[Page Under Construction] Mick Talbot has been a part of Dexys on three separate occasions over the years.  As a young Hammond organ player he appeared on a tour of Europe in 1980 just before the original band split.  As a seasoned session musician he performed on the come-back tour of 2003. Finally, as a veritable veteran of the music scene, he co-wrote and recorded the Dexys album "One Day I'm Going To Soar" in 2012. Outside of his involvement with Dexys, Mick Talbot has also enjoyed a long and very successful career in the music business. Born on September 9th 1958 in London's Merton Park, a baby-faced Mick Talbot began his music career in the Merton Parkas (geddit? geddit? from Merton, wearing Parkas, oh never mind) who were the first Mod-revivalist band (not counting the Jam who were quite clearly, no arguments, punks) to hit the top 40 with the single "You Need Wheels". Sample lyric - 'You need wheels, If you wanna make deals, You need a tyre, If you wanna get higher.' Oh, come on, they were young, it's allowed. Often unfairly called novelty-mods or worse, the Merton Parkas were, more accurately, a good-time band with a massive live following that didn't quite translate into success chart-wise. Follow-up singles, "Plastic Smile", "Give It To Me Now" (no relation to the Bay City Rollers track of the same name) and "Put Me In The Picture" made no impression on the charts. Even a cover of Freda Payne's "Band Of Gold" couldn't do it for them. So, formed in 1978 by brothers Mick and Danny Talbot (vocals and guitar) from the ashes of their power-pop combo the Sneakers, with Neil Wurrel on bass and Simon Smith on drums, the Merton Parkas were all over by 1980. No matter though for Mick Talbot's talent had been spotted by "best mates" Paul Weller and Kevin Rowland. Talbot played a session on the Jam's "Setting Sons" starting a long musical relationship with Weller that eventually blossomed in the 80s most underrated and musically challenging band, the Style Council.     The Merton Parkas loss was Dexys gain and (after brief stints performing with The Chords and Pete Stride & John Plain) Talbot took the keys job for the Midnight Runners in the summer of 1980 just in time for the shit to hit the fan and the band to split in accrimony and tears. And so, Talbot went on to join the greatest 80s band never to make the charts, The Bureau. Despite a batch of songs to rival "Searching For The Young Soul Rebels" and a much better singer than Kevin Rowland in Archie Brown, the Bureau (like the Merton Parkas) failed to turn UK heads and hits in Canada, Ireland and Australia were not enough for WEA to forgive the wasting of a massive advance on bottles of whiskey and stitches for Talbot's facial wounds inflicted on him by savage Red Indians in Wisconsin Arizona during the Bureau versus the Pretenders campaign of 1981 [probably]. Listen to short extract from "Mick's Up": When the names for the 2003 version of Dexys were finally announced a collective cheer went up amongst Dexys fans at the inclusion of Mick Talbot. Mick's skills on Hammond and keys are well known and appreciated in Dexys/post-punk/mod-revivalist circles. After the involvement of Pete Saunders in the recording of "Manhood" and "My Life In England Part 1", rumours had circulated that he would take the keys job but Saunders' involvement was only temporary. Pete Williams, who had joined Dexys during the recording of "Manhood", was ideally placed to suggest the recruitment of Mick Talbot. Williams and Talbot had recently been reunited at an Archie Brown and the Young Bucks gig after 5 ex-members of The Bureau got together to discuss the possibility of reuniting for a gig and plans for a release of the 1981 album on CD. During the inevitable 'wilderness years' which followed Dexys' 2003 "To Stop The Burning" tour, there were regular rumours that Mick Talbot was once again working with Kevin Rowland on material for a new album. These rumours were confirmed in 2012 when the album "One Day I'm Going To Soar" was released, with Talbot receiving co-writing credits for several songs including "Me", "I'm Always Going To Love You" and "Free" and appointed "Musical Director" for the subsequent live shows. In 2013 it was announced that Mick Talbot had parted company with Dexys once more, bringing an involvement spanning 33 years to an end.  