THE BADGE - Complete Of King Years 2005

Anyone who thinks that only screaming wild Hardcore comes from the Far East will be proven wrong with the following terrific music and unfortunately I can't remember who sent me this little musical delight, well, my memory is really bad. But anyway, my vacation starts today, the second beer is intus and I'm talking nonsense, hahahaha. About the band: The Badge (these are the boys on the front cover of Powerpearls Vol.6 if you're interested) are a Japanese Beat/Mod band and were founded, I think, in Tokyo at the late Seventies and the band consisted of Shoji (vocals/guitars), Nobuaki (vocals/bass) and Tetstu (vocals/drums) and they released their first 7Inch Futari No Photograph via Continental in July 1982. They landed a deal with King Records and released five 7Inches between 1984-1985, and all are collected on this Compilation which came only out in Japan by MMR. Excellent melodic PowerPop, sung in English, is brought by the Badge into your home and I think they are very popular in their country and this for a long, long time, a new song was recorded in 2022 and released on a Split 7'' this year, if they are still active I don't know. Time for beer #3 and let's see if anything else comes today.

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V/A - This Is Mod Vol.4 (Modities) 1996

I still have one for the weekend and the sound matches the setting evening sun that I am now enjoying from the balcony. Ladies & Gentlemen!, let's welcome Volume 4 of the This Is Mod series by the brilliant Anagram Records and the last I have. This Compilation feautures the rare 7Inches by these eight Modities which were published in the late Seventies/early Eighties and for some the only record. Like its predecessors, this little nugget is an absolute highlight of good songs by bands that hardly anyone knows anymore and purchasing one of these delicacies is not really cheap. You see, a real collector's item... like the original platten.

1.Blood Spattered With Guitars - THE ACCIDENTS

2.Curtains For You - THE ACCIDENTS

3.Three Bands Tonite - THE DIRECTIONS

4.On The Train - THE DIRECTIONS

5.Go Steady - THE LAMBRETTAS

6.Cortinas - THE LAMBRETTAS

7.Listen Listen Listen - THE LAMBRETTAS

8.I Saw Her With Another Guy - THE NIGHTRIDERS

9.London Town - THE NIGHTRIDERS

10.Flat 19 - MERTON PARKAS

11.Band Of Gold - MERTON PARKAS

12.You And I - THE ONLOOKERS

13.Understand - THE ONLOOKERS

14.Julia - THE ONLOOKERS

15.I Believe You - THE REPUTATIONS

16.Breaking Communication - THE REPUTATIONS

17.All Day & All Of The Night - THE REPUTATIONS

18.They Think I Don't See Them - THE REPUTATIONS

19.Protect Your Love - THE UNTOUCHABLES

20.Sister Salvation - THE UNTOUCHABLES

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V/A - This Is Mod Vol.3 (A Diamond Collection) 1996

Third part by this excellent series called This Is Mod by Anagram Records and we listen to six bands and twenty-two songs, among them are a lot of well-known cover versions that make this compilation even more interesting in my opinion. I find that always exciting, because sometimes the implementation is much more attractive than the originals, and also own melodies/ideas are thrown in, sometimes totally fucked-up but not in this case.... and we all know, it's all a matter of taste. Well, if you enjoyed the first two volumes and you're open for that kind style/sound, I say: you won't be disappointed, it's definitely FUN!

1.Looking For Love - THE SCENE

2.Let Me Know - THE SCENE

3.On The Streets Again - LONG TALL SHORTY

4.I Fought The Law - LONG TALL SHORTY

5.Promises - LONG TALL SHORTY

6.Something That You Said - THE SCENE

7.Stop-Go (Live) - THE SCENE

8.In This Town - THE MOMENT

9.What's Going On? - LONG TALL SHORTY

10.Steppin' Stone - LONG TALL SHORTY

11.Win Or Lose - LONG TALL SHORTY

12.England - LONG TALL SHORTY

13.One Two They Fly - THE MOMENT

14.Good Lovin' - THE SCENE

15.2 Plus 2 What's Music - THE SCENE

16.All I Ever Wanted - THE B TEAM

17.Bad Day - THE B TEAM

18.This Working Way - THE WAY OUT

19.Just The Girl - THE WAY OUT

20.Looking For You - THE RAGE

21.Come On Now - THE RAGE

22.Hallelujah I Love Her So - THE RAGE

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V/A - This Is Mod Vol.2 (More Rarities 1979-1981)

