Thursday 25 September 2014

The Best of Brought To Life - 110


1. THE STUPIDS - 'It's Fun To You' - C.O.R. LP - UK - 1985
The opening track from debut album 'Peruvian Vacation'. See how many music genres you can find in this masterpiece.
2. ANGRY SAMOANS - 'I Lost (My Mind)' - PVC LP - USA - 1988
Only one genre here: psyche-rock. The opening cut from 'STP Not LSD'.
3. THE DISCO ZOMBIES - 'Punk A Go-Go' - Uptown 7" - UK - 1979
One from the 'Invisible' E.P. Pogo sex - quite a novel idea.
4. THE X-CERTS - 'Queen And Country' - Demo - UK - 1979
Nice chorus. Find out more and buy the album here.
5. 100 FLOWERS - 'Dyslexia' - Happy Squid 7" - USA - 1982
From the 'Presence Of Mind' E.P.  Post-Urinals with keyboards.
6. LENNY & THE LAWBREAKERS - 'Suzie D' - Rip-Off 7" - UK - 1979
The flipside of 'Me and Bobby McGee'. See if you can work out who it's about.
7. NICKY & THE DOTS - 'Never Been So Stuck' - Small Wonder 7" - UK - 1979
Their sole single. Jaunty, I think you'll find.
8. THE NIPPLE ERECTORS - 'Nervous Wreck' -Soho 7" - UK - 1978
The superior flipside of 'King Of The Bop'.
9. PUBLIC DISTURBANCE - 'S & M' - Mutha 7" - USA - 1983
A lot of shouting in this one, a bit like an S & M dungeon . . . erm . . . apparently.
10. THE GUILTY RAZORS - 'Hurts And Noises' - Polydor 7" - France - 1978
Despite the fucked-up start, this turns out to be a solid rocker. From the flipside of 'I Don't Wanna Be A Rich'.
11. ANGRY SAMOANS - 'Wild Hog Rhyde' - PVC LP - USA - 1988
One of the more upbeat tracks from 'STP Not LSD'.
12. THE STUPIDS - 'So Much Fun' - C.O.R. LP - UK - 1985
Another thrasher from 'Peruvian Vacation'.
13. THE DISCO ZOMBIES - 'Drums Over London' - South Circular 7" - UK - 1979
Debut single, which was recorded after the 'Invisible' E.P. All about racial tensions. ***Note*** Spear & Jackson is a popular brand of gardening tool. Other brands are available.
14. THE STUPIDS - 'Wipeout' - C.O.R. LP - UK - 1985
'So Much Fun' was way too short, so here's another equally short Stupids thrasher.
15. THE SATELLITES - 'Urbane Gorilla' - Rewind 7" - UK - 1980
'Eeeya eeya wahoo wahoo!'
16. NICKY & THE DOTS - 'Linoleum Walk' - Small Wonder 7" - UK - 1979
The flipside of 'Never Been So Stuck'.
17. THE NOW - 'Into The '80s' - Raw 7" - UK - 1979
Second single. Slightly better guitars with added sax.
18. THE BLEACH BOYS - 'Stocking-Clad Nazi Death Squad Bitches' - Zombie International 12" - UK - 1983
On the flipside of 'That Neutron Taste'. So much better than their much earlier debut 'Chloroform'.
19. THE EDGE - 'Macho Man' - Albion 7" - UK - 1978
Their debut single, which they never bettered.
20. THE DIALS - 'All I Hear' - Scene 7" - UK - 1979
Sole single. A nod to the Neon Hearts, I think.
21. THE DISCO ZOMBIES - 'Heartbeats Love' - South Circular 7" - UK - 1979
The flipside of 'Drums Over London'.
22. THE STUPIDS - 'Born To Built To Grind' - C.O.R. LP - UK - 1985
This one has the feeling of a cover version, but apart from the Springsteen sample, is not.
23. THE PENETRATORS - 'Teenage Lifestyle' - Fred 7" - USA - 1979
Second single. 'I'm losing my mind and loving it too'.
24. THE BLEACH BOYS - 'Death Before Disco' - Zombie International 12" - UK - 1983
Another raucous effort from the flipside of 'That Neutron Taste'.
25. ANGRY SAMOANS - 'I'll Drink To This Love Song' - PVC LP - USA - 1988
And another from 'STP Not LSD'. Love gone wrong - it's happened to us all.
Thank you and goodnight.
*** BONUS TRACKS***
26. THE STUPIDS - 'You Shoulda Listened'
27. THE NOW - '9 'o Clock'
28. THE DISCO ZOMBIES - 'Mary Millington'
29. ANGRY SAMOANS - 'STP Not LSD'
30. THE STUPIDS - 'I Scream Inside'
31. THE URINALS - 'Surfin' With The Shah'
32. THE SATELLITES - 'High Rise Hillbillys'
33. ANGRY SAMOANS - 'Lost Highway'

