Cardiacs discography explained

Artist:	Cardiacs
Studio:	5
Option:	3
Option Name:	Demo albums
Live:	5
Compilation:	5
Video:	3
Music Videos:	10
Ep:	2
Singles:	13

The English rock band Cardiacs have released five studio albums and two extended plays along with a number of singles, compilations, live albums and demos. The group was formed by brothers Tim and Jim Smith in 1977 under the name Cardiac Arrest, releasing their debut single "A Bus for a Bus on the Bus" in 1979 and the demo album The Obvious Identity the following year.^[1] After being renamed to Cardiacs, the band released two more cassettes, Toy World (1981) and The Seaside (1984).^[2]

1987's Big Ship EP acted as Cardiacs' first proper recording, released on their independent label The Alphabet Business Concern on which they would release all future albums.^[3] Their debut studio album proper, A Little Man and a House and the Whole World Window (1988) found commercial success with its single, "Is This the Life?" which peaked at number 80 the UK Singles Chart.^[4] The band's second studio album, On Land and in the Sea (1989), released to weak sales in comparison to its predecessor, but was critically praised.^{[5] [6]}

Cardiacs' third studio album, Heaven Born and Ever Bright, was released on 15 May 1992. Due to Rough Trade's bankruptcy, the album was a commercial failure. Sing to God, the band's fourth studio album, was released on 11 June 1996. It was initially poorly received,^[7] but has since been remembered as one of their greatest projects.^[8]

Guns (1999) was released as the band's fifth studio album which produced the single "Signs". Preceded by the release of "Ditzy Scene", the band's sixth studio album LSD has yet to be released. 2020 saw the official release of the song "Vermin Mangle" to mark the funeral of Tim Smith.^[9]

Albums

Studio albums

Title	Album details	Peak chart positions		Notes
		POR ^[10]	NZ ^[11]
A Little Man and a House and the Whole World Window	Released: 21 March 1988 Label: Alphabet Business Concern/Torso (ALPH 007) Format: LP, CD, MC	56	—	Reissued on CD in 1995 including the B-side "Eating in Bed" in the tracklist^[12] 25th Anniversary Edition released in 2013 with a booklet containing the original 1988 artwork and lyrics^[13] ^[14] A remastered vinyl edition was released in 2023. The special edition was presented with a 52-page casebound book, reproductions of Tim Smith's musical scores, and three CDs of additional material such as radio sessions.
On Land and in the Sea	Released: 2 May 1989 Label: Alphabet Business Concern/Torso (ALPH 012) Format: LP, CD, MC	—	—	Vinyl releases remove the track "Horse Head"^[15]
Heaven Born and Ever Bright	Released: 15 May 1992 Label: Alphabet Business Concern/Rough Trade (ALPH 017) Format: LP, CD, MC	—	—	The first Cardiacs album as a four-piece^[16] Remastered and reissued in 1995 with new cover art^[17]
Sing to God	Released: 11 June 1996 Label: Alphabet Business Concern (ALPH 022) Format: 2×CD	—	59	Originally released as a limited edition double CD and as two separate albums^[18] Reissued on vinyl gatefold in 2014^[19]
Guns	Released: 21 June 1999 Label: Alphabet Business Concern (ALPH 027) Format: CD	—	—	Cardiacs' final album before dissolution in 2008 and the last released in Tim Smith's lifetime^[20] ^[21] The band's third and final album as a four-piece Intended to be followed by an album that was never completed^[22] Reissued on vinyl in 2015
LSD	Recording began in 2005 for planned release in October 2008^[23] ^[24] The band's second double album following Sing to God^[25]
"—" denotes a title that did not chart or was not released in that territory.

Compilation albums

Title	Album details	Peak chart positions			Notes
		NZ ^[26]	AUT ^[27]	ITA ^[28]
Archive Cardiacs	Released: 1989 Label: Alphabet Business Concern (ALPH 000) Format: MC	73	—	—	A compilation of early Cardiacs demos and previously unreleased instrumentals^[29] ^[30] Reissued on CD in 1995 and on vinyl in 2018^[31] ^[32]
Songs for Ships and Irons	Released: 16 September 1991 Label: Alphabet Business Concern (ALPH 014) Format: LP, CD, MC	—	89	—	Comprising 1987's Big Ship EP and other non-album tracks^[33]
Sampler	Released: 1995 Label: Alphabet Business Concern (ALPH 019) Format: CD	—	—	—	Limited release sampler containing a guide to the Cardiacs discography^[34]
Cardiacs and Affectionate Friends (with various artists)	Released: 19 May 2001 Label: Org Records/All My Eye and Betty Martin Music (ORG 228) Format: CD	—	—	—	Consists of songs by Cardiacs, side projects and past band members^[35]
Greatest Hits	Released: 2 April 2002 Label: Alphabet Business Concern (ALPH 029) Format: CD	—	—	57	Features the exclusive track "Faster Than Snakes with a Ball and a Chain"
"—" denotes a title that did not chart or was not released in that territory.