To be continued...   ___________________________________________________________________   MICK TALBOT DISCOGRAPHY  1979-89 The Merton Parkas: Albums 1. Face In The Crowd Tracks - 1. Face In The Crowd 2. Plastic Smile 3. Empty Room 4. Tears Of A Clown 5. Hard Times 6. Silent People 7. When Will It Be Me 8. Give It To Me Now 9. You Need Wheels 10. You Should Be So Lucky 11. I Don't Want To Know You 12. Steppin' Stone (Label - Beggars Banquet catalogue no. - Beg11 released - 1979) 2. The Complete Mod Collection Tracks - 1. Face In The Crowd 2. Plastic Smile 3. Empty Room 4. Tears Of A Clown 5. Hard Times 6. Silent People 7. When Will It Be 8. Give It To Me Now 9. You Need Wheels 10. You Should Be So Lucky 11. I Don't Want To Know You 12. Steppin Stone 13. The Man With The Disguise 14. Give It To Me Now (single version) 15. Gi's It 16. Put Me In The Picture 17. In The Midnight Hour 18. Band Of Gold 19. Flat 19 20. Say You Will (demo) 21. Dangerous Man (demo) 22. Put Me In The Picture (demo) (Label - Anagram Records catalogue no. - CDGRAM 111 released - 1997) Singles 1. You Need Wheels / I Don't Want To Know You (Label - Beggars Banquet catalogue no. - BEG22. Released - July 1979 UK chart position – 40) 2. Plastic Smile / Man With A Disguise (Label - Beggars Banquet catalogue no. - BEG25) 3. Give It To Me Now / Gi's It (Label - Beggars Banquet catalogue no. - BEG30) 4. Put Me In The Picture / Midnight Hour (Label - Beggars Banquet catalogue no. - BEG43) 5. Band Of Gold / Flat 19 (Label - - catalogue no. - BLAM002)   ___________________________________________________________________ The Jam: Albums 1. Setting Sons Tracks - 10. Heat Wave   (Label - Polydor Records Catalogue no. POLD5028. Released - 1979) _________________________________________________________________   The Chords:   Albums 1. So Far Away  Tracks - 1. Maybe Tomorrow; 2. Happy Families; 3. Breaks My Heart; 4. Tumbling Down; 5. Hold On, I'm Coming; 6. I'm Not Sure; 7. Something's Missing; 8. It's No Use; 9. What Are We Gonna Do Now; 10. She Said, She Said; 11. Dreamdolls; 12. So Far Away. (Label - Polydor Records Catalogue no. POLS1019 Released - 1980) ___________________________________________________________________   Pete Stride & John Plain:    Albums 1. New Guitar In Town Tracks - 1. Laugh At Me; 2. School Girls; 3. Cold Old Night; 4. He'll Have To Go; 5. Just Like A Clown; 6. Half The Time; 7. New Guitar In Town; 8. Cure For Love; 9. Restless Kind; 10. You Better Move On; 11. Pick Me Up (Label - Beggars Banquet Catalogue no. BEGA17 Released - 1980)  ___________________________________________________________________ Dexys Midnight Runners: Singles 1. Keep It Part Two (Inferiority Part One) / One Way Love (Label - EMI/Late Night Feelings catalogue no. - R6042. Released - November 1980. UK chart position - not applicable)  ___________________________________________________________________   The Bureau: Albums 1. The Bureau Tracks - 1. Only For Sheep 2. The First One 3. Sentimental Attachment 4. Got To Be Now 5. Looking For Excitement 6. Let Him Have It 7. Find A Way 8. Bigger Prize 9. The Carpetbaggers 10. Helpless (Label - WEA Catalogue no. WEA 58357 - Canadian release - 1981) Singles 1. Only For Sheep / The First One (Label - WEA Catalogue no. - K18478 Released - March 1981) 2. Let Him Have It / The Noose (Label - WEA Catalogue no. - K18753 Released - May 1981) Click here for additional details of Mick Talbot's Bureau recordings. ___________________________________________________________________ The Style Council: Albums 1. Introducing The Style Council Tracks - 1. Long Hot Summer 2. Headstart For Happiness 3. Speak Like A Child 4. Long Hot Summer (Club Mix) 5. The Paris Match 6. Mick's Up 7. Money-Go-Round Released - September 1983 Label - Polydor Catalogue No. - Pol 899 UK Chart Position - N/ANotes - This album was initially released in Holland but so many Dutch imports were available in UK shops that an official UK release on CD eventually happened. A second cover featuring Weller and Talbot walking through a field of flowers is also available. The cassette version featured two extra tracks and a different running order.  