"13th Disciple" was released on 13th May 1991 on all 4 formats available at the time , 7", 12", CD Single and Cassette Single (although yet again I have never come across the Cassette version in my searches). I remember way back in November 1989 a certain young Manc band played one of the coolest and funkiest tunes I had ever heard. The tune was of course "Fools Gold" with its dance drum beat and wicka wacka wah-wah guitars. The Manchester scene that followed mimicked this song and many others of "The Stone Roses" tracks but never seemed to reach the same dizzy heights "Fools Gold" had done with me previously. Then, whilst in no way imitating the Manchester scene, out came "13th Disciple". This was "Fools Gold"....... but with a tune (imagine Jeremy Clarkson delivering that last line).
The title track was another joint compostion, and unlike "Fools Gold" it was not just a groove (albeit a very good groove), it was catchy and it had melody and it had balls. It also had the best bassline since "The Jams- Start" (or "The Beatles- Taxman"...take your pick) matched tightly with Hoopers drumming.
This song has been (and will 
continue) to be in my top ten all-time favourite songs. The B-sides weren't bad either. "Hate Male" was apparently written about the bad way the last single "Air Conditioned Nightmare" was handled by the record company. One internet biography of the band quoted lyrics from "Hate Male" when it said they were "disillusioned by their lack of success, Five Thirty unleashed the frustration in their songs, yelling, "This song ain't exactly what we'd call money but we don't care". The additional song on the 12" and CD single was "Out to Get in" and just like the title track and B-side was a joint composition. Just like other great British bands such as "The Jam" and "Oasis" here was another B-side fit to be released as a single. Some of the lyrics appeared more surreal than normal and I never really understood what the song was about....answers on a postcard please, nevertheless there were some cracking lines delivered amongst the melodies and hooks ("gazing into stupidity, unmoved by what is there"). Back then bands believed in value for money and another track was included with a cover of one of the best "The Beatles" tracks "Come Together". Four songs for 2 or 3 quid with fantastic artwork thrown in- absolute bargain! 
Whilst musically this cover version wasn't a million miles from the original, it was still dirty and groovy, but Tara's vocals really made it their own. According to a blog called "Box Set Go" (worth checking out ratfans) if you listen to the end of "Automatons" from the "Bed" album then you will hear that they start to lead into "Come Together", I think I agree (Incidentally, the first time I saw "Orange Deluxe" I thought they were playing "Come Together" but it the intro to "Atomic Junkie". Listening back to it now though it is not really that similar- hows that for a pointless anecdote!).
I have only discovered the videos to "Five Thirty" singles since Youtube has been around, I never saw any of them at the time of their release (coming from a poor Yorkshire, working class family there was no MTV in our house........and we lived in a shoebox in' middle o' road). The video to "Abstain" has been put on here earlier and the only other video I have seen in this one for "13th Disciple". It is so slick compared to the debut, very 60's retro rather than typical indie boys on a beach (sorry guys) of "Abstain". Any of you guys got any other videos, I believe there was one made for "Supernova" but not sure about "Air Conditioned Nightmare" and "You" (a scary fan-made one appeared on Youtube but it gave me nightmares to be frank). Anyway, enjoy "13th Disciple"...........
Incidentally, it appears that "Five Thirty" were being set up to break the coveted U.S. market as this single was given a release over there via the ATCO record label. I have an original CD of this which only contains an L.P. version and an edited version.
This edited version is the same version of the mix that appears on the video which has a different outro to the version we are all used to. I am not sure what success the single had but it was followed up with "Strange Kind of Urgency" which was never released over here. The original CD I have of this only contains the title track (no bonus B-sides I'm afraid). Of course the album "Bed" was released over there too. The U.S. album CD released differed from our version as it had "Somethings Got to Give" and "Mistress Daydream" as the bonus tracks (not "Abstain" and "Catcher in the Rye" as the U.K. version).
