Crumb / ‘I Found That Essence Rare’ (2022)

Canadian record label The Beautiful Music have just released a compilation titled ‘I Found That Essence Rare‘ which apart from being an excellent listen happens to feature two tracks close to our hearts. The first is a David Long cover of ‘Hand Of Love’ by The Sound. Adrian Borland of course produced the first 3 albums by Into Paradise. The second is a great mashup by Crumb of Jimmy Webb’s ‘MacArthur Park’ with ‘Echo Beach’ by Martha & The Muffins. Wally of The Beautiful Music first heard the song on the Crumb MySpace page some years ago and there began the detective work. Crumb were Derrick Dalton (guitars, vocals), Dez Foley (drums, vocals) and Eamonn Davis/Fiachra McCarthy (bass). They released one album ‘Evenings & Weekends‘ in 2005. Derrick was a much loved member of Hey Paulette and Mexican Pets who sadly died in 2008.  Dez Foley was a member of Wilder and recently released an album as Acton Bell. The compilation is free to download and a CD copy comes with any purchase from the TBM catalogue.

Crumb – ‘MacArthur Park / Echo Beach’

Wilder – Babel Road (1990)

From Dublin, Wilder were Dez Foley (vocals), Richard McDermott (guitar), Stephen Owens (keyboards), Bill Crawford (bass) and Frank McGrath (drums). This single, recorded with Paul Byrne and Martin Clancy of In Tua Nua, was released in 1990 on Oedipus Records. Dez was later in The Sewing Room and Crumb.

Babel Road (1990)

The Sewing Room (1996 Peel Session)

To celebrate John Peel’s birthday we recently shared some old posts on facebook and twitter and that prompted one reader to enquire about The Sewing Room. We did some digging and now thanks to Eamonn Davis of the band we have their 1996 session for John Peel. The Sewing Room were Stan Erraught (guitar & vocals), Eamonn Davis (guitar & vocals), Colm Fitzpatrick (bass & vocals) and Dez Foley (drums & vocals). Stan was of course previously a member of The Stars Of Heaven, Eamonn and Colm were in Hey Paulette while Dez was in Wilder and Crumb. For more background on The Sewing Room check out the excellent post by Stephen Rennicks on his ‘Abstract Analogue’ site. PS If anyone has a recording of the as yet unlocated RTE Dave Fanning session please get in touch..

Rope (1996)

Ghost (1996)

Borderline Vice (1996)

Slide (1996)

Wilder (1988 Demo)

According to their IrishRock entry Dublin band Wilder were Dez Foley (vocals), Richard McDermott (guitar), Stephen Owens (keyboards), Bill Crawford (bass) and Frank McGrath (drums).

Get Happy (1988)

Hot Press Unsigned Irish Music Act 1991 Public Vote

It’s too late to submit your vote but you might be interested to see who was on the shortlist for the Smithwicks / Hot Press Public Vote Award as published in the 12th December 1991 edition of Hot Press magazine. Votes were not restricted to the listed bands.