1. DIETER MEIER - 'Cry For Fame' - Periphery Perfume 7" - Switzerland - 1977Yes, who'd have thought the singer out of quirky electropop sensations YELLO released a punk single? And a brutal one at that? Both songs blaze along with a manic sense of desperation. And he got his fame in the end. Oh yeah.
2. MIDDLE CLASS FANTASIES - 'Party In Der Gaskammer' - Aggressive Rockproduktionen 7" - Germany - 1981
From their 'Tradition' E.P. Bad taste punk rock at it's best: 'Party in der gaskammer, komm gib mir deine hand, Party in der gaskammer, gas-cocktail am zyklon-strand'.
3. GASOLINE - 'Radio Flic' - Egg 7" - France - 1977
One of the best singles of 1977. The brooding menace of the B-side 'Killer Man' is only just surpassed by this rabid attack on the French cops, I assume. Full lyrics, anyone?
4. RATSIA - 'Lontoon Skidit' - Johanna 7" - Finland - 1979
Some non-English speaking bands sang in English for a wider appeal. Ratsia gave us this bi-lingual gem for comic effect. 'I'm so bored,' indeed. Very catchy though.
5. THE WIDOWS - 'For The Freedom' - Poko 7" - Finland - 1979
The Widows meanwhile chose the full English option. Second track on the second single. Great bass intro and riffage. Helsinki never sounded so good.
6. RAZORS - 'Banned Punx' - Konnekschen 12" - Germany - 1982
Their last record of the '80s and by far the best, having failed to get a decent guitar sound until 1981's 'Tommie's Gang' 7" (both tracks from which re-appear on this E.P.) They did reform and record a couple more singles around 2003/2004, but this is the record to find.
7. THE DOGS - 'No Way' - Melodies Massacre 7" - France - 1977
The second track from this 7" somehow made it's way onto the 'Streets' LP which claimed to be 'Select Highlights From Independent British Labels'. Whatever the story, I'm glad they included it as I was so impressed that I tracked it down and snagged a copy.
8. PEKINKA PATKA - 'Biti Ružan, Pametan I Mlad' - Jugoton 7" - Yugoslavia - 1979
Fantastic single from Novi Sad, Serbia. Found it hard to choose between the 2 songs but I finally plumped for the schizophrenic masterpiece 'Biti Ružan'.
9. PEKINKA PATKA - 'Bela Šljiva' - Jugoton 7" - Yugoslavia - 1979
On second thoughts, why do I have to choose at all? Here's the flipside.
10. SINIESTRO TOTAL - 'Ayatollah!' - D.R.O. Producciones 7" - Spain - 1982
From the 'Ayudando A Los Enfermos' E.P. The fun lyrics are easily available on the net, so run' em through Google translate and then go back to Spanish and sing: 'Ayatollah, no me toques la pirola', 'til your heart's content.
11. LILIPUT - 'Split' - Rough Trade 7" - UK - 1980
Originally called Kleenex, these Swiss girls were forced to change their name under threat of legal action from the snot-rag militia but continued to be played relentlessly by John Peel as their sound developed. 'Split', apart from being bloody brilliant, was notable for being a song made up of their favourite words and phrases rather than a narrative, an idea taken up a few years later by Kurt Cobain for 'Smells Like Teen Spirit'.
12. THE REBELS - 'Mayday' - Musk Project 7" - Switzerland - 1979
From the 'Artificial Insemination' E.P. Still in Switzerland, this is more basic driving punk rock but with hilarious lyrics about wanting to screw everything except plastic dolls which 'haven't the right feeling'. Mayday indeed!
13. GUILTY RAZORS - 'I Don't Wanna Be A Rich' - Polydor 7" - France - 1978
So poor were the sales for this 7" that Polydor melted and recycled most of them leaving few original copies in existence. Seventeen records re-released it as a single CD and I've got an unreleased LP on my hard drive somewhere which I remember sounding just as mean.
14. CITY-X - 'Avis' - Irmgardz 7" - Denmark - 1981
From the 'Ude Af Drift' E.P. a song about journalistic lies which barely lasts a minute. 'Coverboy' is funnier but 'Avis' has the riff.
15. LAMA - 'Väliaikainen' - Johanna 7" - Finland - 1981
I love the Finnish language, this is a great song but it wouldn't sound half as good if it was sung in English. The whole E.P is excellent, as is the sleeve and most of their other records. Punk rock at it's finest.
16. ELECTRIC DEADS - 'Screwball' - Electro Static 7" - Denmark - 1983
From the 'Mind Bomb' E.P - their 3rd and best. Another band that improved no end when they finally got the guitar sounding right. Even Maximum Rock 'n' Roll nabbed a track for their 'Welcome To 1984' LP.
17. SLIME - 'Wir Wollen Keine Bullenschweine' - Moderne Musik 7" - Germany - 1980
One of the most controversial bands Germany has spawned. It's another 'hate the cops' tune but seems to encourage bloody violence as the answer. Youthful misguided anger or something else entirely? You decide.
18. RATTUS - 'Rattus On Rautta' - Poko 12" - Finland - 1981
Their first 12" platter, but the last recording of a standard punk style, after which they went hardcore. Basically it's 'TV Stars' by the Skids with different Finnish lyrics. Hilarious.
19. GOD'S HEART ATTACK - 'Treat Me Like A Doll' - No Fun 7" - Holland - 1978
No Fun was an Amsterdam record shop used as a great hangout by the punks. Sadly, they didn't sell many records and after issuing 4 singles in '78/'79 the money ran out and that was that.
20. THE BLITZZ - 'So Free' - EMI 7" - Holland - 1978
Sounds like a London pub band from the same era. It was, in fact, recorded in London after Mick Ronson had seen them play in a seedy Amsterdam club. A great song which somehow manages to rhyme 'lion' with 'trying'.
21. ATTENTAT - 'Slå, Banka Å Sparka' - Rykkman Rekkords 7" - Sweden - 1979
Attentat were quite prolific in the late '70s early '80s but this, from their 2nd 7" is my favourite with it's 'oh, oh, oh,' backing vocals and cardboard box drums.
22. DIE TOTEN HOSEN - 'Opel Gang' - Totenkopf 7" - Germany - 1983
From the 3rd 7". I was tempted to include the mirthsome 'Bommerlunder' instead but for those of you with a copy of the Opel Gang LP I thought you might like to hear the earlier, rawer version of the title track instead.
23. THE RUDE KIDS - 'Raggare' - Polydor 7" - Sweden - 1980
'They are nothing . . . nothing, nothing, nothing but animals . . . monkey, donkey, kangaroo . . . they have no . . . no, no, no . . . no, no, no . . . no IQ!'
24. LILIPUT - 'Eisiger Wind' - Rough Trade 7" - UK - 1981
Almost as good as 'Split' so I had to include it.
25. ELECTRONAZE - 'Waiting For . . .' - Aaltrack 7" - France - 1984
And finally, a rousing blast of sonic mayhem from Electronaze. Great wall-of-sound guitars and pounding drumming on all 3 tracks.
***BONUS TRACKS***
26. DIETER MEIER -
'The Hook'
27. GASOLINE -
'Killer Man'
28. THE WIDOWS -
'Wall Of Berlin'
29. THE RAZORS - 'No
Life'
30. LILIPUT - 'Die
Matrosen'
31. LAMA - 'Paskaa'
32. THE DOGS - '19'
33. THE ELECTRIC
DEADS - 'Mind Bomb'
34. ELECTRONAZE - 'On
Ne Sait Plus'
35. DIE TOTEN HOSEN -
'Bommerlunder'
GET IT HERE
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