Ryk Groetchen | The Che Underground

This We Dug : A Certain Ratio

December 11, 2017June 28, 2009 by Paul.Howland

(Wallflower Paul “The P Man” Howland polls the collective memory banks.)

A Certain Ratio formed in Manchester, UK, in 1977. They are still together as a recording entity.

Their cover of Banbarra’s tune “Shack Up” was a favorite of mine in the early ’80s. Here’s ACR’s version. And Banbarra’s original (which I became aware of recently by reading about it in the excellent Waxpoetics magazine).

Both versions of this tune are nice stripped-down funk; the Banbarra version is arguably better, but ACR’s is not without its charms.

“To Each …” was my favorite of their albums back in the day. (I may have to get the re-issue from Soul Jazz.)

Resurrecting 3 Guys Called Jesus

January 1, 2011July 14, 2008 by Mmrothenberg

Another reunion dinner in New York last weekend, when North County music operator-turned-North Carolina operations director John Stees arrived at Vynl on 9th Ave. armed with a disc of photos and flyers from 3 Guys Called Jesus, the band I played in from spring 1985 until I left San Diego in February 1987.

These images feature bassist Steve Duke and drummer Robert Labbe as well as guitarist Ryk Groetchen, who played with the band in 1985. All were taken by the marvelous Margarat Nee.