Abattior Dogs - Vox Tribute to the Films Of Quentin Tarantino - Various Artists

After recently watching the Tarantino/Rodriguez grind house homage double "Planet Terror" and "Death Proof", I was again taken by the excellent soundtrack (from Death Proof). Tarantino has a habit of picking songs that if you heard on their own it would be unlikely that you would like them, but coupled with a move scene they become unforgettable. The "cut of the ear" scene in "Reservoir Dogs" coupled with "Stuck in the middle with you" by "Stealer's Wheel" is a classic example.

It then made me remember a brilliant tape from the now defunct "Vox" magazine where they made a homage to Quentin Tarantino's films, including made up dialogue (most of the Tarantino soundtracks include some of the dialogue from film). I thought hard about sending this over to RYP's "Twilight Zone" blog, but then thought what the hell I'll post it here.

So here it is, and there's something for everyone here. The classic "Link Wray" instrumentals, which I'm sure you already own and if not I want to know why. The "RUN-A-WAYS" a 60's band who its hard not to believe weren't an influence on the "Cramps" and the "Meteors". A classic in the Cramps style from Dave Vanian (Formerly the Damned lead singer) in his breakaway group "The Phantom Chords", and some classic "Cramps" of course. You gotta check out the "Richard Berry" classic as well (and then try some more of his stuff) My personal favourite is "The Embers". So give it a try and leave a comment with your favourite.

Band: Various
Tracks:
1. Deuces Wild - Link Wray
2. The Promised Land - Johnny Allen
3. Big Break - Richard Berry
4. Hoogie Boogie - John Lee Hooker
5. Night Creature - The RUN-A-WAYS
6. Screaming Kid - The Phantom Chords
7. Flower Of My Heart - Sparkle Moore
8. I Walked All Night - The Embers
9. The Wild One - Link Wray
10. Everything Goes - The Cramps
11. Little Darlin - The Gladiolas
12. Can't Stop Lovin - Elmore James
13. Reconsider Me - Margaret Lewis
14. (Are You Ready) Do The Bus Stop
15. Sweet Dream - Tommy McLain

Ripped from glorious hissing tape (see comment for link)

Most of these tracks came from various records from the Ace label, but if you do like this the try out some of these:
The classic Link Wray

The Original Rumble
The great Richard Berry

Get out of the Car
plus two classic from Tarantino films

PULP FICTION (10TH ANNIVERSARY

Reservoir Dogs

The Tickets - "I'll Be your Pin-up" mp3 is available

Now you can get excited, this rare single is now available again thanks to Terry Murphy over at Bridgehouse here.

Both sides are in mp3 format, ripped at 256kbps at 70p for each side (and their both worth having), so there's no excuse get over there and order yours now.

I've left the original post below so the repost comments make sense:

The Tickets - I'll Be Your Pinup Re-release Campaign:
Don't get too excited as this is not a posting for this excellent rare single, which you can hear some samples over at the outstanding Deadbeats and No Ones here. I heard the samples and really loved this song, and have failed to find a copy, and the original is a bit too pricey for me.

So I emailed the label "Bridgehouse Records" and asked if there was any chance that both sides could be re-released as mp3 files and made available on eMusic or iTunes, and this is the answer:

"If you can get some pre sales, I will get in the studio,and re record , the single we released in the late 70s"

So the question is, how many of you would commit to paying for the mp3's and getting this classic back into general circulation?

Leave a comment if your interested, and also please feel free to put this post in your own blog.

Dalek I - Freedom Fighters 7"

First thing to say is this post was inspired by Rupert's posting over at Turntable Revolution here.

Now onto the music, "Dalek I Love You" were a synth pop group formed in 1977 by Alan Gill and David Balfe. Balfe wanted to call the band "Dalek" (after the Dr. Who villains mentioned in Ruperts posting) and Gill wanted to name the band "I Love You", so both their choice were combined to form "Dalek I Love You". The ironic part of this story is that for their debut single "Freedom Fighters" the record label Phonogram shortened the bands name to "Dalek I" without telling them.

"Freedom Fighter" is a classic and if you already have the album Compass Kumpass you will already have it, however the single is 7 seconds longer with a slightly different ending. The b-side "Two Chameleons" is also a gem, but for me the stand-out is "Freedom Fighter".

Ripped from glorious scratched vinyl (see comments for link)

Band: Dalek I
Label: Vertigo
Year: 1979
Tracks:
1. Freedom Fighters
2. Two Chameleons

If you like this you can still buy their second album "Dalek I Love You" at iTunes, for me their best is "Compass Kumpass" but it doesn't seem to be around any longer, so you will have to start searching.

You can also download their rare third cassette album Naive here.

Human Switchboard - Human Switchboard EP

Another gem from Bruce Rhodes, this time Human Switchboard. Their debut single was this same titled 4 track EP. If your a visitor to Frank Millers excellent Shotgun Solution blog you may have already heard their second single "I Gotta Know" and if not you can still hear it here.

If you want to know more about them then check out it out here.

So you get four outstanding tracks and I'm really struggling to pick my favourite, so I'm gonna have to leave it to you to decide. Bruce mentioned that these songs sound like something else, but he can't quite put his finger on it, and nor can I, so anyone got any ideas.? Then leave a comment.

Band: Human Switchboard
Label: Rug Label
Year: 1977
Tracks:
1. Fly-In
2. Distemper
3. Shake It Boys
4. San Francisco

Ripped from Bruce's glorious scratched vinyl (see comments for link).

If you like this then there are two other singles and an album but I don't think there are in general print, so you have to search, beg and borrow.

Spizzenergi - The Custard Channel

This appears to be a bit of a rare one, and it's a real mixed bag if your looking for classic Spizz stuff. Under the name of Spizzenergi (1996-1998 incarnation), it also includes the "Lifestyle project" which was orginally released as an EP with tracks from Claudia Brucken (front lady to Synthpop band Propaganda) and Spizz, three tracks from Spizzvision (1989), one from Spizzenergi 3 (1991) and three already released tracks from Athletic Spizz 80.

The Custard Channel is a worth having just for three re-recordings in 1996 for GLR sessions of the classic Spizz singles Central Park, Where's Captain Kirk? and No Room, and the cover of Kraftwerks classic "The Model".

The Lifestyle project and Spizz vision stuff really moves away from the sound you'd normally expect to hear from Spizz (more commercial in my opinion), plus two football songs, one for England the Spizzenergi 1998 world cup song "E for England" (unofficial I'm sure) plus his homage to Aston Villa.

The stand out tracks for me is the new version of "Where's Captain Kirk?", faithful but just different enough to want to hear both and their excellent cover of "The Model". What do you think? Leave a comment and let us know.

As usual high resolution scans included so you can read the details

Band: Spizzenergi (plus other incarnations)
Label: Spizzcom
Year: 1999
Tracks:
1. The Model - Spizzenergi
2. Central Park (GLR Session) - Spizzenergi
3. Where's Captain Kirk? (GLR Session) - Spizzenergi
4. No Room (GLR Session) - Spizzenergi
5. E For England - Spizzenergi
6. I Want You (In Balance) - Lifestyle with Claudia Bruken
7. Water - Lifestyle with Claudia Bruken
8.I Didn't Believe It - Lifestyle
9. We Want The World - Spizzivision
10. Media Messiah - Spizzivision
11. Angel Baby - Spizzivision
12. Kate Adie - Spizzenergi 3
13. Three Lions In The Sky - Lifestyle
14. Happy Xmas (War Is Over) - Lifestyle
15. The Sun Never Sets On Aston Villa - Spizzenergi
16. Red and Black - Athletico Spizz 80
17. New Species - Athletico Spizz 80
18. Airships - Athletico Spizz 80

Not ripped from glorious scratched vinyl or hissing tape (see comment for link)

If you like Spizz then you can still buy an excellent greatest hits album here:

Where's Captain Kirk: the Very Best of Spizz Energi
Plus a DVD I didn't know about (Ill have to buy this now) here:

Spizzenergi - Where's Captain Kirk - Spizzenergi Live [2005] [DVD]

The ANKLE File - Various REPOST

I've reposted this for a number of reasons:

Number 1. Its a brilliant collection of punk/new wave and for those of you that have missed it, you really need to hear it.

