THE WALL - The Punk Collection 1998

CD's are not really my source but this one is a damn MUST! This fantastic compilation was released by Captain Oi! and contains all recordings of The Wall, originally formed in Sunderland early 1978, and their six year career may have seen them go through enough members to form their own football team but it also saw them release some outstanding records along the way. The first line-up of note featured Ian Lowery (vox & guitars), Andy 'Andzy' Griffits (bass & vox), John Hammond (guitars) & Bruce Archibald (drums) and it was this incarnation of the band that recorded the superb 'New Way' EP for Small Wonder Records. It's success (it sold over 10.000 copies and was heavily played by John Peel on his (then) important Radio 1 show) led to Lowery & Andzy relocating to London where they recruited guitarist Nick Ward and Drummer Rab Fae Beith (ex-The Pack/Patrick Fitzgerald Group) and they issued the 'Exchange' single for Small Wonder which reached No.26 in the very first published independent chart and was produced by the Sex Pistols Steve Jones (the first band to be produced by a member of the Pistols).

However, not long after this the band suffered the time honoured 'musical differences' which led to the depature of Lowery (he later released a solo album called "King Blank" on Beggars Banquet) who was replaced by one time Ruefrex member Ivan 'Kellz' Kelly and he made his debut with the Wall on a UK tour supporting the Angelic Upstarts and on their first single for Fresh Records, August 1980's 'Ghetto' EP which, produced by Sham 69's Jimmy Pursey, enjoyed a three month indie chart run peaking at the No.19 position. This line-up also recorded the debut LP "Personal Troubles & Public Issues" (which came out in December 1980 in two different sleeves and reached No.15 in the indie chart) which also saw the arrival of guitarist Andy 'Heed' Forbes, formally a member of The Strapps.

Shortly after the album's release, however, Ward & Kelly departed leaving Rab, Heed and Andzy to continue as a three piece with Andzy assuming vocal duties. This line-up was snapped up by Polydor and their debut for the major was the three track 'Remembrance' EP which they promoted by doing a UK tour with Stiff Little Fingers. They also issued one final single for Fresh, 'Hobby For A Day' before a second Polydor 45 'Epitaph' followed in November '81 and it also saw the first appearance of new bassist Claire Bidwell (ex-The Passions) which allowed Andzy to concentrate on the vocals. Their time with Polydor ended with early 1982's album "Dirges & Anthems" (which came with a free 7") and which saw guitar duties split between Heed (who left half way through recording) and Baz.

Rob & Andzy continued under The Wall name throughout 1982, their last release being the ten track 12'' EP "Day Tripper" for No Future (also issued as a four track 7'') which reached No.21 in the UK indie chart. The 'band' folded not long after with Rob later turning up in the UK SUBS and playing on the "Huntington Beach" and "In Action" albums. He also set up RFB Records and released albums by the likes of Condemned 84, UK SUBS and Broken Bones.(Mark Brennan)

In August 2007, the band reformed for a headline appearance at the Blackpool Rebellion with seven of the original members, Andy Griffiths (vocals), Nick Ward (guitars), Al Gregg (guitars & bass), Andrew Forbes (guitars), John Hammond (guitars), Claire Bidwell (bass) and Mark Dyvig (drums) with a warm-up gig the previous night @ The Thatched House in Stockport. This was followed by the release of a new live album in August 2009 on Captive Records (Opus Productions/Captive Records). The debut album "Personal Troubles & Public Issues" is getting a re-issue on CD for the first time, by Westworld Recordings on 13/05/2016.

This little sucker shines with twenty extraordinary nuggets and I love the Wall and you will do it too... 'In Nature'!

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RELEASE THE BATS - Ever Pleasant Smile... 1986

Say Hello to Saturday with a piece of Deathrock. Posted by Curious Guy eleven years ago on his phoenixhairpins blog and his comment on the record coincides with mine so I quote his words for this: "Release The Bats were a goth band from Bolton, members were D. Stephens, K. Taylor, M. Naylor and Rod Barker. Don't know much more but they released a 7" in 1985 with two tracks: 'Unacceptable Behaviour' & 'Harsh'. Both tracks can be found on the album. I won't say that this album is classic stuff but it's damn rare and worth a listen. For those who don't know, First Floor was a sublabel of the infamous Rock-O-Rama. This label started as a punklabel, releasing German punk and also licensed records off of Propaganda Records from Finland so that people had easier access to those classic Finnish hardcore punk records. But later the label also released records by Skrewdriver and other RAC/WP bands. Rock-O-Rama ceased all activity in the 90's after the police raided their office. I don't think that bands like Release The Bats, Saigon and They Must Be Russians were aware of the connection; or maybe they didn't care?" I was lucky to acquire this slab for little money, and musically not bad at all.

