Urchin? All of these burning questions and more will be answered in this book. With no tatty old gig flyer left unturned in the pursuit of exposing the true political pop pandemonium that went on in the wonderful world of Sarah Records.
- GenresMusic
464 pages, Hardcover
Published October 16, 2023
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
October 25, 2023
Do we need another book about Sarah Records after the great Popkiss: The Life and Afterlife of Sarah Records? Absolutely.
It's fantastic to have an author with a track record of deep and insightful writing tackle a subject many would find "lightweight" (a record label) - and through her writing, add layers contextualizing the politics, the DIY ethos, the feminist leanings, and the brilliant music. "These Things Happen" is not just the story of a label (though it very much includes that narrative), it is a story of a time and subculture. Not the much-maligned "twee" - but the should-be-more-celebrated DIY aesthetic that ran into the 90s, threading through Sarah as a cultural touchstone. It is a story that deserves a new book, because the label is one continually being re-evaluated.
With recent releases from a number of the bands originally signed to Sarah, there is no better time to recognize the label for its ongoing relevance. Beyond the book's celebration of the top-flight output curated by Clare Wadd and Matt Haynes, Jane Duffus writes in a really easy-to-read fashion, eschewing the banal all-too-easy constant "back and forth" of many label overviews with multiple interview subjects. Her writing weaves the results of 120+ conversations (I'm trusting the press release on that number - I didn't count - but with the depth of storytelling, I absolutely believe it) into a cohesive narrative including conversations with at least one representative of every band the label released. Yes, this includes the elusive "Christine" of "Christine's Cat".
As an existing Sarah fan, I was definitely primed to enjoy the book - but I was also prepared to be let down, or find it a redundant read after White's 2015 outing and Lucy Dawkins' documentary from 2014 ("My Secret World"). I am elated that it was neither redundant nor superfluous, instead adding a truly definitive statement all fans of the label, and independent music, should read.
It's fantastic to have an author with a track record of deep and insightful writing tackle a subject many would find "lightweight" (a record label) - and through her writing, add layers contextualizing the politics, the DIY ethos, the feminist leanings, and the brilliant music. "These Things Happen" is not just the story of a label (though it very much includes that narrative), it is a story of a time and subculture. Not the much-maligned "twee" - but the should-be-more-celebrated DIY aesthetic that ran into the 90s, threading through Sarah as a cultural touchstone. It is a story that deserves a new book, because the label is one continually being re-evaluated.
With recent releases from a number of the bands originally signed to Sarah, there is no better time to recognize the label for its ongoing relevance. Beyond the book's celebration of the top-flight output curated by Clare Wadd and Matt Haynes, Jane Duffus writes in a really easy-to-read fashion, eschewing the banal all-too-easy constant "back and forth" of many label overviews with multiple interview subjects. Her writing weaves the results of 120+ conversations (I'm trusting the press release on that number - I didn't count - but with the depth of storytelling, I absolutely believe it) into a cohesive narrative including conversations with at least one representative of every band the label released. Yes, this includes the elusive "Christine" of "Christine's Cat".
As an existing Sarah fan, I was definitely primed to enjoy the book - but I was also prepared to be let down, or find it a redundant read after White's 2015 outing and Lucy Dawkins' documentary from 2014 ("My Secret World"). I am elated that it was neither redundant nor superfluous, instead adding a truly definitive statement all fans of the label, and independent music, should read.
November 5, 2023
What a cracking read
For fans of the Sarah record label this is a behind the scenes view from the movers and shakers from that period.
A perfect compliment to PopKiss
For fans of the Sarah record label this is a behind the scenes view from the movers and shakers from that period.
A perfect compliment to PopKiss
August 12, 2024
Jane Duffus offers most of all an oral history of iconic label Sarah Records packed with gossip and "behind the scenes". The book does not engage with individual bands but it is rather divided into thematic sections, some of which come off as pure fillers (like the overly long section on people crashing in each other's flats).
