X-S Discharge - Hassles

  

  Something a little different today, a little older than usual but (sort of) a new release all the same.

  XS Discharge were a band from the Elderslie district of Paisley formed by twin brothers Paddy and Charles “Chik” Doherty who's parents had come over to Scotland from Ireland. They started off in the early 70's playing Irish rebel songs interspersed with covers of Bowie and Alex Harvey in bands such as Zenith, Phoenix, and Lonely Road before embracing the punk revolution.

 

   I think their first release came in 1979 when they contributed a track (Machete Shuffle) to the Spectacular Commodity compilation ep from the Groucho Marxist Record Co:Operative. The ep also featured songs by Mod Cons, Sneex, The Poems and The Mentol Errors.

The following year they released a 4 track ep titled Life's A Wank and it's one of those songs I'm posting today.

 

   But why you ask. Why go back to 1980 when for the last few years the blog's been concentrating on new releases?

  The reason is that that Sealedrecords have released the Groucho Marxist Record Co:Operative compilation album on white vinyl (plus a 40 page booklet) which gathers together a number of lesser known "classics" released by Paisley punk bands between 1979 and 1981. You can check it out here :  https://sealedrecords2.bandcamp.com/album/groucho-marxist-record-co-operative

I'll play one of the Defiant Pose songs on this week's Just Some Punk Songs show.

  

  This track sums up the attitude of punks back in the day. Fuck it. It's just a way of life, let's get on with living. It's called Hassles... 

The Chords - Maybe Tomorrow

  Today seems a good day to slip in a classic......

  The Chords formed in south east London in 1978 and were one of the more successful of the mod revival bands that hitched a ride on the punk/new wave juggernaut. Often compared with The Jam, they were originally signed to Jimmy Pursey's J P Productions though most of their success came once they were on Polydor.

The classic line up featured Billy Hassett (vocals/guitar), Martin Mason (bass), Chris Pope (guitar) and Brett "Buddy" Ascott (drums). They released their debut single, Now It's Gone, in 1979 and followed it up with chart hit Maybe Tomorrow. Their debut album was 1980's So Far Away.

  There were a number of other singles but they called a day in 1981 (they got back together to tour and release a single in 2010). A compilation of their best stuff titled This Is What They Want came out in 2000 on Polydor.

  One of the best of the mod revival singles of the time, this is Maybe Tomorrow.....


Sometimes I just get a feeling
Crazy dreams inside
People hiding wearing uniforms
Screams of laughter shouts you lied
Pointed fingers and questions why
Scared scared people with their lives all torn

Imgination
A real sound
From the streets
From the towns

Sometimes I watch and wait
Signs of voices and screams
Dreaming now is this just a funny joke
Can this all be just a dream
Oh no it can't be it's to obscene
Thats when I see you staring at me

Imgination
A real sound
From the streets
From the towns
Silent Footsteps
Whispers all about
It's too late
The deadly underground

Cause we saw you
Surely not this time
Yes we saw you
You were wearing the uniforms
Yes you were wearing the uniforms
But it ain't no crime

Sometimes I go all silent
And lose all sense of time
Your hating mind eyes with thought
Where and when the sun don't s***ne
When the dogs don't bark or whine
Thats when I see you stare around

Reality
Or just lies
From those who
Talk with lead
Be good now
And don't do nothing
Cause if you do
Bang bang
Bang bang
Your dead

Disorder - Air Raid

 There was more than one punk band named Disorder back in the early 80's but today's song is by the band from Sunderland, in the north east of England.

  Comprising of Mark Rough (vocals), Steven Halsted (guitar), Malcolm Comb (drums) and David O'Leary (bass), they formed in Town End Farm in 1978 (initially they were called Cranium Disorder). Whilst they didn't go on to achieve the fame of another local band, The Toy Dolls, they did release a couple of decent singles. The first of those came out on Ace Records in 1980, featuring the songs Air Raid/Law And Disorder, only 750 copies were produced. The follow up, Reality Crisis/1984 followed on Durham Book Centre Records later the same year.

  An incident at a Sunderland gig in which David O'Leary crapped in the sink of Revillos' singer Fay Fife led to them being barred from all North East Polytechnics!