I'll end the spring week with another compilation that's bursting with interesting music and a perfect start to recharge your batteries. A few weeks ago I started Volume 1 of this nice little series by Anagram Records which is brilliantly stocked with rarities, and the second ties in seamlessly with it. Seven more mod revivalists with their 7Inches are gathered here and intensifies this short-lived subculture with impulsive sound. And with this, a sunny weekend.

1.Twisted Wheels - KILLERMETERS

2.SX 225 - KILLERMETERS

3.Plane Crash - PURPLE HEARTS

4.Scooby Doo - PURPLE HEARTS

5.Gun Of Life - PURPLE HEARTS

6.The Fashion Plague - THE EXITS

7.Cheam - THE EXITS

8.Needs Somebody To Love - THE V.I.P's

9.One More Chance - THE V.I.P's

10.Stuttgart Special - THE V.I.P's

11.Who Knows? - THE V.I.P's

12.Janine - THE V.I.P's

13.Modern Boys - THE CROOKS

14.The Beat Goes On - THE CROOKS

15.Wild About You - THE CROOKS

16.Movements - THE CROOKS

17.All The Time In The World - THE CROOKS

18.Banging My Head - THE CROOKS

19.The Odd Man Out - TEENAGE FILMSTARS

20.I Apologise - TEENAGE FILMSTARS

21.Just A Little Mod - TERRY TONIK

22.Smashed & Blocked - TERRY TONIK

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THE SAME - Movements 7'' 1980

Somehow this is the mod month in this blog and I can't tell you why but the next goodie is the only 7Inch by this Mod-revival band from Worthing and this is the French version of the record which came there via Blueprint Records. The Same consisted of Steve (vocals/guitars), Brian (guitars), Peter (bass) and Tony (drums). Brian left early the band and the rest carried as three piece and recorded this great piece which was original released via Wessex Records in a limited edition of 1000 copies. The band had some compilation invites and in 2018 Detour Records released a CD totaling twenty three songs, to be mailed to me immediately.

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V/A - This Is Mod Vol.1 (Rarities 1979-1981)

Let's round off the small mod phase on wdthtc with the following compilation called This Is Mod, a small series by Anagram Records and a total of six CD's were created in the mid Nineties. The focus is on rare 7Inches, mostly by English bands, which only made it to this format and very sought nowadays. The British mod revival may have been a fad, driven by fashion and most of the time too derivative, but it did produce some cool singles. Musically they move in a decent PowerPop area with smart clothes and the artwork is also impressive, plenty of infos about each band. Consistently interesting and the last post for today, Bundesliga is waiting, Cheers!

1.Opening Up - THE CIRCLES

2.Billy - THE CIRCLES

3.Can We Go Dancing - THE AMBER SQUAD

4.You Should See What I Do To You In My Dreams - THE AMBER SQUAD

5.Can't Sleep At Night - THE CIGARETTES

6.It's The Only Way To Live - THE CIGARETTES

7.Choose You - DEAD BEATS

8.Julie's New Boyfriend - DEAD BEATS

9.On No - DEAD BEATS

10.Nobody Loves Me - THE LETTERS

11.Don't Want You Back - THE LETTERS

12.Happy Song - THE NIPS

13.Nobody To Love - THE NIPS

14.Saturday Night - THE ODDS

15.Not Another Love Song - THE ODDS

16.Circles - THE CIRCLES

17.Summer Nights - THE CIRCLES

18.They're Back Again - THE CIGARETTES

19.I've Forgot My Number - THE CIGARETTES

20.All I Want Is Your Money - THE CIGARETTES

21.I've Got Me Parka - THE SUSSED

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TACONES - Difícil 7'' 1981

Interesting combo from Madrid, formed in the late 70's by Alberto Larios (vocals/guitar), Ramiro (guitar), Fernando (bass/keyboards), Carlos (drums) and this is their second 7Inch on Zafiro. Four young people, fascinated by the look of the swinging Mod scene in the UK and the catchy refrains of the new sound, founded the Tacones with pure beat premises, heavily influenced by veteran British beat bands with a long tradition such as the Kinks, Searchers or the Beatles. Dressed in impeccable suits, shirts and ties and gleaming pointy boots in the purest mod style that added visual appeal to their polished live shows. In March 1980, they released their first single, based on the soundtrack of the Juan José Porto film of the same name, Crónicas Del Bromuro/Rita (Chapa Discos), where they performed a cover version of the Los Brincos song 'Mejor'. They started playing gigs in small towns like El Tiemblo, in the Albacete bullring, and received extensive mostly positive reviews nationwide and got a bit better known. Prior to the long awaited album, Chapa released another single Difícil/ Rita Se Hizo De Oro in 1981 which earned good references, delivering an energetic, catchy and melodic songs that ranks among the best of their short discography.

At the end of the year, they switched from Chapa to parent label, multinational Zafiro, falling into the hands of then-flashy arrangers and producers and Requiem Final (1981) saw the light of day. The album's song of the same name was intended to pay homage to John Lennon, who was murdered the previous year. It was also released as a 12Inch in a limited edition for fans, complemented by the voice of the presenter Joaquín Luqui, who dedicated some warm words to the late ex-Beatle. But neither the critics nor the general public took notice of this work, which was soon to be found at bargain prices on the shelves of the big department stores.

Unabashed pop with plenty of good reviews, but the truth is that the band, with their well-crafted songs, their impasto voices and all their coherence, sadly went unnoticed, maybe because they foresaw the moment, maybe because their album lacked the ingredients for suspense . Whatever the case, the Tacones disbanded and disappeared forever in the fall of 1982 after releasing one final single, Te Mintio/Clin Clin (Zafiro), to little success.

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DIE PROFIS - Neue Sensationen + Alte Geheimnisse 2008

Interesting release on Teenage Rebel Records and on this anthology are the only and much sought-after album from 1982 plus demo songs, compilation contributions and live recordings, some tracks by the previous band Stairs. We're talking about Die Profis from Düsseldorf which formed 1979 as Stairs by Ralf (vocals/guitars), Hans (bass), Roland (drums) and this formation made their only 7inch, Hey You, in 1980 via Big Record Deal and on it are two delicious Modpunk goodies that created a sound throughout the German musical landscape in the early Eighties that made them very special, but the German mod scene, with a few exceptions, never caught the attention of the big bands from England. They changed their bandname into Die Profis, and Rainer replaced Hans on bass, and the now rare and only Longplayer Neue Sensationen was recorded and released on Schallmauer in 1982. The independent sound from Rock'N'Roll, Pop, Ska and Punk is wonderfully solid and is characterized by the very good lyrics and underlines the brilliant quality of this band. A reviewer writes: "The perfect soundtrack for growing up in a stuffy society that gets on your nerves with its norms and values, while you just party to good music and make out with girls." Absolutely right! They split in 1984, reformed in the late '80s with a new line-up, finally disbanded in the early Nineties.

- Great Thx to Nolti -

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THE MODERNS - Suburban Life 2021

Sweden's first and best mod-revival band The Moderns mixed the love of 60's pop with the intensity of Punk and had the big breakthrough around the corner during the short but intense career. Based in Malmö, the Moderns existed from late 1978 to 1981 and founding members were Mats (vocals/guitar), Tony (guitar), Jan (bass), Rickard (drums) and early 1979 they released their first self-financed 7Inch The Year Of Today. The record gained a lot of publicity due to the freshness of the sound and the fact that nobody else did this kind of music in Sweden at the time. Some line-up changes followed and eventually another single plus an album was released in the early 80's but the album didn’t sell as much as was anticipated, partly due to switch to the Swedish language, and so the band broke up shortly after. Busy Bee Production has once again created a real highlight on vinyl and along with the second single, songs from a couple of compilation albums and some completely unreleased tracks, this record is the definitive collection with The Modern's first line-up. Limited edition, 600 copies (400 black & 200 blue vinyl). Grab a copy if you get the chance, because this is interesting stuff for all outsiders & undergrounders.

