X RAY SPEX - GermFree Adolescents 1978

A real classic is the debut by X Ray Spex with the unforgettable powerful voice of Poly Styrene, who sadly passed away in 2011 and this album features great songs about identity, feminism, and consumer society with fire and joy. Musically, the five keep the level constantly high, even with an instrument that is not typical for Punkrock, a saxophone, they manage to integrate this passable. A perfect review: "Perhaps the most utopian aspect of the U.K. Punk scene was that it offered creative, articulate young people the opportunity to express themselves, and to kick up an exuberantly noisy racket in the process. X-Ray Spex certainly came from this wing of the movement, the brainchild of two female schoolmates who re-christened themselves Poly Styrene and Lora Logic. X-Ray Spex was far from the only female-centered British punk act, but they were arguably the best, combining exuberant energy with a cohesive worldview courtesy of singer and songwriter Poly Styrene. As her nom de Punk hinted, Styrene was obsessed with the artificiality she saw permeating Britain's consumer society, linking synthetic goods with a sort of processed, manufactured humanity. Styrene's frantic claustrophobia permeates the record, as she rails in her distinctively quavering yowl against the alienation she feels preventing her from discovering her true self. Germfree Adolescents is tied together by Styrene's yearning to be free not only from demands for consumption, but from the insecurity corporate advertisers used to exploit their targets (especially in women) -- in other words, to enjoy being real, imperfect, non-sterile humans living in a real, imperfect, non-Day-Glo world. Fortunately, the record is just as effective musically as it is conceptually. It's full of kick-out-the-jams rockers, with a few up-tempo thrashers and surprisingly atmospheric pieces mixed in; the raw, wailing saxophone of Rudi Thomson (who replaced Lora Logic early on) gives the band its true sonic signature. The CD reissue of Germfree Adolescents appends both sides of the classic debut single "Oh Bondage Up Yours!," one of the most visceral moments in all of British Punk, which means everything you need is right here." (Steve Huey) Great stuff and still unique!

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X-RAY SPEX - Oh Bondage... Up Yours! 7'' 1977

This is an unofficial release from Art-I-Ficial Products (2016) of the bands debut 7Inch with two, I think, different versions as on the original record and came in three different vinyl colors in a limited edition. X-Ray Spex were formed 1976 in London and during their first incarnation (1976–1979), they released five singles and one album. Their 1977 single Oh Bondage Up Yours! and debut album Germfree Adolescents (1978) are widely acclaimed as classic Punk releases. (Today, the 7Inch is regarded as their most enduring artefact, both as a piece of music and as a sort of Proto-Grrrl catchphrase. Opening with the spoken/screamed line, "Some people think little girls should be seen and not heard but I think oh, bondage, up yours!", the song could be interpreted as a premonition of the Riot Grrrl movement fifteen years later, although Styrene herself insists it was more intended as an anti-consumerist/anti-capitalist jingle, and was not exclusively feminist in nature). After singer Poly Styrene left in 1979 to pursue other interests the band auditioned for a new singer and changed their name to Classix Nouveaux.

In 1991, X-Ray Spex reformed for a surprise sell-out gig at the Brixton Academy, where Poly appeared in a blue foam dress with an army helmet (to her regret). The group reformed again in 1995 with a line-up of Styrene, Dean and Logic to release a new album Conscious Consumer. Although heralded as the first in a trilogy, the album was not a commercial success. Styrene later explained that touring and promotional work suffered an abrupt end when she was run over by a fire engine in central London, suffering a fractured pelvis. The following year X-Ray Spex played at the 20th Anniversary of Punk Festival in Blackpool minus PolyStyrene, overcoming her last-minute decision to withdraw by recruiting a replacement female singer named Poly Filla. The band disbanded, but later releases include a compilation of the group's early records, a live album, and an anthology of all the aforementioned. The band including original bass player Paul Dean, played what was described as a raucous comeback gig and in front of an audience of 3000 full at the Roundhouse in London on 6 September 2008. The gig consisted of Germfree Adolescents in its entirety, with the exception of "Plastic Bag". PolyStyrene died of spinal and breast cancer on 25. April 2011 in East Sussex at the age of 53. X-Ray Spex were one of the most inventive, original and genuinely exciting groups to during the early British Punk era. (source: wikipedia)

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ADOLESCENTS - Welcome To Reality EP 1981

Let's continue with a great band and their debut, I think, a three song killer EP: Welcome To Reality by the Adolescents and this sucker was released in October 1981 on Frontier Records. Recorded after guitarist Rikk Agnew left the group, it was their only release recorded with guitarist Steve Roberts. The band broke up in August 1981, and when the EP was released two months later it was not well received (damn ignoramuses). When the Adolescents re-formed five years later, a new lineup re-recorded all three songs for their reunion album Brats In Battalions in 1987. I think it's a successful and important record that paved the way for the Californians to become an essential band. And they are still on the road and never tire of writing more great songs. Definitely on stage a pleasure!

