The Korgis (album)

The Korgis is the debut studio album by English pop band, the Korgis. It was released in 1979 on Rialto Records in the UK, and on Warner Bros. Records in the US.

The album includes the singles "Young 'n' Russian" and "If I Had You" (#13, UK Singles Chart), the latter being notable for the keyboard contributions of Alan Wilder, who in 1982 would join Depeche Mode for thirteen years.

The Korgis was re-issued on compact disc by Edsel Records in 1999.

Critical reception
Upon its release, James Belsey of the Bristol Evening Post called The Korgis a "truly attractive debut album of perfectionist pop", with "unmistakable influences from John Lennon" and a "string of witty, mature tracks". Steve Richards of the Grimsby Evening Telegraph commented that Warren and Davis had "maintained all their class, feel for freshness and humour" from their Stackridge days and produced "one very charming album [of] 10 songs, each [with] its own distinct qualities". He added, "I love the simplistic feel of the whole affair and the way it all slots so perfectly together. A very, very welcome release."

Ray King of the Manchester Evening News noted that Warren and Davis are "barking up the right tree at last" as the Korgis and added that the ten tracks on the album "comprise out and out pop melodies, with witty, amusing and always inventive lyrics". Red Starr of Smash Hits found the "odd collection" to be "more interesting and adventurous than 'If I Had You' ever lets on" and continued, "Lightweight and melodic, the Korgis are by turns strange, humourous, clever and romantic, with a generous touch of the legendary Stackridge looniness. Not everything works but mostly very likeable, entertaining stuff."

Track listing
Side A: Side B:
 * 1) "Young 'n' Russian" (Davis, Jakki Ridlington, Warren) - 3:12
 * 2) "I Just Can't Help It" (Davis) - 3:43
 * 3) "Chinese Girl" (Davis) - 2:19
 * 4) "Art School Annexe" (Davis) - 3:37
 * 5) "Boots and Shoes" (Davis, Warren) - 4:32
 * 1) "Dirty Postcards" (Warren) - 4:45
 * 2) "O Maxine" (Warren) - 2:39
 * 3) "Mount Everest Sings the Blues" (Warren) - 2:32
 * 4) "Cold Tea" (Warren) - 4:26
 * 5) "If I Had You" (Davis, Sergei Rachmaninoff) - 3:55
 * 6) * Album version

Personnel

 * James Warren - vocals, bass guitar
 * Andy Davis - vocals, drums, keyboards, mandolin
 * Stuart Gordon - violin, mandolin, percussion
 * Phil Harrison - keyboards, percussion
 * Bill Birks - drums, percussion


 * Additional personnel
 * Alan Wilder - backing vocals, keyboards
 * Glenn Tommey - keyboards
 * David Lord - keyboards
 * Al Powell - drums
 * Kenny Lacey - percussion
 * Keith Warmington - harmonica
 * Jo Mullet - backing vocals
 * Jo Pomeroy - backing vocals

Production

 * The Korgis - producers
 * David Lord - sound engineer
 * Glenn Tommey - assistant engineer
 * George Rowbottom - art direction
 * Julian Balme - art direction
 * Martyn Goddard - photography
 * Heath Bros. - management
 * Recorded at Crescent Studios, Bath, Somerset 1977 (track B5), 1978 (tracks A1-A4, B2 & B3) & 1979 (tracks A5, B1 & B4).

Release history

 * 1979 LP Rialto Records TENOR 101 (UK)
 * 1979 LP Warner Bros. Records 3349 (US)
 * 1999 CD Edsel Records EDCD 621

Single releases

 * "Young 'n' Russian" / "Cold Tea" (Rialto TREB 101, February 1979)
 * "If I Had You" (Single Version) / "Chinese Girl" (TREB 103, May 1979) UK #13
 * "Young 'n' Russian" / "Mount Everest Sings the Blues" (re-issue, TREB 108, October 1979)
 * "I Just Can't Help It (Remix)" / "O Maxine" (TREB 112, January 1980)