2. Café Bleu Tracks - 1. Mick's Blessing 2. The Whole Point Of No Return 3. Me Ship Came In! 4. Blue Café 5. The Paris Match 6. My Ever Changing Moods 7. Dropping Bombs On The Whitehouse 8. A Gospel 9. Strength Of Your Nature 10. You're The Best Thing 11. Here's One That Got Away 12. Headstart For Happiness 13. Council Meetin' Released - March 1984 Label - Polydor Catalogue No. - TSCLP1 UK Chart Position - 2 Weeks On Chart - 38Notes - The cassette featured completely different artwork from the vinyl and CD releases. A promo 3-track 12" was available. The Paris Match featured lead vocals from Tracey Thorn. My Ever Changing Moods is a completely different version from the single. Headstart For Happiness is a completely different version from that previously released.  3. Our Favourite Shop Tracks - 1. Homebreakers 2. All Gone Away 3. Come To Milton Keynes 4. Internationalists 5. A Stones Throw Away 6. The Stand Up Comics Instructions 7. Boy Who Cried Wolf 8. A Man Of Great Promise 9. Down In The Seine 10. The Lodgers 11. Luck 12. With Everything To Lose 13. Our Favourite Shop 14. Walls Come Tumbling Down! Released - June 1985 Label - Polydor Catalogue No. - TSCLP2 UK Chart Position - 1 Weeks on chart - 22 Notes - The cassette version features completely different artwork and an interview with Gary Crowley. The CD features Shout To The Top as an extra track. 4. Home And Abroad Tracks - 1. The Big Boss Groove 2. My Ever Changing Moods 3. The Lodgers 4. Headstart For Happiness 5. (When You) Call Me 6. The Whole Point of No Return 7. Our Favourite Shop 8. With Everything to Lose 9. Homebreakers 10. Shout to the Top 11. Walls Come Tumbling Down! 12. Internationalists Released - May 1986 Label - Polydor Catalogue No. - TSCLP3 UK Chart Position - 8 Weeks on chart - 8 Notes - Initial quantities came with a wrap around paper sleeve, a discography and inner sleeve. The CD features 2 extra tracks. 5. The Cost Of Loving Tracks - 1. It Didn't Matter 2. Right To Go 3. Heavens Above 4. Fairy Tales 5. Angel 6. Walking The Night 7. Waiting 8. The Cost Of Loving 9. A Woman's Song Released - February 1987 Label - Polydor Catalogue No. - TSCLP4 UK chart position - 2 Weeks on chart - 7 Notes - The initial release was as 2 45rmp 12" discs in an almost plain Orange gatefold sleeve hence the often used alternative title of The Orange Album. A second single-disc release featured the sleeve above. Two promos were available, first the very rare 12" featuring 2 tracks and second a 7" of Waiting which came in a special bag.  6. Confessions Of A Pop Group Tracks - 1. It's A Very Deep Sea 2. The Story Of Someone's Shoe 3. Changing Of The Guard 4. The Little Boy In A Castle 5. The Gardener Of Eden 6. Life At A Top People's Health Farm 7. Why I Went Missing 8. How She Threw It All Away 9. Iwasadoledadstoyboy 10. Confessions 1, 2 & 3 11. Confessions Of A Pop Group Released - June 1988 Label - Polydor Catalogue No. - TSCLP5 UK chart position - 15 Weeks on chart - 3 Notes - One of the most criminally underrated albums of the 1980s. The Style Council's 'Don't Stand Me Down'. 