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THE MIDDLE CLASS - Out Of Vogue [The Early Material] 2008

The Middle Class were an American four piece established 1976 in Santa Ana/California and consisted of Jeff (vocals), Mike (guitar), Mike P. (bass), Bruce (drums). Debate continues to this day as to whether Middle Class were the first Hardcore combo or if Black Flag or Bad Brains were. It is unlikely that Bad Brains were aware of Middle Class, however, as they were unknown outside of California. Their sound evolved from being a blistering, shouted, arty version of punk which would be extremely influential to the hardcore sound that would emerge in the years following their first release, the 1978 Out Of Vogue 7Inch. This record featured the title track along with three other songs. After this they released the Scavenged Luxury 7'' in 1980 which retained the assault of the first record while introducing the influence of UK bands Gang Of Four and Joy Division. 1982 saw the release of their first full length album, the dark Homeland. Their first seven inches were rereleased on the compilation album "Blueprint For Joy" along with several live tracks and songs they contributed to the Tooth & Nail compilation.

In the mid-1980s Mike & Bruce Atta briefly formed a soul/dance band with former The Bags vocalist Alice Bag called the Cambridge Apostles. Bassist Mike Patton went on to produce the Adolescents' first album, guitarist Mike Atta now owns and operates a vintage furniture shop in Fullerton, California called "Out Of Vogue", and drummer Bruce Atta went on to UCLA to major in Philosophy and now teaches Philosophy at Cal State University at Los Angeles. And now enjoy this fifteen track collection (Frontier Records) with their two EPs, compi tracks & rare demos.

- Great Thx to Fredrik -

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ADOLESCENTS - Balboa Fun Zone 1988

3rd album on Triple X Records by the Adolescents, titled after the "Balboa Fun Zone" amusement area of Balboa Peninsula, Newport Beach, it is the band's only album recorded without singer Tony "Reflex" Brandenburg, who had left the group the prior year. Electing not to replace him, guitarist Rikk Agnew and bassist Steve Soto alternated lead vocals on this. The album also features the return of original Adolescents guitarist Frank Agnew (Rikk Agnew's younger brother), who had been absent from their prior album, 1987's Brats In Battalions. Balboa Fun Zone is also the final Adolescents studio album to include Rikk Agnew & drummer Sandy Hanson. The band broke up in April 1989, reuniting in later years with different lineups. In a retrospective review, Stewart Mason of AllMusic gave the album 3 stars out of 5 and said that Soto and Rikk Agnew's split songwriting and vocal performances " give the album an appealingly varied sound that ranges from the anthemic rocker 'Just Like Before' to the engagingly loose, Johnny Thunders-like 'It's Tattoo Time'. Best of the lot are the two entirely different tunes named after the album title, the smoking hardcore 'Balboa Fun Zone (Riot On The Beach)" and the much poppier, '60s-inspired 'Balboa Fun Zone (It's in Your Touch)'. Worst of the lot is a sloppy, basically pointless cover of John Lennon's 'Instant Karma!' Although there's little that truly stands out besides Agnew's anti-drug anthem 'Alone Against The World', the album is so consistently rocking and good-humored that it's a more entertaining listen than their uneven earlier records."

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POWERAGE & COMPOS MENTIS - Backlash! EP 1987

Influenced by overseas bands such as Crass, Discharge and Chaos UK, Compos Mentis wrote politically charged songs that critiqued both mainstream New Zealand and the cliquey factions within the alternative music scene. Described by Simon Cottle of Anti-System zine as “New Zealand's ultimate political thrash band” Compos Mentis lasted for a good half of the 1980s at a time when a more politicised punk scene was emerging in Wellington. Compos Mentis began life in 1982 as the short lived Destructive Adolescents, a teenage punk band from the Hutt Valley suburb of Silverstream, formed by Craig and David A.. After the D.A's vocalist quit Peter Stitt and Heather joined the band playing their first gig at Craig's work Christmas do. By all accounts this went down with the largely older audience like a bucket of cold sick and they were forced to stop after a few songs. Shortly after this the band changed it's name to World War III for a brief period before opting for Compos Mentis which translates from Latin as “of sound mind”. Following this Peter left the band due to personality differences and Ben and Sean were recruited into the band briefly. At this time two other members, Simon and Grant, of Hutt Valley band Gotham City joined. The input from these two new members led to a tighter musical direction for the band and during 1986-1987 Compos Mentis released three 7” singles (one here), a tape compilation of early work dating back to 1984 and appeared on a number of compilations. Compos Mentis were a central band in the emergence of an openly politicized anarcho-punk scene that emerged in the 1980s. Songs such as Run for Shelter railed against Nazi-punks while Patricia Bartlett is an inspired rant against Lower Hutt's then self-appointed leader of the 'moral majority'. The band were also active in producing their own zine, Communicade.

Power Age formed in Durban, South Africa in June 1981. The first line-up was Spike (vocals), Brett & Brian (guitars), Dave (bass), Mark Pills (drums) & their first gig was on 3rd October 1981 supporting the Gay Marines. It was their first encounter with the police as well, as Spike got taken in, because some policemen didn't like his pink mohawk. In June '82 Spike arranged a benefit show and 6 punk bands played. The show was a great success. Straight after this show Brian and Dave left. Midge joined on bass and it proved better with one guitar, so it was kept to a four piece. In November '82 Mark left to go live in England. Rubin Rose (previously from South Africa’s first punk band Wild Youth and later Warspike) replaced him immediately and the band really started moving. In April '83 they put out their first 7" release ‘World War III/ Vengeance Of Youth’. At the same time Midge left the band due to musical differences. The band was stagnant for two months until Paddy joined on bass. He was a good friend of the band but had never played before, so it was like starting again. In '84 the two songs off the first 7" were released on the UK compilation ‘Beating The Meat’. At this time in Durban (and the whole of South Africa) the scene was virtually dead - Power Age were the only punk band. In June '84 they played the ‘Punk '84’ show with new bands Wild Justice and State Control. It was a fantastic success and the owner of the venue let them run it for punk shows. Things went well and a good number of bands sprung up and the scene started moving. In June '85 they put out a C-60 tape ‘Who Are You?’ - one side studio, the other live and also succeeded in getting a track ‘System’ onto a French compilation EP entitled ‘Single Ticket To Paradise’. November '85 saw the release of the now legendary 4-track EP ‘Stop Apartheid’ in France by Neg-FX Records. In May '86 the band put out another C-60 tape release ‘Ripe For Terror’. At the same time they did a benefit show for a friend in jail. The venue owner somehow heard that it was a benefit for the ANC, and called the police. The police came, smashed up the gig and it was over. Luckily no one was arrested. Then the saddest moment came... Rubin quit the band in June '86. He had warned he might have to leave due to mounting pressure from his bosses. Peter then joined on drums, but couldn't play, so the band were stagnant again for 3 months. In February '87 they put out the two song 7" tribute to Rubin ‘World Today/Waiting for the War’ (recorded in '84) on their new label Power Noize Records. At the same time Peter left to play with Screaming Foetus and their good friend Choppy replaced him. In April '87 Power Age released a 5-track EP entitled ‘The Last Dove’. June '87 saw the release of the EP ‘Backlash’, a split EP with New Zealand-band Compos Mentis released on Out Of Order Records as well as one track ‘Eat Wheat Not Meat’ on a USA compilation LP entitled ‘The ALF Is Watching And You Can't Escape’. Having played only 77 shows in their 7 year existence Powerage played their last show on the 29th of July 1988. This show was recorded and made available as the ‘Live In Durban’ LP. (source: upthepunks & discogs)

1.This Is South Africa - POWERAGE

2.Disgrace - POWERAGE

3.Lies - POWERAGE

4.Chase Corpse - COMPOS MENTIS

5.Rock Stars - COMPOS MENTIS

6.Patricia Bartlett - COMPOS MENTIS

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ADOLESCENTS - s/t LP 1981

One of my favorite records is the debut by Fullerton's Adolescents on Frontier Records, also known as The Blue Album due to its cover design. Recorded after guitarist Rikk Agnew and drummer Casey Royer joined the band, it features several songs written for their prior group, the Detours, including "Kids Of The Black Hole" and "Amoeba", which became two of the Adolescents' most well-known songs. Adolescents was one of the first hardcore punk albums to be widely distributed throughout the United States, and became one of the best-selling California hardcore albums of its time. The band never toured in support of it, and broke up four months after its release. The Blue Album lineup of Rikk, Casey, guitarist Frank Agnew, bassist Steve Soto and singer Tony Cadena reunited several times in subsequent years, but only for brief periods. This is Weird System version with the Welcome To Reality EP as bonus. There's lots of information, reviews about the slab in the net so I save more words except: a damn must!