Live albums

Title	Album details	Notes
Rude Bootleg	Released: 24 August 1986 Label: Alphabet Business Concern (ALPH 005) Format: LP, CD, MC	Documents the band's 1986 Reading performance, featuring tracks from 1988's A Little Man and a House and the Whole World Window^[36]
Radio 1 Sessions / The Evening Show	Released: 1988 Label: Strange Fruit/Nighttracks (SFNT 013) Format: Vinyl	BBC Radio 1 session with Janice Long on 29 November 1987, first transmitted the following day^[37]
Cardiacs Live	Released: 31 October 1988 Label: Alphabet Business Concern (ALPH 010) Format: LP, CD	Recorded at the Paradiso in Amsterdam on 15 May 1988^[38] Back cover photo was taken at the Town and Country Club in London
All That Glitters Is a Mares Nest	Released: 1 June 1995 Label: Alphabet Business Concern (ALPH 018) Format: CD	Recorded at the Salisbury Arts Centre in Salisbury on 30 June 1990^[39] Originally released as a video in 1990^[40]
The Special Garage Concerts	Released: 24 September 2005 Label: Alphabet Business Concern (ALPH 031) Format: 2×CD	Recorded at the Garage in London in Autumn 2003^[41] Two volumes originally released separately^[42] ^[43]

Demo albums

Title	Album details	Notes
The Obvious Identity (as Cardiac Arrest)	Released: June 1980 Label: self-released Format: MC	Approximately 100 copies were produced Three tracks appeared on 1989's Archive Cardiacs
Toy World	Released: March 1981 Label: self-released Format: MC	Some tracks were recorded in June 1980 during The Obvious Identity sessions
The Seaside	Released: 1984 Label: Alphabet (ALPH 001) Format: MC	Remastered and reissued on LP, CD and cassette in 1995 excluding four tracks^[44] Released as part of boxset in 2015^[45]

Video albums

Title	Album details	Notes
Seaside Treats	Released: 31 December 1984 Label: Jettisoundz/Alphabet Business Concern (ALPH 025V) Format: VHS	Featuring alternative comedy sketches by the band and three music videos^[46]
All That Glitters Is a Maresnest	Released: 1992 Label: Fotodisk (LFV 116) Format: VHS	Released on DVD by the Alphabet Business Concern in 2013^[47]
Some Fairytales From the Rotten Shed	Released: 7 September 2017 Label: Alphabet Business Concern (ALPH DVD 002) Format: DVD	Composed of 2003 rehearsal footage of the band's pre-1984 material^[48] Clips uploaded to YouTube preceding full release^[49]

Extended plays

Title	Album details	Notes
Seaside Treats	Released: 1985 Label: Alphabet (ALPH 002) Format: 12-inch	Consists of four songs from 1984's The Seaside, including "Hope Day" which was excluded from the video
Big Ship	Released: 27 January 1987 Label: Alphabet Business Concern (ALPH 004) Format: 12-inch	The first non-demo release by the band Reissued on 1991's Songs for Ships and Irons

