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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V/A - Raw & Rare British Punk #3 1997

A request is fulfilled with the following compilation of this mini-serie where the word 'Raw' is not really true but it doesn't matter, it's another famos meeting of rare UK singles on a record, of course again released by Raw Sounds and as well as in a simple presentation - Decent mix of sixteen powerpop/punk goodies and the original 7Inches, you know, are nowadays hard to get, that's the meaning of such slabs. I approve myself a Jever and know that you are enjoying this sound and don't miss Volume 1+2 from this theater. ★

1.Put My Finger On You - AMBER SQUAD

2.Fatal Attraction - THE DREGS

3.Noiz Boiz - NOIZ BOIZ

4.Danger Love - VICE CREEMS

5.I Wanna Be - THE STOWAWAYS

6.Footsteps - THE CLUES

7.Abusing The Rules - SCHOOLGIRL BITCH

8.You're No Better Than Me - THE GRIDS

9.Tell You A Lie - AMBER SQUAD

10.School Girls In Bondage - THE DREGS

11.Flashback - NOIZ BOIZ

12.Like A Tiger - VICE CREEMS

13.My Friends - THE STOWAWAYS

14.Masked Emotions - THE CLUES

15.Think For Yourself - SCHOOLGIRL BITCH

16.Hypocrite - THE GRIDS

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V/A - Raw & Rare British Punk #2 1997

While my laundry is in the laundry room, I use the time to put this fantastic compilation on air. Mini-serie on Raw Sounds of four albums with rare UK powerpop/punk 7Inches, unfortunately without info sheet or anything else. No matter, sixteen pleasant songs that brighten the gray fucking November a bit and shoot me in a good mood. On this record is something for everyone I think. Also Volume 1 is still active if you can't get enough of this stuff.

1.You're To Blame - THE CYBERMEN

2.Go - THE HEARTBEATS

3.Eddies New Shoes - BLITZ BOYS

4.All Of Nothing - THE CRACK

5.I Just Don't Care - JOE COOL

6.Waiting For You - THE MEANIES

7.Anywhere Else But Here - FIRST STEPS

8.Lucky Ones - FLY ON THE WALL

9.It's You I Want - THE CYBERMEN

10.One Of The People - THE HEARTBEATS

11.She Told My Friends - BLITZ BOYS

12.I Caught You Out - THE CRACK

13.My Ways - JOE COOL & THE KILLERS

14.It's True - THE MEANIES

15.I Got The News/Airplay - FIRST STEPS

16.Educated - FLY ON THE WALL

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V/A - Raw & Rare British Punk #1 1997

Raw And Rare British Punk was a little serie of four compilations which came out end of the 90s on Raw Records, I think as bootlegs, but am not sure. Anyway, the idea is bring more rare UK punk smashers among the people and if I compare the Bloodstains and the numerous other records with rare UK punk so is in my opinion the potential of early GB Punk far from over. Let's start with # 1 and we find old friends which are already available here on the blog (Jerks, Pretty Boyd Floyd) and new stuff which I heard for the first time (Bee Bee Cee, Duggie Briggs Band). The title of the series is a bit irritating because it is far away from "Raw" Punk, it's more good ole '77 stuff but which makes it no less interesting. Well, somehow the shit has to be baptized. Safe is: very good song selection and gives me pleasure. Others will follow in this theater, good night!

1.Get Yoor Woofing Dog Off Me - THE JERKS
2.A.C.A.B. - THE ROWDIES
3.You Gotta Know Girl - BEE BEE CEE
4.The Back End Of Nowhere - ACCIDENT ON THE EAST LANCS
5.Radio Interference - THE IGNERENTS
6.Kicks In Style - THE USERS
7.Spread The World Around - PRETTY BOY FLOYD & THE GEMS
8.Punk Rockin' Granny - DUGGIE BRIGGS BAND
9.Hold My Hand - THE JERKS
10.Freeze Out - THE ROWDIES
11.We Ain't Listening - BEE BEE CEE
12.Rat Race - ACCIDENT ON THE EAST LANCS
13.Wrong Place Wrong Time - THE IGNERENTS
14.Dead On Arrival - THE USERS
15.Hold Tight - PRETTY BOY FLOYD & THE GEMS
16.I'm A Flasher - DUGGIE BRIGGS BAND

- Big Thx to Drago -

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FUNERAL ORATION - s/t LP 1987

Here's an extreme pretty cool melodic punk album and I would like to quote lots of infos I've found on their MySpace site:

Funeral Oration was a melodic hardcore punk band from Amsterdam/Netherlands. They were active from 1983 until the end of the 1990s, putting out highly influential records on Dutch, German, British and American labels. They managed to create their own unique sound, mainly due to the unmistakable vocal style of the singer Peter Zirschky.

