Heartbeat Productions - Glaxo Babies.

Amid the Bristol Punk/New Wave was a collection of more experimental bands unarguably lead by The Pop Group, heralding a more jagged approach leaning towards Jazz and Funk though delivered with a definite angst. Bristol was fast becoming the birthplace of such music with bands like Colour Tapes, Gardez Darx, and later Rip Rig & Panic all adding to the fusion. Another band leaning more this way were the Glaxo Babies, they really impressed me and a 12" EP "This is your Life" was soon embarked upon over at Crescent Studios.

Label Boss Simon Edwards(left) with Glaxo Babies Geoff Alsopp, Dan Catsis & Tom Nichols

The release of the 12" cemented a new collaboration between Heartbeat and top independent label Cherry Red, which would result in improved marketing and distribution while still retaining total control over output. The Glaxo Babies entered the independent chart in the first week of release soon becoming favourites with John Peel.

By early 1979 so many good bands had formed that in order to satisfy demand an EP was released, featuring four of the best - The Numbers, Joe Public, The X-Certs and 48 Hours. "4 Alternatives" actually turned out to be the prelude to a much larger project later that year.

The Glaxo Babies were going from strength to strength having just recorded
a BBC session for John Peel, and completed their next single, temptingly
titled "Christine Keeler" (we always hoped she would get in
touch….) this is what the Record Mirror thought of it: