25-years ago, Detour Records collected together virtually all of the recorded output that had been released by Lincolnshire Mod band, The Threads (established in 1982), and mastered it into the 22-track anthology CD collection, ‘Step Back In Time’. This captured the band’s very first demo tape, ‘Mind The Threads, John!’, that sold over 100 copies at the first Mod Aid Alldayer in Walthamstow in December 1985 alone (going on to sell 500 copies). The Threads then recorded ‘Step Back’ and ‘Alison’, with Producer Ed Ball (The Times/TV Personalities) for the first Phase III EP in May 1986 before completing their ‘As Yet Untitled’ LP for Unicorn that was released in 1987. These recordings, along with tracks recorded for various compilations, flexi discs or records that never saw the light of day at the time, made up this anthology CD, which quickly sold out on release in 2000. Back in the day, The Threads also made prominent ‘live appearances at the Lincoln Mod Rally (1985), Mansfield Athenians Alldayer (1985), Purple Hearts Come-Back Allnighter in Peterborough (1986), the Lowestoft Easter Mod Rally (1986) and the 1987 National Mod Meeting in Lincoln (as well as playing across Europe too).
In the interim, The Threads have appeared on two prominent Cherry Red box sets: ‘Millions Like Us (The Story Of The Mod Revival 1977-1989)’ & ‘Into Tomorrow: The Spirit Of Mod 1983-2000’ as well as having a double ‘live’ LP, ‘At The Height Of The Season’, and triple rarities LP, ‘A Teenage Dream’, released on Germany’s Time For Action Records, showing the continued interest in the band.
Over the years since, the band members have been constantly asked about when the ‘Step Back In Time’ anthology will be released in hard format again. Now we can announce that 25-years later this is finally happening, with Detour’s limited-edition run of just 200 copies in a budget format (card sleeve instead of the old jewel case and booklet) to keep the price down and get the music back out their again. But not only can you hear the recordings in hard format again, you will also be able to sing along with the songs ‘live’ with The Threads already confirmed to appear at London’s Mods Mayday Alldayer 2025 (Sunday 4th May), a special free admission ‘homecoming’ show at The Courthouse in Skegness, Lincolnshire, on Saturday 17th May, and the performance of two sets at The Cavern in Liverpool on Sunday 25th May as part of the IPO Festival (with more dates to be confirmed and announced shortly).
<<< ONLY 200 COPIES PRESSED >>>
FEATURES
STEP BACK
JOANNA
IN THIS TOWN
SQUARE ONE
THE MAN WITH A THOUSAND FACES
GOODBYE
DARE
ALISON
MEMORIES OF MY MISSPENT YOUTH
HEY LITTLE LADY
SORRY
WITH OURSELVES
HAPPY
SHE’S THE ONE
A TEENAGE DREAM
COLD
SHE IS A STRANGER
FEELING BLUE
I’LL CATCH YOUR TEARS
YOU SAY ... I SAY
LONELY STREET ... MY OLD FRIEND
ALISON (ALTERNATIVE VERSION)