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DAILY TERROR - Andere Zeiten 12'' 1999

Always welcome are Daily Terror from Braunschweig, today with their early recordings. The first three from the BS-Punx EP (No Fun Records,1980), #4 appeared on the essential compilation Soundtracks Zum Untergang (AGR, 1980, tracks 5 + 6 originally released on the compilation Hannover Fun Fun Fun (No Fun Records, 1980) and the last three were originally released as Klartext EP (AGR 1982). The idea for this had the small Bochum label Dirty Faces and they packed lots of information, liner notes: Pedder † 11.04.2009, in the booklet with all the lyrics and a complete discography. You can clearly see here the rough sound, the offensive words and the pure anti-attitude of the band which they continued brilliantly on their first two albums. For me one of the most important German punk band whose music invariably infects you, if not go home.

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Impressions XIV

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THE BOIKOTTZ - Another Kind Of Humor 1987

Of course we start today with a German record on this cold gray day off and we listen to: Jan (vocals), Stephan (bass), Christian & Lemmi (guitars) and Ander (drums), Hamburg old punk legends with their only album, as I know there exist just one pressing on white vinyl. Fourteen songs with mostly english and german lyrics. Solid fast punk rock mixed with beautiful pissed-off lyrics and the album is a total kicker. Too bad the guys have not made more. They released in 1984 their first EP Punk Wird Leben via AGR which is pretty rare and should have anybody a copy you are a womanizer... Now a cold jever for breakfast and let's see what I continue to unpack.

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THE NIPS - Only The End Of The Beginning 1980

The Nips (better known as The Nipple Erectors) were an English punk band formed in London in 1976 by female punk artist Shanne Bradley and are notable as having been Pogues frontman Shane MacGowan's first musical group. Initially consisting of vocalist/songwriter Shane MacGowan (known at the time as 'Shane O'Hooligan'), bassist/songwriter/original punk artist Shanne Bradley, guitarist/artist Roger Towndrow  and drummer Arcane Vendetta; The Nipple Erectors performed their first gig at The Roxy Club Covent Garden. London in 1977. The band later released four singles and there was one bootleg live album between 1978 and 1981. Inspired by The Stooges, The Nipple Erectors incorporated elements of rockabilly and '60s garage rock into their music.

Following the release of their first single, King Of The Bop, in June 1978 on Soho Records, the band renamed themselves The Nips and released the garage punk song "All The Time in the World"/"Private Eye" with Phil Rowland of Eater on drums. By May 1979, the band's line up had changed to include Gavin "Fritz" Douglas, on guitar. The Power pop anthem, Gabrielle was released in November 1979, first on Soho Records, and then reissued on Chiswick Records. with John ("Grinny") Grinton (ex Skrewdriver) on drums. By the time of its release, Grinny had been replaced by Roger Travis Williams. Gavin Douglas' guitar playing on this record marked a change in the band's sound to a more melodic style. A live album, Only the End of the Beginning was released on Soho Records in 1980, from a recording made whilst on tour with the Purple Hearts. Two other live bootlegs have recently appeared, Live @ The 101 Club and Live @ the Hope & Anchor both recorded in late 1979.

In 1980, the Nips recorded a demo for Polydor Records at their studio in Bond Street. It was produced by Paul Weller. There were four songs recorded for this session, including "Happy Song" "Nobody To Love", "Ghost Town" and "Love To Make You Cry". The Line up for this recording was, Shane MacGowan-vocals, Shanne Bradley-bass, Gavin Douglas-guitar and Mark Harrison (ex Bernie Tormé)-drums. "Happy Song"/"Nobody To Love" was released as a single in October 1981, on Test Pressing Records. The Nips announced to the press that they were quitting after a last gig @ London's Covent Garden Rock Garden on 10 March 1980. MacGowan and Bradley did reform the band later that year, albeit briefly. The line up included James Fearnley on guitar and Jon Moss on drums. This line up played a final gig at London's Music Machine with The Jam in December 1980. In 1981 Jon Moss joined up with Boy George to form Culture Club. During 1981, Bradley took the band in another direction away from the traditional rock band format to incorporate Greek, Cretan and Irish Roots/Folk music. The popular Irish folk and America folk song "Poor Paddy Works on the Railway" had previously formed part of their early live set with Guitarist Roger Towndrow. This line up included Macgowan and Bradley plus John Hasler (ex Madness) on standup snare drum and Scots/Irish Folk Fiddler David Rattray. Later that year Bradley decided to take a break from music. Shane Macgowan and John Hasler went on to play in Pogue Mahone, later shortened to The Pogues. In 1984 Shanne Bradley co-founded The Men They Couldn't Hang to play "The Alternative Country and Western Festival" on March 1984 @ The Electric Ballroom in Camden. (source: wiki)