Number 2. If you don't believe me, check out the latest comment from Antonia.

Number 3, Ken sent the scans through for the cover and insert

Number 4. Another recent comment from anonymous (they seem to leave a lot of comments) regarding an error I made on track 4, I got the title and band name the wrong way round (so thanks for spot and the new upload and this post is corrected).

Number 5. There wasn't going to be a reason 5, but I'm playing it right now and it's so good I can't believe some of you haven't tried this yet.

Something for everyone here. This tape came about from a discussion in the comments of The Fakes single Production (link here if your interested). Chris Low (you may recognize his name from Kill Your Pet Puppy comments, he also provided the excellent Fakes demo tape over also over at KYPP) left a few comments and mentioned he was listening to an excellent track called 'New Clash Single' by 'Vertical Smiles'. I said it sounded interesting and he told me it was one track on a tape and agreed to get a friend of his to send it to me. Next stage I get a number of emails from Ken with the tracks. The bit I like is that Ken got them from a guy named Michael Train in New York, ironic really that these old Scottish songs ended up being found and returned all the way from US.

The origin of this tape is a little flakey, so I'm hoping Chris will add some more information later on. The tape was called the Ankle File and Ken believes it was a various tape given away with a fanzine. He also thinks most of the bands came from Stirling/Falkirk area, and one of them called 'FK9' have taken their name from the postcode of the area. No scan or cover, but Chris was going to see if he could find it, so fingers crossed.

So if you like your music a bit raw and unpolished your going to love this tape, there are some real gems on here. There's something for everyone here, some real classic original punk, some powerpop and new wave, so try it out and enjoy.

Please leave a comment and thank Chris, Ken and Michael for sharing this gem and and also tell us whats your favourite track. At the moment for me its 'New Clash Single'.

Band: Various
Year: 1980?
Title: The ANKLE File
Tracks:
1. Asking For It - FK9
2. What Day Is It - 22 Beaches
3. Insight - Rhythm Method
4. Autumn Rainwear - Those French Girls
5. New Clash Single - Vertical Smiles
6. Production Destruction Line - Curious Reign
7. Sade When She Died - 22 Beaches
8. The Last Reign - Curious Reign
9. Sylvia Clarke - The Fakes
10. Sparkle - Those French Girls
11. Final Word - FK9
12. Fire Engine - White Walls

Ripped from someones glorious hissing tape (see comments)

The Monochrome Set - The Monochrome Set 7"

The Monochrome Set released four singles in 1979 (including two versions of the brilliant 'He's Frank' which you can still find one of them here). The same titled single 'The Monochrome Set was their fourth single and is a real gem, but then again nearly everything they did was. The Monochrome Set always had their own unique sound and you can hear it here, does anyone know anyone else that sounded like them?

The a-side is the stand out track but I still love the b-side Mr Bizarro with it's Latin style (they were never afraid to mix different music styles).

A few etchings on this one, the classic "a porky prime cut" plus "To Penman With Love" anyone know what that one means? and on the b-side "PRAG VEC are Fab", well I would have to agree with that one (and you can check their debut single out here). I wonder if the band knew that was on there.

So does Mr Bizzaro get you dancing around or do you prefer 'The Monochrome set? Leave a comment and let ASFM know.

Band: The Monochrome Set
Label: Rough Trade
Year: 1979
Tracks:
1. The Monochrome Set
2. Mr Bizarro

Ripped from glorious scratched vinyl (see comment for link)

If you like this then your in luck as you can get most of their classic singles (including both sides of this post) on this excellent compilation here (I have to say whilst I like hearing scratchy vinyl, I also like to hear the Monochrome Set in a quality recording) . for only £5.98 what are you waiting for.:

The Independent Singles Collection

Algebra Mothers - Strawberry Cheesecake 7"

I don't know where or how Bruce (Rhodes) finds these records but I'm really glad he does. Thanks to his last offering and the comments (follow link if your interested), I am now a massive Androids Of Mu fan (can't believe its taken me 30 years).

This time up we have the excellent Algebra Mothers. They hailed from Detroit and released this gem in 1979 on Aftertaste Records. Bruce sent this one in response to the last Devo post and said "there is a distinct Devo meet David Byrne feel to this one". I can also hear a hint of Stranglers with the keyboard. I love the a-side 'Strawberry Cheesecake' which is clearly the stand out track, but the b-side 'Modern Noise' ain't bad. Woh! Devo, David Byrne and the Stranglers, can anyone hear anything else? leave a comment and tell ASFM.

If you want to find a bit more about these guys then try here: www.realcranky.com/PUNKDAYS.html

Band: Algebra Mothers
Label: Aftertaste Records
Year: 1979
Tracks:
1. Strawberry Cheesecake
2. Modern Noise

Ripped from Bruce's glorious scratched vinyl (see comments)

Johnny Thunders and Patti Palladin - Crawfish

Question: What has Elvis Presley, Jowe Head, Joe Strummer, Johnny Thunders and Patti Paladin got in common?

Answer: They all recorded the outstanding 'Crawfish'.

The most famous version is most probably the Elvis Presley (with Kitty White) version from his classic from 'King Creole'., and the most obscure and strangest has got to go to brilliant 'Jowe Head' (no surprises there then) on two albums Pincer Movement and Strawberry Deutsche Mark.

Thunders and Palladin provide a faithful cover to the Presely version, but still manage to stamp that unique Thunders sound. The b-side is 'Tie Me Up' another Thunders/Palladin team up but this time taken from the Que Sera, Sera album. if you like Johnny Thunders you will love both of these tracks.

Artist: Johnny Thunders and Patti Palladin
Label: Jungle Records
Year: 1985
Tracks:
1. Crawfish
2. Tie Me Up

Ripped from glorious scratched vinyl (see comments)

If you like Crawfish then go out and buy their excellent covers album Copycats here:

Copy Cats
and if you like 'Tie Me Up' then you can buy that plus loads more excellent Thunders stuff here:

Que Sera, Sera

The Lurkers - Ain't Got A Clue 7"

The Lurkers third and most successful single reaching number #45 in the UK charts. The first 15,000 also included the excellent Fulham Flirty Free, a gold flexi disc with the Lurkers playing around and finally singing along "We are the Chaos Brothers".

Unless you bought the reissue of their debut album 'Fulham Fallout' or much later on 'The Lurkers Beggars Banquet Single Collection' you won't have the 'Fulham Flirty Free' or the excellent b-side Ooh! Ooh! I Love You.

The Lurkers being one of my favourite bands especially as they were local and we knew them, over the years I kept a fair amount of Lurkers promotion material, fanzines and music paper clippings including the Lurkers hankie, I don't remember seeing many of these, anyone else got one?

Band: The Lurkers
Label: Beggars Banquet
Year: 1978
Tracks:
1. Ain't Got A Clue
2. Ooh! Ooh! I Love You
3. Fulham Flirty Free

Ripped from glorious (very) scratched vinyl and flexi discs (see comments)























If you like this then you will love this (but surely you already have it):

Fulham Fallout
and all of their excellent singles in perfect condition can be bought here:

Beggars Banquet Singles Collection

Devo - Come Back Jonee 7"

I think this was Devo's 5th single (anyone?) and the first released on Virgin. Come back Jonee is readily available. But as is often the way with 7" singles, the b-side 'Social Fools' has only just been released on the reissue of their debut album, which is a little annoying when you already have a copy. There is another version (not so good) on the album 'Hardcore Volume 1 1974-77.

Both tracks are brilliant, but Social Fools is my favourite, and if you like Devo you will love this. The lyrics are on the back so a high resolution scan is included as usual.