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AKUTT INNLEGGELSE - Echoes From The Asylum EP 1983

Akutt Innleggelse from Fjellstrand started off as a noisy punk outfit in the early 80's,  featuring adolescents Thomas & Bengt (aged approximately 13 or 14) and their friends Rolf and Espen (only slighty older). Their first trip to the studio, in 1983, yielded the Echoes From The Asylum EP, released on Thomas' newly-formed Straightjacket label. After replacing Espen and adding Bjørn on vocals, the band headed in a more "hardcore"-sounding direction. An April '84 session produced a nine-song demo; several tracks from this ended up on various international compilations. In 1985, the band called it quits. Thomas (aka Happy-Tom) and Bengt (aka Bingo) went on to play in Turbonegro. (Thanks to Bård) A raw, mid-tempo three-track EP from Norway. On their first vinyl release, Akutt Innleggelse displays a primitive, amateurish punk attack. It kind of slouches along without noteworthy choruses, but the lyrics are good and the guitar lead in "Superstjerne" is awkward enough to be really cool. -Jeff Bale (from Maximum Rocknroll #16, August 1984) - On numerous compilations to guest, great stuff!

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LEGAL WEAPON - Death Of Innocence 1982

Legal Weapon was an early Southern California punk band, initially composed of singer Kat Arthur, guitarist Brian Hansen, drummer Charlie Vartanian, bassist Patricia Morrison and guitarist Mike R. Livingston. The band's early full-length albums Death Of Innocence (for which their lineup included Steve Soto and Frank Agnew of the Adolescents) and Your Weapon were well-received, its later efforts less so. Kat Arthur, with her powerful voice, has been called "the Janis Joplin Of PUNK". In 1982 they released their debut album, Death Of Innocence (to many, their punk masterpiece) and there were no singles released from the album. The songwriting and musicianship had improved noticably since the No Sorrow 12'', which is impressive considering only about five months had elapsed between the release of the bands debut effort and the release of the much more ambitious "Death Of Innocence". Ten outbursts on it and most of the album's songs, though, are straight ahead, roaring punk rock, the sound Kat and Legal Weapon were best at. "This well-produced debut album by L.A.'s Legal Weapon presents a solid collection of hard rock numbers in the same general style as 45 Grave, but without the satanic Compositions like the kinetic rocker "Daddy's Gone Mad" utilize Kay Arthur's rather plaintive voice to good advantage, even though the highlight of Death of Innocence is probably the haunting "Wanna Be" - a ballad. This album definitely grows on you. - Steve Spinali (from MRR #2, September/October 1982) - Sad info at the end: Kat died at her home in Leimert Park early Sunday evening on 14. October 2018.

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D.I. - Richard Hung Himself 12'' 1983

A quick post with short info from wiki: D.I. was formed in 1981 after the Adolescents' first break-up. Their original line-up consisted of Casey Royer (vocals), Tim Maag (guitar), Fredric Taccone (bass) and Derek O'Brien (drums). The band combined the Orange County hardcore punk sound with a decidedly surf and new wave style on their debut self-titled EP. The 12'' featured five songs, including "Richard Hung Himself" (originally written by Steve Roberts while he played for the Adolescents, recorded with the Adolescents and later re-recorded with D.I.), "Venus De Milo", "Reagan Der Führer", "Purgatory", and "Guns". This EP was later reissued as Team Goon with extra tracks including versions of Gary Glitter's "Rock and Roll Part II" and Devo's "Uncontrollable Urge". The band's first studio album Ancient Artifacts was a more straight ahead Orange County-sounding album that included a new version of "Purgatory" from the EP. Not long after the release of Ancient Artifacts, D.I. returned to the studio to record their second album Horse Bites Dog Cries, which was not released until 1986 (although the album itself has copyright date of 1985), this is generally considered their best studio album. Since forming in 1981, D.I. has had many line-up changes over the years and Royer has been the only constant member of the band. The rotating line-up usually consists of former members of the Adolescents and Social Distortion (including brothers Rikk and Alfie Agnew). The band has continued to work, although they have had inactive periods, which include the band going on hiatus between albums. During their years of touring and recording albums, D.I. have never gained a huge mainstream success, but they have influenced many of the mostly formed in the 1990s melodic hardcore punk and punk rock revival bands.

- Great Thx to Fredrik -

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