THE DICKIES - Paranoid 7'' 1978

An absolute classic and should not be missing in any decent record collection is the fourth 7'' of the Dickies, they were among the first punk rock bands to emerge from Los Angeles. They formed in early 1977 after guitarist Stan Lee and bassist Billy Club saw The Damned on their first American tour. The band made their live debut at the Whisky a GoGo in September of the same year. The Dickies were the first California punk band to appear on network television (C.P.O. Sharkey), and the first California punk band to be signed to a major record label (A&M Records). Paranoid is a great cover by Black Sabbath from 1970 and is for me the punk anthem par excellence, where the original is already great and hardly upgradeable, but the band has it done terrific in my opinion. Many records were made and the boys are still on tour. And now it's the end of the broadcast, see you tomorrow.

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THE DICKIES - Stukas Over Disneyland 1983

An enjoyable and recommended listen is the third mini album by the Dickies which was released after a four-year silence by PVC Records with eight wonderful nuggets. I quote a perfect review: the Dickies first vinyl in almost four years ranks up there near their previous funnypunk triumphs. Most of the eight songs here veer toward amphetamine pop, with irresistible layered choruses to boot, but the highlights include the poppish “Rosemary,” “She’s a Hunchback,” and an incredibly fast cover of LED ZEP’s “Communication Breakdown.” Buoyant and entertaining as hell! (Steve Spinali, MRR #12 • March 1984) - I undoubtedly go along with that and start this warm day off, which will follow with a second post shortly. Re-upps are also finished if anyone asks.

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THE DICKIES - Dawn Of The Dickies 1979

Second album by the Dickies from Los Angeles and I don't have to tell much about the band. They always delight me with their extravagant covers of well-known classics, Paranoid for example, and consistently balanced catchy melodies, harmony vocals, and pop song structures, with speedy punk guitar attacks. A little info: Inspired by the first wave of punk coming out of New York & London, the band were formed 1977 in the San Fernando Valley region of Los Angeles by Leonard (vocals), Stan & Chuck (guitars), Billy (bass), Karlos (drums). They started playing around the burgeoning L.A. punk scene within a few weeks of forming, and quickly earned a following with their zany live show, which featured outlandish costumes, puppets, and a midget roadie... They're still active, ten albums have been released to date, including some live records, and they are the longstanding veterans of the LA scene.

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PARANOID VISIONS - Outside In 2005

This record is currently in my player around the clock. Pretty cool stuff, punk rock with a wave touch and in between a couple of quick grenades. 'Outside In' is a compilation of the vinyl years 1986 - 1989 from this combo and I get this a few years ago somewhere in Blogland, now exhumed because the band name is at the moment more relevant than ever to me. Something about them:

Formed in 1981, Paranoid Visions quickly allied themselves to the anarcho punk fraternity of the second wave of punk rock in the early 80's. The band were poles apart from the other Irish bands that graced the 1980’s Dublin gig scene.Surprising everyone, including themselves, with their success in both Ireland and the UK in terms of critical acclaim and record sales, they maintained a stance outside of the music industry norms and closely protected their independent status, licensing all of their material directly from their F.O.A.D label. Records such as Autonomy, Schizophrenia and city of screams all sold very well, but it was the attack on the Irish music industry U2Clone assembly line, in the form of the “I Will Wallow” 10” EP that brought the band to a wider and more mainstream audience. FOAD2U2 graffiti adorned walls all over the country….some of it wasn’t even done by the band! Heavily influenced by the Crass ethic of DIY music, the band formed their own F.O.A.D label and licensed their records to All The Madmen, home of the Mob, Thatcher on Acid, Blyth Power and the Astronauts.

Paranoid Visons played gigs and toured with the likes of Poison Girls, DIRT, Blyth Power, Subhumans and The Instigators. In the early 90's they played with bands like Snuff, the Macc Ladds and Manic Street Preachers before calling it a day in 1992. Despite their disbanding, the 90's saw Paranoid Visions becoming the biggest punk band Ireland had ever produced, featuring on several TV shows, newspapers and being offered numerous record deals from Major labels. In 1996 they reformed to play support on some dates for the Sex Pistols Filthy Lucre tour. In 2001 they reformed again and played with the Damned, The Dickies and at the Wasted Festival in Morecombe. While these reunions were always designed to be short lived, with the 2005 reunion, formed in support of the re-release of their back catalogue, it was decided to continue the momentum.