7. Modernism : A New Decade Tracks - 1. A New Decade 2. Can You Still Love Me 3. The World Must Come Together 4. Hope (Feelings Gonna Getcha) 5. That Spiritual Feeling 6. Everybody's On The Run 7. Love Of The World 8. Sure Is Sure Notes - Recorded in 1989. Never given an official UK release but available as a Japanese import. All the tracks are available on the Style Council boxed-set, The Complete Adventures Of The Style Council. Singles 1. Speak Like A Child Released - March 1983 Label - Polydor Catalogue No. - TSC 1 12 UK Chart position - 4 Weeks on chart - 8Notes - B-side was Party Chambers. Only released on 7" 2. Money-Go-Round Released - May 1983 Label - Polydor Catalogue No. - TSC 2 UK chart position - 11 Weeks on chart - 6Notes - The 12" also featured Headstart For Happiness, Mick's Up and different sleeve artwork. Initial quantities of the 7" included an insert with photos. A 12" promo single featured remixes.  3. Á Paris EP Tracks - 1. Long Hot Summer 2. Party Chambers (instrumental) 3. The Paris Match 4. Lé Depart Released - August 1983 Label - Polydor Catalogue No. - TSC 3 UK Chart position - 3 Weeks on chart - 9Notes - The 12" featured an extended version of Long Hot Summer and different sleeve artwork. A 7" Long Hot Summer/The Paris Match was also available. The Paris Match featured Paul Weller on lead vocal as opposed to Tracey Thorn on the LP and is a completely different version. A 12" promo featured the two Long Hot Summer mixes that appeared on the Introducing The Style Council LP.  4. A Solid Bond In Your Heart Released - November 1983 Label - Polydor Catalogue No. - TSC 4 UK chart position - 11 Weeks on chart - 8Notes - B-sides were It Just Came To Pieces In My Hands and A Solid Bond In Your Heart (instrumental). There was also a 7" with a gatefold sleeve and different artwork. Only released on 7".  5. My Ever Changing Moods Released - February 1984 Label - Polydor Catalogue No. - TSC 5 UK chart position - 5 Weeks on chart - 7 Notes - B-side was Mick's Company. 12" featured My Ever Changing Moods (Long version), Mick's Company and Spring, Summer, Autumn and (yes, you guessed it) different sleeve artwork. This is a completely different version than appeared on LP. A little known fact is that this is one of the best songs ever written and one of the top 5 singles of the 80s.  6. Groovin' Tracks - 1. You're The Best Thing 2. Big Boss Groove Released - May 1984 Label - Polydor Catalogue No. - TSC 6 UK chart position - 5 Weeks on chart - 8Notes - Marketed as a double A-side but the radio played You're The Best Thing and ignored Big Boss Groove. The 12" featured You're The Best Thing (Long version), You're The Dub Thing, Big Boss Groove (Long version) and different sleeve artwork. 7. Shout To The Top Released - October 1984 Label - Polydor Catalogue No. - TSC 7 UK chart position - 7 Weeks on chart - 8 Notes - B-side was Ghosts Of Dachau. 12" features Shout To The Top (extended version), Shout To The Top (instrumental), The Piccadilly Trail, Ghosts Of Dachau and different sleeve artwok. Actually, it was a girl jumping instead of the boy illustrated above. 8. Soul Deep Released - December 1984 Label - Polydor Catalogue No. - MINE 1 UK chart position - 24 Weeks on chart - 6 History - This single was The Style Council with guests including Junior Giscombe, Jimmy Ruffin and Vaughan Toulouse under the banner The Council Collective. Profits from sales were to aid striking miners but in those pyschotic days that were the early years of Thatcherism a cab driver was murdered and some of the profits went to his widow. A group of striking miners had dropped a piece of concrete onto his cab from a motorway bridge as he drove non-striking miners to work.Notes - B-side was Soul Deep (part 2). 12" featured Soul Deep and A Miners Point. A 2nd 12" featured Soul Deep (club mix). A one-sided 12" promo was available. 9. Walls Come Tumbling Down Released - May 1985 Label - Polydor Catalogue No. - TSC 8 UK chart position - 6 Weeks on chart - 7 Notes - B-sides were The Whole Point II and Blood Sports. Initial quantities had a free poster. 12" also featured Spin' Drifiting. 10. Come To Milton Keynes Released - June 1985 Label - Polydor Catalogue No. - TSC 9 UK chart position - 23 Weeks on chart - 5 Notes - B-side was When You Call Me. There was 7" with a gatefold sleeve and different artwork. 