Formed in Bristol, 1981 by Janine Rainforth and Tony Wrafter of Glaxo Babies with other members of Glaxo Babies and the Pop Group. Noted for their broad range of influences and music styles: inc. jazz, reggae, funk, punk, soul, hip-hop (the Last Poets, Afrika Bambaataa and the Sugarhill Gang), dub and ambient. Recorded 1 album in 1981: 'Station MXJY', produced by Adrian Sherwood.
In 2015, Rainforth formed 'MXMJoY' with Maximum Joy alumni Charlie Llewellin and Tony Wrafter who are performing, recording and releasing new music.
Links to Peel[]
“From the start John Peel took to Maximum Joy and championed us, like he did so many bands and musicians. I had so much respect for him and we’d listened to his late evening Radio 1 show avidly – his wide influence on the music scene was seemingly all pervasive. So being invited to do a John Peel Radio 1 session – and then to do a second within a few months was an honour and a joy,” says Rainforth.[1]
Festive Fifty Entries[]
- None.
Sessions[]
MAXIMUM JOY John Peel 12th September 1981
Two Peel sessions. Tracks 'In The Air' & 'All Wrapped Up' From #2 session along with 3 other BBC Radio 1 tracks from Kid Jenson sessions released on The BBCR1 Sessions (digital EP, 2022, London Field Recordings – LDNFRD16).
1. Recorded 12th September 1981. First broadcast: 17 September 1981. Repeated: 06 October 1981, 21 October 1981 and 26 January 1982. No known commercial release.
- Caveman Fly / Slip Into The Fit / Open Your Heart
Dan Catsis (Bass, Saxophone, Piano) / Tony Wrafter (Saxophone, Trumpet) / John Waddington (Guitar) / Janine Rainforth (Vocals, Violin) / Dan Shields (Drums) / Sandy Smith (Percussion, Vocals)
2. Recorded 22nd February 1982. First broadcast: 08 March 1982. Repeated: 24 March 1982, 29 June 1982.
- In The Air / All Wrapped Up / Dancing On My Boomerang
Janine Rainforth (Vocals, Violin) / Tony Wrafter (Saxophone, Trumpet) / John Waddington (Guitar) / Charlie Llewellin (Drums) / Kevin Evans (Bass)
Other Shows Played[]
- 1981
- 05 September 1981: Stretch (7") Y Y 11
- 21 September 1981: Stretch (7") Y Y 11
- 24 September 1981 (BFBS): Stretch (7") Y Y 11
- 27 September 1981 (BFBS): Stretch (7") Y Y 11
- 15 October 1981: Stretch (7") Y Y 11
- 01 November 1981 (BFBS): Stretch (7") Y Y 11
- 1982
- 09 February 1982: White And Green Place (7") Y Y 15
- 11 February 1982: White And Green Place (7") Y Y 15
- 14 February 1982 (BFBS): White And Green Place (7") Y Y 15
- 17 February 1982: Building Bridges / Building Dub (12" - White And Green Place) Y 12 Y 15
- 25 April 1982 (BFBS): Stretch (7") Y Y11
- 25 July 1982 (BFBS): In The Air (7") Y Y26
- 10 October 1982 (BFBS): Dancing On My Boomerang (album - Station M.X.J.Y.) Y Y28
- 11 October 1982: Mouse An' Me (album - Station M.X.J.Y.) Y Y28
- 1983
- 16 May 1983 (BBC World Service): Why Can't We Live Together (7") Garage GAR 1