April 2007 saw the release of the bands first new album since 1990. Entitled “40 Shades Of Gangreen” it captures the band at their most tuneful and caustic. General reaction has been that its the best woirk the band have done having been described thus:
"a blistering collection of anti establishment polemic" (hot press editorial)
"highly melodic aswell as being deeply, deeply raucous" (hot press review)
"a blockbuster" (evening herald)

Throughout 2007, Paranoid Visions have performed regularly and will be performing one of the headline slots at the largest punk rock festival in the UK, Rebellion 2007. 2008 sees the release of part one of the bands 12" and CD tribute to their musical influences from the early Irish punk and new wave scene in the form of "The Treasure From The Wasteland" EP. A new album "Beware Of The God" is pencilled for the autumn along with another single serving as part two of the tribute series.

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MORNINGTON CRESCENT - Still Shocking 2012

Now it's getting loud & fast and one more combo which I had no sound to date. This compilation includes all their recordings plus unreleased material and was released through Gummopunx Records in a limited edition of 500 copies, 300 on black vinyl and 200 on green transparent. I'll feed you with a few basics from discogs: "Faster than the Dickies, cheaper than Albert Heyn, more shocking than Dallas" (from their 1982 tape cover). Taking their name from a London underground rail station, Mornington Crescent formed in December 1980. After a few lineup shuffles, they first settled on Stan (vocals and guitar), Erik (drums), Jasper (bass). Soon adding Emile as their second guitarist, this raw hardcore band from Amsterdam recorded their first demo in May of '82 simply entitled Cassette 1. By 1983 they were joined by a new singer, Hans, whose distinctive gruff vocals can be heard on their first and only record, the self-released EP Greetings From Amsterdam. Apparently the band did not play live often, and although a track from the EP appeared on a flexi given away with Chainsaw fanzine in the UK, little more was heard of them after 1984." I am pleasantly surprised and like the record, recommended!.

- Great Thx to Fredrk -

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THE NITWITZ - The Worst Of... EP 1980

Last one in May and with an average age of sixteen The Nitwitz were the youngest of the Amsterdam punkbands. In 1978 the boys were on stage for the first time at the Spinoza-lyceum in south Amsterdam. In 1980 the band released their first single on their own Vögelspin-label. This here is their second one. The Nitwitz were famous for their melodic carefree happy punk tunes and were influenced by Australian bands as Saints, Radio Birdman and by Ramones, MC5 and Stooges. Not by any English punkbands. They said their biggest influence were the Dickies. In the press they got less attention. And when they got some, they got negative critics. Cool sound, cool band, cool record - The Nitwitz broke up in march 1982. Test their Scorched Earth Policy 12'' too.

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V/A - Rejected Volume III 2002

I'm doing always heavy with newfangled punk rock and the most flies fast into the garbage but this compilation is a fine compilation of old and newer material from various UK and Irish bands that Rejected has put out over the years. I like more the dirty shredded sound and dislike the clean productions of the new breath and here I am positive surprised because all the songs kick fantastic and are very powerful at all, garnished with a few live goodies and unreleased recordings to that, and when I have this feeling by the first listen so I can't be wrong (mostly). Less than 25% are known to me (Oi Polloi, Leatherface, Jesse, Zero Tolerance) and I know if my friend from Austria share his stuff with me it can be only cool. As lousy reviewer everything is said. Pick up or drink milk.

1.Poxy Pub - BLOOD OR WHISKEY

2.Manny Moe And Jack - THE DICKIES

3.Back Biter - SKINT

4.Slate Rape - THE RESTARTS

5.Scratch Match - PINK TURDS IN SPACE

6.Bloodbath On Blessington St. - THE STEAM PIG

7.Divided Loyalty - RUNNIN' RIOT

8.Discrimination Hurts - STRIKNIEN D.C.

