Friday, October 17, 2008

Scabs, The - 1981 - So Called Friends 7''

Scabs, The - 1981 - So Called Friends 7''
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Henry Essence - 1979 - 14 Year Old Lover 7''

Henry Essence - 1979 - 14 Year Old Lover 7''
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Numbers, The - 1979 - Add Up

Numbers, The - 1979 - Add Up
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With Canadian record label Attic Records always on the cutting edge of new, innovative ways of developing talent while keeping costs low, they hit on the idea of a no-frills label called Basement Records. Their first signing was Toronto act, The Numbers, in 1979. The band went into the Soundstage studios in Toronto in October of that year with Jack Richardson's son Garth Richardson producing.
Attic co-owner Tom Williams wanted the Numbers to be the first album released in 1980 so, at 9:00 AM on New Year's day, key radio music directors and journalists were sent a copy of the album 'Add Up' to their homes along with a Bloody Caesar alcoholic beverage. The ploy worked as The Numbers received a bit of activity with the first single, "Sideways Elevator", but when it came time to follow that up with a second album the band demanded a larger production defeating the ability for Basement Records to live up to its mandate. As a result the band made a deal to re-sign with Attic Records under the new name Hot Tip (whereby Jim Kennedy was replaced by keyboardist Colin Gerrard). Unfortunately, the band broke up shortly after its two singles could be released in 1981.
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With notes from Kevin Shea and Michael Coxe (link).

Thursday, October 16, 2008

Problems? - 1980 - Katupoikia

Problems? - 1980 - Katupoikia
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Stoat, The - 1977 - Office Girl 7''

Stoat, The - 1977 - Office Girl 7''
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City records had some good releases and some not so good. They released the UK Subs debut single C.I.D and Girlschools first single Take It All Away. They also however, released The Others single Birmingham Reggie. Midway between the sublime and farcical they released this little ditty byThe Stoat Office Girl / Little Jenny ( 1977 City Records). Passable uptempo power punk whatever that means. They also released in the same year Up To You / Loving a Killer (City 1978) and had a session on John Peel's radio show on 17.10.78 with Don't Say Nothing, Escorts, No Way To Say Goodbye & Tears Run Dry.
Band: Richard Wall - Bass & Vocals; John Waters - Guitar & Vocals; George Decsy - Drums.
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source Punk77.co.uk (link)

Legionaire's Disease Band - 1979 - Downtown 7''

Legionaire's Disease Band - 1979 - Downtown 7''
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A Texas punk clasic. The evil shrieking between verses on "Rather See You Dead" will make the hair on your neck stand up - it's absolutely vicious and is reinforced with killer guitar playing.
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source FLEX! (link)

Tuesday, October 14, 2008

Victim - 2003 - Everything

Victim - 2003 - Everything**
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Formed in Belfast in mid-1977, Victim soon became familiar faces on the fast-emerging Belfast punk scene. Rehearsing in a garage, it wasn’t long before the neighbours objected and the band relocated to a printing works, but were soon in further trouble when worshippers at the church next door were forced to abandon an evening service due to ear-splitting noise of Victim rehearsing. Following their appearance on the legendary UTV punk documentary ‘It Makes You Want To Spit’ and a rapidly increasing live following, Terri Hooley signed the band to his Good Vibrations label. The second release on the label, ‘Strange Thing By Night’ cost just £90 to record, it proved to be an excellent single it and has become something of a collectors item. In early 1978, prompted by a lack of venues, Victim made a trip to a local Belfast city centre pub because they heard it had a stage! They secured a gig and the legendary Harp Bar was born as a punk venue. In July 1979 Victim were offered a modest record deal by TJM Records and decided to depart to England, settling in Manchester. Early gigs saw them play with The Fall, Revillos, John Cooper-Clarke etc. as well as playing the legendary Factory club to accompany the screening of Shellshock Rock, a film on Irish punk featuring Victim. Victim then released their second single ‘Why Are Fire Engines Red’ on TJM. It received numerous good reviews and plenty of radio support from John Peel. In November 1979 Victim supported The Damned (a package that also included The Misfits for a while) on an extensive UK tour. A friendship was born and Rat Scabies produced the bands third single ‘The Teen Age’ released on Illuminated Records in 1980. A new drummer of Irish descent was recruited - Mike Joyce - who would later receive worldwide fame as drummer for The Smiths. More gigs and a tour with Rudi followed, but in 1983 Mike Joyce left to join The Smiths, He was replaced by Kev Williams, drummer with Mick Hucknall’s Frantic Elevators. The band recorded several more tracks with the new line-up, which also included keyboard player Toni Isaac, but after a couple more years together they decided to call it a day.
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**One of Belfast’s first punk bands and the second band to release a record on Good Vibrations. This 22 track CD includes all three singles and 15 unreleased studio recordings packaged in a 12 page booklet. Drummer Mike Joyce would later achieve worldwide fame in The Smiths.

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source Amazon (link)

Sods - 1978 - Television Sect 7''

Sods - 1978 - Television Sect 7''
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Shrapnel - 1979 - Combat Love 7''

Shrapnel - 1979 - Combat Love 7''
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Monday, October 13, 2008

Pop, The - 1976 - Hit And Run Lover 7''

Pop, The - 1976 - Hit And Run Lover 7''
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Ice 9 - 1979 - Out Out Out 7''

Ice 9 - 1979 - Out Out Out 7''
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Portland, Oregon. Released on their own label . Danny Dungeon, Guitar and keyboards later played in Miracle Workers. Bassist John Sogge died in a car wreck a year after this record. Count Vertigo plays drums. There is a later Member of Condemned To Death. Several color PS exist and all are original, yellow (Most common) blue and green. Ice 9 is from Kurt Vonnegut's book "Cat's Cradle."
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Thanks to Punk Rock Picture Sleeves (link)