THE DIODES - s/t LP 1978

The first Canadian punk band signed to a major label, the Diodes are best-remembered for their moody, head-banging hit "Tired of Waking Up Tired" and their hard-hitting interpretation of the Paul Simon-penned tune "Red Rubber Ball." With vocalist Paul Robinson backed by guitarist John Catto, bassist Ian MacKay and drummers John Hamilton and, later, Mike Lengyell, the Toronto-based band roared with unabashed intensity. Signed by Columbia, the Diodes released their debut in 1978. Columbia released their second album, Released, on its Epic subsidiary two years later, but poor sales of both albums led the label to drop the band's contract. Although they relocated to England after releasing their third album, Action/Reaction, on the independent Orient label, the move came late to save the band. They disbanded shortly after, releasing an album of outtakes and demos, Survivors, in 1982. (Craig Harris) Twelve decent smasher waiting for you!

- Great Thx to Fredrik -

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THE CURSE - Shoeshine Boys 7'' 1978

Female band from Toronto the Curse were formed by Mickey Skin (vocals), Trixie Danger (guitars), Dr. Bourque (bass), Patzy Poizon (drums) in 1977 and this is their only 7Inch on Hi-Fi Records. The girls present us two rocking numbers, played solidly and somehow charming. Brilliant info from their fb page: "Ostensibly Canada's first female punk band (with challenges to that throne by the B-Girls and the Dishrags), Toronto's Curse were there right from the get-go, slotted to open for the Tools on a cancelled May 27, 1977 gig at the SEED Auditorium on McCaul, later backing up the Viletones at the infamous Crash'N'Burn club in June, and then taking the stage at CBGB a month later on an all-Canadian bill ("Outrageous Punk bands from Toronto!") that included the Viletones, the Diodes and Teenage Head. And singer Mickey Skin's spoken-word rant occupied the b-side of the frighteningly rare Punk artifact, the Centre for Experimental Art and Communication's 'Raw'/War' split seven-inch with the Diodes.

The Curse took the punk credo to its extreme, with Skin sporting a fake lobotomy scar on her forehead, pulling hot dogs out of her pants and then squashing them on stage. At Shoeshine Boy's record release party, they served a Purple Jesus punch that could only be drunk by sucking it out of tampons floating in the punchbowl. This was the Curse's only release as a band and it caused considerable outrage in a Toronto still cringing from the horrific rape and murder of 12-year-old shoeshine boy Emanuel Jaques along that city's seedy Yonge Street strip. 'Shoeshine Boy', despite its ripping guitar chords and perfunctory snarls, trod on touchy territory with its topical lyrics ("Emanuel with the curly hair/Why don't you climb on up these old stairs?.. They'll beat you/Mistreat you"), and especially with the singularly chilling chorus of "wrapped in a plastic baaaag". What's more, copies of Shoeshine Boy were then mailed to the jailed killers, further stoking the public's anger. Though the b-side is a bit of a toss-off, with its faux metal riffs and cutesy vocals, the record did manage a second pressing the following year with a new cover and the offending 'Shoeshine Boy' obligingly slotted to the b-side." (Bio by Michael Panontin) - Enough for now, weekend's near, Skloomo! 🍺🍻🍺

- Great Thx to Fredrik -

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B'GIRLS - Fun At The Beach 7'' 1979

Now a female PowerPop goodie by the B'Girls, formed in Toronto 1977 by Lucasta (vocals/guitars), Cynthia (bass), Marcy (drums), along with Xenia (guitars), they played their first gigs at such venerable venues as the Crash'N'Burn, Club David's & the Horseshoe. The band chose the name after it was suggested by John Catto, guitarist for Diodes. 'B-Girls' were women who, in the post-World War Two era, got a take from bartenders after getting men to buy them drinks. Catto designed the band's logo and made the stencil for them; Cynthia painted all the t-shirts, the band made its own buttons and fliers, and only recorded the 'B' sides of covers because they were less expensive. They also set rules: no politics, no short skirts or shorts on stage, and no cleavage. Cynthia believes that their refusal to be sex objects was the reason they never secured a record deal. But in 1979 Greg Shaw, owner of Bomp! Records, signed them and release their only 7Inch and this shines with two amazing PowerPop goodies. They played a few gigs, booked once a month at New York's CBGB, recorded more demos and a few labels showed interest in signing them for a record deal, but that did not materialize, so in 1982 the band returned to Toronto and broke up. In 2017, all of the B-Girls demos from 1977 to 1982 were released on the compilation Bad Not Evil on Bomp! and Cynthia & Lucasta re-formed the band, with guitarist Elisa (Trash Bags) and drummer Lyla (Roya) and played several gigs in the New York area but didn't continue.

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TYRANNA - s/t LP 2011

Superb release by RaveUp Records and this is one more obscure nugget from the golden age of Punkrock. Volume 63 was dedicated to the Canadian band Tyranna (feminine equivalent for Tyrant) from Toronto and who didn't in their short lifespan (1978-1979) made it onto vinyl. Vera Skye (a.k.a. Rabies) gathered all the musicians and wrote all the lyrics. Through a rotating cast of musicians, Vera Rabies was the one constant. Other members included John Ziegler and Dave Porter on guitars and drums, respectively in 1978; guitarist Ron Partridge, Gerry Smith on bass, and drummer Cleave Anderson who had just left the Battered Wives. Whenever Toronto’s Punk scene of the late 70s is discussed, it’s usually the Diodes and the Infamous Viletones that get name-checked, while other important bands of the era are overlooked. In some cases, there are good reasons why groups that regularly played the main Punk venues of the era like the Turning Point, Larry’s Hideaway and the Crash'N'Burn are now largely forgotten. Tyranna’s best work wasn’t released on singles at the time, and they rarely ventured outside the city during their brief run in 1978 & 1979. This explains why the energetic PopPunk crew led by the snarly Vera “Rabies” Skye, who split bills with Iggy Pop, Jane County, the Members and the Dils, isn’t better known today. They also appeared on My Girlfriend Was A Punk! Compilation with the track 'Back Off Baby'. It may be thirty years too late, but Tyranna’s long-rumoured early demos, finally being released on this nice record.

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