It's now almost two decades since they imploded, but THE LA'S remain one of the most tantalising strands to have been woven into the British rock tapestry. Having released only the one 'official' album and a handful of singles, they nevertheless harbour a fanatical following waiting for the Lazarus-like return of the band's enigmatic front man Lee Mavers.
The accepted story of The La's still asserts that the Mavers-led band arrived on the scene in time for the Go! Discs label to snap them up during 1987, but the real truth is actually rather different, for the band had already built up a formidable local reputation between 1984 and 1986. The La's fiery and fantastic original incarnation was co-helmed by super-talented Captain Beefheart obsessives Mike Badger and the aforementioned Mavers, with rhythm sections coming and going until stability arrived in the shape of youthful bassist John Power in the summer of 1986. The group's 'classic' early-line up was then completed when John 'Timmo' Timson moved in behind the drum kit that same autumn.
The La's actually existed on record as early as 1984 (check out the classic 'A Secret Liverpool' and 'Elegance, Charm & Deadly Danger Compilations' at www.music-isms.blogspot.com if you don't believe me), but it's with the twin 'Lost La's' compilations ('Breakloose: 1984-1986 and 'Callin' All: 1986-1987') that the real story of the early La's comes vividly to life.
Originally released around the turn of 2000, the original 'Breakloose' was afforded the expanded re-issue treatment last year with a selection of previously unreleased recordings bolstering what was already a fine record. Concentrating broadly on the Mike Badger-penned La's songs, it offers a vital alternative La's history. It is, in effect, the 'blue' lost La's LP while the 'green' lost La's LP 'Callin' All' (originally released in 2001, but now expanded and re-mastered) concentrates primarily on the more familiar, mostly Mavers-penned songs which – in re-recorded form - would eventually make up The La's eponymous début in 1990.
Both 'Lost La's albums make one thing abundantly clear. The band were on fire creatively by the autumn of 1986. Regular gigging had brought them to the brink of serious local hero worship while the group's regular sessions in local demo studios or using 4-track porta-studios had yielded nigh-on perfect versions of the songs peppering their live set. The first ten tracks on 'Callin' All' nail the elusive 'intimate' La's vibe Mavers later pursued to abject frustration seemingly without even trying and these versions of songs like 'Son of a Gun', 'Doledrum' and the under-rated 'Clean Prophet' are among the very best the band ever recorded. These sessions also spawned the earliest recorded version of the controversial Badger/ Mavers co-write 'Callin' All' and its' formidably dark beauty is already fully-formed and fabulous as early as September 1986.
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If this wasn't already enough, this expanded 'Callin' All' now offers us a treasure trove of alternative versions of La's favourites in addition to a handful of previously unreleased tunes recorded during 1986 and 87. The original 'Callin' All' featured a much-vaunted Mavers tune 'Tears In The Rain', but this time it's joined by acoustic demos of songs called 'Leavin' (cute and bittersweet), 'She Loves' (pithy and very recognisable La's) and – most interestingly – a track called 'Don't Get Me Wrong' which has a folks-y, Bert Jansch-style feel to it. All have considerable potential and a fleshed-out later version of 'Leavin' recorded on a cassette recorder at The Stables shows it could easily have held its' own in the band's repertoire.
The rest of this 'Callin' All' brings us the sound of the 1987 La's with Mavers moving to centre-stage and lead guitarist Paul Hemmings coming in for the departed Mike Badger. Long-time La's watchers will be delighted with several tracks recorded at the group's near-mythical Flying Picket Session (May 1987) - not least a 'banjo-assisted take of 'Way Out' and a funky, but slightly exploratory take of popular B-side 'Come In Come Out' – plus an early, but almost-there 'Timeless Melody' from a session recorded at Echo & The Bunnymen's demo studio and a cracking Local Radio session from autumn 1987. This latter is a real highlight, featuring a joyful 'Feelin', the mutant rockabilly roustabout of 'Failure', the Scouse Kinks riff logic of 'I Can't Sleep' and finally a loaded and murderous 'Callin' All' which will simply knock spots off you.
Throw in a smattering of live tracks (not least the magnificent 'There She Goes' from a rapturously-received Flying Picket gig), previously unseen photos/ artwork and detailed liner notes and you've got one of this year's most crucial re-issues. The 2001 version was a notable release, but this newly-expanded 'Callin' All' is the one. Go get.
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