The Best of Brought To Life - 082

1. FLIPPER - 'Way Of The World' - Subterranean LP - USA - 1982
From the legendary debut album 'Generic' which was anything but. 'There are eyes that cannot see and fingers that cannot touch'. Confusion reigns in the world of Flipper.
2. DEAD WRETCHED - 'No Hope For The Wretched' - Tempest 7" - UK - 1982
From the 'No Hope For Anyone' E.P. More later. Meanwhile here's an unreleased track taken from a depressing TV documentry about the industrial wasteland that was Birmingham in the early '80s.
3. STYRENE MONEY - 'I Saw You' - Mustard 7" - USA - 1977
Piano punk! I'm as impressed with this as much as I'm impressed with Helen Keller's operatic punk! From a solid 3-tracker. I'll no doubt include the other 2 later.
4. THE PLASMATICS - 'Fast Food Service' - Stiff America LP - USA - 1981
From second album 'Beyond The Valley Of 1984'. Meanwhile here's a sexy video of Butcher Baby.
5. THE FRESHIES - 'We're Like You' - Razz 7" - UK - 1980
Another pop classic from the Freshies. Not a great recording but with a song as catchy as this it hardly seems to matter. Meanwhile here's some rare footage.
6. THE DRY HEAVES - 'Shoot Yourself' - Salem 7" - Canada - 1981
From their sole 3-tracker.
7. THE GLASS TORPEDOES - 'Tall Stories' - Leo 7" - UK - 1981
Third and final (and problably the best) 7" from this Liverpool-area group. Peel favourites, naturally.
8. PLUMMET AIRLINE - 'It's Hard' - State 7" - UK - 1977
Excellent name for a band. Their second and final single, although there was an album released long after they'd split. Wikipedia has the full story.
9. REAGAN YOUTH - 'New Aryans' - Reagan Youth LP - USA - 1984
The opening track from their debut masterpiece ' Youth Anthems For The New Order'. Check out their website here.
10. HOBO RADIO COMPANY - 'Oh Oh Oh Oh Oh Oh Oh What A Drag!' - Red Bus 7" - UK - 1981
One-off novelty single lampooning Laurie Anderson's 'O Superman' experimental masterpiece. (*Note* the original has to be listened to in the dark or with your eyes closed - if you watch the video you'll never appreciate its majesty). The Hobos' B-side is called 'It's Always Rubbish On The B-side'. And it is. 
11. THE PLASMATICS - 'Test-Tube Babies' - Stiff America LP - USA - 1980
One from their debut album 'New Hope For The Wretched'. Legendary Wendy O footage here.
12. STYRENE MONEY - 'Jaguar Ride' - Mustard 7" - USA - 1977
Another track from their piano punk classic.
13. FLIPPER - 'Living For The Depression' - Subterranean LP - USA - 1982
An almost straight-ahead punker from 'Generic'.
14. DEAD WRETCHED - 'Time To Die' - Tempest 7" - UK - 1982
Another track from the 'No Hope For Anyone' E.P.
15. THE DRY HEAVES - 'I Can't Puke' - Salem 7" - Canada - 1981
And another from their lone 3-tracker, although, as often is the case, there is a Rave Up album with extra tracks.
16. THE WILD BUNCH - 'Gina' - Red Shadow 7" - UK - 1980
About as corny as they come but very catchy, in the vein of The Boys, etc.
17. THE FRESHIES - 'My Tape's Gone' - Razz 7" - UK - 1980
Yet another fine tune from the Freshies. By the way, it's not a fault at the end, think about the title, friend.
18. THE PLASMATICS - 'Nothing' - Stiff America LP - USA - 1981
Another from 'Beyond The Valley Of 1984'. Some vintage live footage here.
19. REAGAN YOUTH - 'Reagan Youth' - Reagan Youth LP - USA - 1984
And another from ' Youth Anthems For The New Order'.
20. HIPPO - 'They Can't Hear Me' - Honky Tonk 7" - UK - 1979
From their lone 4-tracker 'Hot From Hippo' which had 3 cover versions and this track. They were from Boscombe, near Bournemouth, and were quite a hoot live, apparently.
21. STYRENE MONEY - 'Everything Near Me' - Mustard 7" - USA - 1977
Which completes their groundbreaking 1977 3-tracker.
22. FLIPPER - 'Get Away' - Subterranean 7" - UK - 1982
3rd single, green vinyl. The flipside is a rehearsal version of 'The Old Lady That Swallowed A Fly'. One of the best sleeve pictures ever.
23. DEAD WRETCHED - 'Recession' - Tempest 7" - UK - 1982
A third track from the 'No Hope For Anyone' E.P.
24. THE PLASMATICS - 'A Pig Is A Pig' - Stiff America LP - USA - 1981
And a third from 'Beyond The Valley Of 1984', but it's not about the police! Take it away Wendy . . .
25. ZIPPER - 'The Life Of Riley' - Spanking 7" - UK - 1979
And finally, a single drenched in Small Faces nostalgia from Cardiff combo Zipper. Re-released on Virgin.

