Tuesday 26 November 2013

The Best of Brought To Life - 022

1. ESSENTIAL LOGIC - 'Aerosol Burns' - Cells 7" - UK - 1978
Originally a founder member of X-Ray Spex, Lora Logic (saxaphone) left the band to finish her schooling and when that was done she started up her own combo. More angular and experimental than the Spex, and therefore less commercial, the band fizzled out after an album and a few E.P.s and singles. This was the first single.
2. TELEVISION PERSONALITIES - '14th Floor' - Self Released 7" - UK - 1978
And another debut here from the marvellous Dan Treacy and Co. 'I've lived here for seven years now, and I don't know anyone, I think the bloke next door's a Jamaican, but he could be an Irishman.' Tower block isolation has never been as vivid.
3. BASCZAX - 'Auto Mekanik Destruktor' - Pipeline Product - UK - 1979
The B-side of 'Madison Fallout' with more hot sax. Formed from the ashes of Blitzkrieg Bop. Manic post-punk anyone?
4. ALTERNATIVE TV - 'Action Time Vision' - Deptford Fun City 7" - UK - 1978
Their singles were mostly great. Shame about the albums.
5. THE TWEEZERS - 'Ernie Kaboyng' - Self Released 7" - USA - 1981
First track on a 4-song E.P. Ernie made all the girls howl, apparently. Lucky fella.
6. THE DELINQUENTS - 'Food-Free Food' - Live Wire LP - USA - 1981
Have we had an album track yet? Anyway, I think they did an album with Lester Bangs before this one. 'Read the lable, if you're able, to find any food in it.' Deadbeat synth-punk at its sloppy best.
7. THE CONSUMERS - 'Teen Love Song' - In The Red LP - USA - 1995 - Recorded 1978
This album was originally going to be released by Dangerhouse but they declined after the Consumers broke up on stage at the Whiskey when singer David Wiley stormed off the stage. Guitarist Paul B. Cutler later joined 45 Grave and reworked many of the songs.
8. THE PERFECTORS - 'YT502951D' - Active 7" - UK - 1980
This was the National Insurance number of Gary, their lyricist. Wow, I thought only Stiff Little Fingers had a lyricist back in those days? Anyway it's not usually a good idea to publish the damn thing. Makes a good song though!
9. SNIVELLING SHITS - 'Terminal Stupid' - Ghetto Rockers 7" - UK - 1977
Formed by a couple of journalists, Giovanni Dadomo and Dave Fudger, and if I remember rightly, they had producer Steve Lillywhite on bass too. Get it on the Damaged Goods retrospective LP 'I Can't Come'.
10. THE 'A's - 'Teenage Jerk Off' - Arista 7" - USA - 1979
Back to the superior B-sides. Pretty harmless power pop on the whole. From Philidelphia.
11. THE DARK - 'Musak' - Fresh 7" - UK - 1981
The flip of the less-than-inspiring 'Einstein's Brain'. 'Musak is the answer to all of our ills, you won't need booze and you won't need pills.' If only.
12. ADAM ROTH and his BAND OF MEN - 'I Just Wanna Have Some Fun' - ACM LP - USA - 1981
From the film soundtrack to 'Down The Shore'. (No, me neither). Nice riffage, if somewhat derivative.
13. GARBO'S CELLULOID HEROES - 'Only Death Is Fatal' - Big Bear 7" - UK - 1978
Apparently from Birmingham though you wouldn't know from the faux cockney accent.
14. BLACK FLAG - 'Nervous Breakdown' - SST 7" - USA - 1978
Meanwhile in California, the Flag were real, tearing it up and laying down the foundations of a prolonged and prolific career. Pre-Rollins.
15. THE VALVES - 'It Don't Mean Nothing' - Albion 7" - UK - 1979
Third and final single from this much-underrated Edinburgh combo. All 3 were very different. All 3 were great.
16. TELEVISION PERSONALITIES - 'Part-Time Punks' - Kings Road 7" - UK - 1978
From the 'Bill Grundy' E.P. 'They'd like to buy the O Level single, or Read About Seymour, but they're not pressed in red, so they buy the Lurkers instead.' Weren't that the truth.
17. THE COWBOYS - 'Teenage Life' - Tet Offensive 7" - USA - 1980
And another superior B-side. Apparently the vocalist was Mark Eitzel, who went on to later fame with American Music Club and a solo career. Me, I'm none the wiser.
18. THE BULLETS - 'Grammar School Girls' - Big Bear 7" - UK - 1978
And the B-sides continue. Like the lyric which rhymes 'Wranglers' with both 'Anglers' and 'The Stranglers', though I'd have used 'danglers' myself. 
19. HANS-A-PLAST - 'Sex Sex Sex' - No Fun 7" - Germany - 1981
Though they did 3 albums this appears to be their only 7" unless anyone out there knows any different. The album to have is the one from 1979 with the burning rat on the sleeve.
20. THE BOYS - 'First Time' - Nems 7" - UK - 1977
Their second single, about cherry popping. Still, more subtle and gentle than the preceding song. Learn some German, my friend.
21. THE CURE - 'I Want To Be Old' - Demo - UK - 1977
From the Cure's first proper demo tape. Sounds nothing like what they would later become. Not sure if that's good or bad . . . on second thoughts . . .
22. THE SILLIES - 'If Your Girlfriend Still Loves You When Your Car Breaks Down, You Know Her Love Is True' - Demo - USA - 1979 
An unfeasibly long title for a Detroit punk rock act, but a nice sentiment. Get this, their single and other demos on the 'America's Most Wanton' CD.
23. THE BELL HEIRS - 'California Sun' - Visa 7" - USA - 1978
This appears to be their sole release. Cover version of the day.
24. THE CIRCLES - 'Opening Up' - Graduate 7" - UK - 1979
First single by this Brummie mod revival band formed from the ashes of the Neon Hearts. Well, it was supposed to be the next big thing . . .
25. VITAL DISORDERS - 'Prams' - Lowther International 7" - UK - 1981
From their 3-song debut 7" - the first of 3. 'Let's talk about prams and washing machines, let's talk about the end of childhood dreams'.  Video here. She needn't have worried.
***BONUS TRACKS***
26. THE TELEVISION PERSONALITIES - 'Smashing Time'
27. BLACK FLAG - 'Fix Me'
28. THE ABRASIVE WHEELS - The Army Song'
29. THE DELINQUENTS - 'Sticky Situation'
30. THE TELEVISION PERSONALITIES - 'Where's Bill Grundy Now?'
31. THE FIX - 'Famous'


Get it here

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