The Perfect Disaster

The Perfect Disaster were an English alternative rock band from Bedfordshire/Hertfordshire, England, formed in 1980. They released four albums before splitting up in 1991. The only constant member was singer/guitarist Phil Parfitt.

History

The first incarnation of the band was named Orange Disaster, with Parfitt joined by Ken Renny (bass), and Alison Pate (guitar).

Parfitt went on to work with Spiritualized's Jason Pierce, and later formed a new band, Oedipussy, who released the album, Divan, in 1995, with contributions from former House of Love and Levitation guitarist Terry Bickers. In 2014, as Philip Parfitt, he released a solo album entitled I'm Not The Man I Use To Be on Milltone Head Recordings.

Discography

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Albums

The Perfect Disaster (1985) Kampa (France); reissued (1987) Glass

Track Listing (French version) ^[4]

Side One

1. "What Could I Do/Given The Opportunity/" - (Philip Parfitt, Danny Cross, Allison Pate, John Saltwell, Malcolm Catto) -3:21
2. "Dawn In The Dark Woods" - (Parfitt) - 3:07
3. "What's Happening To Me" - (Parfitt, Cross, Pate, Saltwell, Catto) - 3:04
4. "Hiding From Frank" - (Parfitt) - 2:20
5. "In The Pink" - (Parfitt, Cross, Pate, Saltwell, Catto) - 4:35

Side Two

6. "New Beginning" - (Parfitt, Pate) - 3:39
7. "Teddy Edward" - (Parfitt, Pate) - 2:51
8. "Keep Loves Feet On The Ground" - (Parfitt) - 2:40
9. "Memories" - (Parfitt, Pate) - 3:28
10. "Stetson" - (Philip) - 3:22

Track Listing (Reissue) ^[5]

Side One

1. "What's Happening To Me?" - (Philip Parfitt, Danny Cross, Allison Pate, John Saltwell, Malcolm Catto) - 3:04
2. "Dark Woods" - (Parfitt) - 3:07
3. "What Could I Do?" - (Parfitt, Cross, Pate, Saltwell, Catto) - 3:21
4. "Hiding From Frank" - (Parfitt) - 2:20
5. "In The Pink" - (Parfitt, Cross, Pate, Saltwell, Catto) - 4:35

Side Two

6. "New Beginning" - (Parfitt, Pate) - 3:39
7. "Teddy Edward" - (Parfitt, Pate) - 2:51
8. "Keep Loves Feet On The Ground" - (Parfitt) - 2:40
9. "Memories" - (Parfitt, Pate) - 3:28
10. "Stetson" - (Philip) - 3:22
11. "Over You" - (Lou Reed) - 3:00

Personnel

• Philip Parfitt - lead vocals, saxophone
• Danny Cross - lead guitar, pixiphone
• Alison Pate - rhythm guitar, backing vocals
• John Saltwell - bass, backing vocals
• Malcolm Catto - drums, organ

Asylum Road (1988) Fire

Track Listing ^[6]

Side One

1. "The Crack Up"
2. "Stop Crying Girl"
3. "All The Stars"
4. "Call It A Day"
5. "In Conference Again"
6. "Mooncraters"

Side Two

7. "T.V. (Girl On Fire)"
8. "In The Afternoon"
9. "Evil Eye"
10. "What's The Use Of Trying?"
11. "The Night Belongs To Charlie"

Personnel

• Phil Parfitt - guitar, vocals
• Alison Pate - guitar, vocals
• Dan Cross - guitar
• Josephine Wiggs - bass, cello
• Martin Langshaw - percussion

Up (1989) Fire

Track Listing ^[7]

Side One

1. "'55" - (words: Phil Parfitt; music: Parfitt, Dan Cross)
2. "Shout" - (words: Parfitt; music: Parfitt, Cross)
3. "It Doesn't Matter" - (words: Parfitt; music: Parfitt, Cross)
4. "Down (Here I Go)" - (words: Parfitt; music: Parfitt, Cross)
5. "Down (Falling)" - (words: Parfitt; music: Parfitt, Cross)
6. "Down (Down)" - (words: Parfitt; music: Parfitt, Cross)

Side Two

7. "Hey Now" - (words: Parfitt; music: Parfitt, Cross, Josephine Wiggs)
8. "Go Away" - (words: Parfitt; music: Parfitt, Cross)
9. "B52" - (words: Parfitt; music: Parfitt, Cross)

Bonus tracks

10. "Garage" - (words: Parfitt; music: Parfitt, Cross)
11. "Time To Kill" - (words: Parfitt; music: Parfitt, Cross)

Personnel

• Phil Parfitt - lead vocals, rhythm acoustic and electric guitars
• Dan Cross - lead electric, acoustic and Spanish guitars, organ, piano
• Josephine Wiggs - bass, backing vocals, piano, cello, double bass
• Martin Langshaw - drums (1, 7, 11)
• Phil "Jak" Outram - drums (2, 6, 8, 9)

Heaven Scent (1990) Fire

Track Listing ^[8]

1. "Rise" - (words: Phil Parfitt; music: Parfitt, Dan Cross) - 2:58
2. "Father" - (words: Parfitt; music: Parfitt, Cross) - 4:05
3. "Wires" - (words: Josephine Wiggs; music: Parfitt, Cross, Wiggs) - 4:54
4. "Takin' Over" - (words: Parfitt; music: Parfitt, Cross) - 3:26
5. "Where Will You Go With Me" - (words: Parfitt; music: Parfitt, Cross) - 2:52
6. "Little Sister (If Ever Days)" - (words: Parfitt; music: Parfitt, Cross) - 5:18
7. "Shadows" - (words: Parfitt; music: Parfitt, Cross) - 5:22
8. "Sooner Or Later" - (words: Parfitt; music: Parfitt, Cross) - 2:42
9. "It's Gonna Come To You" - (words: Parfitt; music: Parfitt, Cross) - 4:36

Bonus Tracks

10. "Lee" - (words: Parfitt; music: Parfitt, Cross) - 3:52
11. "Mood Elevators (Original Version)" - (words: Parfitt; music: Parfitt, Cross) - 3:38
12. "Bluebell (Live)" - (words: Parfitt; music: Parfitt, Cross) - 4:08
13. "B52 (Live)" - (words: Parfitt; music: Parfitt, Cross) - 13:15

Personnel

• Phil Parfitt - lead and backing vocals, rhythm, lead and acoustic guitars
• Dan Cross - lead, rhythm and infinite guitars, backing vocals, organ
• Josephine Wiggs - bass, backing vocals, cello
• Jon Mattock - drums (1-10), percussion (1-10)
• Phil Outram - drums (11-13)

Singles and EPs

• "Something's Got to Give" (1980) Neuter (as Orange Disaster) three songs
• "Something's Got to Give" (1981) Vogue (as Orange Disaster) two songs
• "Cucumber Sandwich" (1982) Neuter (as Architects of Disaster)
• Hey Hey Hey EP (1987) Glass
• "TV (Girl on Fire)" (1988) Fire
• "Time to Kill" (1988) Fire
• "Mood Elevators" (1989) Fire
• Rise EP (1990) Fire

References