- Great Thx to Fredrik -

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THE MEDIA - Bright New Future 2020

Return of The Media: From Polaroids to Instagram, from vinyl singles to SoundCloud, from printing presses to the internet - a lot has changed with our media in the past fourty years. But, late 1970s Portsmouth band The Media are hoping that some things don't change; that a great tune is a great tune and that a band with an enviable live reputation still have the chops. Love Child Records certainly think The Media still have it!

In 2019 we set about tracking the band down and launched a double A-side 7" single Jump Down/How Could You Lie in April that year. Now, after some fantastic mastering work by North London Bombing, Love Child can finally release a whole album!! The Media were a Portsmouth band formed in 1978, influenced by the UK punk explosion of 1977 and consisted of Martin Jacks (vocals), Brian Lee (drums), Pete Rossie (guitar) and Michael 'Chello' Whichello (bass). In a short space of time back in the days of the punk rock explosion (and everything moved very quickly in the late 1970s) The Media played loads of shows, honed their 60s beat meets 70s street/seminal suburban songs, got a bit good, built a large following, released two singles and by 1980 were featured in an early Phil Redmond (the producer of Grange Hill, Brookside, Hollyoaks, etc.) youth TV series Going Out. What could possibly go wrong? Their debut No Darling I Love The Media EP appeared in 1978 on their own Tearaway Records (Cherry Red Records distributed it). It featured live favourites T.V. Kids, Don't Sit Back, Getting High and Rose and Crown. It was a bit good and sold out. A second single, Southcoast City Rockers came out the following year on the Portsmouth collective Brain Booster Records, again it sold out. A video was shot for Southcoast City Rockers, heady stuff at a time when very few bands recorded videos. The single showed the band moving on musically, taking in elements of the UK's emerging Ska scene (led by The Specials' Two Tone label) and the Mod revival inspired by The Jam (they secured support slots with The Vapors and Secret Affair). On the back of the money they were paid for the Going Out TV series (The Media's scene featured a packed gig, with a young Peter-Hugo Daly careering around causing mayhem) the band went in the studio with the aim of recording songs for an album, nine songs were completed.

But, trouble at one of their support slots (lets be honest, there was loads of bother at shows in the late 1970s/early 1980s) led to the cancellation of a series of gigs, including a prominent London show, and the band split in 1981. Fast forward thirty-seven years and the master tapes from that album session were found by a band member in their loft. 

On the advice of Acid Attack's Dave Clarke the tape is sent to Paul Orwell at Love Child Records, who in turn played it to Adam Cooper of parent company Heavy Soul Records, both of these uber music fans gave it a massive thumbs up. Love Child Records set about restoring the nine track tapes and transferring them to files. Talk immediately turned to releasing a single and album... and then a possible reunion show. The first 7" vinyl single from this session, Jump Down/How Could You Lie, was released in April 2019, fourty years after release of first Media EP! Bright New Future is available in 100 copies yellow vinyl, 150 copies black vinyl, so better be quick!

- Great Thx to Bristolboy -

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DIVISION 4 - On The Beat EP 1982

Another fund of my hard drive and this month is definitely the one with the most posts of this genre. 100% mod/powerpop from Sydney by Division 4. A short info: Brothers Kieren and Brad Fitzpatrick were playing in a local punk band in 1979 when they placed an ad looking for a drummer on a noticeboard at the University of NSW. Joe Genua responded, and brought with him bass player Antony Howell Smith III. Division 4 (named after the classic Aussie cop show of the early 1970s) seized on the burgeoning mod revival movement, swiftly building a strong inner-city following in Sydney. Their only legacy is this rare three track EP but an important light in the sky of this genre and came out on their own label. The band split up in 1984. Maintained on two cool compilations, Sound Of Sydney Vol.1 & Powerpearls #5. Please send the first, thx (it's been dealt with).

