In The Trashcan
Records GEM027
"Punk is pogo dancing? What a joke! You can pogo on disco
beats and swing on punky tunes; or just listen to these
efforts..."
The Vibrators with Chris Spedding? And as producer Mickie Most? What has this to do with punk? Nothing I guess. Still it's a funny track and perfect to open this volume of songs about Pogo the clown dancing to the new fad in '77 in the UK.
In 1977 Sex Pistols fan Stuart Goddard invented Adam Ant. His previous band The B-Sides became The Ants. He wrote this song about a lady he saw naked and put it on the B-side of their first single in 1978.
1980 punk tune on The Louder Label, a Hull based record label. I know nothing about the band. I assume this was their sole release.
Haunted by their success with "2-4-6-8 Motorway" in 1977, they changed their name to TRB, but never could equal their debut release. This 1978 flipside, however, reveals a song writing ability. Is it punk? Is it pop? It's something inbetween, like most of the bands that were signed to major record labels after their initial brief success.
Don't you love their "Money talks"? I do. Here's the flipside, with a punkier attitude, yet a still too poppy sounding for 1977, mainly thanks to singer Pauline Murray who pursued a solo career in 1980.
Completely ignored flipside from 1979 by the all-girl band that gave us "Identity" and "Oh bondage up yours". This was their final single. Then singer Poly Styrene left and was replaced by baldie Sal Solo; and also the band's name changed: Classix Nouveaux was the result.
New-wave post-punk outfit from Japan released in 1979 on Windmill. Although they recorded several albums in the early 80s, I don't know much about the band. I just know this has become a very sought-after 45.
Issued by Fabulous Records and Quarry Records under production of Steve Lillywhite in 1980. Initially a punk band that moved towards powerpop and broke up after this 45. Reunited in the late 90s.
Pre-Tears For Fears punky new wave à la Devo with a 1980 release on Precision, the first of three singles. A year later Roland Orzabal formed Tears For Fears with Curt Smith and the rest is history.
A Belgian band in 1990 on a Belgian record label. Boom Records tried (and failed) to be a garage label, yet succeeded in releasing excellent records. Here are The Excessives with "Bargain", written by Pete Townsend. No version will ever beat The Who original, though.
Arty punkpop by Patti Palladin and Judith Nylon who formed Snatch in 1977 and had this debut 45 released on Lightning Records. Both girls went solo in the 80s. Recommended is Palladin's cooperation with Johnny Thunders, that gave us the fantastic album "Copy cats".
I believe they came from Spain, formed by sisters Victoria and Marissa. Rick and Frankie completed the line-up. Punky guitar pop on a German record label and second of two 45s. A 1997 Thunderbaby release.
The first time I heard "Fall out", I immediately loved it. When I found out it was The Police, I couldn't understand. Years later I bought the 45 and when I flipped it over, it blew my mind. Was this the same band as "De do do do, de da da da"? 1977 punk rock it is, nothing more, nothing less, except maybe that they were real musicians. On this recording it was still Henry Padovani who played the guitar. After his leaving the band, he became one of The Electric Chairs, the backing band of Wayne/Jayne County. This was the first release of a new and important indie label, Illegal Records, owned by The Police's drummer's brother, Miles Copeland.
Four teen girls who succeeded in recording a BBC session in 1997. The result is this powerful garage punk 45, released by Damaged Goods. Also their second 45 came out on the same record label. See vol 52.
UK Decay's masterpiece was "For my country", comped too many times. "Unwind" is the completely ignored flipside. Perhaps they were the first goth punk band. Formed in 1978 they predated bands as Bauhaus, Southern Death Cult, Theatre Of Hate,... They disbanded in 1982 with a final gig in The Klub Foot, which would become a psychobilly temple soon. A 1980 Fresh Records release.
Or Douglas Colvin, the most loved in the Ramones, who died in 2002 from a heroin OD, just like his old friend Sid Vicious 23 years earlier. Here Dee Dee is helped out by The Cramps' Lux Interior in 1997. On the other side you'll hear the vocals of Joey Ramone, his only real friend in the band. Released on Blackout! Records. Artwork on the sleeve was from Dee Dee himself.