Friday 19 September 2014

The Best of Brought To Life - 109


1. THE STUPIDS -' Elephant Man' - C.O.R. 7" - UK - 1985
I didn't care much for the 'Let's Be American' attitude, but their early stuff ripped. This is from their debut 'Violent Nun' E.P.
2. THE NEGATIVES - 'Stakeout' - Look 7" - UK - 1979
Their sole single, from Bradford. 1,000 original copies, but another 500 re-issued more recently on Paramecium.
3. THOSE NAUGHTY LUMPS - 'Iggy Pop's Jacket' - Zoo 7" - UK - 1979
Meanwhile in Liverpool, the same year, the Lumps released this quirky little ditty.
4. THE OVENMEN - 'Rock Against Racism' - Oven Hot 7" - USA - 1981
Over to New York now for something a bit different. Is the guitar being played through an organ amp or vice versa?
5. RAZAR - 'Ascension Day' - Polydor 7" - UK - 1978
The first of 2 singles, not to be confused with the Australian band of the same name.
6. TAPEWORM - 'Break My Face' - Hermaphrodite 7" - USA - 1978
Sole single. From Stamford, Texas. Sounds like the recording equipment was in Arizona.
7. JOHNNY & THE SELF ABUSERS - 'Saints And Sinners' - Chiswick 7" - UK - 1977
Another sole single by the band who famously evolved into Simple Minds.
8. THE IDEALS - 'Shut Yr Face' - Wow! 7" - USA - 1982
From their 4 song 'High Art' E.P. Recorded Live at Raul's.
9. THE MODELS - 'Freeze' - Step Forward 7" - UK - 1977
Another sole single featuring Marco Pirroni on guitar.
10. VICE CREEMS - '01-01-212' - Tiger 7" - UK - 1978
The first of two singles. Full story here.
11. DANSETTE DAMAGE - 'The Only Sound' - Shoestring 7" - UK - 1978
I posted the other side last time around but this one has it's merits too. A double 'B' side. Arf.
12. HUMAN THERAPY - 'Domesticated People' - Doctor Dream 7" - USA - 1982
The lead track from the first of 2 E.P.s. From California.
13. MAGGOT SANDWICH - 'Gut Bomb' - KML 7" - USA - 1985
One from the 'Dead To My World' E.P. 6 tracks of cool riffage.
14. FRANK DETAILS - 'False Pretences' - Buzz Bomb 7" - UK - 1980
Another one-off curiosity.
15. ELTON MOTELLO -' Pogo Pogo' - RKM 7" - Belgium - 1977
The other side of 'Jet Boy Jet Girl' - released all over the world.
16. THE STUPIDS - 'Skid Row' - C.O.R. 7" - UK - 1985
Another track from the 'Violent Nun' E.P.  Live here.
17. ED NASTY & THE DOPEDS - 'You Sucker' - Sexo 7" - USA - 1978
The least musical outfit to ever come out of Jackson, Mississippi. Flipside of sole single 'I'm Gonna Be Everything'.
18. THE ANGRY SAMOANS - 'Different World' - Bad Trip 12" - USA - 1986
Later re-issued as 'Yesterday Started Tomorrow' on PVC. This sure is a different world to the earlier Samoans releases, the whole record reeking of '60s psyche.
19. THE SQUAD - '8 Pound A Week' - Squad 7" - UK - 1978
The flipside of 'Red Alert' about getting fined for nicking a car. He got off pretty lightly in my opinion.
20. THE PACK - 'King Of Kings' - Rough Trade 7" - UK - 1979
Kirk Brandon attempting to bring down Jesus Christ with this 'punk epic'. He failed, of course.
21. INTERNATIONAL Q - 'Small Talk' - Queue Music 7" - USA - 1981
Complete gibberish, but better than their songs with real words.
22. THE TIGHTS - 'Howard Hughes' - Cherry Red 7" - UK - 1978
Second single which didn't sell enough to save them.
23. THE STUPIDS - 'Sleeping Troubles' - No Label flexi-disc - UK - 1985
From the 'Putrid Evil' flexi - a split affair with Septic Death and Civil Dissident - released by Shane who went on to create Earache records.
24. THE STAINS - 'John Wayne Was A Nazi' - R Radical 7" - USA - 1981
The sole single by this MDC precursor band. I prefer the Stains version of the A-side but the MDC version of the B-side.
25. THE BAD ACTORS - 'Love Song' - Plastic Speech 7" - UK - 1980
I disregarded this track first time around but, trust me, it's definately a grower.
***BONUS TRACKS***
26. THE NEGATIVES - 'Love Is Not Real'
27. TAPEWORM - 'Blues For An Insurance Salesman'
28. HUMAN THERAPY - 'Is Everybody Gone?'
29. THE STUPIDS - 'So Much Fun'
30. THE ANGRY SAMOANS - 'Psych Out 129'
31. VICE CREEMS - 'Won't You Be My Girl?'
32. THE OVENMEN - 'Reagan And The Reaganites'
33. THE IDEALS - 'High Art'
34. MAGGOT SANDWICH - 'Everything I Touch'
35. THE STUPIDS - 'What Happens Next'