Surely interesting for the people who were actually part of the scene while it was in existence, but inevitably tedious for those who were not, what disappointed me the most about Duffus' "Sarah Records Story" was its utter inability to provoke emotions in the reader. One of the reasons I was drawn to Sarah Records was exactly the emotional significance I attach to many of the songs which Clare and Matt put out. None of this is vehiculated by the book, which reads more like a diary of a fanzine writer trying to pile up as many interviews as possible than anything else. There is no breakdown of the songs, no mention of the emotions which the bands put in their work, no reference to how Matt and Clare felt about what they were producing.
Glaringly absent is also a sociological analysis that goes beyond trite grievances about gender, class and race so commonplace these days. To add more, these are often one-sided, with a preference for the female perspective. For instance, it would have been interesting to ask the elusive Bobby Wratten what it meant to be a 'sensitive male' in an era dominated by machism. Or to make room for a more thorough examination of whether Keith Girdler sexuality affected his relationship with other Sarah bands or the indie scene at large. Instead, Duffus prefers to exclusively focus on riot grrrl and the fight which Sarah spearhead against the objectification of women.
In conclusion, this is surely not the final word on Sarah Records. And to be honest, it is not the best book on Sarah ever written either. One would find better food for their thought reading through Popkiss than skimming through the endless sequence of interviews which Duffus amassed and quite carelessly threw at the reader. Spend your 40 £ on something better.
Surely interesting for the people who were actually part of the scene while it was in existence, but inevitably tedious for those who were not, what disappointed me the most about Duffus' "Sarah Records Story" was its utter inability to provoke emotions in the reader. One of the reasons I was drawn to Sarah Records was exactly the emotional significance I attach to many of the songs which Clare and Matt put out. None of this is vehiculated by the book, which reads more like a diary of a fanzine writer trying to pile up as many interviews as possible than anything else. There is no breakdown of the songs, no mention of the emotions which the bands put in their work, no reference to how Matt and Clare felt about what they were producing.
Glaringly absent is also a sociological analysis that goes beyond trite grievances about gender, class and race so commonplace these days. To add more, these are often one-sided, with a preference for the female perspective. For instance, it would have been interesting to ask the elusive Bobby Wratten what it meant to be a 'sensitive male' in an era dominated by machism. Or to make room for a more thorough examination of whether Keith Girdler sexuality affected his relationship with other Sarah bands or the indie scene at large. Instead, Duffus prefers to exclusively focus on riot grrrl and the fight which Sarah spearhead against the objectification of women.
In conclusion, this is surely not the final word on Sarah Records. And to be honest, it is not the best book on Sarah ever written either. One would find better food for their thought reading through Popkiss than skimming through the endless sequence of interviews which Duffus amassed and quite carelessly threw at the reader. Spend your 40 £ on something better.
August 24, 2024
A very fun book for Sarah fans. It contains a lot of great conversations with involved parties and a lot of cool photos. It doesn't attempt to tell any kind of linear Sarah history (Michael White's book does more of that) but it divides the Sarah era into themed chapters such as fanzines, radio play, art and design, etc. Sometimes it focuses too much on these aspects, in my opinion, especially the parts about fashion, record stores that are long gone, sleeping in weird places, etc. Additionally, there's a lot about and from people who have nothing to do with Sarah. Still, a very engaging read with a hefty sense of humor.
It took me a long time to read, as with any music book, because I enjoyed listening to all the music mentioned while reading it. And that's the important part - so much great music! Long live Sarah.
It took me a long time to read, as with any music book, because I enjoyed listening to all the music mentioned while reading it. And that's the important part - so much great music! Long live Sarah.
December 20, 2024
A huge book. A Sarah encyclopedia. The other Sarah book adheres to a chronological narrative, whereas this book seems all over the place. But I like that. I think it reflects the author's unbridled enthusiasm for the label, which I share. There's also a lot more background in this book: Bristol, other bands and labels and voices, the music press of the time (unbelievably toxic). Fascinating.
I've already spilt coffee on my copy so will have to buy another.
I've already spilt coffee on my copy so will have to buy another.
July 23, 2024
a complete and detailed telling of what happened! Sarah Records holds a special place in the history of modern pop music and this book tells you the who, what, where, and even why!
Orchid fans take note of this book as it is nearly a history of their fun times in the Sarah days.
Orchid fans take note of this book as it is nearly a history of their fun times in the Sarah days.
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews