Neighbours... everybody needs good neighbours... or so the theme tune goes. And yet... since Louise and I got together, we've lived in five different houses, and one of the deciding factors each time we've moved (though not always the main one) has been bad neighbours. Like the neighbour who had a paddling pool in her back garden and sat out in it, drunkenly singing, late at night when we were trying to get baby Sam to sleep. Or the neighbours who hated us for no apparent reason and turned their back if we passed them in the street. And let's not even revisit the horrors of the last house we lived in...
While researching this feature, I came across quite a few bands named after bad neighbours. Like the Unfriendly Neighbours, the Nasty Neighbours, the Miffed Neighbours and, my favourites, the Shitty Neighbours. But what about bands named just (the) Neighbours... or Neighbors if you're American?
NEIGHBORS #1
The old slave song, dating back way into the 19th Century, and also recorded by Bruce on his Pete Seeger tribute album, We Shall Overcome.
This is a typically 50s white-washing of the tune, but it still raised a smile. No info on the Neighbours themselves, but they appear to have also released a song called I Won't Go Until I Get Some, which I was very disappointed not to find anywhere online.
NEIGHBOURS #2
German free jazz from 197-nein*. Do you see what I did there? Never mind. I'm making it up as I go along. That's free jazz.
(*Actually it's from 1978. But the gag wouldn't have worked then.)
THE NEIGHBOURS #3
Perfectly serviceable New Zeland pop from 1981. Discogs describes them as a soul band, but I reckon they sound more like The Cars with a female singer.
THE NEIGHBOURS #4
Clearly these guys lived in the same neighbourhood as The Specials and Madness. They were on Tyger Records in 1982, a lost label that often throws up gems.
THE NEIGHBOURS #5
Irish Neighbours from 1985. They released one single, There's A Bell, on Bus Records. I can't find it, but I did find the B-Side, No More Raggae (sic) On The Radio. They appear to be unhappy about that.
THE NEIGHBORS #6
Also from 1985, here's some power pop from Arlington, Virginia. Taken from their debut album Famous Potatoes.
THE NEIGHBORS #7
Hardcore San Diego punk rock from 1995.
NEIGHBOURS #8
21st Century Danish Soft Rockers. I mean, basically just look at the picture and imagine what kind of music these guys make. It'll save you from having to press 'Play'.
Tough one. None of them are great, and while you deterred us from listening to the Danes they weren't the worst. Maybe #6 or #9 if I had to choose.
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