The English rock band Cardiacs have released five studio albums and two extended plays along with a number of singles, compilations, live albums and demos. The group was formed by brothers Tim and Jim Smith in 1977 under the name Cardiac Arrest, releasing their debut single "A Bus for a Bus on the Bus" in 1979 and the demo album The Obvious Identity the following year.[1] After being renamed to Cardiacs, the band released two more cassettes, Toy World (1981) and The Seaside (1984).[2][3]
| Cardiacs discography | |
|---|---|
.jpg) Cardiacs performing in Amsterdam in 1987 | |
| Studio albums | 5 |
| Live albums | 5 |
| Compilation albums | 5 |
| Video albums | 3 |
| Music videos | 10 |
| EPs | 2 |
| Singles | 13 |
| Demo albums | 3 |
1987's Big Ship EP acted as Cardiacs' first proper recording,[4] released on their independent label The Alphabet Business Concern on which they would release all future albums.[5] Their debut studio album proper, A Little Man and a House and the Whole World Window (1988) found commercial success with its single, "Is This the Life?" which peaked at number 80 the UK Singles Chart.[6] The band's second studio album, On Land and in the Sea (1989), released to weak sales in comparison to its predecessor, but was critically praised.[7][8]
Cardiacs' third studio album, Heaven Born and Ever Bright, was released on 15 May 1992. Due to Rough Trade's bankruptcy, the album was a commercial failure. Sing to God, the band's fourth studio album, was released on 11 June 1996. It was initially poorly received,[9] but has since been remembered as one of their greatest projects.[10]
Guns (1999) was released as the band's fifth studio album which produced the single "Signs". Preceded by the release of "Ditzy Scene", the band's sixth studio album LSD has yet to be released. 2020 saw the official release of the song "Vermin Mangle" to mark the funeral of Tim Smith.[11]
Albums
Studio albums
| Title | Album details | Peak chart positions | Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| POR [12] | NZ [13] | |||
| A Little Man and a House and the Whole World Window | 56 | — |
| |
| On Land and in the Sea |
| — | — | |
| Heaven Born and Ever Bright |
| — | — |
|
| Sing to God |
| — | 59 | |
| Guns |
| — | — | |
| LSD | Unreleased | |||
| "—" denotes a title that did not chart or was not released in that territory. | ||||
Compilation albums
| Title | Album details | Peak chart positions | Notes | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| NZ [27] | AUT [28] | ITA [29] | |||
| Archive Cardiacs |
| 73 | — | — | |
| Songs for Ships and Irons |
| — | 89 | — | |
| Sampler |
| — | — | — |
|
| Cardiacs and Affectionate Friends (with various artists) |
| — | — | — |
|
| Greatest Hits |
| — | — | 57 |
|
| "—" denotes a title that did not chart or was not released in that territory. | |||||
Live albums
| Title | Album details | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Rude Bootleg |
| |
| Radio 1 Sessions / The Evening Show |
|
|
| Cardiacs Live |
| |
| All That Glitters Is a Mares Nest |
|
|
| The Special Garage Concerts |
|
|
Demo albums
| Title | Album details | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| The Obvious Identity (as Cardiac Arrest) |
| |
| Toy World |
|
|
| The Seaside |
|
|
Video albums
| Title | Album details | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Seaside Treats |
|
|
| All That Glitters Is a Maresnest |
| |
| Some Fairytales From the Rotten Shed |
|
Extended plays
| Title | Album details | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Seaside Treats |
|
|
| Big Ship |
|
Singles
| Title | Year | Peak chart positions | Album | Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| UK [50] | SPA [51] | ||||
| "A Bus for a Bus on the Bus" (as Cardiac Arrest) | 1979 | — | — | Cardiac Arrest E.P. |
|
| "There's Too Many Irons in the Fire" / "All Spectacular" | 1987 | — | — | Non-album single | |
| "Is This the Life?" | 1988 | 80 | — | A Little Man and a House and the Whole World Window | |
| "Susannah's Still Alive" | — | — | Non-album single |
| |
| "Baby Heart Dirt" | 1989 | — | — | On Land and in the Sea |
|
| "Day Is Gone" | 1991 | — | — | Heaven Born and Ever Bright | |
| "Bellyeye" | 1995 | — | — | Sing to God | |
| "Manhoo" | 1996 | — | — | ||
| "Odd Even" | — | — | |||
| "Sleep All Eyes Open" | 1999 | — | — | Cardiacs Meet Camp Blackfoot | |
| "Signs" | 1999 | — | — | Guns |
|
| "Ditzy Scene" | 2007 | — | 72 | LSD | |
| "Vermin Mangle" | 2020 | — | — | ||
| "—" denotes single that did not chart or was not released. | |||||