***BONUS TRACKS***

26. FLIPPER - 'Nothing'

27. REAGAN YOUTH - 'Go Nowhere'

28. DEAD WRETCHED - 'No Justice' 

29. FLIPPER - 'The Old Lady That Swallowed The Fly'

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The Best of Brought To Life - 081

1. THE CONSERVATIVES - 'Psycho Surgery' - Lunatech LP - USA - 1983
The opening track from sole LP 'Bos D Plaen' which means, hmm, I dunno, answers on a postcard please. 
2. THE SANDWICHES - 'Chicken Legs' - Demo - Canada - 1980
From a little-known collection of 32 songs. Thanks to the Calgary Cassette Preservation Society for unearthing it.
3. KSMB - 'Blått & Guld' - MNW LP - Sweden - 1981
From their second album 'Rika Barn Leka Bäst'.
4. NICE LAWN - 'American Cheez' - Rumpus 7" - USA - 1982
From a split E.P. with the New Fun Quintet. From Grand Rapids, Michigan.
5. THE DRIVERS - 'Johnny's Dying' - Overdrive 7" - USA - 1980
Their sole release. Read more at Punk Business Manager.
6. THE ADAPTORS - 'Trust In Technology' - Plastik Rapture 7" - USA - 1979
Some quirky jerky synth-punk now from the (then) house band at the Mabuhay Gardens in San Francisco.
7. BIG DOG - 'Monkey See Monkey Do' - Syntax cassette - Canada - 1982
This cassette was called '99 Change Hands' and there's also a split 12" E.P with the Rip Chords with whom they shared 3 members. Another Calgary combo.
8. THE PENGUINS - 'California Lifestyle' - Donkey 7" - USA - 1981
Another Frisco synth-pop-punk band no doubt influenced by The Adaptors. Their sole release.
9. SNAGG - 'Hjältar' - CWC 7" - Sweden - 1981
From the 'Tidningsurklipp' E.P. - again - their only release. From Norrköping.
10. THE SANDWICHES - 'Jonestown Koolaid' - Demo - Canada - 1980
Another from their 32-song demo.
11. ALISA - 'I Want To Be A Prostitute' - Ear Movie 7" - USA - 1983
As far as I know, this 3-tracker was her only release. From Santa Monica, or thereabouts.
12. SIXTEN REDLÖS - 'I Wish I Woz An Animal' - S-Skivor 7" - Sweden - 1985
Time for some straight ahead punk rock now. Their second single. Live 2010 here.
13. KILLING JOKE - 'Complication' - Peel Session - UK - 1980
From their second Peel session recorded on March 5th 1980.
14. THE RIP CHORDS - 'Bobby' - Relentless LP - Canada - 1981
From the 'Word Of Mouth' 7-track mini-album. Some cool handclapping here.
15. THE KIDZ NEXT DOOR - 'Payday Today' - Demo - UK - 1979
Available on the s/t album on Rave Up or the CD on 1977 Records. Yep, it's Robbie Pursey, Jimmy's little brother.
16. THE SANDWICHES - Ad Men And Journalists' - Demo - Canada - 1980
A third from their demo.
17. THE RECORD PLAYERS - 'Paradise City' - Wreckord 7" - UK - 1979
From the '60-7 Inches' E.P. - the middle one of 3 they released.
18. MORTAL MEN - 'I'm Not Crazy' - Demo - USA - 1984(?)
We're going demo crazy on this one. I'm not sure of the year here but I do know the band hailed from Sacramento.
19. THE PENGUINS - 'Plastic Cure' - Donkey 7" - USA - 1981
The flipside of 'California Lifestyle'.
20. THE BOUNCE - 'Don't Tell Me' - Catch 22 12" - USA - 1981
From their 6-track E.P. 'Things That Go Bounce In The Night'. From New Jersey.
21. SIXTEN REDLÖS - 'Ni Ska Få Ångra' - S-Skiver 7" - Sweden - 1984
You've heard the second single so here's the first. Live 2010 version here.
22. THE REBELS - 'Leader Of The Rebellion' - Rigid 7" - UK - 1978
The flipside of 'Suicide', their sole release at the time although the demos have all been released since then. Tony Frater and Gaz Stoker went on to form Red Alert and the drummer was none other than Keith 'Sticks' Warrington who went on to join the Angelic Upstarts.
23. BIG DOG - 'Ask Me Any Questions' - Syntax cassette - Canada - 1982
Another track from '99 Change Hands'. 
24. THE SANDWICHES - 'Ayatollah' - Demo - Canada - 1980
And a fourth from their demo tape.
25. MORTAL MEN - TV Song' - Demo - USA - 1984(?)
And to round it all off, another from their 4-song demo.

