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''

Saturday, August 9, 2008

Le Ritz - 1977 - Punker 7''

Le-Ritz - 1977 - Punker 7''

request: Eddie And The Hot Rods - 1976 - Teenage Depression (Remastered 2000)

Eddie And The Hot Rods - 1976 - Teenage Depression (Remastered 2000)


History records Eddie & the Hot Rods as the missing link between pub rock and punk, and their debut album, released at the tail end of 1976, proves that every word is true. Young, loud, snotty and incredibly fast, the riffs and rhythms are fuel-injected R&B, but the lyrics are teenaged disaffection with a forest on its shoulders. Even the album's covers, the Who's "The Kids Are Alright," Joe Tex's "Show Me," and Sam Cooke's "Shake," were selected for their swagger, while the title track is a proto-punk cry of anguish that makes the later new-wavers sound like a room full of spoiled children. The six-minute finale, "On the Run," is even stronger, a dead-end kid-style anthem about the ultimate outsider — "the boy should be pitied, but they're getting me committed." The FX that drench the song's closing minutes, meanwhile, capture all the rage and confusion of the lyric, and give a hint of the sheer brutal power that was the Hot Rods when they really let loose — a treat normally reserved for the live show. Isolated tastes of that particular beast do surface elsewhere on the album — both "The Kids Are Alright" and "Been So Long" were recorded live at the Marquee on a baking-hot night in July 1976; the dozen bonus tracks appended to the CD reissue include four more from that memorable night, in the form of the legendary Live at the Marquee EP. Mach 10 versions of Van Morrison's "Gloria," Bob Seger's "Get Out of Denver," ? Mark's "96 Tears," and the Rolling Stones' "Satisfaction" further amplify the linkage between '60s garage and '70s punk, but, far more importantly, they give at least a hint of why witnesses still describe that particular show among the greatest gigs they ever attended. Five further tracks date from a Rainbow show nine months later, previously immortalized on the aptly named Live at the Speed of Sound EP; the CD is completed by the band's first two singles, including a crunchy cover of "Wooly Bully," produced by Roxy Music's Andy Mackay. They, however, are simply the icing on the cake. In late 1976, with punk still a flood of records waiting to happen, Teenage Depression was one of the only things that made it worthwhile to get up in the morning. And the Hot Rods live was the only thing that stopped you from getting straight back into bed.

review by Dave Thompson (allmusic)

Tights, The - 1978 - Bad Hearts 7''

Tights, The - 1978 - Bad Hearts 7''

Amber Squad, The - 1980 - (I Can't) Put My Finger On You 7''

Amber Squad, The - 1980 - (I Can't) Put My Finger On You 7''

Wednesday, August 6, 2008

Vic Godard and Subway Sect - 1980 - What's The Matter Boy (Remastered 2000)

Vic Godard and Subway Sect - 1980 - What's The Matter Boy (Remastered 2000)

Screamers, The - 1978 - Demos 1977-78

Screamers, The - 1978 - Demos 1977-78
All tracks recorded "live" in one session in Summer 1978.Produced By Geza X, recorded on a 4-track. The ideal intro to the Screamers. A high pitched whine is audible, but does not distract from overall good sound quality. A valid complaint, though, is the splitting of "122 Hours of Fear" in half over the seam of both sides of the record.

Tuesday, August 5, 2008

Alberto Y Lost Trios Paranoias - 1978 - Heads Down, No Nonsense, Mindless Boogie

Alberto Y Lost Trios Paranoias - 1978 - Heads Down, No Nonsense, Mindless Boogie
Founded in 1973 by Chris "C.P." Lee and Bruce Mitchell (drums), with Les Prior (vocals), Jimmy Hibbert (vocals, bass), Bob Harding (vocals, guitar, bass), Simon White (steel guitar, guitar), Tony Bowers (bass, guitar) and Ray Hughes (second drummer). Inventor of "Snuff Rock". Band lasted until about 1980. (found in Discogs)

Desperate Bicycles, The - 1977 - Smokescreen/Handlebars 7''

Desperate Bicycles, The - 1977 - Smokescreen/Handlebars 7''


The Desperate Bicycles were formed in March 1977 specifically for the purpose of recording and releasing a single on their own label. They booked a studio in Dalston (London) for three hours and with a lot of courage and a little rehearsal they recorded 'Smokescreen' and 'Handlebars' It subsequently leapt at the throat... They'd really like to know why you havn't made your single yet. "It was easy, it was cheap, go and do it" (the complete cost of "Smokescreen" was £153) The medium may very well have been tedium but it's changing fast. So if you can understand, go and join a band. Now it's your turn.............. (by Chickenhoss - discogs.com)
Both the A side and B side have the same pressing of both songs. This was intentional, as it was cheaper that way. The B side label is plain white. (by Office Music. )

Snivelling Shits, The - 2007 - I Can't Come

Snivelling Shits, The - 2007 - I Can't Come

Saturday, August 2, 2008

Models - 1977 - Freeze 7''

Models - 1977 - Freeze 7''

Magazine - 1990 - Scree (Rarities 1978-1981)

Magazine - 1990 - Scree (Rarities 1978-1981)

Chelsea - 1981 - Alternative Hits

Chelsea - 1981 - Alternative Hits

Knack, The - 1979 - Get The Knack

Knack, The - 1979 - Get The Knack

Subway Sect - 2007 - 1978 Now

Subway Sect - 2007 - 1978 Now
In early 1978 Subway Sect went into the studio to record their debut album with Mickey Foote (The Clash’s producer). Unfortunately the tapes were lost and the album remained unreleased. Monitor mixes of some of the recordings have appeared on various compilations giving just a taster, however, these rough recordings just served to further fuel the public’s interest in the album, without exaggeration according it a ‘legendary’ status.
So earlier this year Vic Godard decided that it was time to record these songs with their original spirit and sound so that they could be properly heard so he re-grouped Subway Sect and put them back into the studio to record the album.
The resulting 14 recordings are contained here in ‘1978 Now’.
(from http://www.overgroundrecords.com/release.asp?Release=OVER118VPCD)

Cortinas, The - 1977 - Fascist Dictator 7''

Cortinas, The - 1977 - Fascist Dictator 7''