This time they continue their weirdness with the cover, as you can see from the scans you get a free sticker which you can stick on the heard of the statue to complete the picture!!!.

Ripped from glorious scratched vinyl (see comments for link)

Band: Devo
Label: Virgin
Year: 1978
Tracks:
1. Come Back Jonee
2. Social Fools

If you like this then you can buy their excellent debut album with both tracks here plus a lot more here:

Q: Are We Not Men? A: We Are Devo/DEV-O Live

Captain Crawl Repost

A big thank you to Chris from Captain Crawl for answering this post and giving some info on how Captain Crawl works (check out the comments for his reply).

Captain Crawl is back on ASFM.


I have left the orginal post below so anyone intrested can see the comments in context.

ORIGINAL POST
I have decided to give it the Heave Ho!, for three reasons:

1. When I search for any ASFM posts, it doesn't find any of them (even though I have tried submitting more than a few times now)
2. When I search for posts from most of the blogs in my links list, it doesn't find any of them either (try it)
3. When I look for a contact or way to communicate with Captain Crawl to tell them, I can't find one.

So on that basis, goodbye me hearties to Captain Crawl.

If anyone does find a way to make it work then please let me know.

For now anyone searching will just have to use good old Google Blog Search here.

The Heartbeats - Pulsator LP

This posting is spookily coincidental with the posting of one of their singles 'Go' over at the excellent Deadbeats and No Ones here.

I think this is the Heartbeats one and only album released in 1981 on Ariola records. The tracks range from pure power pop to (light) rock, the power pop ones (I'll Be True, Stuck On You, Look At The Eyes, Don't Leave Me Tonight, Mean To Me, and Thinking Of You - in that order) being my favorites. I don't know anything about the Heartbeats except that someone called John Wilson wrote and produced every song.

Does anyone know anything more about the Heartbeats? if so then leave a comment.

Band: The Heartbeats
Label: Ariola
Year: 1981
Album Pulsator
Tracks:
1. Don't Leave Me Tonight
2. Don't Do It
3. Well, Well, Well
4. Look At The Eyes
5. In The Name Of Love
6. Mean To Me
7. Stuck On You
8. Into The Night
9. Thinking Of You
10. Long Time
11. Out Of My Way
12. I'll Be True

Ripped from glorious scratched vinyl (see comments for link)

Hazel O'Connor - Hanging Around 7"

I've always had a soft spot for Hazel O'Connor ever since this guy turned up at the squats in Brixton looking for Punk extras for a film called 'Breaking Glass'. None of us had heard of it, but for £10 cash in hand a load of us turned up at the 'Hope and Anchor in Islington. For anyone who fancied a career in films it was one of the most boring days I can remember. They filmed the scene over and over again (it must of been 20 cuts) of Hazel O'Connor singing 'Give me an inch'' (with all of us jumping up and down. The only exciting thing that actually happened was a punch up started between the skins and the punks, and the film crew recorded it for a couple of minutes and then shouted that if it didn't stop everyone would be thrown out with no money. When we went to see the film there was about 60 seconds of us and the only bit they really showed was the actual real fight. All the beer was just coloured water, but one thing that did happen was that in the end I ended up really liking 'Give Me An Inch' and then bought a couple more of her singles including this one.

This was her eighth single and is a pretty faithful cover of the Stranglers 'Hanging Around'. This version is a little shorter than the one on her third album 'Cover Plus' and the Greatest hits. The two tracks on the b-side were also unreleased on any of her albums and if you like Hazel O'Connor your like both of them (even 'Not For You' sang in German).

Band: Hazel O'Connor
Label: Albion
Year: 1981
Tracks:
1. Hanging Around
2. Hold On
3. Not For You (German Version)

Ripped from glorious scratched vinyl (see comments)

If you like this then you can still get the extended version of Hanging Around, plus more here:

Cover Plus
or a good sample of her singles here:

Singular Collection: The Best of Hazel O'Connor
or her best album the soundtrack to Breaking Glass here

Breaking Glass
Or see the film here:

Breaking Glass [DVD] [1980]

Maneaters - Nine To Five 7"

Most probably one of the most overlooked songs from the soundtrack of the film 'Jubilee'. Written (and performed I think) by Toyah Wilcox and Adam Ant this is a 24 carat punk classic. On the b-side another issue of the Suzi Pinns version of 'Jerusalem', I'm not sure how many time this was released but as its also a great song, who cares.

If you have the soundtrack then you have both of these, if not crank up the volume and enjoy.

So should Toyah and Adam Ant partnered more? Leave a comment.

Band: Various
Label: Ego Records
Year: 1978
Tracks:
1. Nine To Five - Maneaters
2. Jerusalem - Suzi Pinns

Ripped from glorious scratched vinyl (see comments).

Unfortunately the brilliant soundtrack is no longer in print but you can still get some copies in the amazon market place here:

Jubilee
and see the strange, but worth watching film here:

Jubilee [DVD] [1978]

Shock - Angel Face 7"

I know, I know your all thinking what the.... is this doing here. But I've always said I'm a sucker for covers especially if their done differently, so an electronic version of the Glitterbands Angel Face has to fit. I actually bought this from Woolworths classic 'out of the charts box for 25p' (not sure if it ever got in the charts but it was supposedly a dance floor hit)

Shock were a music/mime/dance/pop group that were notable in the early 1980's for supporting bands such as Gary Numan, Adam and the Ants and Depeche Mode. This was their debut single produced by Rusty Egan (ex Rich Kids, Visage fame).

So you get an electronic/dance version of the classic glam hit 'Angel Face' which could never match the original, but it's worth a listen. The b-side has a pretty bland instrumental. They did release one further single, although as I never heard it, I can't comment.

Band: Shock
Label: RCA
Year: 1980
Tracks:
1. Angel Face
2. R.E.R.B.

Ripped from glorious scratched vinyl (see comments).

If you like this then you could look for their second single 'Dynamo Beat', I haven't got a clue what its like.

Occult Chemistry - Occult Chemistry EP

Another one from Bruce Rhodes. This one is the debut and only release from 'Occult Chemistry'. Bruce describes them as an anarchic/hippie feel like early 'Slits' meet the 'Androids of Mu'. As I've never heard anything by the 'Androids of Mu' its difficult to comment, but I can hear the sound of 'The Slits'.

Two members of 'Occult Chemistry' were in an earlier band (formed in 1978) called 'Twilight Zoners' who released a couple of singles, rather than me rewrite their history you can find all about them and hear all their singles (plus some demos) here http://www.glenncarmichael.co.uk/music/occult.html

So try them out and see what you think, and if you like them then go and check out their other stuff at the link. As per usual don;t forget to leave a comment and thank Bruce for bringing this to our attention.

Band: Occult Chemistry
Label: Zip Records
Year: 1980
Tracks:
1. Water
2. Fire
3. Earth
4. Air

Ripped from Bruce's glorious scratched vinyl (see comments)

The Call, 10,000 Maniacs, X - Elektra Caravan '87 7"

Not sure where I got this one from, but its a sampler for Elektra records featuring three bands, The Call, 10,000 Maniacs and X. The inside gatefold sleeve has information on each band and their latest albums which the label is clearly trying to promote (high resolution scans included).

First up is 'The Call', despite this being a track from their fourth album, I had never heard of them but I really like this track and after all these years I think will check out some of their stuff. Anyone know this band? any recommendations? or is this a one off?, then leave a comment.

Second up is 10,000 Maniacs, a John Peel favourite, and one of their best songs 'What's The Matter' is from their second album 'In My Tribe'. If you like 10,000 Maniacs you will already have this, if you've never tried them then I would recommend starting with their first album 'The Wishing Chair'.

Last up is 'X' the original punk band formed in 1977. Although be prepared this track from their sixth album is nothing like their old stuff, I would nearly categorise this as alt country. but I still like it and would also recommend trying some of John Doe's sole material.