Funeral Oration was formed in early 1983 out of the ashes of singer Peter Zirschky's former band – Last Warning. The initial line-up was completed by drummer Ferry Fidom, bassist Mike who was soon replaced by William Steinhauser, and guitarist David. The latter quit just after the recording of their first demo, so Zirschky took over guitar duties. In the beginning of 1984 another demo tape was recorded, this time with better production which captured the raw energy of those early days of the band. It wasn't until the fall of 1984 that their music finally made it to vinyl when the self-produced 'Shadowland' 12'' was released. Four tracks of ripping hardcore on side A, backed with three of the darkest post-punk songs established their trademark sound. The next year brought a new guitarist, Tos Nieuwenhuizen (ex-Agent Orange), and a new release – their first and now legendary album 'Communion" (1985) on Diehard Records, which was ranked #3 best punk rock album of the year by Flipside magazine.

The unique guitar style of Tos Nieuwenhuizen and heartfelt lyrics of Peter Zirschky earned the album a classic status. In 1986 guitarist Tos left the band. He was replaced by Hayo Buunk and later that year a new 7inch EP was recorded – "Survival". Their second album, simply titled "Funeral Oration", saw the light in 1987 and the same year drummer Ferry Fidom left the band. With the new drummer Erik Jansen in, the band’s line-up didn’t change for a decade. Another EP 'The More We Know' was released in 1989 and in the end of the year material for a new album was recorded, but a hiatus in the band caused its late release – the "Say No To Life" record was finally put out in 1993 by WRF Records. This record gave a hint of what would become their definitive sound in the '90s – catchier melodies and better production, still keeping the edge of their previous albums.

After almost five years of silence, the four entered the studio to record their CD debut "Punk Rock Nation", which caught the ear of american Hopeless Records who eventually signed the band. Most of the tracks off "Punk Rock Nation" were included on their next release, predictably titled "Funeral Oration". A semi-professional video was shot for the song "Outside", which can be seen on the "Cinema Beer Goggles" video. Hopeless Records issued the band’s last two studio albums 'Believer' (1997) and 'Survival' (1998) – and a double-disc compilation with rare, unreleased and live material. In 1997 Vinny Tjoa joined as a second guitar since Hayo Buunk couldn't take part in the recording of "Survival". Funeral Oration did three american tours in three consecutive years – in 1996, '97 and '98 – promoting each of their Hopeless Records releases. By the end of the decade the band members went their separate ways.

Sad news in the end, on 17.April 2008 Erik Jansen former drummer for Funeral Oration passed away after a tragic accident. Fazit: excellent legacy from one of the finest dutch bands ever.

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V/A - Bored Teenagers Vol.2 2001

16 tracks of pure, unadulterated British Punk Rock from the golden years of ‘77 - ‘82. This comp. delved ultra-deep into the archives to bring some of the best and rarest UK Punk singles ever, but also totally unreleased tracks by the likes of UXB, The Negatives, Knife Edge and Disorder making this one of the most essential items any Punk Rock fan could get his grubby little hands on. The makes usual put their heart and soul’s into this release - and once again both formats come with a great sixteen page booklet featuring liner notes written by the bands, pictures of the releases and ultra rare photos. "Sure, this could have come out years ago - we could have just bootlegged it and sent it out in a wraparound sleeve like all the rest of the money-hungry so called ‘fans’ out there. But we think the collectors deserve more - and we think the bands deserve more too - so we’re bringing this out 100% officially with the consent of all the bands involved. This is for the Punk connoisseur and the music fan alike - a blast from the past that still sounds fresh today. And ya wanna know the reeaaalllyyy cool thing?" You can imagine that this album was sold out quickly and this is not to say the quality on offer is poor, in fact on the contrary: the vast majority of songs here are excellent. Many rare tracks are showcased and this really is punk rock in its purest form: shoddily produced, home-made singles made by bored teenagers that still have a raw energy that encapsulates the very ethos of punk.

1.Air-Raid - DISORDER

2.Identity Parade - DISORDER

3.Crazy Today - UXB

4.Over The Wall - UXB

5.Society - THE THRUST

6.Fed Up - THE THRUST

7.I'm In Love - THE ZIPS

8.Don't Be Pushed Around - THE ZIPS

9.Stakeout - THE NEGATIVES

10.Love Is Not Real - THE NEGATIVES

11.We're From Bradford - THE NEGATIVES

12.Say You Will - KNIFE EDGE

13.Fighting In The Chapel - KNIFE EDGE

14.Reverberate - THE CASSETTES

15.200 Voices - NO COVER

16.Office Staff - THE REPORTERS

- Huge Thx to Fredrik -

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