Singles

Title	Year	Peak chart positions		Album	Notes
		UK ^[50]	SPA ^[51]
"A Bus for a Bus on the Bus" (as Cardiac Arrest)	1979	—	—	Cardiac Arrest E.P.	A 7-inch single released on Tortch Records^[52]
"There's Too Many Irons in the Fire" / "All Spectacular"	1987	—	—		Was included on Songs for Ships and Irons^[53] Came with a 4-page lyric sheet and a photo collage^[54]
"Is This the Life?"	1988	80	—	A Little Man and a House and the Whole World Window	Alphabet was not able to satisfy demands for the record after its release on Radio 1^[55] Released in the Netherlands by Torso^[56]
"Susannah's Still Alive"		—	—		A cover of the Kinks' Dave Davies later included on the compilation Shangri-La: A Tribute to the Kinks^[57]
"Baby Heart Dirt"	1989	—	—	On Land and in the Sea	Released in the Netherlands by Torso^[58]
"Day Is Gone"	1991	—	—	Heaven Born and Ever Bright	Four track EP preceding the album's release Reissued in a limited capacity on CD in 2015^[59]
"Bellyeye"	1995	—	—	Sing to God	Released by the Organ magazine's record label Org Records^[60]
"Manhoo"	1996	—	—		First two in a planned set of four limited edition CD-singles from Sing to God^[61] ^[62]
"Odd Even"		—	—
"Sleep All Eyes Open"	1999	—	—	Cardiacs Meet Camp Blackfoot	Limited split single with the English band Camp Blackfoot^[63] Cardiacs side features "Sleep All Eyes Open" from Guns along with three songs from 1996's Sing to God, while Camp Blackfoot's features demos of songs from Critical Seed vs. The Spartan Society (1999)
"Signs"	1999	—	—	Guns	Includes an instrumental for the song "Dog Like Sparky" from Sing to God^[64]
"Ditzy Scene"	2007	—	72	LSD	Last Cardiacs release in Tim Smith's lifetime^[65] Limited edition release on Organ's single series^[66]
"Vermin Mangle"	2020	—	—		Cardiacs' first material since their 2008 indefinite hiatus^[67] Released as an online free download through Bandcamp^[68]
"—" denotes single that did not chart or was not released.

