TIVOLI - Millionen 7'' 1982

Early Ska band from Örebro with their second and final 7inch on Svenska Smash Records. The band consisted of Arne Svensson (vocals/bass), Christer & Lennart (guitars), Björn (drums) and Anders (keyboards), that's all info I have. I'm not a big fan of Ska music but every now and then I can get enthusiastic about it. At that time there weren't many ska bands, I think, and probably only a few from Sweden but the five have the rhythm in their blood and let the dance leg swing properly. Certainly not a record to become a Ska Maniac, but usable for a start.

- Great Thx to Fredrik -

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LONDON - Animal Games 1978

Delicious catchy music form the British Island is coming up next and I will inform you with existing words: London is a four-piece punk band formed in London in 1976, best known for their wild stage act. The original line-up was Riff (vocals), Dave (guitar), Steve (bass) and Jon (drums). They recorded in their short lifespan two singles, a 4 track EP and an album for MCA Records in 1977 actually released in February '78 after the group had disbanded. Most of their songs were written by Riff (including the first two singles Everyone's A Winner & Summer Of Love) or by Riff and Steve. All their records were produced by Napier-Bell at the IBC Studios in London. After an absence of more than thirty years the band returned to live performance and subsequently released the album "Reboot" in 2012 with line-up Riff (vocals), Steve (bass), Hugh (guitars) and Colin (drums). Animal Games is the only album recorded by the original line-up of the Band. The album contained all the band's singles. They toured extensively throughout 1977, including a major UK tour with the Stranglers and their final gig was @ the Marquee Club in Wardour Street on the 8th December 1977. The band broke up shortly afterwards. On leaving, Moss joined the Damned and then formed Culture Club with Boy George. Riff released solo records on MCA and CBS before reverting to his real name of Miles Tredinnick and becoming a comedy writer; Steve formed a new band The Original Vampires and Dave following stints in Metro and Holly and the Italians reverted to his real name of Colin Wight and became an academic (recently appointed Professor of International Relations at the University of Sydney). Simon Napier-Bell went on to manage George Michael and Wham! before becoming a best selling author of rock 'n' roll books. In 1997 Captain Oi! Records released a best of London CD called "London-The Punk Rock Collection" with fifteen smasher... Now pay attention to the four for good forty minutes, because they deserve it and don't forget: a good deed every day!

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BETAMAX - Modern 7'' 1980

Sole release of Betamax from Hagen with two New Wave tunes on Tonträger 58 Hagen, the first record by this label. I can be wrong, but I think on the Micro is a man named Kai Havaii, who is/was the front man of Extrabreit that time, at least the flip comes from his pen. Otherwise I can't tell much about the four, a few compilation contributions and that's it. Musically comes mild monotonous noizes out from your boxes, whereby the A-side has more drive and is the winner for me. Fazit: A nice slab, not for everyone; but for everyone who wants to take it easy after a long, shitty work day and without visiting the dentist.

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HEART - Alone 7'' 1987

The title track is what I called Schnulze and the reason for buying the single was the flip, a terrific live version of 'Barracuda', recorded at NHK Hall in Tokyo, June 1986. I heard the song first back in the Seventies on a terrible compilation tape with lots of disco shit but this energy drink got stuck. A bissi info: “Heart started in Seattle 1967 as "The Army". Founding members were Don (vocals/lead guitar/keyboard), Roger (guitar), Steve (bass) and Ray (drums). Changed name to White Heart, then to Hocus Pocus shortly before Ann Wilson's joining in 1970, then finally to Heart in 1972. Nancy Wilson joined after sitting in and auditioning in 1974. The group played numerous shows around their new home in Vancouver, and they recorded a demo tape with the assistance of producer Mike Flicker and session-guitarist and keyboard player, Howard Leese. Hannah and Johnstone had left by this time, and soon after Leese became a full-time member. Flicker produced the band's first five albums. This team recorded the debut album, Dreamboat Annie, @ Can-Base Studios in Vancouver (later known as Mushroom Studios). Mike Derosier eventually joined Heart as full-time drummer. Some of the same Canadian investors who had backed the studio also backed a separate company Mushroom Records, which was managed by Shelly Siegel. Drummers Duris Maxwell, Dave Wilson, Kat Hendrikse, and M. Derosier, keyboardist Rob Deans, and bassist Brian Newcombe were among those who also played on the sessions for the album. The album was picked up by Siegel and sold 30.000 copies in Canada in its first few months. Siegel soon released the album in the US, where, helped by two hit singles in 1976 ("Crazy On You" & "Magic Man", which reached numbers 35 and nine, respectively, on the Billboard Hot 100), it reached number seven in the Billboard 200. It eventually sold over one million copies.” Nothing more to report, more in www. - Enjoy the grades!

