Not heard of them? That's ok, not many people have - or rather, not enough people have. Releasing three brilliant singles in the mid 1990's, the band were on the edge of breaking through when their debut album was pulled from release. Shortly after, the record label closed and the band broke up.
So why does this page exist for such a short-lived band? Well, you can find just about anything on the internet, but when it came to Livingstone there was next to nothing. So, for the quality of their music, they deserve at least something online to acknowledge their short existence.
Click on the links below/on the side for more on the band, and to hear their music. And if you'd like to get in touch, please leave a comment. Thanks for stopping by.
Left to right John Thompson (Bass),Andrew Meeson (Guitar, Vocals),Andy Rogers (Drums) Morgan Pimblett (Guitar)
Another promo pic
Next up a picture and interview from the NME in Feb 1996, ahead of the release of Call Around, where drummer Andy is referred to as 'Spike' (note - this is due to there originally being three 'Andys' in the band, so he went by that name for a while). Thanks to @Britpopmemories for this find
Here's a great gig review from the 6th Jan 1996 issue of NME - thanks to @Britpopmemories again
here's a glowing review for So Tough, again in the NME, again spotted by @Britpopmemories
Now then, proof that the album 'Monkey' existed (at least in promo form - see the other pages in this blog for more info) in this pretty decent review from the pages of the excellent Select magazine. Warning, features am excessively bright jumper worn by Andy M.
Another one from Select, and Steve Lamacq doing his best to promote the band in his regular column.
Finally, a few gig adverts from, yes, @Britpopmemories and his old copies of NME/Melody Maker!
Livingstone's Album, Monkey, was due to be issued in 1997. A number of tracks were circulated on promo cassette and vinyl but sadly the full album never got physically released :(
The good news - as of 2021 - there are plans to finally get Monkey out there! The not so good news - there are complicated legal gubbins going on to make it happen - but as soon as we know more we'll add it to the site. And so we don't jeopardise that process, nothing un-released will feature on this site at this time.
However, a member of the band has kindly been in touch and provided the full track-listing for Monkey
1. XYZ or Zero
2. Good Intentions
3. Say It Again
4. Saturday Night
5. John Wayne (different to version on Good Intentions re-release)
Livingstone released three singles, two of which were then reissued. The three lead tracks are superb, and are embedded below - along with links to the b-sides, which are also well worth listening to (especially the majestic Flirt...)
Good Intentions
The first single, later re-released in new packaging and with an extra track. Here's the lead track:
Please note: All uploads to YouTube have been made based on the fair use policy that the music is no longer available to buy commercially and so that people can hear these tracks. If you are the original copyright holder and wish to object, please leave a comment below to get in touch. If you are after physical copies of the music they are sometimes available second-hand via ebay and Amazon sellers.
As per the homepage, there's very little about Livingstone on the Internet, so if you know of any further links then please leave a comment.
So Tough - Full video! With massive thanks to Marcus Lavaggi-Bowen for tracking the VHS down on ebay and getting it converted (seriously, Marcus has been a star), you can now see the FULL version of the So Tough video (complete with authentic video tracking issues!) below or over on YouTube.
Livingstone had five tracks recorded for the legendary John Peel in 1995, including two unreleased songs. That programme has been pieced together and is now available on MixCloud. Sadly not all the tracks are there and the last two aren't great sound quality, but you can hear LIVE session versions of Gangsta (16mins 12s), Flirt (44mins 44s), and Call Around (46mins 40s). Full details of the session are here and if you somehow manage to find the rest of the tracks please get in touch!
A write-up from the only other Livingstone fansite that was created back in the 90's. The site looks long-since dead but the archive still has this review of a March 1996 gig.
The only known available Livingstone video promo is via this upload from ITV's classic The Chart Show programme in March of 1997. While it's transferred from VHS and not played in full, you at least get to see the band and learn a few extra facts about them (UPDATE 2022 - the full video is now available at the top of this page!)
Glint - Gravity Hauls
Following the break-up of the band, Andy M, Morgan and John went on to form Glint - another melodic indie guitar band. You can buy a copy of their single release - Gravity Hauls - online (it's really rather splendid). An album was planned, and demos recorded, but never fully recorded.
Here are the lyrics and guitar tabs (well, chords) for each of the three singles. Apologies for any errors, as this was pretty much done by ear - and some of the B chords might be Bm or B7, but this is officially the best interpretation available online (well, it's the only interpretation). I've left the YouTube links to the tracks here too, so you can sing/play along.
Good Intentions
(G) x 8
(A) (D) (C) (A) (G) x4
(A)She got mad again
know what I'm saying?