External links

• Cardiacs on Bandcamp
• Cardiacs discography at AllMusic
• Cardiacs on Discogs

Notes and References

1. Web site: Alvin . Mark . 22 July 2020 . Tim Smith, the Cardiacs frontman, dies at 59 . 13 May 2022 . Music Times.
2. Web site: Kitching . Sean . 24 July 2020 . Remembering Tim Smith Of Cardiacs . 18 April 2022 . The Quietus.
3. Web site: Ewing . Jerry . 22 July 2020 . Cardiacs singer Tim Smith dead at 59 . 13 May 2022 . Prog.
4. Web site: Cashmore. Pete. 2 June 2015. Cult heroes: Tim Smith led the Cardiacs in the face of hatred – and much love. live. 4 September 2021. The Guardian. https://web.archive.org/web/20150603135943/http://www.theguardian.com/music/musicblog/2015/jun/02/cult-heroes-tim-smith-led-the-cardiacs-in-the-face-of-hatred-and-much-love . 3 June 2015 .
5. Web site: Cardiacs News » Album Reviews - ON LAND AND IN THE SEA. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20071118025349/http://www.cardiacs.com/reviews/album-reviews-on-land-and-in-the-sea/. 18 November 2007. 1 September 2021. Cardiacs.com.
6. News: Unsworth. Cathi. 22 April 1989. Cardiacs 'On Land and in the Sea'. Sounds.
7. Web site: 1996. Dancing About Architechture [sic]: the PIEmag * C A R D I A C S * - interview. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20150814002730/https://thecorroseum.org/features/daa/cardiacs.htm. 14 August 2015. 2 September 2021. TheCorroseum.org.
8. Web site: Kitching. Sean. 4 July 2014. Reviews: Cardiacs: Sing To God (Reissue). 13 July 2016. The Quietus.
9. Web site: Richards . Sam . 2 September 2020 . Hear a previously unreleased Cardiacs song, "Vermin Mangle" . 13 May 2022 . Uncut.
10. Web site: 19 September 2021 . A Little Man and a House and the Whole World Window - Cardiacs . 28 July 2022 . . AppGeneration . dmy-all.
11. Web site: 25 July 2021 . Sing to God - Cardiacs . 28 July 2022 . . AppGeneration . dmy-all.
12. A Little Man and a House and the Whole World Window (1995 reissue) . CD liner notes . Cardiacs . 1995 . Alphabet Business Concern . ALPH CD007.
13. Web site: A Little Man and a House and the Whole World Window: CD . 18 April 2022 . The Consultant's Memorabilia Collection . Shopify.
14. Web site: Kitching . Sean . 3 July 2013 . A Little Man & A House & The Whole World Window By Cardiacs Revisited . 18 April 2022 . The Quietus.
15. On Land and in the Sea . LP liner notes . Cardiacs . 1989 . Alphabet Business Concern . ALPH LP012.
16. News: Scott . Danny . April 1992 . Cardiacs - Heaven Born and Ever Bright . 65 . . 18 April 2022.
17. Heaven Born and Ever Bright (1995 reissue) . CD liner notes . Cardiacs . 1995 . Alphabet Business Concern . ALPH 017.
18. Sing to God - Parts One and Two . CD liner notes . Cardiacs . 1996 . Alphabet Business Concern . ALPH CD023 / ALPH CD024.
19. Web site: Bland . Benjamin . 10 July 2014 . Album Review: Cardiacs - Sing to God (reissue) . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20151001200700/http://drownedinsound.com/releases/18318/reviews/4147986 . 1 October 2015 . 13 July 2016 . .
20. Web site: Benjamin . Stuart . 12 July 2015 . Echoes of the Past: Cardiacs – Guns . 24 March 2020 . Echoes and Dust.
21. Web site: Beaumont-Thomas . Ben . 22 July 2020 . Tim Smith, frontman of cult band Cardiacs, dies aged 59 . 18 April 2022 . The Guardian.
22. Web site: Smith . Tim . Tim Smith (Cardiacs) . 2007-07-01 . Cardiacs Official Website » Your Vexed Questions October 2005 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20070701001036/http://www.cardiacs.com/vexed-questions/your-vexed-questions-october-2005/ . 2007-07-01 . 2018-04-07 . "Silvery" is a song that we started recording with a whole bunch of others in about 1999–2000. Things got broken and we couldn’t finish the album. [...] But, we might put it out one day as it was left. All broken and unfinished..
23. Web site: 2005 . History . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20131004221918/https://www.cardiacs.net/history/ . 4 October 2013 . 18 August 2021 . . With the curfew abolished, Cardiacs were officially given authorisation to record another studio album. They began the recordings earlier in the year..
24. Web site: Mr. Spencer . 20 April 2011 . The Cardiacs - an epic overview by Mr. Spencer with help from Damon Albarn, Graham Coxon and Captain Sensible . 27 June 2022 . Louder Than War.
25. Web site: Reed . Nick . 20 May 2014 . Once In A Lifetime: On Land And In The Sea By Cardiacs Revisited . 19 April 2022 . . their Greatest Hits package included the excellent 'Faster Than Snakes With A Ball And Chain', and in 2007 a 3-song EP called Ditzy Scene appeared, teasing an upcoming double album that was to be called LSD..
26. Web site: 4 April 2021 . Archive - Cardiacs . 28 July 2022 . . AppGeneration . dmy-all.
27. Web site: 17 May 2020 . Songs for Ships and Irons - Cardiacs . 28 July 2022 . . AppGeneration . dmy-all.
