The Raincoats

346,399 plays (32,761 listeners)

post-punk, new wave, female vocalists, indie, punk… see all

(1977 – present)

The Raincoats were formed in 1977 by Ana da Silva (vocals, guitar) and Gina Birch (vocals, bass) while they were students at Hornsey College of Art, London, England. The first line-up included Ross Crighton on guitar and Nick Turner on drums for the band’s first gig in November 1977. Kate Korus, from The Slits and later The Mo-Dettes, joined briefly and was replaced by Jeremie Frank. Nick Turner left to form The Barracudas and Richard Dudanski (ex The 101’ers and later Public Image Ltd.) sat in on drums and film maker Patrick Keiller replaced Jeremie Frank on guitar.

Late in 1978, The Raincoats became an all female post-punk band, when joined by Palmolive of The Slits (drums), Vicky Aspinall (violin) and manager Shirley O’Loughlin. The band went on their first UK tour with Swiss female band Liliput, in May 1979 after Rough Trade Records released their first single “Fairytale in the Supermarket”/ “In Love”/ “Adventures Close to Home”.

Palmolive left the band after their seminal first album “The Raincoats” and Ingrid Weiss joined in 1980, when the band began recording their second album “Odyshape”, and toured Europe and the east coast of the USA. Guest musicians on “Odyshape” included Robert Wyatt, This Heat’s Charles Hayward and Richard Dudanski.

In New York, December 1982, The Raincoats recorded a live album at the arts space The Kitchen. “The Kitchen Tapes” (live) was released on ROIR in 1983. The band split after 1984s “Moving” LP.

The Raincoats
The Raincoats
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Looking in the Shadows
The Raincoats
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Odyshape
The Raincoats
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The Kitchen Tapes
The Raincoats
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Top Tracks

1	In Love	258
2	Don't Be Mean full track	161
3	Lola	158
4	Fairytale in the Supermarket	144
5	Love A Loser	82
6	No Side to Fall In	79
7	Black and White	77
8	Adventures Close to Home	74
9	Pretty	70
10	Shouting Out Loud full track	68
10	Off Duty Trip	68
12	The Void	66
13	57 Ways to End It All	60
13	No Looking	60
15	Life on the Line	57

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brockginther wrote:
August 2008

Really, how does a song like "Red Shoes" come into this world? I can't imagine songs like it actually being written and arranged by human beings. It's such a wonderful, swirling mess of beauty.... organic stuff, man. They had to have had some kind of song garden behind Gina Birch's place where they harvested this shit or something.

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ZooeyyyGlass wrote:
August 2008

"When I listen to The Raincoats I feel as if I'm a stowaway in an attic, violating and in the dark. Rather than listening to them I feel like I'm listening in on them. We're together in the same old house and I have to be completely still or they will hear me spying from above and, if I get caught - everything will be ruined because it's their thing. They're playing their music for themselves. It's not as sacred as wire-tapping a buddhist monk's telephone or something because if The Raincoats did catch me, they would probably just ask me if I wanted some tea. I would comply, then they would finish playing their songs and I would say thank you very much for making me feel good." Kurt Cobain, June 1993. What more to say.<3

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Brue-Tatue wrote:
August 2008

love lov elove

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hisironlung wrote:
August 2008

but she could not but she could not but she could not but

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ultrarealism wrote:
August 2008

i only have cruel to be kind at the moment. :/

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Reductorsonico wrote:
July 2008

Women rule!!! The Raincoats, The Shaggs, Au Pairs... wow.

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humanpeanut wrote:
July 2008

Cool.

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quityourgreetin wrote:
July 2008

oh god this band is amazing, i can't believe i just discovered them

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Conatz wrote:
July 2008

LOL @ the raincoats being riot grrl!

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justplanner wrote:
July 2008

It doesn't get much better than this !

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j_k_l_m_n_o_tee wrote:
July 2008

really love this band though

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j_k_l_m_n_o_tee wrote:
July 2008

yeah, i was being ironic... not a fan of labeling music, which admittedly can be useful. but "college music" or "college rock" i really can't stand.

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silverpsycho13 wrote:
July 2008

well "college rock" is what indie rock used to be called back in the day. makes sense: who tends to listen to indie rock the most? college kids! college radio stations are often the biggest players of indie rock. but given the context of this band, which was formed while at an art school/college, skeleandmole is probably stating his/her preference for the type of music made by art school college kids. (whatever type that is who knows?)

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j_k_l_m_n_o_tee wrote:
July 2008

college music??? what's that supposed to mean??

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Gilaventi wrote:
June 2008

Are The Raincoats one the greatest bands Britain has ever produced? Join The British Rock Artists League and vote for them in Band Qualifying to get them in the final tournament. Spread the word!

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Cristalkins wrote:
June 2008

Bloody brilliant!

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skeleandmole wrote:
May 2008

college music is the best

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PresidentLeever wrote:
May 2008

they've rejuvenated my interest in music.. several times.

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Ghost_train wrote:
April 2008

i totally agree.

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krigluder wrote:
April 2008

No Looking is the best song ever.

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