Not all reviewers felt the same as me, as can be seen in this rag review. I think a lot of music journalists were busy listening to "shoegaze" bands who were in vogue at the time. Whilst some of the bands from the so-called "scene that celebrates itself" were of its time, it seems criminal that bands like "Moose" and "Slowdive" were so acclaimed whilst "Five Thirty" received lazy reviews like these. I can't remember the last time "Chapterhouses" "Whirlpool" graced my gramophone (get bent Grandad!).
Now , for your enjoyment, below are a mish-mash of reviews, adverts and newsletters from the "13th Disciple" period.
The title track was another joint compostion, and unlike "Fools Gold" it was not just a groove (albeit a very good groove), it was catchy and it had melody and it had balls. It also had the best bassline since "The Jams- Start" (or "The Beatles- Taxman"...take your pick) matched tightly with Hoopers drumming.
This song has been (and will 
continue) to be in my top ten all-time favourite songs. The B-sides weren't bad either. "Hate Male" was apparently written about the bad way the last single "Air Conditioned Nightmare" was handled by the record company. One internet biography of the band quoted lyrics from "Hate Male" when it said they were "disillusioned by their lack of success, Five Thirty unleashed the frustration in their songs, yelling, "This song ain't exactly what we'd call money but we don't care". The additional song on the 12" and CD single was "Out to Get in" and just like the title track and B-side was a joint composition. Just like other great British bands such as "The Jam" and "Oasis" here was another B-side fit to be released as a single. Some of the lyrics appeared more surreal than normal and I never really understood what the song was about....answers on a postcard please, nevertheless there were some cracking lines delivered amongst the melodies and hooks ("gazing into stupidity, unmoved by what is there"). Back then bands believed in value for money and another track was included with a cover of one of the best "The Beatles" tracks "Come Together". Four songs for 2 or 3 quid with fantastic artwork thrown in- absolute bargain! 
Whilst musically this cover version wasn't a million miles from the original, it was still dirty and groovy, but Tara's vocals really made it their own. According to a blog called "Box Set Go" (worth checking out ratfans) if you listen to the end of "Automatons" from the "Bed" album then you will hear that they start to lead into "Come Together", I think I agree (Incidentally, the first time I saw "Orange Deluxe" I thought they were playing "Come Together" but it the intro to "Atomic Junkie". Listening back to it now though it is not really that similar- hows that for a pointless anecdote!).I have only discovered the videos to "Five Thirty" singles since Youtube has been around, I never saw any of them at the time of their release (coming from a poor Yorkshire, working class family there was no MTV in our house........and we lived in a shoebox in' middle o' road). The video to "Abstain" has been put on here earlier and the only other video I have seen in this one for "13th Disciple". It is so slick compared to the debut, very 60's retro rather than typical indie boys on a beach (sorry guys) of "Abstain". Any of you guys got any other videos, I believe there was one made for "Supernova" but not sure about "Air Conditioned Nightmare" and "You" (a scary fan-made one appeared on Youtube but it gave me nightmares to be frank). Anyway, enjoy "13th Disciple"...........
Incidentally, it appears that "Five Thirty" were being set up to break the coveted U.S. market as this single was given a release over there via the ATCO record label. I have an original CD of this which only contains an L.P. version and an edited version.
This edited version is the same version of the mix that appears on the video which has a different outro to the version we are all used to. I am not sure what success the single had but it was followed up with "Strange Kind of Urgency" which was never released over here. The original CD I have of this only contains the title track (no bonus B-sides I'm afraid). Of course the album "Bed" was released over there too. The U.S. album CD released differed from our version as it had "Somethings Got to Give" and "Mistress Daydream" as the bonus tracks (not "Abstain" and "Catcher in the Rye" as the U.K. version).
Not all reviewers felt the same as me, as can be seen in this rag review. I think a lot of music journalists were busy listening to "shoegaze" bands who were in vogue at the time. Whilst some of the bands from the so-called "scene that celebrates itself" were of its time, it seems criminal that bands like "Moose" and "Slowdive" were so acclaimed whilst "Five Thirty" received lazy reviews like these. I can't remember the last time "Chapterhouses" "Whirlpool" graced my gramophone (get bent Grandad!).Now , for your enjoyment, below are a mish-mash of reviews, adverts and newsletters from the "13th Disciple" period.