Tuesday 16 September 2014

The Best of Brought To Life - 108


1. S.A.S. (SPEAK AGAINST SOCIETY) -' Intro / The Sport of the Gentlemen? / Meaningless Name' - Self-Released 7" - UK - 1985
We'll start this one with a triple-headed thrasher. Scarborough straight edge. But they meant it!
2. OPERATION IVY - 'Knowledge' - Lookout LP - USA - 1989
One from their sole 'Energy' LP. They were soon offered a major EMI deal and promptly split up. Kudos for that! And I assume you already know that Matt and Tim went on to form Downfall and then Rancid.
3. THE EXPLOITED - 'Army Life' - The Exploited Record Company - UK - 1980
The debut single, love 'em or hate 'em. My overriding memory is going to see 'em play in Middlesbrough around 1981. Wattie had a throat infection and couldn't sing but the rest of the band played on regardless and invited audience members up on stage to do the vocals. A great night.
4. LOCAL PRODUCT - 'Die Hard' - Aberrant LP - Australia - 1985
2-chord genius from the 'Why March When You Can Riot?!' compilation album.
5. THE FEATURES - 'Floozie Of The Neighborhood' - Paradox 7" - USA - 1979
Sole single, post Fingers, though Rave Up did a retrospective album a while back.
6. THE FILTH - 'Freedom' - Go Round 7" - UK - 1980
From a Teesside split E.P. with Discharge (no, not that one). Police harrassment. It was rife at the time.
7. THOUGHT CRIMINALS - 'Fun' - Doublethink 7" - Australia - 1978
Probably the best track from their debut 'Hilton Bomber' E.P.
8. TOXIC REASONS - 'Noise Boys' - Risky 7" - USA - 1981
From the flipside of 'Ghost Town', their second single.
9. OPERATION IVY - 'Sound System' - Lookout LP - USA - 1989
A ska-tastic tune from the 'Energy' LP.
10. THE LATIN DOGS - 'Killed In Jail' - Self-Released 7" - USA - 1982
Opening track from their sole 6-song E.P. From Michigan.
11. JOHNNY DOLE & THE SCABS - 'Lucky Country' - Demo - Australia - 1977
A non-patriotic song from these early Sydney punks. Available on the 'Scab Animal' CD - if there's any still available. Here's some early footage.
12. X-X - 'You're Full Of Shit' - Drome 7" - USA - 1979
This band had a mostly off-kilter experimental sound, but this one's a nice straight-on punker. From the flipside of their first single. John Morton of the Electric Eels on vocals.
