MARC AND THE MAMBAS – TORMENT AND TOREROS 2LP – Nr MINT UK 1983 INDIE SOFT CELL MARC ALMOND

Marc & The Mambas – Torment and Toreros
(Some Bizarre Records  1983  BIZL4)
Matrix No’s: A2/B1/A1/B1 – UK Pressing

Double Vinyl in Nr MINT condition

Gatefold Sleeve in Excellent+ condition
– some slight wear to edges and small tear at opening edge

Marc and the Mambas was a New Wave group, formed by Marc Almond in 1982 as an off-shoot project from Soft Cell. The band’s line-up changed frequently, and included Matt Johnson from The The and Annie Hogan, with whom Almond worked later in his solo career.

Torment and Toreros is the second album to be released by Marc and the Mambas. The album reached #28 on the UK album charts in August 1983. The song “Torment” was written by Marc Almond, Steven Severin of Siouxsie and the Banshees, Robert Smith of The Cure) – It also is the last studio album to go under the name “Marc and the Mambas”. The next album Almond issued was credited to “Raoul and the Ruined”. The Mambas’ third album, Bite Black and Blues, is a live album and was initially only available via the Marc Almond fan club.

Track listing

All tracks composed by Marc Almond, except where indicated.

Disc 1

1. “Intro” (Almond, Sally Mambas) – 3:17
2. “Boss Cat” (Almond; original lyrics: Anne Stephenson, Ginny Hewes) – 4:17
3. “The Bulls” (Jacques Brel) – 2:18
4. “Catch a Fallen Star” – 5:12
5. “The Animal in You” (Almond, Mambas) – 7:19
6. “In My Room” (Joaquin Prieto; English lyrics: Lee Pockriss, Paul Vance) – 3:01
7. “First Time” – 3:38
8. “(Your Love Is A) Lesion” – 5:38
9. “My Former Self” (Almond, Annie Hogan) – 2:45
10. “Once Was” (Almond, The Venomettes) – 5:10

Disc 2

1. “The Untouchable One” (Almond, Jenkinson) – 6:03
2. “Blood Wedding” (Traditional Spanish; arranged by Marc and the Mambas) – 01:51
3. “Black Heart” (Almond, Hogan) – 04:50
4. “Medley: Narcissus/Gloomy Sunday/Vision” (Almond, Steve Sherlock/Sam M. Lewis, Rezső Seress/Peter Hammill) 11:46
5. “Torment” (Almond, Steven Severin, Robert Smith) – 4:21
6. “A Million Manias” (Almond, Foetus) – 5:52
7. “My Little Book of Sorrows” (Marc Almond) – 5:59
8. “Beat out that Rhythm on a Drum” (Georges Bizet, Oscar Hammerstein II) – 5:00

Personnel

Marc and the Mambas

• Marc Almond – guitar, percussion, vocals
• Annie Hogan – piano, harpsichord, Farfisa organ, vocals
• Lee Jenkinson – bass, guitar, drums, vocals
• Steve Sherlock – flute, saxophone

with:

• Matt Johnson – guitar
• Peter Ashworth – drums, timpani
• Frank Want – drums
• The Venomettes – string arrangements
  • Anne Stephenson – violin
  • Billy McGee – double bass
  • Ginny Hewes – violin
  • Martin McCarrick – cello

Technical

• Flood, Marc Almond – mixing
• Huw Feather – cover design
• Peter Ashworth – photography