Spectators of Life [LTMCD 2320] | The Names
Belgian post-punk band The Names are best remembered for a string of superior singles and an album on the Factory and Crépuscule labels between 1980 and 1982, all produced by Martin Hannett. This archive collection includes all three tracks from the rare debut 7" from 1979, plus 10 live tracks recorded between 1979 and 1981, of which 8 are songs never studio-recorded. The earliest of these gigs, a Belgian radio concert, features Nothing To Fear, Memories and a version of the classic Factory single Nightshift. The show from Oostakker from summer 1980 includes Questions And Answers, Other Enquiries and I Wish I Could Speak Your Language.
Also included are two Crépuscule compilation tracks (Tokyo Twilight and Ballade a Tervuren), and the TWI 111 b-sides Shining Hours and Revenge. Two outtakes from the later Jazz project also appear, including a cover of I'm In Love With a German Filmstar, originally a hit for The Passions in 1981.
Tracklist:
1. Spectators of Life (7")
2. White Life (7")
3. The Drive (7")
4. Nothing to Fear (live 1979)
5. Foreign Rendezvous
6. Actually
7. Memories
8. Nightshift
9. Mirrors (live 1980)
10. Questions and Answers
11. I Wish I Could Speak Your Language
12. Other Enquiries
13. Burn (live 1981)
14. Tokyo Twilight (from TWI 058)
15. Shining Hours (from TWI 111)
16. Revenge (from TWI 111)
17. Virtual (outtake by Jazz)
18. I'm In Love With a German Filmstar (outtake by Jazz)
19. Ballade a Tervuren
Available on CD and download. CD runs for fully 73 minutes and has been digitally remastered from the original master tapes. Booklet includes recording details and biographical notes. Original artwork by Benoît Hennebert.
Available via LTM Mailorder.


Selected Discography
Albums
- In Mutation, Crépuscule, 2018
- German Nights, FBN, 2017
- Stranger Than You, FBN, 2015
- In Time, FBN, 2014
- Swimming, FBN, 2013 [limited edition 300 copies clear vinyl]
- Swimming, FBN, 2013
- Monsters Next Door, Str8line Records, 2008
- Spectators Of Life, LTM, 2001
- Swimming, Crépuscule, 1982
Singles
- The Astronaut, Crépuscule, 1982
- Calcutta/Postcards, FBN, 1982
- Nightshift, Factory Records, 1981
- Spectactors Of Life, Celluloid, 1980
- Spectactors Of Life, WEA, 1979
Video
- Nightshift (Live at Plan K 15/12/2007), LTM, 2008
- A Factory Night (Once Again), LTM, 2008
- Umbrellas In The Sun, A Crépuscule / Factory Benelux DVD 1979-1987, LTM, 2005
- A Factory Video, Factory/Ikon, 1982
Compilation appearances
- Ghosts of Christmas Past (Remake), Crépuscule, 2017/18
- Sans Pleur 1, Str8line, 2011
- Les Beaux Labels Volume 1, Les inRocKuptibles / Fnac, 2011
- Factory Records: Communications 1978-92, Warner Music UK, 2009
- Auteur Labels: Factory Benelux 1980-1985, LTM, 2008
- Auteur Labels: Crépuscule 1980-1985, LTM, 2008
- 100 Trésors Cachés, Fnac / Les Inrockuptibles, 2008
- B9 Bis, LTM, 2007
- The Fruit Of The Original Sin, LTM, 2007
- From Brussels With Love, LTM, 2007
- Zero, A Martin Hannett Story (1977-1991), Big Beat Records, 2006
- Bel 80, Universal Music (Belgium), 2005
- The Night Watch, LTM, 2001
- Little Darla Has A Treat For You (Vol. 15), Darla Records, 2000
- 98 New Wave Club Class-X Traxx!!!, Play It Again Sam [PIAS], 1996
- New Wave Club Class-X 4, Antler-Subway, 1992
- Wit-Lof From Belgium Vol. 4: 80's Part Two, PolyGram, 1990
- Crépuscule Collection 2, Crépuscule, 1986
- War Is Over, Base Records, 1983
- Ghosts Of Christmas Past (Remake), Tokyo Twilight, 1982
- Sulla Spiaggia, Ogni Ragazzo, Ogni Ragazza..., Base Record, 1982
- Some Of The Interesting Things You'll See On A Long-Distance Flight, Crépuscule, 1982
- Chantons Noël, Ghosts Of Christmas Past, Crépuscule, 1981
- The Fruit Of The Original Sin, Crépuscule, 1981
- From Brussels With Love, Crépuscule, 1980-86
The Passengers
- All Through the Night, Crépuscule, 2018, limited edition (500) red vinyl 7" single
- Queen of Weird, Crépuscule, 2018, limited edition (500) clear vinyl 7" single