Chenko - Red Box

Simon Toulson-Clarke formed his first band at age thirteen with school friend Paddy Talbot, playing covers of Led Zeppelin and Deep Purple as well as some self-penned material. On leaving school he moved to Middlesborough and formed another band in the vein of the New York Dolls. In the late Seventies he went to study at The Polytechnic of Central London, where he formed a band with Julian Close. This band took on the name Red Box after a while and included further band members Paddy Talbot, Rob Legge and Martin Nickson. The group released their debut single 'Chenko' on the Cherry Red label in 1983.

I bought the single in 1996, after having collected all the later releases on WEA Records. This version is very different from the one that ended up on their 1986 debut album 'The circle and the square', which makes it all the more interesting.

My collection: 7" single no. 2783

Found: London, November 1, 1996

Cost: 2 pounds

Tracks: 'Chenko' / 'Valley'

Download: here