- Great Thx to Fredrik -

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WHITE FLAG - Sgt. Pepper 1987

A decent record is this litte compilation with songs from the 'Zero Hour' and 'Wild Kingdom' albums by White Flag from Los Angeles and I guess it was pounded up for the European or Asian fans, who knows? Fact is, all sixteen songs are damn cool and they don't lose their great sense of humor and writing good music. More stuff in form of an EP and another album waits under the hidden orange crime scene marker. It's fun to post again with the new monitor and I should have exchanged it earlier. Sometimes it's the small changes that brighten your mood.

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PELLE MILJOONA - Nuoret Sankarit 1978-1982

Pelle Miljoona was a Finnish punkrock band which was founded in 1979 and disbanded in 1983. The band is (along with Pelle Miljoona & 1980) the most famous of Pelle Miljoona’s bands. They released a lot of singles and LP's and so this two CD collection gives a pretty view of the creative life of this extraordinary band by Petri Samuli Tiili (so the real name from Mr.Pelle). Disc one contains early recordings and the songs are short, punk and just plain cool, and even here already rocking numbers represented. I think the versatility which present the band their goodies is very nice and with a total running time of almost two hours makes listening to both CD's never boring. On the second disc are the songs on average much playing time with three minutes longer, topped with poppy keyboards and ska elements, so that is a pleasure to listen here too. All in all, the 36 songs slip comfortably into any bloodstream. So if you have the opportunity to buy this record, do this without hesitation.

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V/A - Nagasaki Nightrider 1998

So you know where you belong, I would like to conclude September with a fullblast and this unofficial release is a collection of Japanese punk & hardcore rarities from the years 1980-1985 and you know how difficult it is to get the originals, especially from the Far East, therefore I'm always happy when someone shares such bootlegs of its goodies with us. I can't confirm that all the bands are from Nagasaki but that is irrelevant anyway. Crazy wild noises as I'm used to from this island... nothing stays dry here. Worth mentioning the detailed insert with all information about the songs/bands. This is a pearl hardcore product, 500 shots, don't miss!!! - Have a great weekend!

1.Born To Loose - LIP CREAM

2.Niku - THE STALIN

3.Hell Home - LAUGHIN' NOSE

4.I Like Cola - OUTO

5.Future Terror - CLAY

6.Worst Song - COBRA

7.Onanism - MASTURBATION

8.Selfish Cow - KURO

9.Punch Bowl - SWANKYS

10.Patience - ABURADAKO

11.Insanity - BONES

12.Panic - THE COMES

13.Corruption - L.S.D.

14.Pressure - KIKEIJI

15.77 Kids - SYSTEMATIK DEATH

16.Giseisha - BITOUSHA

17.Say - EXECUTE

18.Confound It - SA

19.Put Out Emotion - ROSE ROSE

20.Hatred War - G-ZET

21.No Mercy - LIP CREAM

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TOXOPLASMA - s/t LP 1983

Ahhhhh, the monitor problem is fixed and finally it goes forward in this theatre and I throw another german punk classic out. Toxoplasma came from Neuwied and were founded 1980 by Wally (vox), Stefan (bass), Harry (drums) and Markus (guitar), who was replaced after only a few samples by Uwe. The band name derives from the infectious disease toxoplasmosis, in which the singer Wally fell ill in the late 1970s. In 1981 they released a demo and one year later the band was represented on the German-American compilation Underground Hits of the Berlin label Aggressive Rockproduktionen (AGR) with three pieces, where they published the first album in the following year. At the same time, the band went on tour with the American reggae/hardcore punx Bad Brains through Germany. After this tour, Stefan switched to Canal Terror as drummer and Thomas "Mitch" Michel joined the band as bassist. In 1985, Harry got out too. After further changes and failures, the band broke up in 1986 for the first time. In the early 1990s Wally, Mitch and Uwe recorded with a drum computer new records with metal influence and that was it then for me. Their debut is still a great record and belongs definitely one of the top twenty German punk slabs.

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