Free song download! Victim

Hi There Su Bloggers

The latest free download is a song called "Victim", written by Linda Dawson, it is one of seven songs that I purchased from her estate after her unfortunate death.

"Victim" was part of the Insisters repertoire in the early 80's and one of my favourite Dawson compositions. It was a song written in anger at the time, her anger against the world, her psychiatrist and anyone who kind of got in the way.... I have re-recorded it and tried to put a more quizical tone to it while retaining some of the harshness.

Enjoy

Hugs

Su

CLICK TO DOWNLOAD "VICTIM"

Words: Su Insister
Song: Linda Dawson/Su Insister
Photo: Ulla Kelly

Download "If That's What You Want" mp3 by The Insisters - FREE

If That's What You Want was the first 7" single from The Insisters, co-written by Linda and Su in the early 80's.

Linda and Su are the only Insisters on this record, which was recorded in a studio one dark murky weekend with an errant sound engineer. Linda arranged it and played all instruments except drums, which were handled by Su. Sue did the lead vocals while joining Linda on backing vocals. The sessions were most certainly inspired by the Chinese take-away across the road in Jeppe St, Johannesburg City Centre. The song became "Berksie's" hit pick of the week on Radio 702 in 1981, and from there we launched into TV work and shot one of South Africa's first music videos for "Pop Shop".

It was a song written for Linda's then current infatuation - her psychiatrist. But, can be interpreted to cover many situations.

It was this song that caught the ear of Jonathan 'Rat' Handley and he signed us to Radium Wreckords his own label and got the then WEA Records and Benji Mudi to distribute and promote. Unfortunately the original master of this song has gone missing - if anyway one finds it or has it please get in touch with me.

I am going to re-record this song.

Hugs
Su

DOWNLOAD IF THAT'S WHAT YOU WANT & MORE MP3's!

Words/Music Su Insister/Linda Dawson, copyright Sue Charlton

Download "If That's What You Want" mp3 by The Insisters

If That's What You Want was the first 7" single from The Insisters, co-written by Linda and Su in the early 80's.

Linda and Su are the only Insisters on this record, which was recorded in a studio one dark murky weekend with an errant sound engineer. Linda arranged it and played all instruments except drums, which were handled by Su. Sue did the lead vocals while joining Linda on backing vocals. The sessions were most certainly inspired by the chinese take-away across the road in Jeppe St, Johannesburg City Centre. The song became "Berksie's" hit pick of the week on Radio 702 in 1981, and from there we launched into TV work and shot one of South Africa's first music videos for "Pop Shop".

It was a song written for Linda's then current infatuation - her psychiatrist. But, can be interpreted to cover many situations.

It was this song that caught the ear of Jonathan 'Rat' Handley and he signed us to Radium Wreckords his own label and got the then WEA Records and Benji Mudi to distribute and promote. Unfortunately the original master of this song has gone missing - if anyway one finds it or has it please get in touch with me.

I am going to re-record this song.

Hugs
Su

Su solo - 1984

This is one of my favourites as it captures my sense of aloneness at the time - I essentially was alone for the next 10 years.. I abandoned music and performing, wrote poetry and examined and fixed my soul.

Su

Photo: Diana Ellis

It's a Crime - but you can still download the mp3

It's A Crime was my first openly gay song. Written in the 80's when being 'out' socially was precarious and definitely not acceptable in the corporate world of that time.

My earlier singing career was in a time of changing lyrics from 'she' to 'he.'

It is SO much more fun singing ' she she she she she she....' lol!

So many women so little time ..heh!

I am very proud of this song.