***BONUS TRACKS***

26. THE ADAPTORS - 'In The Slot'

27. KILLING JOKE - 'Change'

28. THE KIDZ NEXT DOOR - 'Lifetime Of School' 

29. THE SANDWICHES - 'Twist Me'

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The Best of Brought To Life - 080

1. APPENDIX - 'Kuitenkin Kuolemme' - Propaganda LP - Finland - 1982
We'll begin this one with the opening track from debut album 'Ei Raha Oo Mun Valuuttaa'. Unfortunately the lyrics are beyond me.
2. TELEVISION PERSONALITIES - 'This Angry Silence' - Rough Trade LP - UK - 1981
Another opening track from another debut LP, this one being 'And Don't The Kids Just Love It'.
3. HALF MAN HALF BISCUIT - 'The Bastard Son Of Dean Friedman' - Peel Session - UK - 1986
From the second Peel session and available on second album 'Back Again In The DHSS'. 'They mocked me in my mocks and embroidered in my socks . . .'
4. ULTRAVOX - 'Quirks' - Island 7" - UK - 1977
This was on a free single given away with the first 10,000 copies of the 'Ha!-Ha!-Ha!' LP. Early Ultravox rocked!
5. THE FANATICS - 'Mutant' - Whirld Weckords 7" - USA - 1981
Here's a little psycho-drama from a split E.P. with Nervous Tension called 'Fun With Lines And Curves'. From Columbia, South Carolina.
6. ERRATIC - '10 Minutes With Me And Your Problems Are Solved' - Important 7" - USA - 1980
Well, this guy thought a lot of himself. From a manic, fuzzed-out 3-track curiosity. Their only release.
7. THE GHETTO BERRIES - 'Secret Life Of Napoleon Solo' - Templebeat 7" - UK - 1979
Another '60s TV homage now. (This time: The Man From U.N.C.L.E.). One of two tracks from a split 7" with the Spunky Onions.
8. THE SPUNKY ONIONS - 'How I Lost My Virginity' - Templebeat 7" - UK - 1979
Speaking of which, here's their track from the same record. Low key, but a grower.
9. THE SKEPTIX - 'Scarred For Life' - Zenon 7" - UK - 1983
Enough low key, now for some punk rock! From their second E.P. 'Peace Force'.
10. HALF MAN HALF BISCUIT - 'I Was A Teenage Armchair Honved Fan' - Peel Session - UK - 1986
From the third Peel session and, again, available on 'Back Again In The DHSS'. Honved were (are) a Hungarian football team from Budapest. The best lyric, however, is completely unrelated. 'Is this the bit where we're supposed to make guitars collide, and is the bit where we release all that raw energy, and is this the bit where we go crashing through those barriers, like what they do in music mags?'
11. ULTRAVOX - 'Fear In The Western World' - Island LP - UK - 1977