Band: Various
Label: Elektra
Year: 1987
Tracks:
1. In The River - The Call
2. What's The Matter - 10,000 Maniacs
3. See How We Are - X

Ripped from glorious scratched vinyl (see comments)

So if you like these then why not try out the albums they are sampled from:
The Call's fourth album 'Into The Woods':

Into the Woods
10,000 Maniacs second album 'In My Tribe':

In My Tribe
X's sixth album 'See How We Are':

See How We Are

The Revillos - Motor Bike Beat 7"

In 1979 due to contractual reasons 'The Rezillos' renamed themselves to the very similar 'Revillos'. This was their second single and their highest charting release under the new name at number #45 in the UK Charts.

An excellent fun single which cannot fail to have you singing along.

Band: The Revillos
Label: Dindisc
Year: 1980
Tracks:
1. Motor Bike Beat
2. No Such Luck.

Ripped from glorious scratched vinyl (see comments)

If you like this (and how couldn't you) then your in luck as both sides of this single plus lots more are still available on their debut album 'Rev Up'

Rev Up

Bromheads Jacket - Wooley Bridge / Lesley Parlafitt 7"

Something new for you to try out this time. Bromheads Jacket's debut single was this double a side classic. If you've never heard of 'Bromheads Jacket' then think of a punk version of 'The Streets' and your getting close. My son introduced me to them and this is ripped from his copy of this rare (500 copies). All of the covers are individually hand sprayed, sketched, written and numbered. You can see from all of the scans the different variations, and a picture of a fully painted cover.

Even though the singer has a strong South London accent (I believe he grew up in London) the Bromheads Jacket are another great band that hail from Sheffield.

Both of these tracks are outstanding and impossible to choose from, but at a minimal 1:30 seconds you just want more of 'Lesley Parlafitt.

Like the 'Arctic Monkeys' the Bromheads have released a number of free demos, so I have also included an early set of demos that give you more of a taste of their music. Check out the first classic track 'Trip To The The Golden Arches'. Anyone who can write a chorus like this one is OK in my books, if you read it you would say its impossible to put into a song.

Both of these tracks and 'Trip To The Golden Arches' are on their debut album, and the good news is there different (and in my opinion better) versions. So there's no excuse not to go out and buy it.

Band: Bromheads Jacket
Label: Marquis Cha Cha
Year: 2005
Tracks:
1. Wooley Bridge
2. Lesley Parlafitt

Label: Demos
Year: 2005
1. Trip To The Golden Arches
2. Land Of The Brave
3. A Pinch Of Psalt
4. Met A Dark Girl
5. SRI's and Big Bore 4's
6. Celebrityism
7. ATM

Ripped from glorious pristine vinyl (see comments)

The Bromheads Jackets have two albums both worth buying, my personal favourite is the first 'Dits From The Commuter Belt':

Dits from the Commuter Belt
and their second and latest album 'On The Brain':

On the Brain

Gen X - Gen X 4 EP 7"

As mentioned by Kes in the comments for the 'Dancing With Myself' post, 'Gen X' also released this 4 track EP. My version is the 7" clear vinyl but according to Kes there was also a 12" version.

So you get 4 tracks, the first is 'Dancing With Myself' no changes, I guess another attempt to get this great track better recognised. The next track 'Untouchables' is taken of their excellent third album 'Kiss Me Deadly'. The standout track for me is the cover version of an old Gary Glitter album track called 'Rock On' you can't fail to hear the trademark 'Hey' and Gen X cover it brilliantly. Last up is 'King Rocker' again a re-release of the original single. You also get 'Steve Jones playing on Untouchables and Rock On, what more could you want? So leave a comment and tell me how you agree 'Rock On' is the standout track (well only if you agree).

Band: Gen X
Label: Chrysalis
Year: 1981
Tracks:
1. Dancing With Myself
2. Untouchables
3. Rock On
4. King Rocker

Ripped from glorious scratched vinyl (see comments)

You can still get the first two tracks and more on the excellent album 'Kiss Me Deadly' here:

Kiss Me Deadly

The Clapham South Escalators - Leave Me Alone EP

The Clapham South Escalators were a one off incarnation of 'The Meteors' and the moniker under which they released their fourth single. When I bought this I didn't even know it was the Meteors, but the instant I played it, their unique sound was unmistakable.

On this double a-side you get three classic Meteors psychobilly style tracks all of them excellent.
'Get Me To The World On Time' is a faithful cover of the classic 'Electric Prunes' 1967 original (the blurb on the back cover has a little more info - high resolution scan included).

A few etchings on the run out, on side A you get 'This Ai't Me' and the classic 'a Porky Primecut' and on side AA you get 'Psychedelik Elefurnt'.

Band: The Clapham South Escalators
Label: Upright Records
Year: 1981
Tracks:
1. Get Me To The World On Time
2. Cardboard Cutouts
3. Leave Me Alone

Ripped from glorious scratched vinyl (see comments)

If you like this, your in luck as lots of their stuff is still available, in my opinion their first album 'In Heaven' is still their best

In Heaven
But you can won't go far wrong with a kind of the best of album here:

Teenagers from Outer Space

Matumbi - Seven Seals

Alongside UK reggae bands 'Steel Pulse, Aswad, Black Slate and Misty In Roots' was 'Matumbi. This is their first and and for me their best album and surprisingly it is still OOP.

Originally formed in 1972, it took them until 1978 to release their first album 'Seven Seals'. A real blend of reggae, soul, funk and pop produces some really catchy numbers. I'm sure a few reggae purists may criticize this but hey who cares, I've always liked it.

As the covers are interesting and also the lyrics are printed I have added high resolution scans as well.

So try it out and leave a comment and let me know what you think.

Ripped from glorious (green) scratched vinyl (see comments)

Band: Matumbi
Label: Harvest
Year: 1978
Tracks:
1. Guide Us Jah
2. Hook Deh
3. Hypocrite
4. Bluebeat and Ska
5. Empire Road
6. Music In The Air
7. All Over This World (Money)
8. Rock

If you like this then again your in luck, although this album is OOP in its entirety, the following best of has taken tracks from all of their three albums:

The Best of Matumbi

The Skids - Masquerade 7" Double Single

As requested by Longy over at Punk Friction, here is 'The Skids', double single pack 'Masquerade'. This edition has two 7" singles in a gate fold sleeve. I think everyone knows Masquerade and unless you had this single or you bought the reissued copy of their second album 'Days In Europa' you won't know the other three. 'Aftermath Dub' as you would guess from the title is a kind of dub version of the main track 'Masquerade'

So hear they are, try them out and if you like them, then go and get their first tow albums, you won't be disappointed.

As the cover is gatefold I have also included both sides together as I guess that's how it's meant to be viewed.

Band: The Skids
Label: Virgin
Year: 1979
Tracks:
1. Masquerade
2. Out Of Town
3. Another Emotion
4. Aftermath Dub

Ripped from glorious scratched vinyl (see comments)

If you like this then the good news is all of the Skids stuff is still available, and I would recommend that you try out their classic first album Scared to Dance:

Scared to Dance
and their second album Days In Europa, which now also includes all of the four tracks on this double single:

Days in Europa

Gen X - Dancing With Myself 7"

The first single released under the shortened name of 'Gen X' was 'Dancing With Myself' a little more commercial sounding than their earlier material but still has some cracking 'Tony James' guitar riff's.

I mainly posted this for the still OOP b-side 'Ugly Rash', which was also recorded as a dub version unsurprisingly called 'Ugly Dub' (which was on the b-side of the 12" of this single, of which I can't seem to find). 'Ugly Rash' isn't the greatest of songs but it's worth a listen.

Dancing with myself got to number #62 n the UK charts and was later re-released in 1982 as a four track EP (I will post this later on) and managed to climb two places higher to number #60. It was also was later re-recorded by Billy Idol as a solo artist for his first single in 1981 but failed to chart in the UK but did get to #102 in the US, and as you all know this didn't stop him from going on to much bigger things.

