The Servants

The Servants was an indie band formed in 1985 in Hayes, Middlesex, England by singer and songwriter David Westlake. Their brand of mid-'80s guitar-pop was refined and classy as opposed to the shambolic lo-fi scene heralded by the C-86 compilation they would appear on and be connected with during their active career. After lots of line-up changes (including past/future members of The Auteurs and The Housemartins) and a string of great singles and one great LP (Disinterest) the band called it a day in 1991.

Around this time, huge fan and Belle and Sebastian frontman Stuart Murdoch was trying to locate David Westlake in hope of forming a band with him, before launching Belle in his school class instead.

David Westlake made a solo album titled "Westlake" for Creation Records in 1987. Recorded with Luke Haines and the rhythm section from The Triffids, the record attracted favourable critical reviews but little commercial success. In 2010, Angular Recording Corporation released David Westlake's second solo album, "Play Dusty for Me", to favourable reviews (title track Play Dusty For Me is on Last.fm).

In 2006, the Cherry Red label pulled together the Servants' singles and John Peel session tracks for the CD Reserved. From this in 2011, US label Captured Tracks assembled a vinyl-only compilation, "Youth Club Disco". Combined with a copy of Disinterest (if you can find one) "Youth Club Disco" is the essential vinyl document of the band.

Discography, press and videos at the offical website: http://www.lostsheep.com/davidwestlake/

Singles
"She’s Always Hiding"/"Transparent" (Mar 1986, Head Records, HEAD1 [7”]) (#25)
"The Sun, a Small Star"/"Meredith"/"It Takes No Gentleman"/"Funny Business" (Oct 1986, Head Records, HEAD3 [12”]) (#47)
"It’s My Turn"/"Afterglow" (Sep 1989, Glass Records, GLASS056 [7”])
"It’s My Turn"/"Afterglow"/"Faithful to 3 Lovers"/"Do or Be Done" (Sep 1989, Glass Records, GLASS12 056 [12”])
"Look Like A Girl"/"Bad Habits Die Hard" (live)/"It's My Turn"(live) (Aug 1990, Paperhouse Records, PAPER004 [7”])

Albums
Westlake (Nov 1987, Creation Records, CRELP019 [LP]) – as David Westlake
Disinterest (Sep 1989, Paperhouse, PAPLP005 [LP]/PAPCD005 [CD])
Westlake (re-issue 1993, Creation Records, CRECD019 [CD]) – as David Westlake
Reserved (Mar 2006, Cherry Red, CDMRED297 [CD]) (compilation)
Play Dusty For Me (Jul 2010, Angular Recording Corporation, ARC075 [download]) – as David Westlake
Youth Club Disco (Jul 2011, Captured Tracks, CT-111 [LP]) (compilation)


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