A FOUNDING member of local 80s legends Dexys Midnight Runners is giving away his 'lost' album to 50 lucky fans.

After splitting from the band he helped form with Kevin Rowland in 1978, just before it topped the charts with Come On Eileen in 1981, guitarist Kevin Archer started The Blue Ox Babes and went on to release the more vocal music he wanted.

"I wanted to form a group with a vocal style," Archer said. "When I formed the Blue Ox I thought Marc Bolan was a really good singer. I listened to a lot of T. Rex. The way he sang was really pure. I liked the vocal style, the way he vibrated his voice."

But despite a strong start securing a number one with The Blue Ox's first single in 1988, before the release of the first and only album, the musician and the other members of the Black Country band, including girlfriend Yasmin Saleh, were dropped by their label.

"We recorded the album then toured with The Proclaimers," Archer said.

"We did that then the record was completed and we released three singles from it. The first single got to number one and the other two failed. The album wasn't released n the end and the group split up."

The unreleased Apples and Oranges, recorded with Pete Wingfield of The Proclaimers and Dexys, lay dormant until Archer, who still lives in Cradley Heath, got the original mixed tapes back and it was released through Cherry Red Records in 2009, accompanied by nine additional tracks spanning the various periods of the group's existence and a 16-page booklet full of images and information.

Archer, now aged 56, has a final few-hundred of Apples and Oranges left and is looking to give 50 away to local fans of the band as a thank you and celebration of The Blue Ox Babes.

He said: "I want people to be able to hear what we did. It's the last album I made. I'm giving away about 50 copies to people who really want them."

Apples and Oranges is available from Kevin Archer by calling 01384 569990 or by emailing archer.k1@sky.com.

For imformation on the band, visit theblueoxbabes.co.uk.