The English rock band Cardiacs have released six studio albums along with a number of extended plays, 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. After being renamed to Cardiacs, the band released two more cassettes, Toy World (1981) and The Seaside (1984).
1987's Big Ship EP acted as Cardiacs' first proper recording, released on their independent label The Alphabet Business Concern on which they would release all future albums. 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 on the UK Singles Chart. 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.
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, but has since been remembered as one of their greatest projects.
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 remained unreleased until 2025. 2020 saw the official release of the song "Vermin Mangle" to mark the funeral of Tim Smith.
Albums Studio albums TitleAlbum detailsPeak chart positions UK Sales UK Down. UK Phys. UK Vinyl UK Rec. UK Prog. UK Indie UKIndie Brk. SCOA Little Man and a House and the Whole World Window Released: 21 March 1988 Label: Alphabet/Torso Format: LP, CD, MC—————————On Land and in the Sea Released: 2 May 1989 Label: Alphabet/Torso Format: LP, CD, MC—————20—17—Heaven Born and Ever Bright Released: 15 May 1992 Label: Alphabet Format: LP, CD, MC65—603810—146—Sing to God Released: 11 June 1996 Label: Alphabet Format: 2×CD—————————Guns Released: 21 June 1999 Label: Alphabet Format: CD—————————LSD Released: 19 September 2025 Label: Alphabet Format: 2×LP, 2×CD, DL22836—2057281 "—" denotes a recording that has not charted.
Demo albums TitleAlbum detailsNotesThe Obvious Identity(as Cardiac Arrest) Released: June 1980 Label: self-released Format: MC Approximately 100 copies were produced Three tracks appeared on 1989's Archive CardiacsToy World Released: March 1981 Label: self-released Format: MC Some tracks were recorded in June 1980 during The Obvious Identity sessionsThe Seaside Released: 1984 Label: Alphabet Format: MC Remastered and reissued on LP, CD and cassette in 1995 excluding four tracks Released as part of The Seaside: Original Edition boxset in 2015
Live albums TitleAlbum detailsNotesRude Bootleg Released: 24 August 1986 Label: Alphabet Format: LP, CD, MC Documents the band's 1986 Reading performance, featuring tracks from 1988's A Little Man and a House and the Whole World WindowCardiacs Live Released: 31 October 1988 Label: Alphabet Format: LP, CD Recorded at the Paradiso in Amsterdam on 15 May 1988 Back cover photo was taken at the Town and Country Club in LondonAll That Glitters Is a Mares Nest Released: 1 June 1995 Label: Alphabet Format: CD Recorded at the Salisbury Arts Centre in Salisbury on 30 June 1990 Originally released as a video in 1990The Special Garage Concerts Released: 24 September 2005 Label: Alphabet Format: 2×CD Recorded at the Garage in London in Autumn 2003 Two volumes originally released separately
Compilation albums TitleAlbum detailsNotesArchive Cardiacs Released: 1989 Label: Alphabet Format: MC A compilation of early Cardiacs demos and previously unreleased instrumentals Reissued on CD in 1995 and on vinyl in 2018Songs for Ships and Irons Released: 16 September 1991 Label: Alphabet Format: LP, CD, MC Comprising 1987's Big Ship EP and other non-album tracksSampler Released: 1995 Label: Alphabet Format: CD Limited release sampler containing a guide to the Cardiacs discographyCardiacs and Affectionate Friends(with various artists) Released: 19 May 2001 Label: Org Records/All My Eye and Betty Martin Music Format: CD Consists of songs by Cardiacs, side projects and past band membersGreatest Hits Released: 2 April 2002 Label: Alphabet Format: CD Features the exclusive track "Faster Than Snakes with a Ball and a Chain"
Video albums TitleAlbum detailsNotesSeaside Treats Released: 31 December 1984 Label: Jettisoundz/Alphabet Format: VHS Featuring alternative comedy sketches by the band and three music videosAll That Glitters Is a Maresnest Released: 1992 Label: Fotodisk Format: VHS Released on DVD by the Alphabet Business Concern in 2013Some Fairytales From the Rotten Shed Released: 7 September 2017 Label: Alphabet Format: DVD Composed of 2003 rehearsal footage of the band's pre-1984 material Clips uploaded to YouTube preceding full release
EPs and singles TitleRelease detailsDescriptionPeak chart positionsAlbum UK UK Sales UK Down.Cardiac Arrest E.P. Released: 1979 Label: Torch Format: 7-inch single Single EP———NoneSeaside Treats Released: 1985 Label: Alphabet Format: 12-inch———The SeasideBig Ship Released: 27 January 1987 Label: Alphabet Format: 12-inch Single EP Mini-album———None originally; later included on Songs for Ships and Irons"There's Too Many Irons in the Fire" Released: 12 August 1987 Label: Alphabet Format: 12-inch Single EP———None originally; later included on Songs for Ships and IronsRadio 1 Sessions / The Evening Show Released: 1988 Label: Strange Fruit/Nighttracks Format: 12-inch———None"Is This the Life" Released: 1988 Label: Alphabet/Torso Format: 7-inch, 12-inch80——A Little Man and a House and the Whole World Window"Susannah's Still Alive" Released: 5 September 1988 Label: Alphabet Format: 7-inch, 12-inch———None; B-sides included on Songs for Ships and Irons"Baby Heart Dirt" Released: 10 April 1989 Label: Alphabet/Torso Format: 7-inch, 12-inch———On Land and in the Sea"Day Is Gone" Released: 28 October 1991 Label: Alphabet Format: 12-inch, CD———Heaven Born and Ever Bright"Bellyeye" Released: 1995 Label: Org Format: CD———Sing to God"Manhoo" Released: 1996 Label: Alphabet Format: CD———Sing to God"Odd Even" Released: 1996 Label: Alphabet Format: CD———Sing to GodCardiacs Meet Camp Blackfoot Released: 1999 Label: Org Format: CD———Guns"Signs" Released: 2 August 1999 Label: Alphabet Format: CD———Guns"Ditzy Scene" Released: 5 November 2007 Label: Org Format: CD———LSD (tracks reworked)"Vermin Mangle" Released: 1 September 2020 Label: Alphabet Format: DL———NoneCardiacs E.P. Released: 3 January 2025 Label: Melodic Virtue Format: 7-inch, DL—7167None"Woodeneye" Released: 1 August 2025 Label: Alphabet Format: DL—5654LSD"Downup" Released: 29 August 2025 Label: Alphabet Format: DL———LSD"Volob" Released: 17 September 2025 Label: Alphabet Format: DL———LSD "—" denotes a recording that has not charted.
Music videos TitleDirectorAlbum"A Little Man and a House"Tim SmithThe Seaside and Seaside Treats"R.E.S."Tim Smith"To Go Off and Things"Tim Smith"Tarred and Feathered"Big Ship"Is This the Life"Stephen GrahamA Little Man and a House and the Whole World Window"Susannah's Still Alive"Steve PayneNone"Baby Heart Dirt"On Land and in the Sea"Day Is Gone"Heaven Born and Ever Bright"There's Too Many Irons in the Fire"Songs for Ships and Irons comp"All His Geese Are Swans"Songs for Ships and Irons comp
References
External links
Cardiacs on Bandcamp Cardiacs discography at AllMusic Cardiacs on Discogs