9.Seems To Me - STEEKY

10.Never Alone - ZERO TOLERANCE

11.Blown Away - STOMACH

12.Rich Scumbag - OI POLLOI

13.Kill Yer Parents - MONKHOUSE

14.Submission In Portarlington - BLOOD OR WHISKEY

15.I Live In A Car - UK SUBS

16.Sweet - COWBOY KILLERS

17.Judge Jury & Executioner - RUNNIN' RIOT

18.Stoneybatler Me - THE STEAM PIG

19.Cut Up - MONKHOUSE

20.All I Need - LEATHERFACE

21.Hypocrisy - STRIKNIEN D.C.

22.Victimisation - RUNNIN' RIOT

23.Bucharest - BLOOD OR WHISKEY

24.Needles - EX CATHEDRA

25.Indestructable - JESSE

26.Burn Your Flags - TOXIC WASTE

27.Countdown - BLEEDING RECTUM

28.Bullshit - NOISE POLLUTION

29.Sun Is A Bludgeon - ANTABUSE

- Special Thx to Reinhard -

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V/A - Paranoia You Can Dance To 1986

This compilaton was compiled by the Hamburg label Weird System and features the best of 'vinyl-fanzine' compilations 1 +2 which were released in the US on Flipside/Gasatanka records. All bands/tracks are damn good, no wonder by these names, remarkable the amazing live recording of the classic Misfits cut. But enough of words, perfect combination, nice and informative artwork, what else?

1.Gigantor - THE DICKIES
2.Religious Ripoff - GOVERNMENT ISSUE
3.Noone Is Ever Coming Home - THE FREEZE
4.Fight - SCREAM
5.Eighty-Four - UNDEAD
6.Warlords - F.U.'s
7.Suppose They Gave A War - T.S.O.L.
8.Give Me Fire - GBH
9.Island Paradise - DECRY
10.Metastasis - NAKED RAYGUN
11.Golden Boys - VAGINA DENTATA
12.Magnetic Shoes - PLAIN WRAP
13.Attitude - MISFITS
14.Walkin' The Dog - THE NECROS
15.Descending In E - CATATONICS
16.Shaken' All Over - AGENT ORANGE
17.Shoot The Kid - DETOX

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V/A - Espresso [Tape] 1991

My late evening post comes with a fine tape rip and for all of you who like's a scrape live sound like me this special gem is a must!!! 37 tracks recorded live on different places in Germany and this cassette shows a good overview who 1991 visited our pretty locations. I acquired this tape that time over a still existing german mailorder and I think it was a good idea, or?? Side A is full with German Punk bands while the B side belongs to the rest of the populated human scum world, Yes, I hate people (you know which one). Ninety minutes wild & rough sound. An awesome tone document in my opinion. Get It!!!

1.Nazischweine - HASS

2.No Escape - P.V.C.

3.Ein Tag An Meinem Fenster - EA80

4.Australien - CANAL TERROR

5.Der König Ist Tot - THE LENNONS

6.Alle Könige - ABWÄRTS

7.Sweet Sixteen - NERDS

8.Third Try - NOISE ANNOYS

9.Disco Queen - SHARON TATE'S CHILDREN

10.Go Away - SHADDOX

11.Chequered Love - ROCK'N'ROLL DISNEYLAND

12.What You Did To Me? - CHARTBUSTERS

13.Nice Boys - COLOGNE CITY ROCKERS

14.Screaming For A Better Future - DIE SCHWARZEN SCHAFE

15.Know About You - WOMBELS

16.In Dieser Zeit - BOXHAMSTERS

17.Guns & Rockets - GUTTERSNIPES

18.SPG - RED ALERT

19.Photo Love - THE URGE

20.Rock'n'Roll Hero - THE BIPS

21.Faut Pas S'Y Fier - PKRK

22.Lemonheads - SECT & JASON

23.Away - IDENTITY

24.Outside Your Room - THRILLED SKINNY

25.Fuckin' Finnish - KLAMYDIA

26.Bloody Hungarian - AURORA

27.Damned Croatian - KUD IDIJOTI

28.Boyfriend - BROKEN TOYS

29.What Kind Of Love? - SNUFF

30.Let Me Alone - ASEXUALS

31.Eve Of Destruction - THE DICKIES

32.I Don't Need To Tell Her - LURKERS

33.No Control - BAD RELIGION

34.After 45 - ANHREFN

35.Yellow Man - U.K.SUBS

36.I'm In Love With The G.T.O.'s - JEFF DAHL

37.Joking - ERIC WRECKLESS

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