Do The Du

No UK act crystallized independent, punk-influenced funk more than Manchester's A Certain Ratio. The original line-up comprised Jeremy Kerr (bass), Simon Topping (vocals/trumpet), Peter Terrell (guitar), Martin Moscrop (guitar/trumpet), Martha Tilson (vocals, ex-Occult Chemistry), who joined a little later, although she had left by 1982, and Donald Johnson (drums) who replaced a drum machine. They signed to Factory Records in 1979 for the cassette release, The Graveyard And The Ballroom. One side was recorded at Graveyard Studios, the other live, supporting Talking Heads at London's Electric Ballroom. After releasing "All Night Party" in May 1979, there was a hiatus before "Flight", a UK Independent Top 10 hit over a year later. In the meantime, the band had teamed up with Factory's European sister company Benelux, for a cover version of Banbarra's mid-70s funk classic "Shack Up", in July 1980. This edgy but rhythmic version offered an excellent snapshot of the band's innovative studio technique. To Each ", the band's official debut album, attracted BBC disc jockey John Peel in 1981, a year that also yielded "Do The Du" (officially intended for release in the USA), and in December "Waterline" also fared well.