This time you need to leave a comment and thank Stuart Blackaller for responding to the ASFM Request 3 and sharing this debut and only single from "Strate Jacket".Strate Jacket were a four piece from Southampton led by brothers Terry (vocals) and Gordon (guitar) O'Brien. There was also Martin James (Bass) but unfortunately no name for drums (anyone). They formed in 1977 and lasted till 1981, although it should be noted in 1980 they renamed the band to "The Captains".
So what do you get? Two tracks, the a-side "You're A Hit" is the stand-out track and this one has really grown on me, first play I wasn't to sure. Strate Jacket definitely sound more accomplished, musically and vocally, than many of the other punk bands from the late 70's.
Band: Strate Jacket
Label: Wessex
Year: 1980
Tracks:
1. You're A Hit
2. Too Soon, Too Young
Ripped from Stuart's glorious scratched vinyl.
If you like this then I'm afraid there's nothing else that was officially released. There are some demo's around, but according to Stuart the recordings are a little rough. But I'm sure if you leave a comment he would be happy to share.
40 comments:
thanks stuart :)
please,wanted single Red Letters - Sacred Voices (1979),it is so hard:(
Great post. I've always wondered what the second side sounded like. Thanks.
Thanks Gary & Stuart.
Longy
Sounds excellent - good work all.
Thanks for all the comments, and glad you're all happy with it. If anyone wants the VERY dodgy sound quality demos, perhaps you could contact me via Gary? If thats ok with him of course.
Stuart
Cheers Stuart and Gary. I think it was me that initially requested this one. Great to hear them again after so many years.
Strate Jacket were a fine band on the Southampton/Bournemouth punk circuit circa ‘77/78. I saw them supporting many of the ‘First division’ bands of the day.
Bournemouth probably doesn’t conjure up images of being the epicentre of Punk Rock in ‘77, But the town hosted many great gigs…..The Clash, Jam, Dead Boys, Sham, Gen X, Siouxsie, Damned, Blondie, to name but only just a few.
Happy Daze
Cheers
Kes
Thanks everyone for all of the comments.
Kes it must of been you, although you didn't leave a name first time around, so thanks for putting it on the radar.
Stuart happy to take the request, and as I am a completetist let's go for the demos as well.
I'll take the demos off ya. They can't be to bad, right?
Interesting to know what year the demos date from. The single is from 1980 which would have been towards the end of their career. 77/78 they sounded a lot more punk’ish. They had a great early period song called Talkin’ About London.
No problem if the demos are a bit rough……Most are!
Kes
Kes, Nice to see your comments, thanks. A lot of the Southampton punks used to go to Bournemouth as well for bands, usually, I believe, to end up sleeping 'outdoors' if they missed the transport back! Anyway, the demos are on their way, including Talkin About London so hope you enjoy.
Stuart
Many thanks Stuart,
The Bournemouth scene circa 77/78 was centred around a club/disco called the Chelsea Village/Village Bowl. After the Clash and Richard Hell played the Winter Gardens in Nov ’77 and a full scale riot ensued, Punk bands were banned from the venue and were only booked by the much smaller Village Bowl.
Even in 1980 on the 16 Tons tour the Clash had to play the Village Bowl, which was a ridiculously small place for them at that time in their career. Needless to say it was great for the fans, as it was only slightly larger than the Marquee.
Apart from seeing Strate Jacket support Gen X and Sham 69, I also saw them play at an outdoor ‘Rock Against Racism’ gig in Southampton in ‘78. Chelsea were supposed to play as well but didn’t turn up. Needless to say the ‘jacket did the biz. The last time I saw them must have been around ‘79, at a place called ‘Capone’s’ (well it was the 70’s!) in Bournemouth.