So give it a try and see what you think.

Band: Gen X
Label: Chrysalis
Year: 1980
Tracks:
1. Dancing With Myself
2. Ugly Rash

Ripped from glorious scratched (the b-side very scratched) vinyl (see comments)

If you like this then your in luck as you can still download their third album 'Kiss Me Deadly' which I still really rate (I have a cassette version which has a slightly different track list - check out the comment on Amazon and you will see what I mean). As mentioned above Ugly Rash is not on this collection.

Kiss Me Deadly

Tiger Lily - Ain't Misbehavin 7"

So anyone recognise the man in the middle with the hands on the models head? How about Dennis Leigh, does that help ring any bells? Well how about John Foxx?, ahh I thought that one would help. Tiger Lily is the first incarnation of Ultravox!. This 7" single was the only release they made.

Released in 1975 you can clearly hear the music of that period, especially with 'Ain't Misbehavin' (this sounds like something from 'Sailor' (and Sailor weren't very good)). But check out 'Monkey Jive' you can hear strains of the later 'Ultravox!' sounds even though it is still more glam rock (but didn't lots of punk records use some of the glam rock sounds?),

I guess this one is for completeists really, but I actually like Monkey Jive.

As a treat I have also included links to an excellent 'Ultravox!' fanzine caled 'Ultravox Past, Present and Future' from the classic magazine 'In The City'. The fanzine includes lyrics form their earlier music, interviews and also a short story written by John Foxx. There are two formats one standard zip file and one CBR (Comic Book Reader) file, for which you will have to Google and download a CBR reader (easy to find).

So what do you think of Tiger Lily? Can you hear the Untravox! sounds? and one question I would like to know, do people want things like these fanzines? Leave a comment and let me know.

Band: Tiger Lily
Label: Gull
Year: 1975
Tracks:
1. Ain't Misbehavin
2. Monkey Jive

Ripped from glorious scratched vinyl (see comments)

If you like this go and buy all three of Ultravox! albums still available:

Ultravox!

Ha-Ha-Ha

Systems Of Romance

Marc Riley & The Creepers - Live At The ICA Oct. 1984 Part 4

Last up is the excellent Marc Riley and the Creepers. Riley who was also an ex member of 'The Fall' is most probably better known now for his alter ego 'Lard' who worked alongside ex radio 1 DJ Mark Radcliffe. They both use to host my second favourite radio show (John Peel obviously first) 'Out On Blue Six'.

I always liked Marc Riley and the Creepers and these four live tracks are an excellent sample of their music. My personal favourite is 'Blood From A Stone' which was renamed on the 1985 'Shadow Figure EP' to 'Snipe'.

Band: Marc Riley and the Creepers
Year: 1984
Tracks:
1. Blood From A Stone
2. Location Bangladesh
3. Down In The Bunker
4. Crazy Shirt Scene

Ripped from FM radio and then ripped from glorious hissing tape (see comments).

If you like this there doesn't appear to be anything commercially available. So you can get most of their singles at the excellent Phoenix Hairpins here and their classic album Rock'n'roll Liquorice Flavour from the equally excellent Rollmops here.

Yeah Yeah Noh - Live at the ICA Oct. 1984 Part 3

As promised the 'Yeah Yeah Noh' live tracks. Apart from being disappointed that there's only four tracks, you can cheer up by the fact that at least all four are outstanding classic songs. I think I've said everything else I want to say about 'Yeah Yeah Noh' in previous posts, so just enjoy.

Band: Yeah Yeah Noh
Year: 1984
Tracks:
1. Beware The Weakling Line
2. There's Another Side To Mrs Quill
3. Cottage Industry
4. Jigsaw

Ripped from FM radio and then ripped on to glorious hissing tape (see comments).

I've said it before but if you like this then buy this, here:

Leicester Square: the Best of Yeah Yeah Noh

The Very Things - Live At The ICA Oct. 1984 Part 2

Formed from the ashes of the brilliant 'Cravats', came the even better and very much stranger 'The Very Things'. The singers strange vocals, warped fairground type music and odd lyrics make them incomparable (anyone know of anyone else that sounds like them? then leave a comment).

All of these tracks are great but my favourite is 'The Bushes Scream, While My Daddy Prunes'
The reason there is two parts is down to my poor ripping, I thought the song had finished.

Ripped from FM radio and then ripped from glorious hissing tape (see comments)

Band: The Very Things
Year: 1984
Tracks:
1. The Bushes Scream, While My Daddy Prunes Part 1
2. The Bushes Scream, While My Daddy Prunes Part 2
3. Wall Of Fir
4. Shearing Machine
5. Phillips World Service

If you like this then definitely get this (currently only available on download) here:

The Bushes Scream While Daddy Prunes
and you can still get this one on CD here:

It's a Drug, It's a Drug

Terry and Gerry - Live At The ICA Oct. 1984 Part 1

This is part one of four posts, all of them live gigs from the ICA in October 1984. I think there was whole week of gigs and these were my favorites. Part two will be 'The Very Things', Part three 'yeah Yeah Noh' and the final part 'Marc Riley and the Creepers'.

So first up the great alternative skiffle band 'Terry and Gerry', I still think these guys were one of the best live bands ever. Their recordings whilst good, never captured that feeling when you saw them live. Gerry was the master of banter and the band managed to get audiance involvement on just about every song (which I have never seen again). This was clearly something that developed over the years as this earlier recording does not have so much audiance participation as I remember.

Band: Terry and Gerry
Year: 1984
Tracks:
1. The Good, The Bad and The Usherette
2. Wolfman's Request
3. A Thousand Towns
4. Cars
5. Hello
6. Butters On The Bread
7. T.V. Songs
8. Dennis and Brian
9. Wait Until Your Older
10. Pizza, Pies and Junk
11. Clothes Shop
12. Outro

Ripped from FM radio and then ripped from glorious hissing tape (see comments)

If you like Terry and Gerry you won't be disspointed with this brillaint album, buy it here:

Let's Get the Hell Back to Lubbock

The Rezillos - Top Of The Pops 7"

This posting came as a request from one of Punk Frictions visitors (check comments and link here). My first thoughts were "why is someone requesting this, surely every one's got it, oh well the b-side is unreleased so that alone is a good reason", and then when I ripped 'Top Of the Pops' I realised it was a different version to the one on the album, and as usual a better version (I think I'm gonna play all my singles again and check whether there are more different versions.)

'Top of the Pops' is an ironic recording as it took the piss out of the old BBC program, and resulted in 'The Rezillos' getting their first top 20 chart position and an invitation to play on 'Top Of The Pops'. The b-side '20'000 Rezillo's Under The Sea' is a reworking of a traditional instrumental (I think used on the Lone Ranger TV program) in the way only the Rezillos could do (Kazzo included).

So a very scratched rip here, but hey who cares, that's how there meant to sound. So give it a try and see what you think, am I right is this version better than the album? (of course I am), Leave a comment and say what you think.

Band: The Rezillos
Year: 1978
Label: Sire
Tracks:
1. Top Of The Pops
2. 20,000 Rezillo's Under The Sea

Ripped from glorious scratched vinyl (see comments)

If you like this (and amazingly haven't got it) then your in luck, you can still get their classic album with outstanding live set here (with a different version of Top of The Pops):

Can't Stand the Rezillos: The (Almost) Complete Rezillos

You can also get some pretty cool Rezillos stuff at their official web site here.

and get a Karaoke version of Top of The Pops on iTunes!!!!!!!!!!

Papa Levi - Bonnie And Clyde 12"

I don't know too much about Papa Levi, but I love this single. It's a reggae cover of the 'Georgie Fame' classic 'Bonnie and Clyde. I first heard this version played on a John Peel session, and as soon as it was released it was a must buy.

