Editing Primal Scream (section)

===First recordings, ''Sonic Flower Groove'' and ''Primal Scream'' (1984–1989)===
Their first recording session, for McGee's independent label Essential Records, produced a single track entitled "The Orchard", with Judith Boyle on vocals. Beattie later claimed that they burned the master tape.<ref name="uncut"/><ref name="record"/> After the aborted recording, Gillespie joined [[the Jesus and Mary Chain]] as their drummer, and alternated between the two bands. While the Jesus and Mary Chain became notorious for their chaotic gigs, Gillespie and Beattie expanded Primal Scream's lineup to include schoolfriend Young on bass, rhythm guitarist Stuart May, drummer Tom McGurk, and tambourine player Martin St. John. This lineup was signed to [[Creation Records]], an [[independent record label]] founded by Alan McGee, and recorded the group's debut single, "All Fall Down", which received positive reviews.<ref name="uncut"/>

After the release of the single, Gillespie was told by the Jesus and Mary Chain leaders [[William Reid (musician)|William]] and [[Jim Reid]] that he was to either dissolve Primal Scream to join their band full-time or resign.<ref name="uncut"/><ref name="record"/> Gillespie chose to remain with Primal Scream. Stuart May was replaced by Paul Harte, and the group released a new single, "Crystal Crescent". Its B-side, "[[Velocity Girl (song)|Velocity Girl]]", was released on the ''[[C86]]'' compilation, which led to their being associated with the scene of the same name. the band strongly disliked this, Gillespie saying that other groups in that scene "can't play their instruments and they can't write songs."<ref name="uncut"/>

The band toured throughout 1986, and Gillespie became disenchanted with the quality of their performances. He said that there "was always something missing, musically or in attitude."<ref name="uncut"/> They switched to McGee's newly set-up [[Warner Bros. Records|Warner Bros.]] subsidiary [[Elevation Records]]. Before the band entered [[Rockfield Studios]] in Wales to record their debut album, McGurk was asked to leave. The group subsequently began recording using session players. They spent four weeks recording with producer [[Stephen Street]] before deciding to halt the sessions.<ref name="uncut"/>

May was subsequently dismissed; Gillespie's former bandmate Innes was brought in as his replacement, and the band found a new drummer, Gavin Skinner. With their new lineup, the band re-entered the studio, this time in London with producer [[Mayo Thompson]]. By the time ''[[Sonic Flower Groove]]'' was completed, it had cost £100,000.<ref name="uncut"/> The album reached number 62 on the British charts<ref name="uncut"/> and received poor reviews, with [[AllMusic]] calling it "pristine but dull."<ref>{{cite web|last=Raggett |first=Ned |url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/sonic-flower-groove-mw0000375395 |title=Sonic Flower Groove - Primal Scream : Songs, Reviews, Credits, Awards |website=[[AllMusic]] |access-date=17 June 2013}}</ref> The backlash from the album caused internal strife within the band. Beattie and Skinner subsequently resigned.<ref name="record"/>

The band, now consisting of Gillespie, Innes and Young, relocated to [[Brighton]] to regroup.<ref name="uncut"/> Young switched to guitar, and they recruited bassist Henry Olsen and drummer Phillip "Toby" Tomanov, who had both been in [[Nico]]'s backing band, the Faction. They traded in their [[jangle pop]] sound for a harder rock edge, or as Gillespie said, "[w]e had found rock 'n' roll."<ref name="uncut"/> The band re-signed to Creation Records and released their first single in two years, "Ivy, Ivy, Ivy". This was followed by a full album, ''[[Primal Scream (Primal Scream album)|Primal Scream]]''. The band's new sound was met with poor reviews, ''[[NME]]'' called it "confused and lacking in cohesion".<ref name="uncut"/> Fans responded as unfavourably as the critics, with many of the old fans being disappointed or simply confused by the new sound.<ref name="uncut"/> Both ''Sonic Flower Groove'' and ''Primal Scream'' featured contributions from [[Felt (band)|Felt]] keyboardist [[Martin Duffy (musician)|Martin Duffy]].