Back in May 1981 B-Movie and Soft Cell went into Advision Studios in London with the same producer, Mike Thorne to record singles for the label they were both signed to. B-Movie commenced recording the dark moody anti-fame anthem Marilyn Dreams, whilst Soft Cell got underway on a cover of an obscure Northern Soul classic. When both songs were released in July 1981, Tainted Love became a worldwide hit and shot Soft Cell to international fame. Unfortunately, for B-Movie, Marilyn Dreams failed to make the charts and disappeared without trace, pushing the band back into the shadows. Although the band regrouped and eventually signed to Sire Records, releasing a couple of further singles and the Forever Running album in 1985, they finally disbanded in 1986.

All of the recordings the band made during their Phonogram Records period were consigned to the Universal Music vault for several decades and after years of enquiries and negotiations, the band finally managed to have these returned in 2024. The various tapes were digitised and restored, the result being the creation of that 1982 debut LP ‘that never was’, ten tracks including the three singles plus seven previously unreleased recordings. The CD version containing a further seven tracks including the 12″ versions, single B-sides and Moles from the Some Bizarre compilation.

Today sees the long overdue release of B-Movie‘s lost debut album Hidden Treasures. Whilst it is four decades late Hidden Treasures is still able to sit seamlessly alongside contemporaries like The
Chameleons and The Sound. Hidden Treasures is a darker, brooding and almost psychedelic
infused affair, probably more akin to the gothic elements of Echo & The Bunnymen or Joy Division, than the ‘pop sensations’ Phonogram wanted them to become. Hopefully by opening and closing this chapter of B-Movie, it will put them firmly on the same footing as their new wave and post-punk contemporaries, which is the least they deserve, as one of the great ‘lost’ bands of the early 1980’s. The album is now available as a standard black vinyl, a very limited blue vinyl exclusive to Rough Trade stores, an extended CD and across all digital platforms.

To celebrate the release of their long lost debut album B-Movie are hitting the road on short UK tour with support from The Snake Corps. The Hidden Treasures UK Tour kicks off at Manchester’s Rebellion today and then takes in London and Brighton with support on all dates from The Snake Corps,

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