I've mentioned before I'm a fan of covers especially when they are done differently and this one clearly is. The b-side 'Warning' is all about avoiding catching 'Herpes' lovely topic, but then again it does make sense.

The picture cover is not mine, I found it here (which also giver a bit more background on Papa Levi). My copy just had the standard island cover as per the scans.

So if you know the original 9and if you don't go and find it, its classic, which one do you prefer?

Singer: Papa Levi
Label: Island
Year: 1984
Tracks:
1. Bonnie and Clyde
2. Warning

Ripped from glorious scratched vinyl (see comments)

If you like this you can either get all of these albums at Amazons market place or on iTunes. I can't comment as I don't yet have any of them.

Code of Practice

Lyrics, Tricks and Politics

Back to Basics

Pylon - Cool

Another gem from Bruce Rhodes, and your gonna like this one. Its the debut single from 'Pylon' called 'Cool'. From Athens Georgia they had an impressive list of supporters including the B-52's and REM.

'Cool' is the stand out track and was released in 1979 on Caution Records. Pylon have a quiky style which reminds me of the 'Gang Of Four' which is clearly no bad thing. Intrestingly they actually opened for Gang of Four in New York.

So try it out and leave a comment and tell ASFM what you think of this one.

Band: Pylon
Label: Caution
Year: 1979
Tracks:
1. Cool
2. Dub

Ripped from Bruces glorious scratched vinyl (see comments)

If you like this then your in luck as you can still get their debut album here:

Gyrate +

Yeah Yeah Noh - Fun On The Lawn, Lawn, Lawn

I've already posted the Yeah Yeah Noh's debut single 'Prick Up Your Ears' here, and if you liked it you will love this collection of John Peel sessions. Released on vinyl in 1986 it collects all three Peel sessions from 1984 (28/07), 1985 (09/04) and 1986 (19/01).

They definitely had something about Lawns as their debut album which is sadly no longer available (and was available at the original Twilight Zone - if you ask RYP nicely I'm sure he would do a re-up) was called 'Cutting the Heavenly Lawn of Greatness ... Last Rites for the God of Love'.

All their best tracks are here, the final track is not listed on the back cover, so I named it the 'Mystery Track', also a high resolution scan of the back cover is included to allow you to read the sleeve notes. At the end of the last track on side one is 'Jigsaw' if you let the track run till the end you will hear some garbled language, if you play it backwards it says "Of the dawn wind", anyone know what that's about? They were always a little 'off the wall' so most probably nothing.

Band: Yeah Yeah Noh
Label: Red Rhino
Year: 1986
Tracks:
1. Super Imposed Man
2. Beware The Weakling Line
3. (It's) Easier To Suck Than Sing
4. Cottage Industry
5. Another Side Of Mrs Quill
6. Crimplene Seed Lifestyle
7. Temple Of Convenience
8. Jigsaw
9. Blood Soup
10. Prick Up Your Ears
11. Starling Pillow Case
12. See Through Nature
13. Stealing In The Name Of The Lord
14. Mystery Track

Ripped from glorious scratched vinyl (see comments)
If you like this then your in luck as you can still get a best of album here:

Leicester Square: the Best of Yeah Yeah Noh

and an album collecting all sides of their three singles at the excellent Phoenix Hairpins here.

Sore Throat - Kam-I-Kaz-E Kid

Sore Throat's third single and most probably the (very good) first attempt at getting national airplay. A real catchy song, even if the lyrics and cover are a little morbid. It's about a 23 year old girl who jumped from the observation deck of the Empire State building and lands on a sedan (cover picture) on West 33rd Street.

Sore Throat were always a very musically accomplished band (check out their first two singles here and here - or use the label in the side bar) and good fun to go and see.

I always had a soft spot for them and rate all of their songs. 'Kam-I-Kaz-E Kid' is the stand out track for me, although Crack Down is a bit poppy but grows on you.

The lyrics are on the back so as usual a high resolution scan included to let you sing along, I also found a full page advert for this single in an old copy of 'Sounds', another high resolution scan included. There was a press release with this but I can't find my copy, does anyone still have one?

Band: Sore Throat
Label: Hurricane Records
Year: 1979
Tracks:
1. Kam-I-Kaz-E Kid
2. Crack Down

Ripped from very scratched vinyl (see comment).

If you like this they did release an album 'Sooner Than You Think', but your going to have to try and track that down as none of their material appears to be on general availability.

Spear Of Destiny - Prisoner Of Love

Spear of Destiny's third single, everyone knows this one, but do you all know the brilliant b-side 'Rosie' and on this limited edition gate fold edition there's also two excellent live tracks one of my favourites 'Rainmaker' and 'Never Take Me Away'.

Prisoner of Love is an excellent single but I've always loved 'Rosie' and when you hear it you will immediately understand why. The live in Poland GDANSK tracks are equally good and it sounds like Kirk Brandon is using language for his own amusement (check out track 4).

So check out these tracks, do you agree 'Rosie' is a classic? or have I got it wrong?

Band: Spear Of Destiny
Label:
Year: 1984
Tracks:
1: Prisoner of love
2: Rosie
3: Rainmaker (Live In GDANSK)
4: Don't Turn Away (Live In GDANSK)

Ripped from glorious scratched vinyl (see comments)

If you like this then buy their excellent second album which this reissued version has all of these tracks and lots more (one of my all time favourite albums):

One Eyed Jacks

The Bernie Torme Band - I'm Not Ready

Most of you will know 'The Bernie Torme Band' from their two tracks (Streetfighter and Living For Kicks) on the classic 'Live At The Vortex' album, but I wouldn't be surprised if your not aware of their debut single 'I'm Not Ready'.

Classic punk surprisingly released on Jet Records the same stable as bands such as ELO (looks like another label that thought it would ride on the wave of punk). This most probably didn't help Bernie Torme to get known with Jet Records unlikely to push them or even to know how to, the story is that Jet paid each of them £40 a week for eighteen months and did little else.

Frustrated by their lack of success Bernie Torme and moved to Heavy Metal accepting an invitation to join Ian Gillans band.

So have a listen and what do you think? Should Bernie Torme have stuck with punk? Should they have been more successful? Leave a comment and tell ASFM what you think.

Band: The Bernie Torme Band
Label: Jet
Year: 1978
Tracks:
1. I'm Not Ready
2. She's So Free

Ripped from glorious scratched vinyl (see comments)

If you like this then your in luck you can still buy the classic 'Live at the Vortex' album here:

Live at the Vortex
and you can buy the a-side of this single plus lots more with a compilation of Bernie Torme punk stuff:

Punk or What

Nina Hagen Band - TV-Glotzer (White Punks On Dope)

This post came following a Tubes Posting over at Longy's excellent Punk Friction here, and a comment from The Wolfmen (new band formed by Marco Pirroni and Chris Constantinou and worth checking out here on their blog Bocca Di Lupo here) who said it was surprising that apart from 'The Motley Crue' no one had ever covered 'The Tubes' classic 'White Punks On Dope. I replied that Nina Hagen Band had and so here it is. The thing that I didn't mention is that its sung in German, so technically I guess the Wolfmen are right'.

If you liked the Tubes version you will most probably still like this version, it covers the original faithfully (apart from being sung in German), the b-side 'Naturträne' is a real strange one, a mixture of opera and rock, I'm still not sure about it, but try them out and leave a comment, does it work for you in German or are you sticking with Tubes classic version?

Band: Nina Hagen Band
Label: CBS
Year: 1978 Promo Copy (officially released 1979)
Tracks:
1. TV-Glotzer (White Punks On Dope)
2. Naturträne

Ripped from glorious scratched vinyl (see comments)

If you like this then you can get both sides plus lots more (in high quality) here:

Nina Hagen Band

Pirate Bay Spectrial

I'm sure most of you are already watching the case between 'Pirate Bay' (Torrent Site) and a consortium of US movie/music corparations over the sharing of copyright material. Check out the wired blog here, for a good summary of what's happened so far (don't forget to start from the bottom).

