Cannibals

Previously the singer of mid-Seventies R&B pub rockers the Count Bishops, Mike Spenser formed the Cannibals in 1977. Billed as "Mike Spenser and the Cannibals" on their debut single, they reverted thereafter to just "The Cannibals".

As one of the foremost garage rock / Trash bands on the UK scene, they issued a string of albums throughout the Eighties and gigged often, with a constantly revolving lineup.

The Cannibals continued to play live on and off until 2012 at least.

Links to Peel
"Nothing Takes The Place Of You"
 * "One of the most wonderful records of all time I think... always a pleasure to hear that." (29 August 1978)

The group's debut 7" was issued in late 1977 or early 1978, with "Good Guys" as the A side and "Nothing Takes The Place Of You" on the other. Side A was a faithful cover of the Standells' 1966 garage rock staple "Sometimes Good Guys Don't Wear White". Peel's preference was for the rather more sentimental flip, "Nothing Takes The Place Of You", a cover of an original Toussaint McCall R&B hit from 1967. The emotional pull of the song clearly struck a chord with Peel, judging by his on-air comments whenever he played it.

On 17 August 1978 he played the original Toussaint McCall version in response to listener Linda from Harrogate, who was on holiday in Bideford for a fortnight and in need of cheering up. She had requested the Mike Spenser version, but said Peel on the night: "I thought it would be instructive to actually play you the original."

"Nothing Takes The Place Of You" was one of the forty songs Peel selected to mark his 40th birthday in August 1979 (on 30 August 1979, to be precise).

On 13 October 1999, a listener wrote in to say that he remembered John playing the song as part of his 40th birthday celebrations in 1979 but wasn't certain of the artist or track name. Peel obligingly played the track again. "A great record", was his opinion.

Although Peel played the group's next single, a cover of Chuck Berry's "Nadine", it does not seem from the available evidence that he played any further material.

A copy of the "Good Guys" / "Nothing Takes The Place Of You" 7" was subsequently found to reside in John Peel's Record Box of his most treasured singles.

Festive Fifty Entries

 * None

Sessions

 * None

Shows Played
The list below was researched only from the database of this site and Lorcan's Tracklistings Archive and is certainly incomplete. Please add further information if known.


 * 1970s
 * 22 December 1977: Nothing Takes The Place Of You (7") Big Cock
 * 25 January 1978: Unknown
 * 29 August 1978: Nothing Takes The Place Of You (7") Big Cock
 * 09 January 1979: Nadine (7") Hit Records
 * 30 August 1979: Nothing Takes The Place Of You (7") Big Cock
 * 1990s
 * 27 April 1996 (BFBS): Nothing Takes The Place Of You (7") Big Cock
 * 13 October 1999: Nothing Takes The Place Of You (7") Big Cock
 * 21 October 1999 (Radio Eins): Nothing Takes The Place Of You (7") Big Cock