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REALLY 3RD'S - Everyday, Everyway 7'' 1981

The weekend is here and let's tackle it with a real blast. In keeping with the blue sky and sun, the title track goes mercilessly into my veins and shoots me forward, and whatever may come, I swing over it. A real PowerPop gem have the three with this song create and listening three times in a row is still not enough. The flip shines with a solid instrumental piece which is just as well played. 1000 copies were pressed on their own Really 3rds Record label without a sleeve. A bit info from discogs: "From Pontypridd in Wales, Really 3rd were a trio comprising guitarist Neil Lawrence, bassist Paul Pember, and a drummer identified only as Philip. After the self-financed release of the single "Everyday, Everyway," they changed their name to Shake Some Action in 1982 and became a mod revival band, but don't appear to have recorded in their new identity." No wonder that the song is used on a hand full of good compilations (Powerpearls Vol.1 for example). I say: Chapeau!

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THE CROOKS - Just Released 1980

Hailing from North Londen and this is the only full-length by the Crooks on Blueprint with fourteen PowerPop/Mod goodies. Originally formed in late 1977 by Dino (vocals/guitar/), Tim (guitar/vocals), Chris (bass), Micky (drums). Well, this is the kind of music that passed me by and I can't review a lot. The guys are apparently to be assigned to the Mod revival Hype from 1979/1980 and I can read a lot in the net that they didn't really make the breakthrough. Probably it was due to the label or the strong competition, I don't know, but what I hear on Just Released are consistently catchy songs with power and excellent melodies. And next to the album they released two singles which are included here as a bonus. If you are interested, you can read a short review of the album on allmusic. I'm gradually becoming a friend of this sound and I don't wanna know, how many shiny 7Inches I missed.

- Great Thx to Fredrik -

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THE FACE - 100% Beat EP 1980

Last post in 2020 and also last Love Child record I have and I hope the label continues to release more rare great U.K. stuff. Info: "Totally unreleased Mod Revival Gold!!! The Face were from Hornchurch, Essex and the four tracks on this E.P. were recorded in London in February 1980 and produced by Andy Todd, who later played keyboards with Republica (Get Ready To Go). A real treat for the ears, they were wriiten and recorded at the height of the Mod Revival which is shown by the mix of Mod, PowerPop and hints of Ska too... A curio for fans of The Chords too - recognise the lyrics running through "Streetwalk"? Written before "Maybe Tomorrow", the line "Bang Bang, You're Dead" - Limited to 250 copies, full colour sleeve.

A curious year is coming to an end, it will certainly be remembered longer than others, but even this shit goes by, right! So I wish all friends & visitors a happy new year!

- Great Thx to Bristolboy -

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LES LORDS - 1979-1980

 

The working year 2020 is over and four days off are comin'. Let's see, how I will end it musically and the opener is a treat, and this slab was released by Vidi Vici Records 2013 in edition of 300 copies. The Les Lords were Britz (vocals), Richard & Fifi (guitars), Laurent (bass), Lelett' (drums) and founded 1979 in Caen. And since nobody knows these guys until now, it is time for detailed information from the great creators of 45vinylvidivici which I would like to quote at this point:

1979: The musicians of the Caen punk group R.A.S. are orphans of a decaying movement. Britz, the singer-songwriter, mourns Sid Vicious. The others are starting to clearly prefer the power-pop energy of Jam, Skids, XTC or 999 to the neo-baba wanderings of the Cure or other Simple Minds.

The 60’s aesthetic and winks of the Who are already very present in punk, from black suits and string ties to the T-shirt with cockade of Billy Idol (Your Generation). Not to mention the Jam, of course. But when some members of R.S. land in Britain, it’s the shock. This one lives at the hour of "Mod Maydays", powerful revival which creates its own underground scene (Merton Parkas, Chords, Mo-Dettes, Squire...) in reaction to a punk now in the process of integration. "We hate the punk elite" sings Ian Page of Secret Affair. The musicians of R.A.S. are conquered, shop at Carnaby Street and return to Caen to tell friends about London news. The group is prompt renamed Les Lords.