  Steve Halsted left the band in September 1980 and they split up not long after, musical differences cited as the reason. There was an 8 track compilation released on Thought Crime Records in 2014 (which I've just noticed was mastered at North London Bomb Factory by Red Dons' Daniel Husayn). You can download today's song free here :  https://thoughtcrimerecords.bandcamp.com/album/disorder-fires-light-the-sky-lp

  This is a superb song that deserves your attention, it's called Air Raid.......



Bombers blasting Britain, death fills the air
bodies are scattered, there is a big scare
white beams of light, stem from ground
sirens wail, buildings fall down

Air raid, get down in the shelter
air raid, turn out the lights
air raid, grab your children
air raid, cos they're quivering with fright

The ground opens up, as bombers start to rape
destruction everywhere, there is no escape
violence can be seen, fires light the sky
bodies lie under debris, innocents die

Air raid, get down in the shelter
air raid, turn out the lights
air raid, grab your children
air raid, cos they're quivering with fright

The Panics - I wanna kill my mom

  A wonderfully sloppy song today that came out in 1980 on Gulcher Records.

  The Panics were the self titled best band in Bloomington, Indiana and featured John Barge (vocals), Ian Brewer (guitar), Yara Cluver (bass) and Mike Ost (drums). Their crowning glory was the aforementioned 7" which featured the songs I Wanna Kill My Mom, Best Band and Tie Me Up Baby (this track was a cover of a song by The Gizmos from their Never Mind The Sex Pistols Here's The Gizmos ep).

  A compilation album surfaced in 2001 titled 1980-1981 : I Wanna Kill My Mom!!! Mostly recorded live and featuring several Sex Pistols covers it's probably an acquired taste.

 

Peter & the Test Tube Babies - Run Like Hell

 






























  The purpose of this blog is that it's an outlet for me to have some fun and to have a place to cobble together some of the songs that I love. Hopefully anyone who stumbles across it will find plenty that they like too and if they've not heard the songs before then that's a bonus. Mostly I try to steer away from choosing too well known tracks because if everyone's already heard something then it's a bit pointless posting it. Having said that, it struck me that what someone like myself, who was a teenager in the UK in late 70's/early 80's, might deem to be obvious might not be familiar to someone who's a teenager now and lives in Poland, Singapore or Kenya (yep, happily people from all over tend to occasionally visit). So with that in mind I'm going to find room to add a few of the songs that I know well but maybe some of you lot don't. Starting today with this.....


  Peter And The Test Tube Babies hail from Peacehaven, East Sussex, and were formed in 1978 by Peter Bywaters (vocals), Del "Strangefish" Greening (guitar), Chris "Trapper" Marchant (bass) and Trevor Rutherford (drums). With a mission statement to drink alcohol and have fun they soon became one of the countries most popular acts. You can get all the info you need regarding releases from their site ( http://www.testtubebabies.co.uk/ ), Bywaters and Greening have kept the flag flying and the band are still popular on the punk circuit today though they now feature Paul "H" Henrickson on bass and Dave O'Brien on drums.

  The song I'm posting was a single that came out in 1980 on No Future and is a good example of their early sound, it's called Run Like Hell........

I was down the local disco getting' off with this girl., things were going really good, going really well.
We was alone in a corner kissing and then I heard, this bloke come up behind me and say ..
" Oi, that's my fucking bird!! "

Down the local disco eyeing-up some skirt, she was giving-it all that, god she was a flirt.
She came up to me and said: "Do you wanna dance ?" Well I thought this is it I'm in here with a chance.

Then this bloody great big geezer said, " 'ere mate that's my girl"
Well I didn't want no trouble, so I run like bloody hell.

Run like hell, run like hell.

Alone at a party pissed out of me head, well I don't know how I get there but I ended up in bed.
When I woke up in the morning I was alone no more, but as I was getting dressed her boyfriend came in thru the door.

Forgotten Rebels - I Think Of Her

 
A classic oldie today, from one of Canada's greatest punk bands. The Forgotten Rebels got together back in '77, they hail from Hamilton, Ontario and despite many line up changes, they're still together. Still featuring vocalist and founder member Mike Grelecki (aka Mickey DeSadest), they are rounded out by Jeffrey Campbell (guitar), Shawn Maher (bass) and Dan Casale (drums). Today's song was on their debut album, In Love With The System, which was released in 1980 on Star Records. As well as DeSadist, other band members at the time were Ali McCombo (guitar), Pogo Au Gogo (bass) and Larry Electrician (drums). One of punk's best, this is I Think Of Her.......