It's fascinating watching the Pirate Bay so called techie geeks versus the highly paid corporate lawyers. The Pirate Bay defendants have cleverly used technology to publicise the trial calling it the 'Spectrial' (a cross between Spectacle and Trial) and broadcasting the trial live using Twitter and encouraging blogs, other torrent sites, etc. to increase global awareness. For all the up to date news then follow the link here to go the special Spectrial section on Pirate Bay.

For a long time Pirate Bay have held an infamous reputation for ridiculing the fact that big corporations do not understand Swedish Copyright law and the torrent technology when they attempted to place take down notices and threatening to sue them (follow this link to see the legal threats and Pirate Bays often witty responses)

What ever your views are on sharing and the use of the Internet you have to be interested in the final outcome which could have a significant impact on how millions use the Internet today. So as a visitor to this blog you must have an interest in this topic, so leave a comment and tell us what you think of the Spectrial.

Although it could be a little dramatic I like the modern interpretation (from an anonymous comment on Pirate Bay here - scroll down a bit to find it) of a famous and brilliant poem 'First They Came....' said to be penned by Martin Niemoller a German Pastor and theologian born in 1892 (Follow this link if you want to know more about the original poem which I have also posted below the new one)

First They Came..... (Modern Interpretation) - Anonymous

When they came for Torrentspy,
I did not speak out;
I was not a movie guy.

When they came for Oink CD,
I did not speak out;
I was not a music guy.

When they came for Textbooktorrents,
I did not speak out;
I was not a reading guy.

Now they come for Pirate Bay..........
When they come to shut down the Internet,
Pray, there will be someone left to speak out.

First They Come...... - Martin Niemoller
In Germany, they came first for the communists,
and I didn't speak up because I wasn't a communist.

And then they came for the Trade Unionists,
and I didn't speak up because I wasn't a Trade Unionist.

And then they came for the Jews,
and I didn't speak up because I wasn't a Jew.

And then..... they came for me........
and by that time there was no one left to speak up.

White Boy - Kissing At Midnight 12" EP

This one is 'White Boys' fourth release again donated by Bruce Rhodes, (only one more to go, Bruce is still trying to obtain their third release) if you have checked out the other 'White Boy' posts (check out the labels side bar) you would know this is a strange band, and this is clearly not one of their best, and its not just me saying that, check out the review below:

"Damn, this is awful. Really awful. Living in Shadows is a terrible eighties rock song that's about twenty minutes long and doesn't even have a fucking ending. Be the First One is a dreadful new wave dance song. Kissing at Midnight is an awful dance song with fake drums, synth, doubled vocals and jerk off funk guitar. Coming Back Home is only 30 seconds long, but it has the most retarded harmonica part ever. Summary: Awful, awful, terrible, dreadful, awful, retarded"

Source plus all of the other White Boy single reviews here: 30underdc.com


Personally I think its a bit harsh and tracks two and three are not too bad, there just not great. But as usual Bruce and ASFM are keen to see what you think of these, so give them a try and leave a comment and tell us if you agree with 30underdc.com.

Band: White Boy
Label: Doodley Squat
Year: 1983
Tracks:
1. Kissing At Midnight
2. Coming Back Home
3. Living In The Shadows
4. Be The First

Ripped from Bruce's glorious scratched vinyl (see comments).

If you like White Boy then your just going to have to try and track all those Doodley Squat records the hard way.

Ultravox! - Live In Stockholm 19-10-77

I've previously posted how much I loved the original Ultravox!, I was never a fan of the second band without the ! and John Foxx. Now the Midge Ure incarnation has reformed I thought it was time to remind everyone how much better the original Ultravox! were.

This rough but listenable (track one is the worst but it gets better) bootleg has all of the old favourites, and includes tracks from their first same titled album and some from Ha! Ha! Ha!. It still makes me smile hearing the crowd start clapping when they think ROwrok has finished, and then it starts again (the great thing is they do it again when ROwrok is played in the encore).
If you saw the original Ultravox! it will help you to revive those memories and if you weren't lucky enough then listen to what you missed.

Band: Ultravox!
Label: It's a Bootleg
Year 1977
Album: Live In Stockholm 19-10-77
Tracks:
1. I Want To Be A Machine
2. ROckwrok
3. Slipaway
4. The Frozen Ones
5. A Distant Smile
6. Young Savage
7. My Sex
8. The Man Who Dies Everyday
9. Artificial Life
10. Wide Boys
11. Saturday Night In The City Of The Dead
12. The Wild, The Beautiful, And The Damned
13. ROckwrok
14. Fear In The Western World

Ripped from glorious scratched vinyl onto glorious hissing tape onto mp3 (see comment).

If you like this then buy all three of these excellent albums now:

Ultravox!

Ha-Ha-Ha

Systems Of Romance

The Avengers - American In Me 12" EP Repost

Reposted due to a minor omission, one track missing and its a real gem as well, Uh Oh!! now included.

Yet another classic from the Bruce Rhodes collection. This is the second EP from 'The Avengers' produced by Steve Jones whom they met when they supported the Sex Pistols in Winterland. I love 'American In Me' (is it me or can I hear a little of Green Days, American idiot - surely they wouldn't of copied).

The Avengers are still playing and you can follow them and some of their music at their myspace site here http://www.myspace.com/avengers and if you want to know more about them then check out here http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Avengers_(band) as well.

I sometimes wonder whether they were happy with the choice of their band name, do a Google and you get a famous (classic) UK TV program and a famous American comic both with the same name and you have to trawl a fair way down before finding this excellent band.

Band: The Avengers
Label: White Noise
Year: 1979
Tracks:
1. American In Me
2. Uh Oh!!
3. Corpus Christi
4. White Nigger

Ripped from Bruce's glorious scratched vinyl (see comment)

If you like this then you can still track down a few collections of singles and sessions (some of them on their myspace site). You can still get this one through Amazon, but its not cheap

The American in Me

Alex And The Horribles - Sleepwalking Into The Future

I got this one direct from Alex Goldstein, lead singer of 'Alex and the Horribles, from Rutherford, New Jersey. This is their debut album of which they are giving away free via mediafire, with the aim of increasing awareness about them and their music.

So on this basis a message to any other bloggers, try it and if you like it then post it on your own blogs (feel free to copy any of this post and the link in the comments section, this is the link provided by Alex so I'm sure they would like to keep it so they can see how many downloads they are getting) and to anyone else that likes it, rip a copy (now how often do you have permission to do that) and pass it on to your friends.

The line-up is Alex Goldstein (vocals), Derek Spaldo (lead guitar), Ramy Youssef (rhythm guitar), Thom Malach (bass), and Jesse Sosnicki (drums) and their influences are wide ranging including Stooges, Neil Young, Oasis, Teenage Fanclub, Replacements, Bruce Springsteen, and more (check out their myspace site).

I've played this a few times now and its really started to grow on me. The first 3 tracks are my favourites. 'Mary X ' sounds like a punked up Strokes. 'Make Out Like Japanese School Girls' is really catchy and reminds me of something I can't quite put my finger on (come on help me someone).

So give it a try and leave a comment and tell Alex and the band what you think.

You can find out more about them at their myspace site here www.myspace.com/alexandthehorribles or their blog alexandthehorribles.blogspot.com

Band: Alex and the Horribles
Year: 2009
Label: Anyone interested? (No, that's a question not a label name)
Album: Sleepwalking Into The Future
Tracks:
1. Mary X
2. Coming Down
3. Make Out Like Japanese School Girls
4. Dig Up My Soul
5. Mouth Jazz
6. White Elephant
7. Sleepwalking
8. Northern California
9. O Jin!

Ripped from some recording studio somewhere.