28. Web site: 25 July 2021 . Greatest Hits - Cardiacs . 28 July 2022 . . AppGeneration . dmy-all.
29. Web site: Lawson . Dom . 11 August 2014 . Kavus Torabi's Guide To Cardiacs . 19 April 2022 . Prog.
30. Web site: July 1999 . CARDIACS: History . 20 April 2022 . Pete's Cardiacs Site.
31. Archive Cardiacs (1995 reissue) . CD liner notes . Cardiacs . 1995 . Alphabet Business Concern . ALPH CD000.
32. Web site: 2018 . Archive Cardiacs: LP . 19 April 2022 . The Consultant's Memorabilia Collection . Shopify.
33. Web site: Lawson . Dom . 2 March 2021 . Cardiacs' best albums - a buyers guide . 19 April 2022 . Louder.
34. Sampler . CD liner notes . Cardiacs . 1995 . Alphabet Business Concern . ALPH CD019.
35. Web site: Sgrignoli . Marco . 20 July 2022 . Cardiacs - biografia, recensioni, streaming, discografia, foto . 23 July 2022 . . it.
36. Web site: Briandroid . 3 November 2017 . Rude Bootleg – Cardiacs Live, Reading Festival 1986 . 27 April 2022 . Backseat Mafia.
37. Radio 1 Sessions / The Evening Show . Vinyl liner notes . Cardiacs . 1988 . . AREC028.
38. Cardiacs Live . album liner notes . Cardiacs . 1988 . Alphabet Business Concern. ALPH LP010.
39. All That Glitters Is a Mares Nest . CD liner notes . Cardiacs . 1995 . Alphabet Business Concern. ALPH CD018.
40. All That Glitters Is a Maresnest . VHS liner notes . Cardiacs . 1990 . Fotodisk. LFV 116.
41. The Special Garage Concerts . CD liner notes . Cardiacs . 2005 . Alphabet Business Concern. ALPH DCD031.
42. Web site: The Special Garage Concerts Vol I − Cardiacs. iTunes Store (Apple). 8 May 2022. dmy-all.
43. Web site: The Special Garage Concerts Vol II − Cardiacs. iTunes Store (Apple). 8 May 2022. dmy-all.
44. The Seaside (1990 reissue) . album liner notes . Cardiacs . 1990 . Alphabet Business Concern . ALPH 013.
45. Web site: Kitching . Sean . 3 November 2015 . Cardiacs . 20 April 2022 . The Quietus.
46. Web site: Seaside Treats (1984) . 8 May 2022 . Trakt.
47. All That Glitters Is a Maresnest . DVD liner notes . Cardiacs . 2013 . Alphabet Business Concern. ALPH DVD 001.
48. Web site: Hamnett . Alun . 8 November 2017 . Some Fairytales From The Rotten Shed . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20210902145138/https://recordcollectormag.com/reviews/dvd/fairytales-rotten-shed . 2 September 2021 . 2 September 2021 . Record Collector.
49. Web site: Worral . Sean . 7 September 2017 . ORGAN PREVIEW: Cardiacs, Some Fairytales From The Rotten Shed, rejoice for a new release is upon us… . 8 May 2022 . Organ.
50. Web site: CARDIACS full Official Chart History . 27 April 2022 . . dmy-all.
51. Web site: Ditzy Scene - Cardiacs - Chart History . 11 October 2020. 28 July 2022 . . AppGeneration . dmy-all.
52. Cardiac Arrest E.P. . Vinyl liner notes . Cardiac Arrest . 1979 . Tortch Records . TOR 002.
53. Songs for Ships and Irons . Album liner notes . Cardiacs . 1991 . Alphabet Business Concern . ALPH 014.
54. "There's Too Many Irons in the Fire" / "All Spectacular" . Vinyl liner notes . Cardiacs . 1987 . Alphabet Business Concern . ALPH 006.
55. Web site: Cashmore . Pete . 2 June 2015 . Cult heroes: Tim Smith led the Cardiacs in the face of hatred – and much love . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20150603135943/http://www.theguardian.com/music/musicblog/2015/jun/02/cult-heroes-tim-smith-led-the-cardiacs-in-the-face-of-hatred-and-much-love . 3 June 2015 . 4 September 2021 . The Guardian.
56. "Is This the Life?" . Vinyl liner notes . Cardiacs . 1988 . Torso . TORSO 12060.
57. Web site: Adams . Greg . Shangri-La: A Tribute to the Kinks - Various Artists . 27 April 2022 . AllMusic.
58. "Baby Heart Dirt" . Vinyl liner notes . Cardiacs . 1989 . Torso . TORSO 12120.
59. "Day Is Gone" (2015 reissue) . CD liner notes . Cardiacs . 2015 . Alphabet Business Concern . ALPHCD015.
60. "Bellyeye" . CD liner notes . Cardiacs . 1995 . . Organ011CD.
61. "Manhoo" . CD liner notes . Cardiacs . 1996 . Alphabet Business Concern . ALPH CDS025.
62. "Odd Even" . CD liner notes . Cardiacs . 1996 . Alphabet Business Concern . ALPH CDS026.
63. Cardiacs Meet Camp Blackfoot . CD liner notes . Cardiacs and Camp Blackfoot . 1999 . . ORG056cd.
64. "Signs" . CD liner notes . Cardiacs . 1999 . Alphabet Business Concern . ALPH CD028.
65. Web site: Reilly . Nick . 22 July 2020 . The Cardiacs' Tim Smith has died at the age of 59 . 27 April 2022 . NME.
66. Web site: 3 November 2007 . ORG RECORDS OFFICIAL PAGES . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20071111160013/http://www.organart.demon.co.uk/orgimenu.htm . 11 November 2007 . 27 April 2022 . Organ.
67. Web site: Sacher . Andrew . 1 September 2020 . Cardiacs put out previously unreleased song "Vermin Mangle" to honor Tim Smith . 18 April 2022 . BrooklynVegan.
68. Web site: Kitching . Sean . 1 September 2020 . Previously Unheard Cardiacs Track Released . 27 April 2022 . The Quietus.