Welsh new wave outfit Fay Ray slipped into neglect once Elektra Records shelved the band’s unreleased second album after dropping the act. Sheila McCartney on vocals and percussion, guitarist John Lovering, drummer Owen Hughes, bassist and vocalist Tony Travis, and wind player Jeff Taylor came together to launch Fay Ray in 1980, issuing the 7-inch “Family Affairs” alongside three live cuts that appeared on the various-artists set 101 Live Letters. Although McCartney’s delivery echoed Siouxsie Sioux, the group favored a brighter, more radio-friendly pop approach than most of their post-punk contemporaries. Two promotional clips, “Modern Lovers” and “Heatwave,” earned modest rotation in MTV’s first seasons and later resurfaced on VH1 Classic in 2002. Despite these moments, Fay Ray never expanded beyond a modest cult audience. The 1982 Elektra debut album Contact You failed to connect with buyers. Having just completed a follow-up LP for the label, the musicians watched Elektra halt the project and retain the masters. Frustrated, the members disbanded. Decades afterward, collectors hunting through secondhand bins rediscovered Fay Ray’s catalog and circulated the tracks as mp3s online, sparking renewed curiosity. In 2018 the band authorized a CD reissue of its debut album.