Every time I think of her, I close my eyes.
She was a velvet doll, she was a punk rocker. 
When I walked off stage I fell in love with her.
I stared at her from across the bar - I want her near to me.
So close and dear to me.
Later that night she asked me home, so I took her home well where we were all alone.

I think of her, when she's not around.
I think of her, when she's in the underground.
I think of her, when she's not in town.
I think of her.

I held her tight as she clutched my hand.
Can you understand? I gotta be her man.
She became special to me just in a night.
You see the dreams we shared, the dreams we had.
Then for awhile, for about a week we played a silly adult game of hide and seek.
But now I gotta have that girl to hold me tight forever. Baby!

I think of her, when she's not around.
I think of her, when she's in the underground.
I think of her, when she's not in town.
I think of her.

UK Subs - Barbie's dead.

Usually I try to post songs that people might not have heard before (which is why you get The Gee Strings instead of The Clash) but occasionally I'll slip in a band that sups at punk's top table. Today I'm highlighting a song by a band who've been around forever and who've released a virtual A-Z of albums. UK Subs were formed in 1977 and it wasn't long before they gained a stranglehold on the UK charts, scoring 7 consecutive top 30 hits between 1979-81. Fronted by the indefatigable Charlie Harper, they show no signs of slowing down, no doubt they'll be gigging in front of a rabid crowd somewhere right up until it's time to say bye bye planet. It's not easy to select just one song but I'll plump for one that came out in 1980 on the classic Brand New Age album, this is Barbie's Dead.....

Barbie wore black, black hat
Barbie wore gloves, warm gloves
Barbie was thin, white skin
Barbie's in bed, she's dead

Bellboy cries for Barbie
Mailman cries for Barbie
Gasman cries for Barbie
Said come on let's get drunk

Barbie had a gun, field gun
Barbie had a bird, blackbird
Barbie had a car, Jaguar
Barbie was rich, rich bitch

Boys they cry for Barbie
Girls they cry for Barbie
Daddy cries for Barbie
Then they all got drunk

Barbie's dead
Barbie's dead
Barbie's dead
Barbie's dead

When Barbie was alive, so alive
Barbie did sing, sweet things
Barbie had pink hair, spiked hair
Barbie loved rock, punk rock

Boys danced with Barbie
Girls played with Barbie
Daddy he loved Barbie
And the whole party got drunk

Barbie's dead
Barbie's dead
Barbie's dead
 

Eddie and the Subtitles - American Society

"I DON'T WANNA WATCH TELEVISION
 I DON'T WANNA GO TO THE MOVIE
 I DON'T WANNA DROWN IN AMERICAN SOCIETY"


One of the albums that the subject of yesterday's update, Geza X, helped produce was Skeletons In The Closet by Eddie And The Subtitles which came out in 1981. From Southern California, the band are pretty much forgotten nowadays but were a big influence on the Orange County scene, they shared a stage several times with Black Flag and also could count many local bands such as The Adolescents as fans. Despite this they didn't really break out of their neighbourhood and their records weren't produced in great numbers. They released a single called Fuck You Eddie! (featuring the songs Louie Louie and American Society) in 1980 as well as a couple of albums, Skeletons In The Closet and Dead Drunks Don't Dance and that was it until a compilation album, also called Fuck You Eddie! appeared in 2008. Covered by several bands, including L7, the version of American Society which appeared on the debut album is different to the single version so check that out too but today's update features the original......

Toxic Reasons - War Hero

Formed in Dayton, Ohio in 1979, Toxic Reasons, like many other bands, found the going tough in those early days..... "Times weren't easy for the band in the early days living in Dayton,Ohio, a city in a state hardly noted for punk music,but the band survived .There were many days when,Ed,Rob,Bruce,J.J. , Joel, and Greg lived on ONE DOLLAR a DAY ! They used to pool their dollars to buy tortillas and cans of chili beans and heat them up on their van dashboard heater ! Gig money was just enough to fill up the van with gas . There were even times that they had to steal boots to put on their feet along with other shit . These were hard times indeed,and these guys paid their dues to be sure."
 Despite a few line up changes, the band persevered and released a sizeable catalogue of quality music, including this first single, War Hero.....