I backed down again
two minutes later
(E) All I've got is (G) good intentions
(A) She got mad again
know what I'm saying?
(A) (D) (C) (A) (G) x4
(A) She's got what you want
go on and tell her
She moves in response
Getting a full eye (go on say it now)
(E) All I've got is (G) good intentions
(A) She's got what you want
Go on and tell her (go on, tell her now)
(A) (D) (C) (A) (G) x4
G x 4
(A) (D) (C) (A) (G) x4
(E) All I've got is
(Em) All she wants is
(D) rising tension
(F) inspiration
(E) All i've got is
(Em) All she wants is
(D) rising tension
(F)inspiration
(A) She's got what you want
Go on and tell her (go on and tell her now)
(A) (D) (C) (A) (G) x4
(A) Call Around
(D) (Bm) x 4
(D) Cry yourself (Bm) to sleep (D) (Bm)
(D) Picture (Bm) the same lips (D) (Bm)
(G) Maybe (F#) you just (E) won't become you
(D) (Bm) x2
(D) Call it what (Bm) you will (D) (Bm)
(D) Call me (Bm) a failure (D) (Bm)
(G) Sympathy (F#) will get you (E) nowhere
(D) (Bm) x2
(G) Call (F#)around (E) and talk about it
(G) Call (F#)around (E)and talk about it
(G) Call (F#) around (E) and talk...about it
(D) Look the (Bm) other way (D) (Bm)
(D) Don't deal (Bm) with me (D) (Bm)
(G) I never (F#) did care (E) what you're thinking
(D) (Bm) x2
(D) Pull (Bm) yourself (D) apart (Bm)
(D) Stick back (Bm) together (D) (Bm)
(G) Analysis (F#) will (E) get you nowhere
(D) (Bm) x 2
(G) Call (F#)around (E) and talk about it
(G) Call (F#)around (E)and talk about it
(G) Call (F#) around (E) and talk...
(D) It's more (Bm) than you can say
(E) To whisper (G) in my ear
(D) It's worse (Bm) than I can do
(G) The future's (E) never clear
(D) You're not (Bm) so special
(E) But you ( G) come shining through
(D) You love to (Bm) kiss me first
(G) I don't (E) come near
(G) Call (F#)around (E) and talk about it
(G) Call (F#)around (E)and talk about it
(G) Call (F#) around (E) and talk...about it
(D) (Bm) x4
(G) Call (F#)around (E) and talk about it
(G) Call (F#)around (E)and talk about it
(G) Call (F#) around (E) and talk...about it
(D) (Bm) x4
(G) (Gm)
(D) So Tough
(A) (D) (B) (D) x2
(A) (B) Call me in a while, (D) my number's by the phone
(A) (B) What you gonna say, (D) if you find me at home?
(A) (D)Where d'ya get that (B) smile? (D) Stolen with a kiss
(A) (D) How d'ya get so (B) tough? (D) Like this
(A) (B) Started (D) out as innocence itself
(A) (B) I found (D) out you shared me with someone else
(A) Does it make you sweat?
(D) Does it make you blue?
(F#m) Doing all of the things
(D) That you shouldn't do
(A) It is something words (D) cannot convey
(F#m) Why do you see (D) me when he's away?
(A) (D) Where d'ya get that (B) smile? (D) Stolen with a kiss
(A) (D) How d'ya get so (B) tough? (D) Like this
(A) (D (B) (D) x2
(A) (B) Your compassion, (D) it's for the birds
(A) (B) Guilty conscience,(D) seems it's a dirty word
(A) Does it make you sweat?
(D) Does it make you blue?
(F#m) Doing all of the things
(D) That you shouldn't do
(A) It is something words (D) cannot convey
(F#m) Why do you see (D) me when he's away
(A) (D) Where d'ya get that (B) smile? (D) Stolen with a kiss
(A) (D) How d'ya get so (B) tough? (D) Like this
(A) (Bm) (C#m) Where d'you (D) pick that up?
(A) (Bm) (C#m) (D) How d'ya get so tough?
(A) (D)Where d'ya get that (B) smile? (D) Stolen with a kiss
(A) (D) How d'ya get so (B) tough? (D) Like this
(A) (D)Where d'ya get that (B) smile? (D) Stolen with a kiss
(A) (D) How d'ya get so (B) tough? (D) Like this
(A) Does it make you sweat?
(D) Does it make you blue?
(F#m) Doing all of the things
(D) That you shouldn't do
(A) It is something words (D) cannot convey
(F#m) Why do you see (D) me when he's away
(D) Me when he's away
(D) Me when he's away
