The Plan: "Synchronised Listening"

[darthsmaull]

Okay, I've literally just finished listening to The Plan (the BBL 55 CD version)...



...so I thought I'd write my initial thoughts down straight away:

Gary never sold me on the idea of The Plan right from the word go. If I recollect right The Plan originally came out in several vinyl instalments in 1984 or thereabouts. I'd just got the Numan bug as a result of Berserker and was looking to work my way through as much of his back catalogue as I could find and afford. Again, from memory I remember finding The Plan in my local Woolworths sometime in 1984 or 1985 and reading Gary's sleeve notes saying something like "these are some 'punk' style demo tracks I wrote for the sole purpose of getting a record contract". Not exactly inspirational for the recent convert who (a) was too young at the time to have found 'punk' to be anything but intimidating and (b) was entranced by synthesisers and the sounds they could make...!

So, it was many years before The Plan came into my collection - I eventually bought the Replicas/The Plan 2 CD Beggars set (so I had a CD copy of Replicas), and later the individual version you can see above. It's never been an album I've played much (I've only just imported it into iTunes to listen to today) and I've always taken it at face value i.e. to be exactly what Gary said it was on those sleeve notes, with occasional flashes of what was to come showing through. Obviously by this time I've grown up and developed a more rounded view of punk, though I've never really found it very interesting - most of it sounds repetitive, overly simplistic and unimaginative to me.

Listening to it just now I don't think my opinions have changed greatly; the punk stylings are very evident in the music, but the lyrics are more intelligent and ambitious than your stereotypical punk track, with Gary's obsession with machines and SF beginning to show through already.

Tracks that stand out musically for me are:

This Machine - the intro and outro make this stand out from the other more 'standard' sounding punk tracks, and I really like the drum break part way through

Something's In The House - there's just something about this song that I like, but I can't explain it; and what the hell are the lyrics about??!

Mean Street - I got to like this song when Gary played it live many years later on the Sacrifice tour

Do Your Best - this is the blueprint for Friends and all the key elements that make it a great track are already in place, especially the breakneck pace of the vocals -seriously, have you ever tried singing along to it?!

That's Too Bad - strangely I prefer the original version to the single version (both are on this CD) - it just feels a little rawer and more aggressive, whereas with Bombers it's the single version that I think is stronger with the added drone of air raid sirens in the introduction etc. giving it an edge, although the morbid lyrics set both versions of the song apart from standard punk material...

Final verdict: an album for the dedicated fan who's looking to explore the early genesis of Gary's musical career rather than a milestone album or a good starting point for the recent convert.

Thanks for reading; over to everyone else...

[fish]

sorry i put my thoughts on the "Numan Albums: Synchronised Listening?" thread

[pacman]

It was strange listening to this album over the weekend as its been so long since I dug it out.

Overall feelings - It's amateurish but then it is a demo. I have to say though, and having been involved in a demo myself back in the day, that the wealth of ideas that Gary brought to this at such an early stage of his career, is admirable. I embraced the punk scene at the time but this album demonstrates a break from the typical three minute diatribe at the world that punk mostly was. It's full of different (new) ideas and a lot of the songs are well thought out and constructed, which generally wasn't the case with the punk style of the day.
The two acoustic songs show definite shades of Bowie but they are poor in comparison but again it's a demo. I hear shades of a young band typically trying to individually showcase themselves in the studio with random (crap) guitar solos and multiple drum rhythms in a single song but Paul Gardiner's bass is a constant throughout.
I can't say that any particular track resonates with me personally but I always ticked both That's Too Bad and Bombers as favourites. To have earlier versions of both here pleased me enormously and they are, to me, the standout tracks. I can see why Beggars opted for them both as singles as they are catchy and in tune with the times/flavours available back then.
What strikes me most about the whole package, is the number of ideas floating around in his head at the time. When we made demos, we had three songs to lay down but Gary's songwriting at this stage is prolific. And of course, the speed with which he knocked out Replicas, TPP and Telekon proved that.