Cheers
Kes
Sorry mate but SJ didn't play the RAR festival in Hoglands Park as two of them were at HMP at the time - a result of a Teds v Punks fight after the Gen X gig.
the band you saw were either K-oz from Winchester or Catch 22 from Southampton ( later members of Men They Couldn't Hang)
Sorry mate but SJ didn't play the RAR festival in Hoglands Park as two of them were at HMP at the time - a result of a Teds v Punks fight after the Gen X gig.
the band you saw were either K-oz from Winchester or Catch 22 from Southampton ( later members of Men They Couldn't Hang)
Hmmm…that’s strange.
I’m sure they were there, as that was one of the reasons I went along. However, I am aware of the trouble at the ‘78 Generation X show and it's ramifications for SJ as I was at the gig. I must stand corrected on that one then.
Only other band I can recall from the RAR gig was a punk style band with a black/mixed race singer (?).
Kes
Amazing single. Both sides are fantastic.
Thanks Stuart and Kes for the early Bournemouth punk scene references here. It helps fill in some gaps in the history of the early Bournemouth and Dorset punk scenes we've been collating here on my old band's blog-type bit!
http://atrox.org.uk/site/2006/12/14/atrox-website/#comments
It's a lot to wade through but you might find some stuff of interest and if you fancy posting some info on the late 70s scene that us early 80s whippersnappers were too young to remember, even better!
Cheers,
Charlie
thanks for all of the comments, its great to get all the extra memories and information. Makes blogging worth while
My recollection is that the line-up was Terry (vocals/rhythm), Gordon (vocals/lead), Beastie (bass), Martin (Drums).
I think Catch 22 did play the RAR gig in the park, as well as the Ebony Rockers.
The single also appears on a punk compilation. If I find it at home I'll post details.
Just found the compilation containing Too Soon, Too Young: "Every One a Classic - Vol 5" http://www.velvetplumms.clara.net/punkrock/eoac.html
Tony
Hi came across the site by accident. I remember Strate Jacket well, saw them supporting Sham at Village bowl Bmth then supporting Gen X a few months later. They also played at Capones in Bmth a couple of times (remeber they did 2 sets in 1 nite once). I loved em remember the Sham gig in particular as there were skins everywhere and Terry (singer) got covered in gob and I was only 14. Love the single and I did have a demo tape of theirs which included a version of Fireball xl5 but it has been lost over the years so Kes, I would love to get hold of a copy of their demos if possible. I remember another one of their songs was Punk bashin which went something like 'punk bashing, its smashing, in the summer of love'
Is it Stuart who has the demo?
download link now working...cheers u made an old geezer very happy.
Small world phurst63. I was at all the gigs you mention above. I was sixteen at the time, and it’s a long time ago now obviously, but I can still remember that Sham 69 gig quite well…I’d never seen Skinheads that old and scary/heavy looking before. That was one of the best gigs I went to back then. Sham were so good live. The Gen X gig was great as well. The Jolt were also on the bill that night I think.
Cheers
Kes
Still got my ticket stub for Gen X and Jolt £1.25. Sham gig was my first gig ever,told my parents I was going to see the late night showing of Jaws!!Like you I had never seen so many skins before and it was very violent but cos I was so young I didnt give a shit. I was grounded for the 1977 Clash gig at the winter gardens after asking if I could go, so I soon learnt the less the parents knew the better!! I was 13/14 at the time and punk totally blew my mind.
Hi Phurst and kes thanks for keeping the discussions going. if it wasn't for Stuart I never would have heard of Strate Jacket, it just goes to show how regional everything was in the late 70's. I thought I knew and owned nearly every punk vinyl that existed but since running this blog I now realize how little I actually knew.
Yep. Makes you wonder how many other local ‘77 era bands have been forgotten in the mists of time. The fact that people do remember SJ must be proof that they were a good band both live and on record, and worthy of note.
At that Gen X gig I remember Billy’s mike packing up in the middle of No No No and him standing swinging it around his head like a lasso whist the roadies fixed the problem. Mark Laff and Tony James kept the crowd happy by playing a drum/bass accompaniment.