John Cale - Animal Justice 12" EP

John Cales excellent 3 track EP from 1977 was notable for the b-side and epic 8 minute plus 'Hedda Gabler' (not personally my favourite). My favourite of the three is 'Chicken Shit' which he wrote to mock his drummers decision to walk of stage during a live performance when 'Cale' chopped off a dead chickens head with a meat cleaver. Final track is an excellent cover of 'Chuck Berry's' famous track 'Memphis'.

John Cales discography is vast and diverse covering many different genres, this posting and other releases in the late 70's were readily accepted by many from the punk/new wave era and you can hear why. So while we're on the topic, if you like John Cale leave a comment saying whats your favourite album and why.

Artist: John Cale
Year: 1977
Label: Illegal Records
Tracks:
1. Chicken Shit
2. Memphis
3. Hedda Gabler

Ripped from someone else's (not sure where this came from now) glorious scratched vinyl (see comment)

If you like this then there's lots to choose from, first recommendation is the excellent live album 'Sabotage' which the new release includes all three tracks from this post plus the excellent 'Rose Garden Funeral Of Sores' which was covered later on by Bauhaus (some sources claim this was on the Animal Justice EP' but I don't remember it being on my now long lost copy.

Sabotage: Live

The Jam - In Concert 20-02-1982

This gig was just before the release of their 6th and final album 'The Gift', which in my opinion was not their best but ironically charted the highest (I clearly have no taste) at number 1.

Some excellent tracks here, still playing 'Down In The Tube Station' (my personal Jam favourite) and a couple from 'Sound Effects'.

The warm up for this gig was the previous posting from 'Department S' and seamlessly join if you play them back to back.

Band: The Jam
Year: 1982
Tracks:
1. Intro
2. The Gift
3. Down In The Tube Station At Midnight
4. Ghosts
5. Tales Of The Riverbank
6. Precious
7. A Town Called Malice
8. In The Crowd
9. Circus
10. Pretty Green
11. Start
12. Boy About Town
13. Gary Crowley Outro

Ripped from glorious hissing FM radio (see comments)

If you like this then, well I don't need to tell you that all their albums are excellent, but the two I would recommend are:

All Mod Cons
and

Setting Sons

Department S - In Concert 20-02-1982

This is more of a warm up set for 'The Jam' (which will follow some time soon) than a full gig. Recorded from the Radio 1 In Concert program you get six full songs, but hey as long as you get 'Is Vic There?' who cares (and check it out you also get a secret bonus track).

Another homemade cover, I bet you couldn't tell.

Band: Department S
Year: 1982
Tracks:
1. Intro
2. Is Vic There?
3. Going Left Right
4. I want
5. Clap Now
6. Tell Me About It
7. Going Up
8. Outro
9. Secret bonus - Is Vic There? (Italian Version)

Ripped from glorious hissing FM radio (see comments)

If you like this then get their originally unreleased album (Stiff refused to release it and I for one can't understand why) plus you now get their singles as well. Not bad eh!

Sub-Stance

Jamie Wednesday - Vote For Love 12" EP

This is 'Jamie Wednesdays' first of their two releases, both on the 'Pink Records' label. This one was released in 1985 but neither of them sold particularly well, and the band had split up by 1987. But bigger things were to come with James Morrison and Leslie Carter going on to form 'Carter USM' and James and Leslie became Jim Bob and Fruit Bat respectively. I saw Jamie Wednesday at the Mean Fiddler back in 83-84 and they did have a reasonable following but I guess it was mainly local, which would explain why the singles did not do so well.

Jamie Wednesday can also claim to have named the band 'Pop Will Eat It's Self' (if you wanna hear some of their stuff check out one of Longy's latest posting here) where in an interview with the NME Jim Bob said "pop music is ever-recycling its ideas, and that eventually pop will eat its self"

The other trivia point related to this single is their cover of the children's TV program soundtrack 'White Horses'. I used to hate this program, it was black and white (showing my age now), originally from Yugoslavia but dubbed in English, about some young girl living with her uncle and horses or something. I didn't like the soundtrack either (which you can hear here) until I heard Jamie Wednesdays version.

So check it out and leave a comment.

Band: Jamie Wednesday
Label: Pink Records
Year: 1984
Tracks:
1. Vote For Love
2. The Wall
3. White Horses
4. Button and Bows

Ripped from glorious scratched vinyl (check comments)

If you like this, you may like their second single 'We Three Kings Of Orient Aren't'.

ASFM Music Knowledge Challenge 1 Repost

So here's an opportunity for you all to show how wide and deep your music knowledge is. By the way I like to think that all of the numbers in the picture represent the different bit of the brain that are relevant to each music genre, but I'm sure all of the neuroscientists out there would disagree with me.

I received this email from a Juan de da Fuente:

Hello

I found in an old cassette, recorded in 1985, four songs (Attach) without name.

Do you Know?

I´m looking for the name of the songs and the groups who play them.

Please, can you help me?

Thank you very much

Unfortunately I didn't know any of them (and I'm normally not bad on music trivia). I must admit their not my normal music genre, but I do like the fourth track and would now like to know myself.

The songs have been ripped at 64bps and they are not complete, but they are good enough to listen to and hopefully identify.

The prize for winning this challenge is recognition within the blogsphere for being a music nerd, an honour I'm sure you'll agree is worth having (if I could of answered this I would off).

So the race is on, who is the king of music trivia knowledge out there (I can already think of a few candidates - no names :-))

Get the songs here:
http://www.mediafire.com/?2j5fmxnnais

Check out the comments for a better quality download

OK thanks to anonymous (this could be more than one) we have three out of four so far

1. Gun Law - The Kane Gang
2. Happy Shopper - The Wolfhounds
3. Everything Golden - Passionel
4. ????

Cult Figures - In Love EP

Getting a little spooky now, after many months absence Bruce Rhodes returns with the previous post, and then the following day we have the return of 'Paul Spizzle' with the classic 'Cult Figures'. In Love EP.

This was their second and final single and followed the outstanding debut classic 'Zip Nolan'. Released in 1980 and again released on 'Rather Records'. In my opinion 'Cult Figures' were a band everyone should of known but still appear to be more known by the cult (excuse the pun) and obscurist music followers. Three tracks, first up the excellent 'I Remember', followed by 'Laura Kate' by a mainly instrumental (there's a bit of "hey ho" towards the end), that I must find the tab for (anyone got it). Last up is 'Almost A Love Song' this is the pick of the three for me. So leave a comment and this time don't forget to thank Paul Spizzle for this donation.

Ripped from Pauls Spizzles glorious scratched vinyl

Band: Cult Figures
Label: Rather Records
Year: 1980
Tracks:
1. I Remember
2. Laura Kate
3. Almost A Love Song

If you want to know more about 'Cult Figure' then check them out over at Topplers here (just use the pick list menu).

If you like this then you have a great chance to buy the original vinyl from Paul on eBay here:

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&ssPageName=STRK:MESELX:IT&item=200301517819

The Weirdos - Destroy All Music 7"

He's back, Bruce Rhodes returns with another gem, this time from Los Angeles, California 'The Weirdos'. This was 'The Weirdos' debut single, a three track single released in 1977 on the Bompl label. if this doesn't get you jumping around, nothing will.

First up is 'Destroy All Music' and in Bruce's words "it's 1.40m minutes of blistering snotty punk". On the flip side you get 'Life Of Crime' this ones a little slower and my personal pick of the three. Last up is 'Why Do You Exist?', another fast one and all over in 1.37 minutes. All three tracks are classic examples of 1977 punk, so try them out and leave a comment tell us what you think, and don't forget to thank Bruce for introducing this gem.

Ripped from Bruce's glorious scratched vinyl

Band: The Weirdos
Label: Bompl
year: 1977
Tracks:
1. Destroy All Music
2. Life Of Crime
3. Why Do You Exist?

If you like 'The Weirdos' then your in luck, you can get a couple of albums which have this post and their other singles as well as demos and sessions from here:

Destroy All Music

Weird World Vol.1