Another stomper from second album 'Ha!-Ha!-Ha!' Live at Reading here. Sorry, but the pictures don't move.
12. SQUEEZE - 'Is That Love?' - A&M 7" - UK - 1981
Their umpteenth single. Top Of The Pops performance here.
13. TELEVISION PERSONALITIES - 'World Of Pauline Lewis' - Rough Trade LP - UK - 1981
Another track from 'And Don't The Kids Just Love It'.
14. THE SKEPTIX - 'Violent Streets' - Rock-O-Rama LP - UK/Germany - 1983
Opening track from debut album 'So The Youth'.
15. HALF MAN HALF BISCUIT - 'D' Ye Ken Ted Moult?' - Peel Session - UK - 1985
From the first Peel session/second LP. Ted Moult was an actor/broadcaster who appeared in double glazing adverts, the subject of this little ditty.
16. THE FANATICS - 'Citizen X' - Whirld Weckords 7" - USA - 1981
Another track from 'Fun With Lines And Curves'.
17. APPENDIX - Paniikkia' - Propaganda LP - Finland - 1982
Another track from 'Ei Raha Oo Mun Valuuttaa'.
18. THE SKEPTIX - 'Got No Choice' - Rock-O-Rama LP - UK/Germany - 1983
And another track from 'So The Youth'.
19. TELEVISION PERSONALITIES - 'Geoffrey Ingham' - Rough Trade LP - UK - 1981
A third track from 'And Don't The Kids Just Love It'.
20. HALF MAN HALF BISCUIT - 'Arthur's Farm/All I Want For Christmas Is A Dukla Prague Away Kit' - Peel Session - UK - 1985
More from the first Peel session as Arthur Askey meets Animal Farm followed by an anti-homage to Scalextric and Subbuteo, two of the worst toys ever.
21. SQUEEZE - 'Another Nail In My Heart' - A&M 7" - UK - 1980
10th single, another classic Difford and Tilbrook composition. Video here.
22. ULTRAVOX - 'Frozen Ones' - Island LP - UK - 1977
Another from  'Ha!-Ha!-Ha!'
23. THE SKEPTIX - 'Legion Of The Damned' - Rock-O-Rama LP - UK/Germany - 1983
A third track from 'So The Youth'.
24. TELEVISION PERSONALITIES - 'Boy In The Paisley Shirt' - Whaam! LP - UK - 1982
And one from their second album called 'They Could Have Been Bigger Than The Beatles'. Sadly, they weren't.
25. HALF MAN HALF BISCUIT - 'The Trumpton Riots' - Peel Session - UK - 1985
And finally another from the first classic Peel session/second LP. Far better than the 7" version. 'All this aristocracy has really got to stop, we can overthrow the surgery and kidnap Doctor Mop!'

***BONUS TRACKS***

26. SQUEEZE - 'Pulling Muscles From A Shell' 

27. HALF MAN HALF BISCUIT - 'Old Tige'

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The Best of Brought To Life - 079

