V/A - Bored Teenagers Vol.11 2019

Volume eleven by the essential Bored Teenagers gift and this record compiled rare tracks from England & Scotland and you know, at which high level this grandiose series is.

Info: First up we have three unreleased tracks from London’s Small Wonder Punk trio THE ZEROS. This was supposed to be the bands follow up to “Hungry/Radio Fun” but for reasons unknown it was shelved and stayed unreleased until NOW! When our off-shoot ‘Only Fit For The Bin’ label released “Lost Boys” last year, it should of had all the bands recorded output as these tracks were thought to have been lost forever but as fate would have it, the tapes were found and believe it, these THREE tracks are absolute Punkrock killers and blow away their debut single! The next five tracks are by one of St. Albans earliest bands, TANYA HYDE & THE TORMENTORS. Forming in 1977 they played all the Punk haunts except for the Roxy. Their style was unique and was fronted by Tanya (she went on to release a solo single in 1979 but this wasn’t Punk). These tracks featured here have never been released before and came from the bands original demo tape that they recorded back in ’77. The last of the English bands ends with Luton’s underdogs ACME ATTRACTIONS who released one great single back in 1980. Here you have the A&B sides from that rare single and a totally unreleased track by them … TURN IT UP! Now for the Scottish contingent, first up is a totally unknown band from Edinburgh called BAD WEEKS. Formed in 1979, this band delivers five full-on and in-yer-face Punk. I bet you a few hours later you’ll be still humming these tracks! Moving on we have RED LETTERS, yet another obscure band hailing from Newton Grange in Midlothian. This band released a very rare single back in 1979 that featured three great tracks. On this volume you are treated to all three tracks from that rare release and a totally unreleased track from that same session. Just try tracking down an original copy of that single! The next three tracks are by one of Scotland’s longest running Punk outfits, yes, we bring you FIRE EXIT. These tracks featured here have never been heard before as they were the bands very earliest recordings and were never released until now! They even pre date the band’s debut single! Gerry hasn’t heard these tracks since the day he recorded them as they were on an old reel to reel that he unearthed last year. The slab closes with SEDITION 81 who hailed from Glasgow and has gone down in Scottish punk folklore as they released a very very limited 7Inch in 1981 and is one of the hardest singles to find. They rarely come up for sale on the market. So here it is both sides in all its glory!

Enough infos and now have fun with the boring ones!

1.Chingford - THE ZEROS

2.Easy Way Out - THE ZEROS

3.Nice Girls - THE ZEROS

4.Till It Stings - TANYA HYDE & THE TORMENTORS

5.Just Like Your Mother - TANYA HYDE & THE TORMENTORS

6.Facepack - TANYA HYDE & THE TORMENTORS

7.No Fun At The Fair - TANYA HYDE & THE TORMENTORS

8.Sic Sic Sic - TANYA HYDE & THE TORMENTORS

9.Anyway - ACME ATTRACTIONS

10.Never Again - ACME ATTRACTIONS

11.Turn It Up - ACME ATTRACTIONS

12.Afghanistan - BAD WEEKS

13.Boredom Town - BAD WEEKS

14.City Life - BAD WEEKS

15.Don't Trust - BAD WEEKS

16.Programmed Practice - BAD WEEKS

17.Sacred Voices - RED LETTERS

18.Shot In The Dark - RED LETTERS

19.Science Has The Answer - RED LETTERS

20.Princess Of The Nightshift - RED LETTERS

21.Timewall - FIRE EXIT

22.Talking 'Bout Myself - FIRE EXIT

23.As Long As We're Alive - FIRE EXIT

24.Royal Command - SEDITION 81

25.Prat Music - SEDITION 81

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V/A - Raw & Rare British Punk #4 1998

Today we close another little interesting series with Volume 4, the whole thing is called Raw And Rare British Punk and released as Bootleg, of course I think, via a label called A-Trax Records. The detectives prove not a bad taste and dug out rare treasures from the UK underground life, and I walk on, the pleasant weather warms my mind and pushes me forward, internally already focused on tomorrow's final of the EM 2020, which was a lot of joy (although England was extremely lucky with the blind referee, but that's the way it is). It's really amazing how quickly four weeks go by. You see, life is way too short for any shitty phases you shouldn't nibble on for too long. Howsoever, I'm talking too much bla bla... the series is over, all volumes in the blog, enjoy the sixteen classics & weekend and do something useful. 

