A Song A Day: The Mighty Lemon Drops, "My Biggest Thrill"

JUNE 29, 2017

“MY BIGGEST THRILL” (WRITERS: TONY NEWTON–DAVE LINEHAN)

ARTIST: THE MIGHTY LEMON DROPS

RELEASED 1987 ON 7” 45 AND ON HAPPY HEAD LP

The mid-80s British rock scene went in all directions. One group I really liked, at least for their first few records, was The Mighty Lemon Drops. They fused a tough, aggressive rhythmic attack with clear, jangly guitar and vocals that betrayed no American influence.

The Mighty Lemon Drops came from Wolverhampton, in the quite unfashionable west midlands of England. They first caught attention when one of their songs was released on a New Musical Express cassette compilation called “C86”; this tape helped create a sound and an ethos for stripped-down, energetic DIY rock from Britain.

In these pre-Internet days, the cassette’s impact was huge on a disconnected yet extremely promising indie guitar pop scene. Other “C86” bands of note included McCarthy, Primal Scream, Fuzzbox, the Soup Dragons, and the Pastels.

The Drops’ first single, “Like an Angel,” was an indie chart hit and led to an album deal. Their first LP, Happy Head, contained “My Biggest Thrill,” which for my money is their finest moment. Paul Marsh’s vocals tell a clear story despite their detached air, and Dave Newton’s vintage-yet-up-to-the-moment guitars are gut-punching as well as stratospheric. 

While they never got past the middle 60s on the British singles charts, the Mighty Lemon Drops did enjoy success on both sides of the pond and lasted long enough to record several albums. 

Listen and watch a perhaps self-consciously revivalist video.