THE CORTINAS - Defiant Pose 7'' 1977

Bristol's first punk band, the Cortinas, formed in March 1976 when Jeremy Valentine (vocals), Nick Sheppard (guitar), Mike Fewins (guitar), Dexter Dalwood (bass) and Daniel Swan were still at school. "Jer put the band together, he definitely had a vision of what he wanted; he was very hip - Dexter & Mike went to the same school as him" remember Nick. "He found me via Mark Stewart, who I went to school with, and I brought Dan in; we had played in a band together before. We used to practise at the back of Jer's Dad's shop". The Cortinas soon built up a big local following, and a break came when the band supported the Stranglers at the fabled Roxy Club in Covent Garden on 22 January 1977. Nick recalls how it came to be: "Hugh Cornwell was staying at a friend of his' flat near the university, on holiday, and me and my girlfriend met him in the street. This would have been in the summer of 76. We started talking to him because we recognized him from seeing The Stranglers and hung out for the afternoon. I told him about the band. Later on, in January 77, he sent us a postcard asking us to play at the Roxy, so we rang up and said yes! I remember my mum telling me not to be too disappointed if people didn't like us...". Things then moved quickly for the band. Miles Copeland and Mark Perry's Step Forward label released the classic singles 'Fascist Dictator' in June and 'Defiant Pose' in December, the band recorded a fine Peel session, and they appeared on the front cover of the April/May issue of Sniffin' Glue. Heady stuff, but sadly, it was over all too soon. The following year, after a poorly received album, the band were no more, but in 1977 they were unstoppable - simply one of the best first wave punk bands around.
(source: bristolarchiverecords)

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THE CORTINAS - Defiant Pose (Singles & Demos 1977-1978)

Uhhhh... fantastic release on Radiation Reissues and I promise, this record saves every fucking day. What's inside: "Bristol Punk quintet the Cortinas began as an R&B covers band, but soon sped up their repertoire when punk arrived, making them local pioneers. A slot supporting the Stranglers at the Roxy brought them onto Miles Copeland and Mark Perry’s Step Forward label and they later signed to CBS before imploding, guitarist Nick Sheppard then joining the Clash and drummer Daniel Swann San Francisco’s the Sneeches. This ace compilation gathers the best of their early work, including the immortal debut Fascist Dictator/Defiant Pose, as well as ‘TV Personalities', both in the studio and live. Another crucial piece of the Bristol puzzle." A limited edition of 100 copies comes in yellow vinyl. Great Music!

- Great Thx to Fredrik -

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V/A - Killed By John Peel #1 2020

Friends, there is hope again on the KBD front and after a long time finally a new compilation is out and the creators of Vatican Radio Records have the great idea "to conjure up one of the best punk rock compilations we've heard in a long time, from the amazingly rich vaults of John Peel's BBC 1 radio session recordings. Focusing on the less known side of the huge Peel Sessions catalog, Killed By John Peel comes stuffed to the rafters with mind blowing and little known gems from the opening track with French Synth Punk pioneers Métal Urbain and the incendiary recording of their hit E-202 to the closing with the kick ass Power Pop Punk hit She's Alarming by the Wasps, each and every single track on this monster record presents a band at their prime giving it all @ the legendary BBC Radio1 studios." And to my knowledge, Volume 2 is about to be release and we can look forward to it. Great stuff and absolute essential! 

1.E-202 - MÉTAL URBAIN

2.Gangland Warfare - THE OUTCASTS

3.Antipope - KING

4.Yummy Yummy - RUDI

5.Jealousy - IDIOT DANCERS

6.Further Education - THE CORTINAS

7.Going Round In Circles - ALTERNATIVE TV

8.Open Sound 1978 - SKIDS

9.She's Alive - SCARS

10.Countdown - THE LURKERS

11.Energy Boy - THE FLYS

12.Haircut Bob Dylan - FUNBOY FIVE

13.Bits - PRAGVEC

14.She's Alarming - THE WASPS

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V/A - British Underground Vol.3 1993

Last and great conclusion of this little unofficial series called British Underground by Chaos Wrecords, 500 copies were pressed and even available on CD. Well, the song selection is once again excellent as the first two volumes and sixteen punk & wave goodies are gathered here and the stand out and my favorite track is by They Must Be Russians, such a great tune and simply terrific! I'm sure you will like this compilations because the mix is great and all three albums also contain hits and rarities. It's just a shame that after volume three no more were created and so we have to be satisfied with these three. After all, they are there and now have fun with them!

1.Ghetto - THE WALL

2.All The Boys Love Carrie - ANOTHER PRETTY FACE

3.Soldier Soldier - SPIZZ ENERGI

4.Horrorshow - SCARS

5.Count For Something - THE OUTSIDERS

6.Benched Down - MODERN EON

7.Big Time - RUDI

8.Subvert - ZOUNDS

9.Death In Venice - DNV

10.In Love - THE PLAGUE

11.Where Have I Seen You? - THEY MUST BE RUSSIANS

12.Your Generation (Demo 1977) - GENERATION X

13.I'm A Dalek - THE ART ATTACKS

14.No - THE REZILLOS

15.Young Savage - ULTRAVOX!

16.Fascist Dictator - THE CORTINAS

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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 - 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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