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OUT OF ORDER - Lonely 7'' 1989

I can't really say anything about this record/band. It's a mysterious, no info about this record on discogs or at all. Sure is, it's a German combo and it's a self-released single, the a-side is a ska underline track while the flip sounds like an Doors tune. I don't know if you had such a phenomenon, an obscure record that is not listed anywhere. I think, the tracks are quite audible, not punk and not spectacular, just because it's so rare I have to post them and I believe, they have nothing in common with the Herford punx which made the famous Open Prison slab in 1981. It's really an unavailable piece of vinyl and I don't know where and when I bought this 7inch.... can anyone out there tellin' more about this band? I would be really interested.... until then I say: German rock with a bit of ska/poprock elements... a real wooden cross in the Dracula world!

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V/A - My Meat's Your Poison 1987

I know this compilation from 加害妄想 Records isn't new in the Blog cosmos but I have this rare goodie and now you get my rip. I don't have to say much about Japanese punk, you know what to expect. Six bands, twenty three songs with rampant energy that recharge every tired battery. Re-released as bootleg in 2017 because the original is often sold for high 2-digit amounts. I would really be interested in why...... no..... let's leave that.... This is an absolute classic: speedy, trashy, noisy and the colorful cover is particularly worth mentioning as well. Now turn this bloody sucker on and come into weekend!  

1.Rise One's Fist - OUTO

2.Take Humanity Back - OUTO

3.Believe In Oneself - OUTO

4.Rise From The Dead (Nutties Version) - OUTO

5.One's Best Card - CHICKEN BOWELS

6.Warthless - CHICKEN BOWELS

7.Come To See Me - CHICKEN BOWELS

8.Under Age - SYSTEMATIC DEATH

9.Open Your Eye - SYSTEMATIC DEATH

10.Jock - SYSTEMATIC DEATH

11.Bad Boy - SYSTEMATIC DEATH

12.Regret - GUDON

13.オマエノコトナドシラン - GUDON

14.Tit For Tat - GUDON

15.Maniac Point - GUDON

16.Slap In The Face - S.O.B

17.Trap - S.O.B

18.Sacrifice Of Devour Bones - S.O.B

19.No Control - S.O.B

20.電撃Bop - S.O.B

21.Molface - LIP CREAM

22.Honest - LIP CREAM

23.Guns Of Hire - LIP CREAM

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THE TAPES - Dreamland 7'' 1977

It's time for sleeping, but before that a rare musical tidbit with a finest D.I.Y. record by this Swedish combo called the Tapes and they were Mr. Igor (vocals & guitar), Ove (bass), Tommy (drums) and that's all I can say about the band. I guess the three wanted simply make music and pressed these two minimalistic schrammel numbers from their repertoire of 100 pieces on vinyl and I think, 1977 was it certainly difficult to find a label for this sound. So let's do it ourselves they thought, a wise decision. I'm sure many of you have never heard of the band, including me, so after more than forty years now, we pay homage to the three and enjoy two Bloodstains Across The World #5 (finally rediscovered on this compilation, coming soon). Pure 70s Punk!

- Great Thx to Fredrik -

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FLYBOYS - s/t 12'' 1980

I know, I posted this splendid little mini 12'' in my old blog, back then in a lousy quali, but now it has been renewed and came fluttering in by a stork. The last record by the Flyboys from Arcadia/California on Frontier Records, the label of that time, which made essential slabs that are very sought nowadays, no wonder at this high level. The band was formed 1975 and on those last shots were present Jon-Boy (vocals/guitar), Thames (guitar), Scott (bass) and Denny (drums), they released their debut single (1000 copies) in 1977, their second 1979 and their last see above. The Flyboys catch you with no-frills mid-tempo powerpop/punk that can run stress-free at any workplace and even your girlfriend convinced, because you always hear such dirty basement stuff. Present on compilations since the 90s, one of them the fantastic Killed By Death #1010011010 slab. The band broke finally up in 1980.

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BULL STOMP COMBO - Flygplansreggae 7'' 1981

I note, that the Swedish posts are not visited very often and that's a shame because there are countless cool bands from this beautiful country and one more example is this combo and I can't say absolutely nothing about this band, only they consisted of six members: Erik (vocals), Mikael & Bo (guitars), Tommy (bass), Per (sax), Gun (drums) and in their short life they made one 7Inch on Gotonto Skivor. The a-side is nice reggae tune with rhythmic blowers in the typical Marley style while the flip shines with an excellent mid-tempo candy and should turns everyone on. They probably played a few concerts and briefly broke up after the recordings. In any case, this is a very good record.

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THE HOAX - So What 1980

I can completely dedicate this month to Fredrik, so much new stuff came in that I can save the credits. Next slab is the debut mini LP of the Hoax on Hologramme Music with eight classics. The band was formed in Manchester 1979 by Ian (vocals), Andy (guitar), Steve (bass), Mike (drums) and in their short lifespan three more singles were recorded and on some relevant compilaions present as well. Bin Liner Records released in 2007 an essential compilation called "And So It Went 1979-1981" with all their recordings. Catchy mid-tempo punk with good lyrics and pressed in finest blue vinyl, certainly not uninteresting for collectors among you, grab it!

- Great Thx to Fredrik -

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