As a result of this radical turn on the aesthetic level (because the songs remain the same) it appears fairly quickly that everyone gets into the idea of breaking their mouths, starting with the hard core of punks, more and more more influenced by the skinhead renewal and the “OI” wave. During the Lords' second concert in Lisieux, the skins came in force and have every intention of pissing off as much as possible. The chairs fly and the fans fall back on stage, somehow trying to send them away while the group continues to play. Arrival of the constabulary and relighting of the lights. We resume all the same and the Lords end in apotheosis by a resumption of "My Generation" of Who respecting to the letter the spirit of the original, that is to say accompanied by a methodical destruction of the material and the overturning of the columns sound system. Lying on the ground, arms outstretched to hold the

sound system lying on him and not to perish crushed, its owner, an old baba, manages to whisper "it's great, it's great...".

Great it is. The Lords continue the momentum of the most fit but harmonically rich punk, say Generation X to locate, incorporating 60’s influences, pre-psychedelic reminiscences (Creation, Move) and especially by tracing a new road, theirs. The group does quite a few covers: the instrumental The Persuaders ("Amically Your") as a concert intro, "For Your Love" by the Yardbirds mid-set and "My Generation" as a reminder. For the rest, it's a slaughter: slamming drums, metallic and melodic Rickenbacker bass, rhythmic Gibson "sound wall", dazzling escapades from the soloist on Telecaster. And there is the front man, with limited vocal capacities but remarkable texts and unparalleled charisma. It was obvious to who had once seen these kids in concert that they had fantastic potential. Because these are kids we are talking about, 17 years old at the time of history and just over 18 when it ended. Not really a "sex, drugs and rock n’roll" story, shot by the punk generation. No, just another story of tormented and rebellious teenagers. A story of music lovers who convert Gérald, the full barter shop of Throbbing Gristle to boots and frilled shirts. In return, he introduces them to Kinks and Small Faces, but also Real Kids, Charlie Mingus, Faust or Mother’s Finest. It is a story of rain (Normandy...), at night, of endless walking. Mopeds were rare, so scooters... It’s a story of cavalcades and frantic leaks, in the sad France of the end of the seventies whose "peripheral rascals" were so well sung by Renaud at the time.

On this front the Lords take radical measures by weaving an alliance with the gypsies, which allows to calm quickly done well the skins and to bring them back to feelings of healthy camaraderie. As for the neo-Mod movement, it is developing like wildfire. In two strokes of a pot spoon, there are more than 200 Mods in Caen. Punks converted after concerts, fans of the Specials or Joe Jackson, high school students who wanted to piss off their parents. Barely 16 years old, Laurence gives up everything to join Fifi, the rhythm guitarist of the Lords and returns on a scooter at the end of the hutch to give the teachers honor by shouting "We Are Mods", as in Quadrophenia. Britz, Laurent and I are going to see the film dozens of times at the cinema of the Carrefour shopping center, in Hérouville, one of the working-class suburbs of Caen. So we pass and we pass again in front of a band of thugs, "Arabs" as they said at the time, who stagnate on the benches of the shopping center and do not take long to look for the fight. It degenerates for good and ends with a punch outside. "We are the Mods"! Impressed, the most devious of the so-called "Arabs" quickly bought a costume and asked to join the mods.

In Caen, these are a mass movement from the proletariat, the working masses. With guys who in case of confusion are more quick to fight than to parley... There is José who fights after the group has won the French flags in a party on July 14, Franck says "Barjot" the former rocker and fisherman, "Clash" who crushes my parents' flowers in a Vespa and shoots the rockies on Saturday afternoon in the middle of traffic jams, with a WWII Luger. And then other groups that are formed: Dandys, Holly Boys and Neckties. These are 13-14 year olds who have had little time to learn English. Suddenly they proudly adapt the Who in French, "I Can’t Explain" becoming "the Caennais complain."