I don't wanna be no war hero
Don't want a movie made about me
I don't wanna be no war hero
Just get away from the madness I see

Ten thousand dead in Phenom Phen
Happens every day again and again
I didn't wanna come here in the first place
Didn't wanna destroy another race

Sent me over here when I was a boy
Taught me to kill with their government toy
Now the G.I.'s, they're all dead
And my best friend just lost his head

Injections - Prison Walls

"Listen To Your Brother's Calls, Break Down Prison Walls...."

Another classic and wonderfully primitive oldie today, this time by San Diego's The Injections. Formed in 1978 and comprised of Lou Skum (vocals), Bruce Perreault (guitar), Lisa Astin (bass) and Joanne "Piggy Gargoyle" Norris (drums), the band only stayed together for around 3 years and during their lifetime they only released one single (a remastered "lost Album" originally recorded in 1980 but previously unreleased was put out by Italy's Rave Up Records in 2001). The single was given a deserved reissue in 2010 by Last Laugh Records and here's the A side, an impassioned rallying call against incarceration, this is Prison Walls (a free mp3 is available here - http://www.reverbnation.com/play_now/song_3755410 ) ......

Pink, Plastic & Panties - Bla-Bla

There's nothing I like more when compiling this blog than discovering a great new band and shouting out loud about how great they are in the hope that others will discover them too. After that, the thing I like most is posting a classic, pretty much forgotten old song that hopefully people haven't yet heard but will quickly fall in love with. Hopefully that will be the case today.

One of my favourite post punk singles is Die/Matrosen/Split by legendary Swiss band Liliput. If you've never heard it you're missing out on one of the greatest records ever released and you need to rectify the situation immediately. Imagine my delight when I discovered another euro post punk single that pretty much matches that peerless release. Pink, Plastic & Panties were an all girl band from The Netherlands whom I know pretty much nothing about. Aside from the one killer single, I think their only other release was a split album (a 1981 collaboration called Rock Tegen De Rollen which also featured tracks by Nixe, Pin-Offs and Removers). The single I'm concentrating on today was released in 1980 on Not On Label. The b side was called Anger and is great ( https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s2VxWE8qBXs ), the a side is even better (though I'm guessing it could annoy the shit out of some people!). This is Bla-Bla......

The Aircuts - Radioactivity

An oldie today, hailing from Vancouver (but sounding very much as though they were English), The Aircuts released their only single in 1980 on Barnet records, it featured the songs Radioactivity and Sheila. The band were a 3 piece and consisted of Steve Taylor (vocals, guitar), John Bertorelli (vocals, bass) and John Nicholson (drums). The song I'm posting is the a side, Radioactivity, a tongue in cheek look at the dangers of living near a nuclear reactor......

They built a nuclear reactor at the front door
Now they're gonna build another round the back
They said not to worry if my hair falls out
But I don't know about that
They got fuel rods cooling in a bathtub
And plutonium leaking on the floor
I can't eat me dinner cos me teeth feel loose
And the wife doesn't get it anymore
I can feel a meltdown coming soon
I can see the skies all red and gold
I can feel a meltdown coming soon
I believe the people should be told

(chorus)
Radioactivity....is creeping up on you so you better keep your head down x4

I can't read the papers cos me eyes hurt
And the dog's just forgotten how to bark
I got into bed just the other night
And me hands started glowing in the dark
Me friends stopped going down the local
And the kids stopped playing in the park
They said "Don't worry 'bout the fallout cloud,
it'll burn you but it doesn't leave a mark"
I can feel a meltdown coming soon
I can see the skies all red and gold
I can feel a meltdown coming soon
I believe the people should be told

(chorus)

Oh you can only blame yourself (x7)

The Swell Maps - Helicopter Spies

 "Swell Maps was a big influence on our early records ... they had these songs they fucked up somehow to make sound really dirty and low frequency, but they had these great songs underneath all this mess"
Scott Kannberg (Pavement)

“The Swell Maps had a lot to do with my upbringing”
Thurston Moore (Sonic Youth)

