Cardiacs discography

Cardiacs discography
A sextet performing on stage.
Cardiacs performing in Amsterdam in 1987
Studio albums5
Live albums5
Compilation albums5
Video albums3
Music videos10
EPs2
Singles13
Demo albums3

The English rock band Cardiacs have released five studio albums and two extended plays along with a number of singles, compilations, live albums and demos. The group was formed by brothers Tim and Jim Smith in 1977 under the name Cardiac Arrest, releasing their debut single "A Bus for a Bus on the Bus" in 1979 and the demo album The Obvious Identity the following year.[1] After being renamed to Cardiacs, the band released two more cassettes, Toy World (1981) and The Seaside (1984).[2][3]

1987's Big Ship EP acted as Cardiacs' first proper recording,[4] released on their independent label The Alphabet Business Concern on which they would release all future albums.[5] Their debut studio album proper, A Little Man and a House and the Whole World Window (1988) found commercial success with its single, "Is This the Life?" which peaked at number 80 the UK Singles Chart.[6] The band's second studio album, On Land and in the Sea (1989), released to weak sales in comparison to its predecessor, but was critically praised.[7][8]

Cardiacs' third studio album, Heaven Born and Ever Bright, was released on 15 May 1992. Due to Rough Trade's bankruptcy, the album was a commercial failure. Sing to God, the band's fourth studio album, was released on 11 June 1996. It was initially poorly received,[9] but has since been remembered as one of their greatest projects.[10]

Guns (1999) was released as the band's fifth studio album which produced the single "Signs". Preceded by the release of "Ditzy Scene", the band's sixth studio album LSD has yet to be released. 2020 saw the official release of the song "Vermin Mangle" to mark the funeral of Tim Smith.[11]

  1. ^ Alvin, Mark (22 July 2020). "Tim Smith, the Cardiacs frontman, dies at 59". Music Times. Retrieved 13 May 2022.
  2. ^ Kitching, Sean (24 July 2020). "Remembering Tim Smith Of Cardiacs". The Quietus. Retrieved 18 April 2022.
  3. ^ Cite error: The named reference :6 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  4. ^ Cite error: The named reference :5 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  5. ^ Ewing, Jerry (22 July 2020). "Cardiacs singer Tim Smith dead at 59". Prog. Retrieved 13 May 2022.
  6. ^ Cashmore, Pete (2 June 2015). "Cult heroes: Tim Smith led the Cardiacs in the face of hatred – and much love". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 3 June 2015. Retrieved 4 September 2021.
  7. ^ "Cardiacs News » Album Reviews - ON LAND AND IN THE SEA". Cardiacs.com. Archived from the original on 18 November 2007. Retrieved 1 September 2021.
  8. ^ Unsworth, Cathi (22 April 1989). "Cardiacs 'On Land and in the Sea'". Sounds.
  9. ^ "Dancing About Architechture [sic]: the PIEmag * C A R D I A C S * - interview". TheCorroseum.org. 1996. Archived from the original on 14 August 2015. Retrieved 2 September 2021.
  10. ^ Kitching, Sean (4 July 2014). "Reviews: Cardiacs: Sing To God (Reissue)". The Quietus. Retrieved 13 July 2016.
  11. ^ Richards, Sam (2 September 2020). "Hear a previously unreleased Cardiacs song, "Vermin Mangle"". Uncut. Retrieved 13 May 2022.