A Certain Ratio - 1980 - Shack Up 7'' (UK)
Saturday, July 25, 2009
Normals, The - 1999 - Your Punk Heritage 1977-84 (US)
Normals, The - 1999 - Your Punk Heritage 1977-84 (US)
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This Louisiana punk outfit's history was as abbreviated as the rapid-fire catchiness captured on this first-ever compilation disc. The New Orleans-based foursome issued one single in 1978, "Almost Ready"/"Hardcore," built up a rabid fan base, and supported nearly all the big names (including the Police, the Ramones, and Talking Heads), yet never landed a record deal. The Normals tried to change their fortunes by moving to New York in May 1979, but they split up after failing to make any headway there. To pay off its debts, the band regrouped for an annual hometown gig from 1981-1984 (a gesture it resumed since re-forming in 1997). Your Punk Heritage compiles the "Almost Ready" single, an obscure, yet essential, U.S. punk-era benchmark; a clutch of demo sessions (some self-produced, with others abandoned after the band's funds ran out); and live tracks from the 1984 reunion show. Guitarists David Brewton and Charlie Hanson are the dominant writers, with a knack for thuggishly appealing hooks on standouts like "Same Old '76," "Vacation to Nowhere," "Yankee Dollar," and "Sex and Violence," which address hippie complacency, obsessive love, the group's collective mood, and media exploitation. Still other tracks, such as Demented Breakdown," hint at a more poppy, mature direction in effective tempo shifts and massed harmonies. The group's trashier side emerges on a cover of the British Invasion chestnut Henry the Eighth," which is great fun, like the other live tracks; a couple of radio spots provide additional period flavor. With nearly all its contents being aired for the first time, Your Punk Heritage is a must-own for archaeologists of the genre, yet it should also be accessible to discerning fans wanting to understand what the fuss is all about.
Ralph Heibutzki, All Music Guide
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source Answers.com (link)
Telefones, The - 1980 - Vibration Change LP (US)
Telefones, The - 1980 - Vibration Change LP (US)
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The Telefones were a mid-'60s rock-inspired new wave band from Dallas, TX. After they formed in 1979, Jerry Dirkx played lead guitar and sang, Chris Dirkx played drums, Steve Dirkx played bass, and Will Clay played saxophone and synthesizer. The band's first single, The Ballad of Jerry Godzilla, was released in May of 1980 on Dallas' VVV label. Six months later, the LP Vibration Change was issued. Clay left the fold and was replaced by a trumpet player/vocalist/keyboardist by the name of Mark Griffin. Rock-Ola!, the group's second and final full-length, was released in mid-1981. Griffin would later be known as MC 900 Ft. Jesus.
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by Andy Kellman (allmusic.com) (link)
Thursday, July 23, 2009
Wednesday, July 22, 2009
Tuesday, July 21, 2009
Stagebeast - 1978 - Belgium 7'' (BE)
Stagebeast - 1978 - Belgium 7'' (BE)
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Stagebeast was considered one of the important and influential punk rock bands in Belgium. Fronted by Frank Dubbe Stagebeast won the 2nd prize of the very first Humo's Rock Rally. They soon recorded the single "Belgium (Ain't Fun No More)" which was released by EMI in 1978.
Stagebeast lost their recording contract after wrecking up the EMI manager's office in Brussels.[citation needed] They subsequently became Revenge 88, and recorded the "Neonlight" single in 1981, which was followed by "Thousand Years".
Revenge 88 broke up in the mid 1980s, but was recently resurrected by original frontman, Dubbe.
The Stagebeast single "Belgium" / "Working Man" as well as the Revenge 88 song "Neonlight" are featured on the KBD compilation albums.
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source Wikipedia (link)
Monday, July 20, 2009
Accelerators - 1979 - It's Cool to Rock 7'' (US)
Accelerators - 1979 - It's Cool to Rock 7'' (US)
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ACCELERATORS: It`s Cool To Rock EP (Wide Open, ACC 001) 1979. Southern California, originally from Wyoming they moved to the LA area in 1978. Released on their own label and produced By Danny Holloway, same producer as SHOCK "This Generation On Vacation" . Eric Ambel went on to play with Joan Jett's Black Hearts and The Del Lords and Dick played with Top Jimmy and the Rhythm Pigs.
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source Punk Rock Picture Sleeves (link)
Fruit Eating Bears - 2002 - Gentle Creatures Despite Their Fierce Appearance (UK)
Fruit Eating Bears - 2002 - Gentle Creatures Despite Their Fierce Appearance (UK)
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Formed in true punk rock style in late 1976 as the Tricycle Turds, the band found it difficult to get gigs, so renamed themselves The Fruit Eating Bears and started gigging in London in June 1977. They played all the favourite haunts (The Vortex, 100 Club, Red Cow, Hope & Anchor etc.) and supported all the major punk bands (The Clash, The Damned, The Adverts etc.) and they made it on to News At Ten when they headlined the City Rock ‘77 punk festival in Chelmsford (Saturday 17th September). The compere, John Peel, later said in the press: "I thought the Fruit Eating Bears to be thoroughly jolly".
All this activity brought them to the attention of record producer Vic Maile who, having seen them live, took a keen interest. Vic was one of the most successful producers of the time (working on hit records by Eddie & The Hot Rods, Dr Feelgood, Tom Robinson etc.) and he worked his magic on the Fruit Eating Bears, recording their debut single "Chevy Heavy"/"Fifties Cowboy". Released on Lightning Records in February 1978, it reached No.5 in the Sounds New Wave chart.
This success encouraged Vic Maile to record an album and 15 tracks were set to tape. One of these tracks "Door In My Face" stood out. Unbeknown to the band this track was entered by their publisher into the Eurovision Song Contest and was chosen as one of the twelve finalists.
Come the big day the band refused to wear stage clothes and make-up and came joint last, causing compere Terry Wogan to describe them as "gentle creatures despite their fierce appearance".
The Fruit Eating Bears turned down an album deal with CBS deciding instead to release the single "Door In My Face"/"Going Thru’ The Motions" on DJM Records in April ‘78. Sales weren’t great and the band soon decided to call it a day, but not before writing "1.30, 2.30, 3.35" for Lew Lewis (a Radio 1 Record Of The Week) on the Paul Burnett show and "Indian Giver" for The Pirates and backing Hazel O’Connor on her 'Albion' recordings.
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This 32 track album features both singles, the unreleased Vic Maile album, demos, a live gig from Margate and a bonus final track of their Eurovision Song Contest appearance. Superbly packaged in a full colour 12 page booklet with previously unseen photos and detailed band sleeve notes.
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source Amazon (link)
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