The Lords play in Paris at Golf Drouot. They finish well last of the "springboard rock" but fuck a happy mess and meet that evening the fabulous Stunners. A core of Parisian fans of the Lords is formed around Laurent ("Stax"), Denis, Thierry and soon Patrice Bertrand, former Hells Angel turned Mod who sells US garage rock records in the Scooter shop in Les Halles. The Lords don't pretend. They provide the first part of the Olivensteins whose equipment they demolish ("My Generation"), the Dogs from which they steal the show and a whole bunch of others. They make all the fire, open for Valérie Lagrange and even go on tour for a few dates opening for Caravan, an old British progressive rock band.

Soon the mod-revival spreads in Paris then in the provinces. Lords are heroes and kings, but there is a misunderstanding. Basically they have little to do with twinks disguising themselves as twist dancers, petty bourgeois in polka dot dresses and groups making desperate efforts to sound "garage". In fact, while the Parisian skins led by Farid - a ringworm - are having fun persecuting this bunch of little wankers from fine neighborhoods, they carefully avoid attacking anyone who wears a "Caen" patch on their jacket. Britz and the hard wing of the Caennais accentuate the demarcation with the installers by calling themselves "Glory Boys" and adopting black shirts and white ties. But hey, it's all starting to go around in circles. Especially since despite their multiple trips back and forth in the capital, where I settle as a manager, the Lords are still out of recording contract. There are indeed some contacts with Antoine De Caunes, Marc Zermati or Patrick Eudeline, the tour of record companies, a photo in the monthly Best, but nothing comes out. Meanwhile, the sken-mod conglomerate of Caen feels winged. After two years of intensive fights against rockers (very bad in those distant times) and all that hung around as thugs in the Normandy countryside, these became real terrors. Wounds that set everything on fire and blood during the Jam concert in Rouen. The Lords are victims of Sham 69 syndrome: overwhelmed by the movement they have instigated and the excesses of their audience.

The tension rises with the rhythm, Fifi, a simple heart. Then with the bass player who stands in solidarity with him. Finally with Britz Notre Dame, icon of mods, always so frosty and uncontrollable who does not want to understand that such a radical trip cuts the group from a wider audience. In a few weeks everything crumbles. Fifi and Laurent will try their luck with another group. Britz moved to Paris where he succeeded in a few months in transforming a gang of Daddy's sons into a respected gang. Richard and Denis recruit a bass player and pursue the Lords in the form of a blazing power trio.

In the end, there will be nothing but wonderful memories and rehearsal recordings from this brief epic, in mini-cassette. Despite their obvious limitations, they will no doubt give a better idea of what the Lords were than the album they would have done at the time on a major, under the guidance of a survivor of the yéyé who was converted into a producer. And the fact that more than thirty years later RAS or Les Lords are arousing interest shows that at least the flame has been transmitted. So all is well that ends well. Raymond Debord (Summer 2013)

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THE ORDINARYS - I Wanna Be An Ordinary 7'' 1978

This amazing two sider of '78 mod is one more rarity from Love Child Records! Limited 250 press with original flip back sleeves... it surely is 1978 all over again. The Ordinarys should have been massive - an appearance on hit TV show "New Faces" and a fan in the legend that is Mickie Most should have got the band the recognition their talent deserved. But some reasons unknown they never released anything.... until now! Taken from the only known copies of the finished recordings the tapes have been masterfully restored by Dan Husayn and sound as crisp as intended back in '78 Love Child Records are more than happy to put out this long-lost piece of '78 New Wave/early Mod Revival lushness. First 150 copies come with free promo poster. Guest on Bored Teenagers Vol.4, and you'll know how awesome this series is... Enjoy!

