30 years ago, huh? From Hamburg, Torpedo Moskau were only together long enough to release one record, 'Malenkaja Rabota', but it's a goodie. Oh, and there's a couple of extra songs on 'Keine Experiment Vol.II' too.
2. ANGRY SAMOANS - 'Steak Knife' - Bad Trip LP - USA - 1982
'Back From Samoa' is a marvellous album, from the kitsch horror sleeve through the fuzzed out guitar down to the hilarious subject matter. You never get tired of playing it. And what about this?
3. BOOMTOWN RATS - 'Lookin' After No.1' - Ensign 7" - UK - 1977
Their debut single, available in 7" and 12" formats. Promo/interview here.
4. ADOLESCENTS - 'No Way' - Frontier LP - USA - 1981
Another dodgy punk vocalist that nevertheless does not detract from the quality of the songs on their s/t debut LP. 'No ass, no head, gotta go home, jack off instead'.
5. DEAD BOYS - 'Sonic Reducer' - Sire 7" - USA - 1977
One of the first wave bands, from Cleveland, Ohio, though they soon moved to New York and became CBGB regulars. See here.
6. BLONDIE - 'Denis' - Chrysalis 7" - USA - 1978
Whatever you say about Blondie, they certainly got the mainstream interested with Debbie's sultry looks. Of course she was much more than that and, judging by the sleeve, she was a dab hand at making a slinky dress out of a pair of old curtains.
7. THE KIDDA BAND - 'If Looks Could Kill' - Blue Chip 7" - UK - 1981
They'd dropped the 'Incredible' bit by this their 4th single, but it didn't help sales in an era where the record buying public had moved on to the new-fuckin'-romantics.
8. THE MEMBERS - 'The Sound Of The Suburbs' - Virgin 7" - UK - 1979
Their second single and most popular song, becoming a hit after signing for Virgin and playing Top of the Pops. Video here.
9. THE DRONES - 'City Drones' - Valer LP - UK - 1977
This, their sole LP, had a brilliant sleeve and a few great tracks but something seemed to put me off a little. It was probably the terrible cover of 'Be My Baby'.
10. DEAD KENNEDYS - 'Police Truck' - Optional 7" - USA - 1980
The B-side of 'Holiday In Cambodia'. 'Dispatch calls, are you doin' something wicked? No siree Jack, we're just giving tickets!'
11. ANGRY SAMOANS - 'Gas Chamber' - Bad Trip LP - USA - 1982
Another classic from 'Back From Samoa', though it's not about what you might think.
12. TORPEDO MOSKAU - 'Bei Der Arbeit' - Weird System LP - Germany - 1984
Another from 'Malenkaja Rabota'.
13. ADOLESCENTS - 'Creatures' - Frontier LP - USA - 1981
Another from the debut LP, a classic cry of alienation.
14. DEAD BOYS - '3rd Generation Nation' - Sire LP - USA - 1978
Lead track from the 2nd LP 'We Have Come For Your Children', famously slated for having a weaker sound as the label tried in vain to steer them towards the mainstream.
15. THE MEMBERS - 'Killing Time' - Virgin 7" - UK - 1979
Their 3rd single 'Offshore Banking Business' was a big disappointment and this, their 4th, about a dreary night down the laundrette didn't inspire the public either, though it was a great single in my eyes. And ears.
16. BOOMTOWN RATS - 'She's So Modern' - Ensign 7" - UK - 1978
The first record I ever bought. That punchy beat and the 'Yak-yak-yak-yaaaaaaaa' intro did it for me. TOTP appearance here.
17. BLONDIE - '(I'm Always Touched By Your) Presence, Dear' - Chrysalis 7" - USA - 1978
The follow-up to 'Denis'. 'Plastic Letters' wasn't an exceptional album but the singles carried them through.
18. DEAD KENNEDYS - 'Holiday In Cambodia' - Optional 7" - USA - 1980
We all waited with baited breath for this one, how the hell could they top 'California Uber Alles'? They didn't need to. They just moved on a little musically and matched it for lyrical genius. Target video here.
19. ANGRY SAMOANS - 'Lights Out' - Bad Trip LP - USA - 1982
Another from 'Back From Samoa', extolling the virtues of poking your eyes out. Another low-budget classic here. You couldn't make it up.
20. THE DRONES - 'Lift Off The Bans' - Valer LP - UK - 1977
Another from 'Further Temptations'.
21. TORPEDO MOSKAU - 'Tagesschau' - Weird System LP - Germany - 1984
And a third track from 'Malenkaja Rabota'.
22. THE MEMBERS - 'Sally' - Virgin LP - UK - 1979
One of the few great tracks on their debut LP 'At The Chelsea Nightclub'.
23. BLONDIE - 'In The Flesh' - Private Stock 7" - USA - 1976
Their sublime 2nd single. Watch it here and swoon.
24. DEAD BOYS - 'All This And More' - Sire LP - USA - 1977
From the first album, 'Young Loud and Snotty'.
25. ADOLESCENTS - 'Kids Of The Black Hole' - Frontier LP - USA - 1981
The masterpiece from their debut album, about a punk squat that must have inspired the Penelope Spheeris film 'Suburbia'. 'The nights of birthdays, the nights of fry, the nights of endless drinking, the nights of violence, the nights of noise, the nights that had to end for good, still not understood, by the girls and boys'.
***BONUS TRACKS***
26. THE ANGRY SAMOANS
- 'Homosexual'
27. THE DEAD KENNEDYS
- 'In-Sight'
28. THE DEAD BOYS -
'Flamethrower Love'
29. THE ADOLESCENTS -
'I Hate Children'
30. THE ANGRY SAMOANS
- 'Not Of This Earth'
Get it here
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