Ok I‘m out of here on this one. Probably at risk of boring the pants off people! Great to have the opportunity to reminisce about the good old, bad old days though.
Cheers
Kes
I know "Simon Oldem" (i think thats correct?) was a member of the band , as he was in the same year as me @ bitterne park sec school , but i wouldnt think iy was in this lineup , as he would have still been going to that school !!!
Its "Simon Oldham"
Hi mrlimbo hopefully someone else who is on the know will reply to your comment.
I was a roadie of sorts for strate jacket in their ealy years when John Russell played the drums, and Nic Petford played the bass. Nic is now a Professor (saw him on the telly recently discussing volcanos!) I recorded the band during rehearsals in French street, Southampton. Quality is gloriously punk.
Hi jenningstime, thanks for the extra info. It's great hearing an ex punk is now a Professor.
Do you still have the rehearsal recordings? If so it would be great to post them, with acknowledgment to you of course.
All the best
Yes, I still have the rehearsal recording. Would you prefer me to upload it somewhere and post the link here? Or I can put it on a CD and send it to you. From my memory of the time, the reason I was a Roadie was because I was older than than the rest of the band and could therefore drive. Laughingly I could get the drum kit, bass guitar, the drummer and the bass player into my Reliant supervan!The O'Brien brothers were wary of me because I was 21 or 22 yrs old and far too middle-class to be a punk. Maybe they were right, but John Russell and Nic Petford were even more middle class than me! As I went round to pick John up for a gig once he had to sneak out of the house with his bondage leg straps in a bag in case his Mother caught him wearing them. Needless to say that at the gig he was in full punk gear.
Lastly, I recall that most of the band's tunes from those early days were written by Nic Petford though I guess the O'Brien brothers would contest that
just had a look and here's the link to what Nic Petford is up to these days, and yes, it really is the same loud-mouthed bass player!
http://www.bournemouth.ac.uk/about/people_at_bu/key_people/nick_petford.html
Hi Jenningstime, thanks for the replies, love the profs bio - no mention of his punk days :-)
If you upload the file and leave the link here, I will create a new post. Happy to add your words as well if you want to submit any, also are you happy with being called jenningstime on the post?
Here's a link to Strate jacket in rehearsal, French street, Southampton.
http://www.sendspace.com/file/gk0uj9
I'm have no idea what the year was but here's the tracklisting:
1. Stop press
2. City Life
3. Punk Bashin
4. I'll Get Even One Day
5. Talkin About London
6. Stop Press
7. Punk Bashin
8. I'll Get Even One Day
9. Cash in Boys
10. Out In The Street
11. Boredom City
Strate Jacket Demo:
12. Too Soon Too Young
13. Talking About London
14. Cash in Boys
15. I'll Get Even One Day
16. City Life
Single
17. Too Soon Too Young
18. You're a Hit
The rehearsal occurred one afternoon and the band essentially went through their set twice.
Terry O'brien vocal
Gordon O'brien guitar
Nick Petford Bass
John Russell Drums
Quite a few friends of the band were there one of whom I remember was called Scotty.
I've no idea if the demo is the same as the other one mentioned elsewhere, and I've no idea where I got it from but I think that it was recorded after John and Nick had left the band.
The sound quality improves after the first demo number.
Finally I've included both sides of the single.
The download link lasts for about a month from this date (23-4-10) so if it dosen't work just message me and I will upload it again.
Apologies for not being able to break up the mp3 file into individual tracks but sendspace appears not to allow it.
If you're going to create a new post I'm happy for you to use my neame; Michael Jennings
Hi Michael, got it, thanks v much, no problem braking up the file, I can do that. Looking forward to listening to it. I will try and get this posted on Sunday. All the best Gary
Many thanks 4 dis rare one. Loved Strate Jacket, remembered most songs but forgot stop press & cash in boys, shame they never made an album. Great post cheers
Thanks for the comment anon, now you can chekc out some more with the rehearsals and the new demo tape
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