- Great Thx to Bristolboy -

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V/A - Odd Bods Mods & Sods 1979

June says goodbye with this rare compilation from Rok Records and all six bands have never received the recognition they had deserved, in my opinion. Okay, not all songs are killers but they have charm, a solid tempo and have released little besides this record, here and there a single and ferddisch. 1996 re-issued as CD by Captain Mod with ten bonus tracks, maybe someone can send it because this rip is not sooo brilliant. No matter, Kein Bock to mess up further on the PC, enjoy the last breath and do yourself a favour and grab this Odd Bods Mods & Sods! 

1.Can't Believe Its True - THE V.I.P.'s

2.Livin In The City - SQUIRE

3.Know What I Want - SPLIT SCREENS

4.No Good For Me - THE CLERKS

5.Statik Motion - JUSTIN CASE

6.Wild Boys In Cortinas - URBAN DISTURBANCE

7.Just Can't Let You Go - THE V.I.P.'s

8.Get Ready To Go - SQUIRE

9.Just Don't Try - SPLIT SCREENS

10.You - JUST FRANK

11.When The Lights Go Out - THE CLERKS

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WASTELAND - Leave Me Alone 7'' 1980

Second 7Inch by this combo from Canterbury/Kent and Wasteland were Tony (vocals), Don (bass), Tom (guitar), Tig (drums). This slab was released via Invicta/Ace Records in an edition of 500 copies. Two nice mod punkies with female vox, even on compilations, for example Back To Front #3. So it is, soon Soccer Euro-League, Yeah!

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V/A - Shake Some Action Vol.5 2003

Today I wanna shine with a few essential compilations and we kick off with a mini serie called Shake Some Action which bring us rare Powerpop, Mod & New Wave pearls from the late 70s to the mid 80's and each volume illuminates a special area of our wonderful planet and #5 is dedicated to the U.K. and Ireland. The whole thing is really put together with much love, as well the detailed booklet with all infos about bands/songs. I give 10 points out of 10 and it's damned important that such discs are dug up by fiery doers, Thx!

1.Can't Wait 'Till The Summer Comes - RONNIE MAYOR

2.Can't Get Over You - THE QUESTIONS

3.Here Comes My Baby - THE SMITH

4.Zero Ambition - BACK BEAT ROMEOS

5.Laid On A Plate - MARK ANDREW & THE GENTS

6.101 Damn-Nations - SCARLET PARTY

7.Cry A Little - THE CHICAYNES

8.You've Never Heard Anything Like This - THE FRESHMEN

9.The Beat Is Back - THE FIRST STEPS

10.Language School - THE TOURS

11.I Can Detect For You 1.000.000 Miles - ANDY ARTHURS

12.Love Letter - THE STEP

13.Rock'N'Roll Radio - THE YOUNG ONES

14.Shape Of Things To Come - THE HEADBOYS

15.Johnny B. Rotten - THE MONKS

16.I Can't Wait - THE JOLT

17.When The Tanks Rolled Over Polland Again - AUTOMATICS

18.(I Wanna Be A) Policeman - THE CHEATERS

19.Audio, Audio - THE CLASSICS

20.10% Will Do - HEROES

21.Ambition - TV 21

22.Nervous Breakdown - WHITE HEAT

23.Girls In Action - THE INVADERS

24.Hotel Carabineros - THE SECRET

- Great Thx to Reinhard -

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V/A - AK•79 1979

This little masterpiece was released by Ripper Records and has six bands, each with two pieces, from lovely New Zealand in the luggage and brings us the early underground of the late 70s closer. Not easy to get nowadays some slabs from there in Europe and the original 7Inches are as rare as a polar bear at the South Pole. Hence that is important there are records like this that shine at least with a little bit of the sound otherwise not reachable. Hugh, I spoke!

1.Mysterex - SCAVENGERS

2.Never Been To Borstal - TERRORWAYS

3.I Am A Rabbit - PROUD SCUM

4.True Love - SCAVENGERS

5.Suicide - PROUD SCUM

6.She's A Mod - TERRORWAYS

7.Certain Sound - SWINGERS

8.Funny Stories - PRIMMERS

9.Squeeze - TOY LOVE

10.Baby - SWINGERS

11.You're Gonna Get Done - PRIMMERS

12.Toy Love Song - TOY LOVE

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