13. BITCH - 'Big City' - Hurricane 7" - UK - 1979
I posted the flipside 'Wild Kids' last time. This one's less aggressive and more tuneful, I suppose.
14. THE EXPLOITED - 'I Believe In Anarchy' - The Exploited Record Company - UK - 1980
From the flipside of 'Exploited Barmy Army'. Later re-issued on Secret.
15. OPERATION IVY - 'Vulnerability' - Lookout LP - USA - 1989
Another goodie from 'Energy'.
16. QUEEN ANNE'S REVENGE - 'Catholic Raygun' - Aberrant LP - Australia - 1983
One of the highlights from the 'Flowers From The Dustbin' compilation album. Nice mob chorus.
17. THE X-CONZ - 'Do Dead People Tan?' - Edge 7" - USA - 1981
Title track from their sole 4-song E.P. Curious material for a pop song, but delightful nonetheless.
18. EATER - 'Thinking Of The U.S.A.' - The Label 7"/12" - UK - 1978
From the 'Get Your Yo-Yo's Out' live E.P. I prefer this version to the studio affair on the second single.
19. THE ROCKS - 'Hanging On' - Point Blank 7" - Australia - 1981
The last of 6 tracks on the 'You're So Boring' E.P.  Ramones-style, but tougher.
20. THE FEATURES - 'I Wanna Be Your Man' - Paradox 7" - USA - 1979
Haven't had a cover version for a while. This was the flipside of 'Floozie Of The Neighborhood'.
21. THOUGHT CRIMINALS - 'O Bleak TV' - Doublethink 7" - Australia - 1978
Another from the 'Hilton Bomber' E.P., possibly referencing the Victims singles. 'You'll never hear a television mentioned in this song'. Hilarious.
22. OPERATION IVY - 'Smiling' - Lookout LP - USA - 1989
A fourth from 'Energy'.
23. PSYKIK VOLTS - 'Horror Stories No.5' - Ellie Jay 7" - UK - 1979
Did goth start here? Possibly not. Sole single, but there's a Damaged Goods album from 2007 too. Anyone got it?
24. TOXIC REASONS - 'Killer' - Risky 7" - USA - 1981
The other track from the flipside of 'Ghost Town'.
25. THE EXPLOITED - 'Dead Cities' - Secret 7" - UK - 1981
Fourth single. We were all amazed and exhilarated to see them on Top Of The Pops.
***BONUS TRACKS*** 
26. S.A.S. (SPEAK AGAINST SOCIETY) - 'Scapegoats' 
27. OPERATION IVY - 'Bombshell'
28. THE LATIN DOGS - 'World Powers'
29. OPERATION IVY - 'Bankshot'
30. LOCAL PRODUCT - 'Magenta'
31. OPERATION IVY - 'Gonna Find You'
32. THE EXPLOITED - 'Crashed Out'
33. OPERATION IVY - 'Missionary'
34. THE FILTH - 'Rise Of The Mods'
35. PSYKIK VOLTS - 'Totally Useless'