- Sue Charlton

DOWNLOAD "IT'S A CRIME"

I CLOSE MY EYES
AND WHAT DO I SEE
A WORLD OF LONELINESS AND INSANITY
OH IT’S A CRIME
IT’S A CRIME
IT’S A CRIME
TO LOVE THE ONE YOU DO

THE VERDICTS GUILTY
YET WE DON’T UNDERSTAND
THOUGH THERE’S EVIDENCE RIGHT HERE IN OUR HANDS
OH IT’S A CRIME
IT’S A CRIME
IT’S A CRIME
TO FEEL THE WAY WE DO
WON’T EVER CHANGE
EVER CHANGE
EVER CHANGE
FEELINGS THAT BELONG TO YOU

REF:

PEOPLE TRIED TO CHANGE US
TRIED TO TELL US WHAT WE’RE DOING WAS WRONG
TRIED TO REARRANGE US
BUT WHEN YOU FEEL THAT WAY
GUESS YOU JUST CARRY ON

WE CLOSE OUR EYES
AND WHAT DO WE SEE
A WORLD OF LAUGHTER AND HYPOCRISY
OH IT’S A SHAME
IT’S A SHAME
IT’S A SHAME
THAT YOU CAN’T LOVE THE ONE YOU DO
OH IT’S A CRIME
IT’S A CRIME
IT’S A CRIME

Song: words + music Sue Charlton
Photograph: Ulla Kelly

It's a Crime - but you can still download the mp3

It's A Crime was my first openly gay song. Written in the 80's when being 'out' socially was precarious and definitely not acceptable in the corporate world of that time.

My earlier singing career was ina time of changing lyrics from 'she' to 'he'

It is SO much more fun singing ' she she she she she she....' lol!

So many women so little time ..heh!

I am very proud of this song.

- Sue Charlton

http://rapidshare.com/files/180764880/10_it_s_a_crime.mp3.html

The Insisters & Sue Charlton Discography:

Singles
If That's What You Want/Sweetheart (1981) Radium Wreckords

If That's What You Want/Sweetheart re-issue (1982) WEA reached no1 on RAU charts and peaked at no39 on Capital Radio 604 charts on 13 March 1982

Bluebeat/Wild Horses Heavy Waves (1983) WEA

Sue Charlton (solo):
I'm Amazed/Someone (1984) WEA

Where has Su Insister been?

In her own words:

Well now, who can say… back streets and alley ways I guess…. after the Insisters reunion sometime in mid-90’s I decided to record some of the stuff The Insisters never recorded, and re-record some of the stuff that went past its sell-by date.

And write some new stuff…and record that too.

So here in 2009, with no mascara, shorter hair, no Rockey Street and a voice still going pretty well, I have recorded some 14 or so songs in the last 4 years. Hope to release online this year.

I now do rare and private public singing functions… to gay women to be precise… they do so respond so well…. * smiles *…it was always my dream as a child to sing to women... so now I can do it…

At the Insister reunion two women rushed up to me afterwards and hugged and kissed me…. I thought that’s a good night time job!!

At the last supper club where I sang last year… a straight woman kissed me back… and I thought I’ll keep my day job ….. guffaw!

Seriously though…things are going great guns …even as an ex-sister or out-sister!

Chat soon!
Hugs, Su

(Photo: Sara Prins)

Rockey Street Women

(from left to right: Tammy Isaacson, Su Insister aka Sue Charlton, Linda Dawson, Colleen Briel)

Before Mel, Emma, Victoria, Geri and Mel there was Sue, Linda, Muff and Yvonne. These weren’t girls with soccer star appendages and how-short-can-you-go mini-dresses, but real pop chicks with roar, that had music in their veins, songs to sing and eyeliner by the truckloads.

Boys and girls, these were The Insisters. All girl group in the heydey 80's. A Johannesburg based band with as much edge as the whole city put together. Ask Karl Kikillus, he knows. Yes, an appearance on PopShop was all in a days work for these gutsy girls.

Forming a girl band in the 80s in Johannesburg in South Africa with all that that era entails; Calvinism only just starting to lose its hold, idiot politicians still ready to wave their finger – now that’s girl power.

Words: Capricorn
Image: Keith Forsyth

The Insisters: Big in Japan?

Well maybe not big - but how cool is it that a Johannesburg girl band from the eighties is considered collectible by a Japanese dude in 2008? Very cool, I think ... cult cool, in fact.

Posted by MASANOBU on 9/27/2008, 10:39 am

I look for the band of South Africa.
Band name is INSISTERS.

If you have their single, please hand it over.

"If That's What You Want"
"Bluebeat"

Best wishes,
Masanobu Suga
From Japan

How did he hear of them? What does he like about them? I want to know more ... and is he going to buy those singles, or mug someone for them?