12" also featured Our Favourite Shop (club mix) and The Lodgers (club mix) and different sleeve artwork. A 12" promo featured Internationalists and Boy Who Cried Wolf. 11. The Lodgers Released - September 1985 Label - Polydor Catalogue No. - TSC 10 UK chart position - 13 Weeks on chart - 6 Notes - B-side was You're The Best Thing (live). A limited edition double pack 7" also featured You're The Best Thing, Long Hot Summer and a different sleeve. A promo 7" featured Big Boss Groove (live). 12" featured The Lodgers (extended mix), Big Boss Groove (live), Move On Up (live), You're The Best Thing (live), Money-Go-Round (live), Soul Deep (live) and Strength Of Your Nature (live). A 12" promo featured The Lodgers (extended mix - note - different from above extended mix) and The Lodgers (club mix). A 2nd 12" promo The Lodgers (club mix), Our Favourite Shop (club mix) and With Everything To Lose. 12. Have You Ever Had It Blue Released - March 1986 Label - Polydor Catalogue No. - CINE 1 UK chart position - 14 Weeks on chart - 6Notes - B-side was Mr Cool's Dream. 12" featured Have You Ever Had It Blue (uncut version), Have You Ever Had It Blue (cut version) and Mr Cool's Dream. A limited edition cassette single featured Have You Ever Had It Blue (instrumental) and With Everything To Lose (live). 13. It Didn't Matter Released - January 1987 Label - Polydor Catalogue No. - TSC 12 UK chart position - 9 Weeks on chart - 5 Notes - B-side was All Year Round. 12" also featured It Didn't Matter (instrumental) and initial quantities had a different sleeve. A 12" promo featured It Didn't Matter (extended mix) and Right To Go.  14. Waiting Released - March 1987 Label - Polydor Catalogue No. - TSC 13 UK chart position - 52 Weeks on chart - 3 Notes - B-side was Francoise. 12" also featured Francoise (Theme from JerUSalem) and Waiting (instrumental).  15. Wanted Released - October 1987 Label - Polydor Catalogue No. - TSC 14 UK chart position - 20 Weeks on chart - 4 Notes - B-sides were The Cost Of Loving and The Cost Of Loving (instrumental). 12" and CD singles featured Wanted, The Cost Of Loving (slow version) and The Cost. 16. Life At A Top People's Health Farm Released - May 1988 Label - Polydor Catalogue No. - TSC 15 UK chart position - 28 Weeks on chart - 3 Notes - B-side was Sweet Loving Ways. A promo 7" with same tracks had a different sleeve. 12" and CD single featured Spank (Life At A Top People's Health Farm), Life At A Top People's Health Farm (7" version), Life At A Top People's Health Farm (Um & Argh mix), Sweet Loving Ways. 17. How She Threw It All Away EP Tracks - 1. How She Threw It All Away 2. In Love For The First Time 3. Long Hot Summer 4. I Do Like To Be B-side The A-side Released - July 1988 Label - Polydor Weeks on chart - 2 UK chart position - 41 Weeks on chart - 2 Notes - A 7" promo features How She Threw It All Away on both sides. 18. Promised Land Released - February 1989 Label - Polydor Catalogue No. - TSC 17 UK chart position - 27 Weeks on chart - 5 Notes - B-side was Can You Still Love Me? 12" featured Promised Land (longer version), Promised Land (pianopella version), Can You Still Love Me? (dub), Can You Still Love Me. CD single featured Promised Land (radio edit), Promised Land (longer version), Can You Still Love Me? and Can You Still Love Me? (dub). A limited edition 7" came in a box with a poster and a different sleeve. 19. Long Hot Summer 89 Released - May 1989 Label - Polydor Catalogue No. - LHS 1UK chart position - 48 Weeks on chart - 2 Notes - B-side was Everybody's On The Run. 12" and CD single featured Long Hot Summer 89 (extended version), Everybody's On The Run (version 1) and Everybody's On The Run (version 2)___________________________________________________________________  The Style Council singles discography also contains 3 EPs released at the end of 1987 and some Old Gold releases all of which contain tracks released elsewhere. To be continued...

The original version of this page was created by Eddie Metal for The Dexys Midnight Runners Group