Friday 12 September 2014

The Best of Brought To Life - 107

1. THE TOOLS - 'Hard Wark' - Subterranean 7" - USA - 1980
Their second single. An anti-war piece if you're wondering what 'Wark' means. Think about it.
2. THE RADIATORS FROM SPACE - 'Love Detective' - Chiswick 7" - UK - 1977
The flipside of 'Television Screen'. Corny but cute.
3. LES SPURTS - 'Je Suis Fiere De Mon Grand Père' - Le Kiosque D' Orphee 7" - France - 1982
The flipside of sole 7" 'Petit Papa Fasciste'. 
4. THE QUEERS - 'At The Mall' - Doheny 7" - USA - 1984
A track from their 'Kicked Out Of The Webelos' E.P. Crash those cymbals!
5. ED GEIN'S CAR - 'Too Old To Die Young' - EGC 7" - USA - 1984
From the flipside of 'Brain Dead Baby'.
6. THE DODGEMS - 'My First Divorce' - Demo - UK - 1979
From their 'Anthology' CD. Get it here.
7. THE VAINS - 'School Jerks' - No Threes 7" - USA - 1980
'School work, I'm going beserk!' With a great horror comic sleeve.
8. V.S. - 'Leather Complex' - Monkey 7" - USA - 1980
Starring Olga de Volga, pre-Lewd. Not sure the vocals work 100% but what the hell.
9. ELECTRIC DEADS - 'Order' - Electro Static 7" - Denmark - 1982
The opening track from their first E.P.
10. THE REBELS - 'Mental Disaster' - Musk Project 7" - Switzerland - 1979
One from the flipside of 'Mayday'.
11. KALASHNIKOV - 'Læderhalse' - Hub 7" - Denmark - 1984
That's more like it - sung in Danish - welded vowels and all!
12. THE FEEDERZ - 'Stop, You're Killing Me' - Anxiety 7" - USA - 1980
One from the 'Jesus' E.P. Quirky jerky madness.
13. THE RADIATORS - 'Million Dollar Hero' - Chiswick 7" - UK - 1978
5th single, having long since shortened their name. Their masterpiece. Should have been a hit.
14. THE DODGEMS - 'Lord Lucan Is Missing' - Peel Session - UK - 1979
They recorded umpteen versions of this song. I plumped for the Peel version. 'I don't know!'
15. ELECTRIC DEADS - '30 Years' - Electro Static 7" - Denmark - 1982
The opening track from their second E.P. A musical progression which didn't stop there.
16. THE PRAMS - 'Don't Drop Any Bombs On Me' - Wabbit 7" - UK - 1981
A hilarious ramble, the flipside of 'A's OK'. Let Bruce tell you more.
17. THE QUEERS - 'I Don't Wanna Work' - Doheny 7" - USA - 1984
Me neither. Another from the 'Webelos' E.P.
18. KALASHNIKOV - 'Schlüters Kabinet' - Hub 7" - Denmark - 1984
Another from their 3-song 7".
19. THE HATED - 'Seize The Middle East' - Stress 7" - USA - 1981
Still topical, 33 years later! The superior flipside of 'Innocent People'.
20. THE DOGS - 'Rot 'n' Roll' - Rave-Up 7" - USA - 1977
Not the Detroit Dogs but the Iowa Dogs. Nevertheless, a similar Stooges-type affair.
21. VANDAALIT - 'Vaimosi On Noita' - Poko LP - Finland - 1981 
From their second album 'Raaputtamalla Rokkia'. Quite generic, but the handclaps make it worthy.
22. THE TOOLS - 'Adopted Procedure' -Work 7" - USA - 1979
The flipside of debut single 'Smoke Filled Rooms'. Nice guitar.
23. THE RADIATORS - 'Enemies' - Chiswick 7" - UK - 1977
Second single released after the name change.
24. V.S. - 'Magnetic Heart' - Monkey 7" - USA - 1980
The other side of 'Leather Complex'. A little lacklustre but Olga took it on to The Lewd who completely nailed it on 'American Wino'.
25. ELECTRIC DEADS - 'Anti-Sex' -Electro Static 7" - Denmark - 1982
The title track from the second E.P.
***BONUS TRACKS***
26. THE DODGEMS -' Lord Lucan Is Missing' (Demo)
27. THE FEEDERZ - 'Terrorist'
28. THE VAINS - 'The Loser'
29. THE PRAMS - 'A's O.K.'
30. ELECTRIC DEADS - 'Compact Chaos'
31. KALASHNIKOV - 'Ødelæg & Hærg'