A classic today from a band that have been around, in one form or another since 1972 (Brothers, 16 year old  Nikki Sudden and 12 year old Epic Soundtracks very much embraced the diy ethic, playing instruments like telephone books and boxes to create their own bedroom music). From Birmingham, Swell Maps only really got going properly after the punk explosion paved the way for bands like this to get the opportunity to get their ideas across. 1977 saw the release of the much loved debut single, Read About Seymour, they made 3 more singles plus 2 albums (A Trip To Marineville and Jane From Occupied Europe) before parting ways in 1980. Sonically more adventurous than most of their contemporaries, their legacy lives on through the many bands who they influenced. From their 2nd album, this is Helicopter Spies.....

There aren't that many trees in Arabia
Think how many you've seen.
I'd rather buy a moat than another lawn
Back with the guns again.

Helicopter spies always break new ground
Deep hidden in sacks of grain
They never have time to dig up the beds
Back with the guns again.

Helicopter spies-they make me cry.
Helicopter spies-they make me cry.

You're always cutting through the undergrowth
There's a passage inside the trees
If you find your way through the tailor's shop
You'll probably be asleep.

I'd rather take a day off and find you alive
Than to push through the coral alone
You think you'll find the lagoon again,
But they often sink away.

Helicopter spies-they make me cry.
Helicopter spies-they make me cry.

Helicopter spies always rush around
Their jackets often fall off
They never have time to put them back on again
They're always tough enough.

Helicopter spies-they make me cry.
Helicopter spies-they make me cry.
Helicopter spies-they make me cry.

Newtown Neurotics - When The Oil Runs Out

"Are you prepared for such a drastic change in lifestyle
 you say "yeah", I don't believe you, look at your home
 the things that you own, the job that you work in
 they could all go...."

Here's a song that's even more relevant today than it was upon it's release on No Wonder Records back in 1980. Harlow band The Newtown Neurotics (who later changed their name to The Neurotics) had formed the previous year, influenced strongly by The Clash and The Ramones. Frontman Steve Drewett's strong socialist political views shone through in the band's lyrics, especially after the election of Maggie Thatcher as British Prime Minister. Despite splitting up in 1988 they've been playing gigs again since 2006 and this song, When The Oil Runs Out, was recently re released.....



Think about the fat men who wear their slippers to drive their cars
while their machines are running, they wont walk very far
they never realise what they've got,one day they will lose the lot
because....

Chorus:What's gonna happen when the buses don't run
and what's gonna happen when the winter comes
what are you gonna do,
what are you gonna do
when the oil runs out?

Think about the record industry and the people its used
self indulgent pampered popstars which ones did you choose
I'll be far more drastic than no-more 12 inch plastic because....

CHORUS:

Are you prepared for such a drastic change of life style
you say "yeah" I don't believe you, look at your home
the things that you own, the job that you work in 
they all could go

what about the tax exiles who live in the sun
when the oil runs out, they'll have no-where to run

And what about the comfortable people who just cant go without
they're forever panic buying, in case things run out
they never realise what they've got, one day they will lose the lot because....

Chorus:
What's gonna happen when cycling becomes a strain
and you need a drop of 3 in 1 on your bicycle chain
what are you gonna do,
what are you gonna do
when the oil runs out.

Are you prepared for such a drastic change in life style
you say "yeah" I don't believe you,look at your home
the things that you own, the job that you work in
they all could go.

The Rivals - Here Comes The Night

Name a cover version from the early days of punk rock. I Fought The Law? Banana Splits? She's Not There? My Way? There's loads of great ones that are still loved today but I'm guessing not too many people's answer was Here Comes The Night.... Shame really. Hailing from Ramsgate, in Kent, The Rivals caused a bit of a stir in 1980 with their cover of a song that was written by Bert Berns and was originally released in 1964 by Lulu and then rerecorded a year later by Them (who saw it reach number 2 in the UK charts). The Rivals had heard yet another version of it (on David Bowie's Pin Ups album) and decided to punk things up a bit. Not surprisingly John Peel was a fan but it also received daytime radio play from the likes of Paul Burnett and Mike Read. It looked as though it was going to become a smash hit but only a few thousand copies were ever pressed (a major label deal was mooted but fell through). The band split up shortly after this though a compilation album called If Only appeared in 2007. Maybe next time someone asks what your favourite cover is you'll at least spare a thought for Here Comes The Night......