All in all, it's like Ronseal - exactly what it says on the tin. I had no prior expectations when it was released and have always treated it as an interesting forerunner to Tubeway Army. It shows the early development of certain songs into ones that are more recognisable nowadays and the experimentation with sounds/ideas that were either polished up or discarded as he saw fit. In truth, if it had been released back in the day it was created, I don't think it would've achieved a blip on the radar but it did achieve his aim of getting a contract and from this, and his next sojourn into the studio, we can be thankful to the hire company who did'nt collect their minimoog on time. ;D

[fish]

1 I think the album is great a good insight of early tubeway army up to then we only really had the roxy album and tubeway army.
The strengths i love are the lyrics "critics, Thought no 2" etc weaknesses can't really be fair there they are demo's or tracks he had moved on from at the time.
2 I had just started going out with a girl and it reminds me of those times
3/4 not really can't think of anything
5 i first heard it in Manchester at a record store in the underground market place near the arndale centre, they always had loads of rare numan imports and fans always use to hang around there.
As i was walking up to it "This is my life" was playing and just hearing new/old tubeway army tracks was just breathtaking and to cap it all someone said that "gary was playing the manchester Apollo"(berserker )
my feeling Havant changed over the years because it was ant meant to be a proper release i just see it as a great bonus to the numan catalogue.
6 IT STILL ROCKS

[thethe]

would be great if NUM did a rollercoaster high energy punk show , just the fast stuff , would love to hear BLUE EYES live as I dont think he has done it , Of course you may know better.

[steelmusicuk]

1. What are your overall feelings about the album - what do you think the strengths and weaknesses of this album are? What are the things you really like/dislike about it?

Hearing this album doesn't really spark any great nostalgia trip.. The tunes are (in the main) a bit 'ten a penny'.
However, there are some strong tracks, and hidden gems on here!!
The tracks that stand out for me are:

Thoughts No2... Nicely understated, but very interesting tune.

The Monday Troop... This one wouldn't have been out of place on Telekon!! Mix in a few blissful synth lines etc.. (anyone?)

Mean Street... Nice, Groovy, Funky. Soulful. Stands apart from the other tracks on the album

Ice... I Like Gary's singing on this track. Great sound and well mixed..(Unfortunately, like most of the other tracks, it was let down by the drumming)

Crime Of Passion... Brilliant song from the Teenage Numan

OD Receiver... Probably my favourite track on the CD. In my mind, should have been a A-Side, not a B-Side! Drumming is better too

Critics... Heavy, but with plenty of depth. Stands the test of time this one!

3. Do you have any particular insights or interpretations of any of the tracks that you want to share?

Notice the deep synth line that runs through the second verse of check it, almost un-noticed(1'58'')... Just a little hint of what was to follow eh!!

5. Do you remember when/where you bought/first heard this album? What were your first impressions? Have your feelings towards the album changed over time?

I remember seeing this album in the shops, I think along with the 12'' stuff! I thought wow ("Mum, can I have some money please?")
I was only 12 at the time, so wasn't aware that it was being released. At that age it was always a case of checking the Numan section of every record store I walked past! In the hope that something new turns up.
So seeing this in the shops, of course sparked the unforgettable excitement, and the rush to get home.
Naturally, it wasnt what I expected... Yes, I had the Tubeway Army album, but this was even more guitar based. Barely a synth to be heard. Still played it to death though... It's Gary Numan init.

6. Anything else that sprang to mind while you listened that you'd like to share!
Just the sh*te over-indulgent drumming....

[zomzoms]

I couldn't believe my eyes when i saw The Plan picture disc with Gary smiling by the Replicas window.
Shouldn't have done it and kept the mystery intact.
I refused to buy it but eventually weakened and bought it a few years later.

[oldcopbullshit]

That's probably my favourite picture disc of all time!!!!!!!!

[fish]

i remember seeing the pic disc for the first time at a record fair cost me 8 quid ! well over priced but just had to have it in my collection.

[zomzoms]

Who remembers buying the Numan songbook with all those future Plan songs in it long before the vinyl release?
Very confusing at the time.