The Best of Brought To Life - 020

1. ALTERED IMAGES - 'Dead Pop Stars' - Epic 7" - UK - 1981
Before they got too sickly sweet, they'd sent a demo tape to Siouxsie & the Banshees which got them a support slot and Steve Severin promptly produced this, their debut single. Recorded before but released after John Lennon's death.
2. LIQUID STONE - 'Here Comes The Weekend' - Liquid Stone 7" - UK - 1981
One single only, re-released recently on Sing Sing. Supported the UK Subs on their Brand New Age tour, apparently. I don't remember seeing 'em.
3. THE WASPS - 'J-J-J-Jenny' - Demo - UK - 1978
The Wasps did many demos, the best of which (including this track) can be found on Overground's 'Punkryonics' CD.
4. AQUI D'EL ROCK - 'Eu Não Sei' - Metro-Som 7" - Portugal - 1979
Same song on both sides of this their second single. And yes, it was covered by caustic Brazilian punks Ratos do Porão.
5. SEMA 4 - 'Capital City' - Pollen 7" - UK - 1979
From their 2nd E.P. 'Up Down Around'. From York, they were formed by Jock Marston who had earlier been in Cyanide. Retrospective CD available on Detour.
6. FRIGG A-GO-GO - 'Everything Around Me' - 360 Twist 7" - USA - 1997
Ha! Just to show you have to be careful these days. I was sent this single in mp3 form from someone claiming that the band recorded this in 1981. What was the point of telling me such bullshit? Anyway, as the music's great and they were on the BTL CDs I'm including it here regardless!
7. THE REPLACEMENTS - 'I'm In Trouble' - Twin/Tone 7" - USA - 1981
This really was from 1981. Their very first single. Here's what they sound like nowadays.
8. LOCAL HEROES - 'Blast The Pop' - Junior 7" - UK - 1980
I remember John Peel playing the hell out of this one. For all the good it did them. This was their sole release.
9. THE ACCIDENT - 'Dixie' - Demo tape - USA - 1979
Yes, it's the same band that did the 'Kill The Bee Gees' single. Available on the 'No Romance For You' CD. If it's still available.
10. YOUNG CANADIANS - 'Hawaii' - Quintessence 12" - Canada - 1979
As well as containing the excellent K-Tels 7", this 12" had a couple of decent tracks in it's own right. The 'No Escape' CD includes them all.
11. THE DISTRACTIONS - 'Maybe It's Love' - TJM 12" - UK - 1978
From the 'You're Not Going Out Dressed Like That' 12" E.P.  They sleeve shows them in bad shirts and an ill-fitting teddy-boy jacket. Appropriate.
12. ANY TROUBLE - 'Yesterday's Love' - Stiff 7" - UK - 1980
One of those bands that got to release quite a few records without selling that many. This, their first single, was surely their best.
13. TOM ROBINSON BAND - 'Up Against The Wall' - EMI 7" - UK - 1978
The second single. 'Look out listen can you hear it, panic in the County Hall, Look out listen can you hear it, Whitehall up against the wall'. Ah, if only. Great song of idealism but where's the action?
14. THE K9s - 'Idi Amin' - Dog Breath 7" - UK - 1979
They started out as Rick Rodent And The Sewer Rats. Should have kept that name! This is the stand out track on this 3-tracker. Can you say 'big black arse' these days?
15. DEMOB - 'No Room For You' - Round Ear 7" - UK - 1981
The second single. From Gloucester. Reformed post-millenium and still going, apparently.
16. BOW WOW WOW - 'C30 C60 C90 Go!' - EMI 7" - UK - 1980
Malcolm McLaren's next musical project after the Sex Pistols. This was the best thing they did. The 2-drummer Adam and the Ants-style was due to the backing band being ex-Ants.
17. THE CHEFS - 'Thrush' - Atrix 7" - UK - 1980
A not-so-pleasant song from Helen McCookerybook and Co. She was originally from geordieland but you wouldn't know it from the vocals. I got into an argument once over whether or not the Chefs were 'twee'. The sound, maybe, but not the acerbic lyrics.
18. THE AMAZING SPACE FROGS - '(I'm Into) Necrophilia' - Ribbett 7" - UK - 1979
From the 'Dirty Habit's' E.P. And, yes, there's a sexy nun on the sleeve. From just up the road in Stockton-On-Tees. 500 made.
19. JIMI LALUMIA & THE PSYCHOTIC FROGS - 'Eleanor Rigby' - Death 7" -  USA - 1979
From the 'Typically Tasteless' E.P. - their second 7". Today's favourite cover version and more sexy nuns on the sleeve!
20. THE HUMANS - 'Electric Bodies' - Beat 7" - USA - 1979
From their debut 4-song E.P. Chaotic and quirky, only let down by the unnecessarily slow bit in the middle.
21. JOHNNY CONCRETE - 'Concrete' - Dandelion 7" - Denmark - 1978
From the 'Come With . . .' E.P. Recorded with the Dream Police who had split by the time the E.P. came out.
22. HUMAN SWITCHBOARD - 'No!' - Clone 7" - USA - 1978
Synth punk from Cleveland Ohio. The superior B-side of their second 7" - 'I Gotta Know'. 'N-n-n-n-n-n-no!'
23. WHITE HEAT - 'Nervous Breakdown' - Vallium 7" - UK - 1979
The first single by a great local band. Live clip here.
24. THE PLASMATICS - 'Butcher Baby' - Stiff 7" - USA - 1978
Released in 1978 on Vice Squad but this was ripped from the Stiff 7". Of course the Plasmatics were all about the visuals, so look here. Whipped cream and pegs on the nipples. Oh yeah!
25. MATT BLACK & THE DOODLEBUGS - 'Punky Xmas' - Punk 7" - UK - 1976
Ah, Christmas novelty punk records, dontcha just love 'em?

***BONUS TRACKS***

26. THE WASPS - 'Run Run Angelica'

27. THE CHEFS - 'Boasting'

28. JOHNNY CONCRETE - 'Jeg Ved (Hvor Du Er)'

29. THE WASPS - 'She's Alarming'

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