1.I Don't Want My Heart/Stella's Got A Fella - SOCIAL SECURITY

2.Criminal World - LIGHTNING RAIDERS

3.Just A Number - LAST STAND

4.Punk X-Mas - IMPACT

5.Bend And Flush - PORK DUKES

6.You Should Be So Lucky - THE SWEAT

7.Anyway - ACME ATTRACTIONS

8.Schooldays - STA-PREST

9.Cider - SOCIAL SECURITY

10.Citizens - LIGHTNING RAIDERS

11.Caviare - LAST STAND

12.Your Decision - IMPACT

13.Throbbing Gristle - PORK DUKES

14.Spread The Word Around - HOLD TIGHT

15.Never Again - ACME ATTRACTIONS

16.Tomorrow - STA-PREST

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ACME ATTRACTIONS - Anyway 7'' 1980

This rare piece is a smiley and again 'many words for your further education which all from the booklet of the CD compilatin 'Terelene Boys from 2013 on Only Fit For The Bin Records: Acme Attractions released one great single in 1980 called "Anyway" and listen to the lyrics of this song, it is all about the late great 'Keith Moon'. The band did follow up this debut release and backed another local artist Bonnie Parker a year later. After watching the Damned in a local pub in Luton back in 1976, members of this band were mesmerized with their performance and one stand-out moment was when the Damned were being heckled by members of another local band THE Q-TIPS about their ability of playing, Dave Vanian jumped off the stage and poured a pint of beer over their heads. Then a month later they witness the Sex Pistols @ the Queensway Hall in Dunstable. THAT WAS IT! The seed was sowed and Jim and Dave knew they had to be part of this new vibrant scene and Acme Attractions were born (even though at this point it was only a dream).

Now in the bands own words: "Born from an after pub party, while miming in a front room to whatever song was on The threat of "Now let’s see if you can go out and form your own band" Was the only challenge we needed! Within six months of that night the guitarist had self-taught himself and the bass player the basic skills required to form the band (three chords). (I got my first real six strings, played it till my fingers bled). It was happening! (Me and some guys from school we got a band and we tried real hard). After months of rehearsing, it was time to show the local pub that we didn’t want to listen to 'Smoke On The Water' or 'Johnny B. Goode' anymore. It was our time. Having been influenced by the attitude of the Pistols, Clash, with undercurrents of the Who, Mott the Hoople and some self-penned songs thrown in as well Acme Attractions played their first gig. The local interest had drawn big crowds which lead to the band being banned from their first three gigs. This was not caused by violence, but due to over crowding resulting in damage caused to chairs, tables & beer glasses. The band were forced to seek bigger venues and halls this resulted in Acme Attractions being the only local band being able to fill "The Royal Hotel", the biggest of all the venues, not once but twice.

Not all gigs were as successful as that though as the landlord of The Kingsway Tavern Would tell you.  After refusing to leave the stage one night until their set was finished, The landlord locked the band in the dressing room with his Alsatian dog. Threatening not to pay them as they had played over the permitted time. His error had been locking the door, as he had no escape himself When we threatened to break his legs. The bands popularity and reputation was growing and growing and after progressing through a Battle of the Bands competition at the expense of the singer losing a front tooth, the band was making their name. Local newspapers were wanting to know the story behind the band and local promoters were asking them to headline the local festivals such as The Luton Carnival and the Marsh Farm Festival. The money gained through gigging went towards hiring a studio and the costs of producing 1.000 copies of their first single "Anyway"/"Never Again". EMI had tried to claim a percentage of the copy rights through a distribution deal that did not suit the band, so the band decided to distribute it themselves. This is why most copies of the single have tipex on the label over the line that mentions EMI. After continuous gigging and some radio air time, The band had reached a point that required more commitment To take them to the next level.

They had travelled as far as they could have on the local scene. A meeting had been called to discuss the next stage of progression and It was decided it was time for Acme Attractions to come to an end. It was not the end of the band however as the remaining members continued under various names such as 'English Dream' and 'Pressure'. With the new name of 'Pressure', it wasn't long before being signed to Anagram Records a division of Cherry Red Records. Releasing a further two 12Inches and touring the country before finally calling it a day back in 1983.

You can find the band on two splendid compilations, Raw And Rare British Punk Volume 4 (coming soon) & Bored Teenagers #11, as well. Great Stuff!

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