The Seize - Why?

One of the best things about doing this blog is stumbling over brilliant records that, even though I've been a fan of punk music since the late 70's, have until now passed me by. Hopefully visitors here will now stumble over them too. One such record is this double a side from 1980 (Why? / Grovelands Road) by Reading's The Seize. Featuring Colin Newton (vocals/bass), Julian Stafford (lead guitar), Andy Stafford (rhythm guitar) and Dave "Chewy" Newton (drums), they went on to release a couple more eps, Everybody Dies and Dancing Like A Dervish, as well as a mini album, Cross Channel Buffoon. Often compared to Stiff Little Fingers, though to my ears this sounds musically more like a warped version of Public Image (with added Banana Splits solo), this is their debut single, Why?......

Anorexia - Rapist In The Park

An obscurity today from 1980 from a band called Anorexia who seemingly at one time had Wham as an opening act for them on several occasions. Formed in 1977 in Watford, Hertfordshire it took 3 years until they self financed the release of their debut ep (which contained Rapist In The Park, I'm A Square and Pets and was a favourite of John Peel). Featuring the distinctive vocals of Kim Glenister and Andrew Leigh's wailing sax it's the epitome of the era's diy attitude. This is the non pc titled Rapist In The Park......

Liliput - Split

Switzerland's finest musical export on the blog today. Formed in 1978 in Zurich, Kleenex were an inventive  all female post punk band who's self titled ep caught the attention of John Peel and then Rough Trade who promptly signed them up. A couple of great singles ( Ain't You/Hedi's Head, You/U) came out under their original moniker before the threat of legal action from tissue company Kimberly-Clark forced a change of name to Liliput. Undeterred they put out a couple more singles before unleashing their wonderful self titled 1982 debut album. Unfortunately by the time the following year's Some Songs album came out the band had parted ways. There'd been numerous line up changes throughout the band's history but tiring of touring and then the pregnancy of vocalist Astrid Spirig brought things to an end. There's a great compilation of their material that was released in the 90's that you should track down. There's several songs I could post here but I'll choose one of the tracks on a single that took pride of place in my collection back in the day, if you want to sing along the lyrics are below, this is Split........

Hotch-potch, Hugger-mugger, Bow-wow, Hara-kiri, Hoo-poo, Huzza,
Hicc-up, Hum-drum, Hexa-pod, Hell-cat, Helter-skelter, Hop-scotch

The Photos - Now You Tell Me That We're Through

Taking a brief break from all that noisy punk music, here's a classic slice of power pop. Back when i was at school there were several objects of teen lust, mainly Debbie Harry and Gaye Advert but then along came the rather lovely Wendy Wu, lead singer with The Photos. I could write a few lines about them but the comments section on youtube gives a good, concise intro so i'll nick that..." The Photos evolved out of the short-lived and ill-fated punk band Satan's Rats. Guitarist Steve Eagles, bassist Dave Sparrow, and drummer Olly Harrison remained together when the band broke up in 1978 and, casting around for a new vocalist, were initially hoping to link with Jayne Casey from the recently sundered Big in Japan. However, she had already launched her own new band, Pink Military, and the trio returned home to Evesham, near Birmingham, and began scouring the local club scene. There they met the ultra-photogenic Wendy Wu and, following a series of very well-received live shows, signed with CBS in August 1979.
Wendy Wu - Vocals, Steve Eagles - Guitars, Vocals Dave Sparrow - Bass Guitar, Vocals Olly Harrison - Drums "

Their s/t album was packed with glossy power pop/new wave tunes and reached number 4 in the UK charts but rather than push on to greatness their follow up, Crystal Tips And Mighty Mice, was withdrawn before it hit the shops and Wu left the band. They split in 1981. This is their 1980 single, Now You Tell Me That We're Through......

Nubs - Job

 "Hey folks, I just took a piss/I just slit my wrist/I feel like a bitch...!"

Hailing from San Francisco, Nubs are one of those one hit wonder type bands that are "famous" for the one "hit" and not much more. The song in question, and what a song it is, was released in 1980 and goes by the name of Job. They got back together again years later to tour and released an album but this was their moment in the sun.....