Saturday, August 16, 2008

Doctors Of Madness - 1977 - Bulletin Waiting 7''

Doctors Of Madness - 1977 - Bulletin Waiting 7''
Doctors of Madnesswere a British protopunk rock band formed in 1974 in a cellar in Brixton, south London by the composer and lead singer/guitarist Richard Strange, known as ‘Kid’ Strange. Active as a recording and touring band until late 1978, they found mainly cult level success and recognition that was not enough to sustain them, but they were later cited as a pivotal influence on the early British punk rock movement and their albums were re-released in 2002 on CD.
To provide a platform for his musical ideas and compositions analysing urban neurosis and systems of control; Strange joined forces with Urban Blitz (electric violin, baritone violectra and lead guitar) Stoner (vocals, bass guitar) and Peter DiLemma (vocals, drums) to provide the acclaimed critical link between the early 70’s progressive rock and glam rock of David Bowie and Roxy Music, and the later 70’s punk rock of the Sex Pistols and The Clash. Doctors of Madness cited Velvet Underground and writer William Burroughs as major influences on their music.
Doctors of Madness toured extensively in Great Britain and in continental Europe; gigging in France, Germany, Holland, Belgium, Luxembourg, Switzerland, Denmark and Sweden.
Doctors of Madness stage shows incorporated costumes, make-up, projected backdrop images, smoke, strobe lights and theatrical spot-lighting and also taped sound effects. Stage props were occasionally used.
Between 1975 and 1977, Doctors of Madness recorded three albums for Polydor records - ‘Late Night Movies, All Night Brainstorms’ produced by John Punter, ‘Figments of Emancipation’recorded at Abbey Road studios with producer John Leckie, and ‘Sons of Survival’. A posthumous compilation ‘Revisionism’ was released in 1981, the band having split in late 1978. The first three albums were recently re-released on CD by Ozit Records .
A single, 'Bulletin' backed by 'Waiting' was released in 1977.
During 1978 the Doctors of Madness line-up briefly included singer Dave Vanian of Punk rock band The Damned, who had recently split.
from Wikipedia

A.D. 1984 - 1979 - The Russians Are Coming!

A.D. 1984 - 1979 - The Russians Are Coming!

Sunday, August 10, 2008

Amber Squad, The - 1980 - Can We Go Dancing 7''

Amber Squad, The - 1980 - Can We Go Dancing 7''

Clive Culbertson - 1979 - Time To Kill 7''

Clive Culbertson - 1979 - Time To Kill 7''

Plastic Bertrand - 1977 - An 1

Plastic Bertrand - 1977 - An 1
Plastic Bertrand was the alias of new wave prankster Roger Jouret, a native of Belgium who appropriated the sound and style of the new wave movement in order to give it a gently satirical poke in the ribs, while scoring several European hits in the process. Jouret began his musical career as a drummer for the Belgian punk trio Hubble Bubble, which recorded one unsuccessful album. When Jouret met producer/songwriter Lou Deprijck, the two struck up a recording partnership; Jouret emphasized his pretty-boy looks and punkish fashion sense. Their first effort, "Ça Plane Pour Moi" ("This Life's for Me"), is widely regarded as a New Wave classic for its gleefully deranged stupidity, with Jouret singing French nonsense lyrics in a cartoonish voice over basic three-chord rock & roll complete with saxophones and a falsetto vocal hook straight out of the Beach Boys or Four Seasons. The song was a smash in Europe and became a cult favorite in America; Plastic Bertrand continued to release records in Europe, including a U.K. hit remake of the Small Faces' "Sha-La-La-La-Lee." Bertrand experimented with seemingly every new wave fashion, including spacy electronics, disco, bubblegum pop, reggae, and spoken word raps, all with the same naggingly entertaining stupidity. He remained popular on the European continent and in Canada for several years, where audiences were more attuned to his largely French lyrics, but the novelty eventually wore off, and nothing was heard from Bertrand after 1982. Plastic Bertrand released several albums, all of which are difficult to find; a greatest-hits collection is also floating around.
Review by Steve Huey (allmusic)

Johnny Curious And The Strangers - 1978 - In Tune 7''

Johnny Curious And The Strangers - 1978 - In Tune 7''