V/A - United Skins 1982

Today a nice Compilation that was released on the Boots & Braces record label in the early Eighties and the album title has a fundamental meaning. At that time there were significant fights or conflicts in the skinhead scene that were rather stupid and unnecessary. Of course also because of the right-wing scums who called themselves skinheads and had no idea where the culture came from (unfortunately it remains unchanged to this day). I think I don't have to use my mental cells any further, you know the stories, but you don't know where I got the record from. I bought them at a flea market in Berlin many many years ago and I was quite surprised to see them offered for so little bucks, apparently the record god meant well for me. Today you'll have a hard time getting the original because it's banned through the usual channels, which I think is absolutely ridiculous. All seven bands were by no means right-wing at the time and their songs are good and belong to Oi like alcohol to beer. Of course, everyone knows today that Skrewdriver took a broken path and that's the only reason why the slab has become a rarity. Crazy, right! But that is humanity: stupid and extremely stupid. Well, I'm open now an alcoholic drink, enjoy the day off and see what else can happen here today. Enjoy the music!

1.Bloody Bouncers - CONTROL ZONE

2.Anti-Social - SKREWDRIVER

3.Life In A Plastic Bag - T-D-A

4.Swearing Session - ACCUSED

5.Take Him Away - SEDATED

6.Wicked Women - WARRIOR

7.Boots & Braces - SKREWDRIVER

8.Lament Of The Terraces - MICK FURBANK

9.T-D-A - T-D-A

10.I Hate You - ACCUSED

11.Rebel - SEDATED

12.Johnny Johnny - CONTROL ZONE

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V/A - Chiswick Aquaria 1978

Magnificent pub/punk compilation on this rare Italian issue with bands made at least one 7inch on Chiswick Records, the sublabel and forerunner of Ace Records, started in 1975 by Ted Carroll and Roger Armstrong, with its origins in a second hand 45 records market stall in London. They were later joined by record fanatic Trevor Churchill. Towards the end of the 70s, they were releasing work by a series of "Pub Rock" bands. It is now the punk, power pop and rock label in the Ace Records stable. Nine bands with fourteen songs from their early young & unspent days, some made it into big business, others disappeared into nowhere and some swam unfortunately away to the right scum. Apart from that, this is an excellent compilation, this is the expensive promo release, and still worth buying. 1980 came out a Spanish release called Chiswick Aquaria Collection with more label bands.

1.Psychotic Reaction - RADIATORS FROM SPACE

2.Saints & Sinners - JOHNNY & THE SELF ABUSERS

3.When The Night Comes - LITTLE BOB STORY

4.No Russians In Russia - RADIO STARS

5.Better Off Crazy - SKREWDRIVER

6.No One - JOHNNY MOPED

7.Taking It Easy - THE COUNT BISHOPS

8.Dirty Pictures - RADIO STARS

9.Gorilla Got Me - THE GORILLAS

10.Motörhead - MOTÖRHEAD

11.Television Screen - RADIATORS FROM SPACE

12.Route 66 - THE COUNT BISHOPS

13.You're So Dumb - SKREWDRIVER

14.Dead Vandals - JOHNNY & THE SELF ABUSERS

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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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V/A - Punk Rock/New Wave '77 1978

I hope you have a pleasant Easter days and time for good music. Today a obscure release with mostly bands from the UK and on this compilation, which came out in Portugal via Pirate Dream Records in an edition of 400 copies, are only classics that saw the light of day as 7Inch at the end of the 70s. I bought the slab on my Antarctic vacation thirty years ago from a penguin near the Amundsen-Scott South Pole Station, after long haggling, for a few dollars. You can surely imagine how amazed I was when I found such a rare record, nowadays only available at high prices, in this region and of course didn't hesitate for long. Well, sometimes I'm lucky too and today I present you the little anecdote and I'm sure you will like the stuff as well. Even though we exchanged addresses, I never met the penguin again, but it will stay in my memory forever. So friends, enjoy the good ole sound that still towers over many current records and I know that won't change.

1.I Wanna Be Free - THE RINGS

2.Friday On My Mind - LONDON

3.Siouxie Sue - LONDON

4.Your Generation - GENERATION X

5.In The City - THE JAM

6.Non Stop Dancing - THE JAM

7.Taking My Love - THE JAM

8.Art School - THE JAM

9.Slow Down - THE JAM

10.Batman (There) The Me - THE JAM

11.Outside View - EATER

12.Thinking Of The USA - EATER

13.Broken Windows - WARM GUN

14.They Call Me Energy - HIDEOUS STRENGTH

15.Motörhead - MOTÖRHEAD

16.City Kids - MOTÖRHEAD

17.You're So Dumb - SKREWDRIVER

18.Love Detective - THE RADIATORS FROM SPACE

19.God Save The Queen - SEX PISTOLS

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V/A - Catch A Wave 2x10'' 1978

Welcome May and I say Hello to you with this early punk/new wave compilation in chic 10'' design and that twice. I'm really amazed, how many slabs were pressed in my favorite format, especially at this time... I have to send out a loud HOLLADRIO!!.... good boy. The two color palettes feature bands with leatherjackets, big balls, long fingernails, sexy pouts, barbed hair, rivet belt, pop hits, nylon legs, sweaty shirts, etc… and beams us back to the time when punk was 'provocative' & 'real'. Most of the first punk rock bands came from New York, punk became a real movement in London and Catch A Wave unites both cultures & countries with their local yesterdays heroes. Not all songs ignite, but fit for a little time travel. Released without a label, Made In England, but distributed primarily in Scandinavian countries (so they can thaw a little). Good Job!

1.Do Anything You Wanna Do - EDDIE & THE HOT RODS

2.Statue Of Liberty - XTC

3.Klean Living Kids - THE STUKAS

4.Television Screen - RADIATORS FROM SPACE

5.For You - GREG KIHN

6.Saints & Sinners - JOHNNY & THE SELF ABUSERS

7.Do The Standing Still - THE TABLE

8.Kidnapper - BLONDIE

9.Little Big Boss - LITTLE BOB STORY

10.Lovin' Cup - EARTH QUAKE

11.Nervous Wreck - RADIO STARS

12.Rockwrok - ULTRAVOX!

13.I Think We're Alone Now - THE RUBINOOS

14.Dancing The Night Away - THE MOTORS

15.White Line Fever - MOTÖRHEAD

16.Your Generation - GENERATION X

17.Government Action - SKREWDRIVER

18.Roadrunner - JONATHAN RICHMAN & THE MODERN LOVERS

19.Oh Bondage Up Yours! - X RAY SPEX

- Great Thx to Fredrik -

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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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