1. ISHMAEL UNITED - 'Song Of The Last Generation' - Dove LP - UK - 1979
The opening track from 'If You Can't Shout Saved! You'll Have To Face The Penalty'. Evangelist punk? Why not?
2. HALF MAN HALF BISCUIT - 'Time Flies By (When You're A Driver Of A Train)' - Probe Plus LP - UK - 1985
From their debut LP 'Back In The DHSS'. The last band I saw live. Great as ever. 'Careful with that spliff, Eugene, it causes condensation'.
3. SQUEEZE - 'Back Track' - Deptford Fun City 7" - UK - 1977
From their rockin' debut 'Packet Of Three'. Also available on 12".
4. BYE BYE TURBIN - 'Mon Image Sous Cellophane' - Sweet Harmony 7" - France - 1979
B-side of 'Balai, Pagaie' - their first of 2 singles. There's an LP of demos somewhere called 'It's Not Only Rock 'N' Roll' but I'm afraid haven't heard it.
5. P.V.C. - 'Today Red Tomorrow Dead' - Good Noise LP - Germany - 1983
From a s/t double album recorded live in their practice room. Supposedly limited to 50 copies.
6. THE KURSAALS - 'Television Generation' - CBS 7" - UK - 1977
This is pub rock band The Kursaal Flyers attempting to ride the new wave, and failing. Good single though.
7. ARTICLES OF FAITH - 'Five O' Clock' - Reflex LP - USA - 1984
After 2 gnarly hardcore E.P.s their debut album 'Give Thanks' wasn't exactly what we were expecting. The energy and passion was still there but the sound and musical style had evolved dramatically. In a good way.
8. THE SCREAMING DEAD - 'She Was Done In By A Nutter' - Recreational Tapes - UK - 1982
The best track from their 'Children Of The Boneyard Stones' cassette. Then, slowly but surely, the goth sound overtook the punk sound.
9. HALF MAN HALF BISCUIT - '99% Of Gargoyles Look Like Bob Todd' - Probe Plus LP - UK - 1985
Another from 'Back In The DHSS'. 'If you've ever wondered how you get triangles from a cow, you need butter milk and cheese and an equilateral chainsaw'. Oh how we laughed.
10. SQUEEZE - 'Take Me I'm Yours' - A&M 7" - UK - 1978
Second single. Top Of The Pops performance here.
11. ILL REPUTE - 'Oxnard' - Mystic LP - USA - 1984
Into hardcore territory now. The opening track from debut album 'What Happens Next'. 
12. THE STEVES - 'In A Room' - Hundreds 7" - USA - 1981
Remember The Steves from the last sampler? This was the second single. Please excuse the rock guitar solo.
13. HALF MAN HALF BISCUIT - 'Fuckin' 'Ell, It's Fred Titmus' - Probe Plus LP - UK - 1985
A third from 'Back In The DHSS'. Fred Titmus was a well-known English cricket player, if you were wondering.
14. O.X. POW - 'La Nueva Armada' - Demo - Spain - 1982
Recorded before anything they put out on vinyl. The sound quality isn't perfect but it's great all the same.
15. SQUEEZE - 'Goodbye Girl' - A&M 7" - UK - 1978
Fourth single. Want a more upbeat version?
16.  ISHMAEL UNITED - 'Jesus Trip' - Dove LP - UK - 1979
Another track from 'If You Can't Shout Saved! You'll Have To Face The Penalty'. Converted yet?
17. THE LAST - 'Walk Like Me' - Bomp LP - USA - 1979
From debut album 'L.A. Explosion'. Don't let the 40-second intro put you off.
18. NATIVE TONGUE - 'Baby' - 37 Records 7" - USA - 1984
The B-side of sole single 'Lies'. A bit 'rock' but fast enough and quirky enough.
19. ARTICLES OF FAITH - 'Acceptance' - Reflex LP - USA - 1984
Another from 'Give Thanks'. Produced by Bob Mould, no less.
20. ILL REPUTE - 'Look At Me' - Mystic LP - USA - 1984
Another from 'What Happens Next'. 
21. SQUEEZE - 'Up The Junction' - A&M 7" - UK - 1979
Eighth single. Quite a story packed into so few lines. Video here.
22. THE LAST - 'A Fool Like You' - Bomp LP - USA - 1979
Another from 'L.A. Explosion'.
23. HALF MAN HALF BISCUIT - 'Seal Clubbing' - Probe Plus LP - UK - 1985
A fourth from 'Back In The DHSS'. Yipee-eye-o indeed!
24. DIE TOTEN HOSEN - 'Das Altbier Lied' - Virgin 7" - Germany - 1986
Can't go wrong with a beer-drinking song. 'Fräulein, bringt mir mehr Bier!' Video hier.
25. ARTICLES OF FAITH - 'Every Man For Himself' - Reflex LP - USA - 1984
And to end with, another masterpiece from 'Give Thanks'.

***BONUS TRACKS***

26. O.X. POW - 'Matar'

27. SQUEEZE - 'Cool For Cats'

28. HALF MAN HALF BISCUIT - 'Dickie Davies Eyes'

29. ILL REPUTE - 'Did I Have Fun?' 

30. ARTICLES OF FAITH - 'American Dreams

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