Albums · Studio album

The Obvious Identity

Cardiac Arrest

Release dateJune 1980

Year1980

LabelSelf-released

Formats & catalogue

CassettePrivate cassette

Debut demo album, recorded and released under the Cardiac Arrest name

Overview

The Obvious Identity is the first album-length release by Cardiac Arrest, the group that would soon become Cardiacs. Recorded with almost no budget and duplicated onto reused cassette tapes, it captures the band’s earliest musical identity: jagged punk, theatrical vocals, odd time changes, primitive keyboards and a deliberately homemade sound. Even in this raw form, many of the compositional traits that would later define Cardiacs are already present.

Tracklist

45:18

01
The Obvious Identity2:11
Side AWritten by Tim Smith
02
Visiting Hours4:50
Side AWritten by Tim Smith
03
Pip as Uncle Dick but Peter Spoilt It4:35
Side AWritten by Tim Smith, Mark Cawthra
04
To Go Off and Things2:25
Side AWritten by Tim Smith, Mark Cawthra
05
Rock Around the Clock1:53
Side AWritten by Colvin Mayers, Tim Smith
06
Leaf Scrapings3:13
Side AWritten by Tim Smith, Cardiac Arrest
07
A Game for Bertie's Party7:02
Side BWritten by Tim Smith, Mark Cawthra
08
Cameras1:02
Side BWritten by Mark Cawthra, Tim SmithWritten by Mark Cawthra and arranged by Tim Smith.
09
Bite 3/a2:37
Side BWritten by Tim Smith
10
Pilf3:22
Side BWritten by Tim Smith
11
Let Alone My Plastic Doll4:06
Side BWritten by Tim Smith, Mark Cawthra
12
A Balloon for Bertie's Party8:02
Side BWritten by Tim Smith

Line-up

5 credited

Michael Pugh

vocals

Credited as Peter ‘Zip’ Boker; appears on ‘The Obvious Identity’ and ‘A Game for Bertie's Party’.

Tim Smith

vocals · guitar · synthesiser · organ · glockenspiel · handclaps

Credited as Philip Pilf.

Jim Smith

bass guitar · vocals · handclaps

Credited as Patty Pilf.

Colvin Mayers

vocals · synthesiser · strings · organ · handclaps

Credited as Duncan Doilet.

Mark Cawthra

drums · vocals · handclaps

Credited as Little Bobby Shattocks.

Archive notes

The Obvious Identity was Cardiac Arrest’s first album of any kind and was released only on cassette in June 1980.
The title came from an earlier temporary name used by the group before they adopted Cardiac Arrest.
Approximately 1,000 copies were made, often duplicated onto second-hand tapes because the band had very little money.
The album has never been officially reissued and remains one of the rarest Cardiac Arrest or Cardiacs releases.
‘To Go Off and Things’ was re-recorded for The Seaside and became a long-running live favourite.
‘The Obvious Identity’, ‘Rock Around the Clock’ and ‘A Game for Bertie's Party’ were later included on Archive Cardiacs.
Live versions of several tracks later appeared on Cardiacs Live, All That Glitters Is a Mares Nest, The Special Garage Concerts and Some Fairytales from the Rotten Shed.
‘Bite 3/a’ is the only track from the album that has never been officially reissued in any form.