Una Baines was best known as the keyboard player in the first line-up of The Fall. Una left The Fall in March 1978, having played a little over 20 gigs with the group. She went on to form Blue Orchids with Martin Bramah, when he quit The Fall in 1979. Blue Orchids released their first single in 1980 and their first album, The Greatest Hit (Money Mountain), in 1982. After a brief stint as Nico’s backing band on a European tour, they split in 1982, briefly reforming in 1985. Una then formed a predominantly female band called The Fates, who released the album Furia on Baines’ own Taboo label in late 1985.
1. Who were your early musical influences?
I loved Tamla Motown and Reggae. The Upsetters, The Maytals, The Four Tops, ( Levi Stubbs gorgeous vocals) Stevie Wonder, The Temptations,(Ball of confusion) Marvin Gaye, The Supremes.I was/am a big Elvis fan
You could go to the Lesser Free Trade Hall in Manchester and see bands for 1.50. So my friend and I used to go virtually on a weekly basis. We saw T.Rex,(I loved Marc Bolan) Genesis with Peter Gabriel, Mott the Hoople, Lindisfarne, Argent, lots of rock bands. I used to try to listen to some of the prog rock my mates were into such as E.L.P, Yes etc but it never hit the spot. Too intellectual, no passion.
Heard Hunky Dory when I was about 14 and loved it straight away, also that’s no way to say goodbye by Leonard Cohen I heard at my friend Jackie’s house on a compilation album. She introduced me to Grace Slick’s voice, she could actually sing like her. John Lennon’s Imagine was very significant for me at that time as I had become an atheist. Joni Mitchell. Jimi Hendrix: I saw him on Top of the Pops doing Voodoo Chile. Then I was introduced to the Velvets, Captain Beefheart, Nico, Can, right up to Patti Smith who was the woman in music I’d been waiting for, Oh mustn’t forget Iggy. I thought of these people as my mentors. There are many more but I’ll stop there.
I listen to a lot of the same people now and of course many more. I hear a lot of new stuff through myspace which is interesting. I’m in love with Leonard Cohen at the moment as I saw him live in Manchester a few weeks ago and it was a truly uplifting and emotional experience.
2. Can you tell me something about your musical background and upbringing?
My English granny lived in Newton Heath and had a piano in her front room. We used to visit for Sunday lunch and I would spend most of my time there picking out tunes I knew. The first one I got right (single notes) was Silent Night, my favorite hymn. My best friend at primary school had a piano and she taught me how to play ‘Heart and Soul’, we used to do it as a duet and that was the beginning of playing chords.
3. What input did you have into The Fall, as far as writing and playing goes?
I played keyboards on Repetition and I wrote the music for Bingo Master’s Breakout and Mother/Sister. I wrote the lyrics for Dresden Dolls which is out there on a recording somewhere. I also wrote the lyrics to a song called ‘You Just Don’t Turn Me On’ which we did in the early Fall but never recorded. Unfortunately I have no copies of any of the material but a friend got me a copy of Psykick Dance Hall this Christmas.
4. Do you have any memories of the songs Landslide Victory and Race Hatred?
I remember the title Landslide Victory but that’s about it. Race Hatred was a powerful song I remember very well. It was performed at a lot of gigs I played at.
5. What did you do music wise after The Fall?
I was in a band called The Blue Orchids. I felt I was developing my writing and music in a different way. I could add melodies to songs in an uninhibited way. It was very creative and exciting, like the Fall, but different. I felt we were a good musical team. I had a much bigger input lyrically and musically than I had had in the Fall. I was also in a women’s band called the Bad Habits who did funk, reggae, and soul. Quite political.
I was in another women’s band called Beyond the Glass who had an amazing array of voices and wrote some excellent songs. The music had many influences, particularly Blues/Jazz/Soul with a bit of rock and punk.
6. Can you tell me something about The Fates?
The Fates were most of the women from Beyond The Glass and other women I knew. The Blue Orchids were splitting up and I persuaded Geoff Travis (Rough Trade records} to let me record an album. It was made on a tiny budget. We recorded at Tony Friel’s studio which was very near to where I lived.
Half of the material was written in the studio. Tony gave me quite a bit of free time to finish this. I ‘paid’ the musicians in food and tea. It was a great adventure.
I wrote the material. My mother was dying of cancer and Bridget of Ireland is a tribute to her. I was and am very interested in pre-patriarchal cultures and I had read about The Irish Goddess Bridget in Robert Graves’ ‘The White Goddess. The storm was great fun to do, me firing thunderbolts on a synth. The poems are very early ones I wrote when I was 16.
It was a one off studio album, no band as such to go on the road. I’m hoping to re-release it next year. I’ve had the tapes converted to digital.
7. What happened next?
I worked with a band called The Procrastinators for a couple of years doing some traditional Irish songs and original material, Then The Poetic Terrorists for a couple of years. We have a set full of songs and have done about 4 gigs but aren’t doing anything right now.I’m hoping to record the songs next year.
8. What are you doing at present?
I play rhythm guitar with the P. Ts and I played acoustic guitar and tin whistle with the Procrastinators.
9. What do you listen to nowadays and do you have any plans for the future?
I get to listen to a lot of new stuff from people who have added me on myspace who are Fall or/and Orchid fans which can be interesting.
Music has kind of been on the back burner for me for many years whilst I have raised my family, but now my youngest is going to be 18 early next year I’m looking forward to getting more involved with playing and recording and have had some interesting offers….Watch this space.
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED IN 2009
Una is currently active on the Manchester scene with her band Poppycock.