Now And Then Jerico

I was delighted to read recently that the original line up of Then Jerico are back together and touring again.
In 1987 their debut cd "First{The Sound Of Music} came out of left field and hit me between the eyeballs like a  two by four.
In 85 their debut singles failed to make a dent in the charts but were huge club hits "The Big Sweep" and "Fault"
Prior to the release of "First" the single "Muscle Deep" was released as a single w/out any success but  somehow "Let Her Fall" became a minor hit in 87 reaching #65{personally I feel it should've gotten higher as it's one several stand out tracks off the album}
Another track I highly rate, the Roxy Music cover of "Prairie Rose" failed to chart and Mark Shaw and co must've wondered if Then Jerico would ever have a hit.........enter "The Motive{Living W/out You"}

Why "The Motive{Living W/out You}'' broke Then Jerico and "Let Her Fall" and "Prairie Rose" both failed is beyond me,granted "The Motive{Living W/out You}'' is a masterpiece but personally I feel any of the first seven tracks off of "First{The Sound Of Music} could've been hits:"Let Her Fall" "Blessed Days" "Laughter Party" "Stable Boy" "The Motive{Living W/out You}" "Muscle Deep" and "Prairie Rose" but don't take my word for it seek out a copy of "First{The Sound Of Music} or check it out on Last FM{MAJOR BOO HISS to Spotify for not having either "First{The Sound Of Music} or "Big Area" but only  their Best Of cd!!!
In 1987 "The Motive{Living W/out You}" was the most played record on BBC Radio One

Two years after "First{The Sound Of Music} in 1989 we were treated to the follow up "The Big Area" which much "First{The Sound Of Music} had some great moments but limited chart success ''Big Area" reached #13, "What Does It Take" reached #33 and should've done better period but given it featured Belinda Carlisle b4 "Sugar Box" reached #22 and w/ that came an abrupt end to Then Jerico.
Mark Shaw released two solo albums in 1990 and 91 "Love So Bright" and "Under Your Spell" but he to faded into 80's obscurity....... another Then Jerico interesting fact "The Big Area" sold 100,000 copies w/in 40 minutes when it was released.

As a champion of Mark Shaw and Then Jerico I'm inclined to pick up their"Acoustic Live London 2012" cd/dvd later this year when I'm in London but for now and for the gazillionth time it's time to play "First{The Sound Of Music}"....you should check it out or revisit it