1. K-TELS - 'Automan' - Quintessence 7" - Canada - 1979Well, before they could even release this, the K-Tel corporation threatened them with a $50,000 lawsuit for using their name in a punk rock defamatory way, so they ended up changing their name to the Young Canadians, removing the K from the labels and giving the single away with the first pressing of their 'Hawaii' 12" E.P. in 1980. Cracking song. Video here.
2. THE SUBHUMANS - 'Oh Canaduh' - Own Label 7" - Canada - 1978
The Subhumans released 2 great records, then 2 average ones, then another goodie to finish with. This was the B-side of their first single. So good that No Means No covered it on a single in 1991.
3. D.O.A. - 'World War 3' - Sudden Death 7" - Canada - 1980
The third and best single from the most prolific punk band in Canada. They were/are a great live band but this one, Hardcore '81 and Positively D.O.A. are, for me, their only great records. I'll add one of their earlier singles later for comparison.
4. THE VILETONES - 'Screaming Fist' - Vile 7" - Canada - 1977
One of the earliest Canadian punk bands, the Viletones were led by Steven 'Nazi Dog' Leckie who would slash his arms with razor blades on stage and attempt to upset people with faux nazi propaganda. 'Oh gimmie fist!'
5. THE CURSE - 'Shoeshine Boys' - Hi-Fi 7" - Canada - 1978
The Curse were unusual in those days being an all-girl punk band. Though seemingly not into self-harm, singer Mickey Skin would nevertheless often spray the audience with whipped cream, hot dogs and, at certain times of the month, bloody tampons. How charming.
6. THE SWINDLED - 'Who Wants Guns?' - Swindled 7" - Canada - 1982
'Shoot Elizabeth, shoot John Paul, shoot Mr Reagan, shoot them all!' The Swindled then go on to suggest we do it right and use dynamite instead. Is this where the Vancouver 5 got their ideas? Same year . . .
7. POINTED STICKS - 'Lies' - Quintessence 7" - Canada - 1979
3rd single of the pop-punk band that original D.O.A. drummer Dimwit left to join. Video here.They should have been bigger, but even a UK single on Stiff records (which re-recorded an earlier single 'Out Of Luck') failed to make any impact. Check out the depressingly dysfunctional Dennis Hopper film 'Out Of The Blue' for an appearance where they rattle through a live version of 'Luck' and 'Somebody's Mom' here.
8. THE BUREAUCRATS - 'Feel The Pain' - M.P. 7" - Canada - 1980
Annoyingly oversized sleeve. Great riff though. Used to think the singer had a dodgy English accent but he and his brother who was also in the band actually were English so I'll let them off. There was a full length CD knocking around called 'Roi' which is worth checking out.
9. HI-FI's - 'Look What You've Done' - Show Time 7" - Canada - 1980
And the powerpop continues. I'm not that fond of jangly guitars on the whole but the song and the vocal arrangements manage to rise above it.
10. PRIVATE SCHOOL - 'Fuck You' - Full Friction 7" - Canada - 1979
From the 'Lost In Action' E.P. with yet another annoyingly oversized sleeve. Features Dave Gregg from D.O.A. on guitar.
11. RED SQUARES - 'Ottawa Today' - Double Helix 7" - Canada - 1978
This single originally had the labels on the wrong sides but one band member managed to hack some off and reverse them. There's also two sleeves available, a Canadian one and a European one.
12. THE ELECTRIC VOMIT - 'No End' - Garbage Bag 7" - Canada - recorded 1979
But not actually released until 2007. This song is about strained relations between French-speaking Canadians and English-speaking Canadians. I never knew such tensions existed.
13. ACTIVE DOG - 'Rat Race' - Active Dog 7" - Canada - 1979
The band included some future Pointed Sticks and Modernettes members. The sleeve has a picture of an not-so-active dog. From Vancouver, of course.
14. THE PRESENCE - 'Disease' - DWM 7" - Canada - 1981
From the 'Meeting The Demands Of Society Is No Excuse' 5-song E.P. which contains a variety of musical styles. I'm using the punk track. Love the na-na-na-na-na-na bit.
15. THE MODERNETTES - 'Barbra' - Quintessence 12" - Canada - 1980
From the 'Teen City' E.P. - a great 6-track 12". The video can be found here.
16. K-TONICS - 'Calgary Girls' - Rok 7" - Canada - 1982
From a split single with The Crash. Unusual. I wonder how many of these colourful characters were real?
17. D.O.A. - 'The Prisoner' - Quintessence 7" - Canada - 1978
Their 2nd 7" - purely for comparison with 'World War 3'. Decent but not great.
18. LOWLIFE - 'Thinking Naturally' - Airout 7" - Canada - 1979
From the 'Leaders' E.P. - a solid 3-tracker from Winnipeg. They morphed into Le Kille who then morphed into Personality Crisis, though personally I wasn't a fan.
19. DUB RIFLES - 'Delicate Action' - Notown 7" - Canada - 1982
From the 'No Town No Country' E.P. 'Bout time we had some sax in this collection. Mighty Mighty Bosstones anyone?
20. POINTED STICKS - 'Somebody's Mom' - Quintessence 7" - Canada - 1978
I've linked the 'Out Of The Blue' video in track 7 so now here's the vinyl version. B-side (and by far the better side) of their first 7" which was re-recorded for the Stiff 7" which many people prefer. Not me.
21. THE STATICS - 'Rebel Like Me' - Ugly Pop 7" - Canada - 1980
From Mississauga (close to Toronto, apparently). By far the best song on this 3-tracker.
22. PINK STEEL - 'Some Of The Things That You Do' - Alandhis Car 7" - Canada - 1981
The flipside of 'Won't Come In Your Hand' - their second single. Obviously it can't match the title of the A-side but musically it's more appealing.
23. RED SQUARES - 'Transmitter' - Double Helix 7" - Canada - 1978
As good as 'Ottawa Today' - which is the other side of this little gem.
24. THE DIODES - 'Tired Of Waking Up Tired' - Epic 7" - Canada - 1978
Always touted as one of Canada's first punk bands but they were much more powerpop-sounding to me.
25. THE VILETONES - 'Backdoor To Hell' - Razor 7" - Canada - 1978
And to end with another one from the Viletones, this time from their 2nd 7" - 'Look Back In Anger' - which ironically has less anger but more tuneage.
***BONUS TRACKS***
26. THE POINTED
STICKS - 'I'm Numb'
27. THE K-TELS 'Where
Are You?'
28. THE BUREAUCRATS -
'Grown Up Age'
29. THE SWINDLED -
'Hymn #84'
30. THE SUBHUMANS -
'Death To The Sickoids'
31. THE POINTED
STICKS - 'What Do You Want Me To Do?'
Get it here
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