In The Trashcan Records
GEM001
"My two favourite years in music history are 1966 and
1977. That year was to Europe what 1955 was to the US: a music revolution.
No more heroes from symphonic rock bands, but kids from the street. Like
those kids from the garage in 1966. Oh yes, 1977 was heaven..."
Ain't no legend? But they are or were. Their very first gig was at the legendary Mont De Marsan Punk Festival in France with The Damned and The Clash. A while later they recorded 5 songs and 4 months later they split. Drummer Rod Latter went on to play with The Adverts while singer Alan Shaw joined ex-Damned Brian James for The Brains. Third member Robert Crash played the bass and founded Psychotic Tanks after the split. This is a damn fine punk rock 45 from the early early days.
The A-side being a smash hit, this b-side has been forgotten, it seems. Burnel's fuzzy bass intro opens a bizarre song filled with crazy synth sounds by Greenfield and Cornwell's deep dark vocals.
The Roadies aka Lewis 'n Luce tried to destroy The Leader Of The Pack by The Shangri-La's with new nonsense lyrics. Instead they delivered an insane and hilarious cover version.
A short-lived Dutch punk rock band from the early days featuring song writer Guus Boers. This was the B-side of their 3rd 45, all from 1977. One more 45 would follow and also 2 albums.
"I saw my baby getting sloppy" is the full title of this first recording by this seminal new wave band, released on their own Booji Boy label. It's the flipside of their version of "I can't get no satisfaction". In the UK it was issued on Stiff. Their weird stage looks and eerie synth sounds were their trademarks until they sold out to sign to Warner Bros.
Philip Chevron, later with The Pogues, started his first band in 1975, which was changed into The Radiators From Space or The Radiators a year later. In January, this first Irish punk band, recorded their first release, a four-song EP called "Four On The Floor" for the new record label Big Beat, and also a 45 release on Chiswick b/w Love Detective. A cover version of "Television screen" became the title theme for a television series called The Blizzard Of Odd.
London based record label Step Forward Records started its short lived career by releasing this fabulous punk rock single. After a second 45 the band switched to CBS and split soon after releasing a third 45 and an album. Jeremy Valentine wrote all the lyrics. It was reissued in 2007 on Sanctuary.
Hailing from Cambridge this foursome recorded this excellent punk 45, the first of two for Raw Records, that released about 30 singles in '77-'78. Damaged Goods reissued the 45 in 2006. These Stooges fans were called James Burkhill, Chris Free, Craig Harris and Andrew O'Hanrahan.
One of Britain's very first punk bands with a saxophone. It's their 5th single release. A Northern Ireland hard rock band heard this song and changed its name into Stiff Little Fingers and recorded Alternative Ulster. The Vibrators were founded in 1976 and still exist.
After Gene October left the band Chelsea, the rest was joined by Bob Andrews and formed Generation X. Billy Idol switched from guitar to vocals and soon they had a Top 40 hit with "Your generation". The flipside however is an excellent punk rock tune that must not be forgotten, written by Idol and Tony James. All members were active in several others bands when Billy Idol went solo in 1981. Tony James formed Sigue Sigue Sputnik.
Steven Leckie was the man behind this short lived Canadian band, then using stage name Dog. He released this first 45 on his own record label Vile Records. 20 years later it was reissued on Man's Ruin.
"Where have all the boot boys gone?" will always be one of my fave 1977 tunes. It's flipside is a fine example of UK 77 punk rock. It was their second release, the first one on major label Decca. A dozen more would follow. In 1988 Damaged Goods reissued the 45.
Formed in 1974 as Tiger Lily by Dennis Leigh aka John Foxx and Billy Currie they signed to Island Records and changed into Ultravox! After their first "Dangerous rhythm" this 45 got a little more airplay, mainly thanks to producer Steve Lillywhite. "Slip away" is the flipside.
It's the B-side of the very first Beggars Banquet release. Powerful and fast punk on this debut single. The A-side is even better. This 45 is a must have for all punk rock lovers.
Flipside to "In the city" this crude punk tune has been ignored for so long. I think it's one of their best songs from the early days. Don't forget they've existed already for 5 years when they released their first single in 1977 for Polydor which went straight to #20 in the UK charts.
Another Raw Records release and this one wasn't reissued. The sleeve is hideous, but the song is A1 punk rock from '77. Band members were Bo Zo, Micky Morbid, Andy Septic and Oddy Ordish.
