Friday 7 August 2015

The Best of Brought To Life - 223

1. THE FURIES - 'Vietnam ' - Demo - Canada - Year unknown
Vancouver band The Furies both formed and disbanded in '77  with Chris Arnett (guitar, vocals), bassist Malcolm Hasman and Jim Walker (who later went on to play with John Lydon in Public Image Limited) on drums. The record labels weren't interested in Stooges-style punk rock at the time. What were they thinking? Not sure if these tracks are old demos or re-recorded much later, but either way, they're great!
2. UJ3RK5 - 'Work For Police' - Pinned LP - Canada - 1979
Yep, we're Canada-heavy on today's selection, and I'm especially fond of the 'Vancouver Complication' compilation album, as you'll see.
3. THE NEWTOWN NEUROTICS - 'Kick Out The Tories' - CNT / No Wonder 7" - UK - 1981
Their third great single. Sadly, it would take an age to get the buggers out.
4. THE POINTED STICKS - 'The Marching Song'Pinned LP - Canada - 1979
Another classic track from 'Vancouver Complication'. The album's opener.
5. ATTILA THE STOCKBROKER - 'Willie Whitelaw's Willie' - Secret LP - UK - 1982
Mandolin-driven madness from 'Oi! Oi! That's Yer Lot!'  Maybe he should do a topical version nowadays, something along the lines of, 'Theresa May's Mott'? How about it, John?
6. THE FURIES - 'Olympic Madness' - Demo - Canada - Year unknown
In 1976 the Olympic Games were held in Canada. The Furies were against it.
7. THE K-TELS - 'I Hate Music'Pinned LP - Canada - 1979
A third track from 'Vancouver Complication'.
8. UJ3RK5 - 'The Anglican' - Quintessence 12" - Canada - 1980
More jerky quirkiness from UJ3RK5, this time from their sole 12" E.P. 
9. ACTIVE DOG - 'Fun While It Lasts'Pinned LP - Canada - 1979
A fourth track from 'Vancouver Complication'. Better than their single.
10. FUNBOY FIVE - 'Bleached Roots Of Surf' - Peel Session - UK - 1979
A jaunty instrumental from their Peel session. That they only released one single is a crime against humanity. 
11. THE FURIES - 'The Furies' - Demo - Canada - Year unknown
'We pick the time and we pick the place'. The Furies were in charge of their own destiny. Shame it didn't invove records.
12. THE SUBHUMANS - 'Death To The Sickoids'Pinned LP - Canada - 1979
A fifth from 'Vancouver Complication' - a version of the single.
13. UJ3RK5 - 'Eisenhower And The Hippies'Quintessence 12" - Canada - 1980
Another winner from their excellent E.P.
14. THE SHADES - 'New Clientele'Pinned LP - Canada - 1979
A sixth track from 'Vancouver Complication'.
15. THE EXPELAIRES - 'Nasty Media' - Peel Session - UK - 1979
Sorta reminds me of a cleaner version of the Furies.
16. THE FURIES - 'Suicide Bomber' - Demo - Canada - Year unknown
Sorta reminds me of a rougher version of the Expelaires.
17. D.O.A. - 'I Hate You'Pinned LP - Canada - 1979
A seventh track from 'Vancouver Complication'.
18. UJ3RK5 - 'Naum Gabo'Pinned LP - Canada - 1979
And, why not, an eighth track from 'Vancouver Complication'.
19. THE FURIES - 'California Dreaming' - Demo - Canada - Year unknown
Yet another great Furies demo.
20. ACTIVE DOG - 'Nothing Holding You'Pinned LP - Canada - 1979
I like the keyboards on this one. From 'Vancouver Complication', of course.
21. ATTILA THE STOCKBROKER - 'A Bang And A Wimpey' - Cherry Red LP - UK - 1983
Modern kids. Quite scary really. From the live side of 'Ranting At A Nation'.
22. PRIVATE SCHOOL - 'Rock 'n' Roll Radio'Pinned LP - Canada - 1979
Another 'Vancouver Complication' goodie.
23. ADAM & THE ANTS - 'It Doesn't Matter' - Peel Session - UK - 1978
A sordid love song from Adam & Co's first Peel session.
24. THE FURIES - 'No Fun City' - Demo - Canada - Year unknown
I guess they were talking about Vancouver?
25. NO FUN - 'Mindless Aggression'Pinned LP - Canada - 1979
'Vancouver Complication' - it was hard not to post the whole thing!
***BONUS TRACKS***
26. UJ3RK5 - 'The Locator' (from the E.P.)
27. THE SUBHUMANS - 'Urban Guerilla' (from 'Vancouver Complication')
28. THE FURIES - 'Sorcery' (from Demo)

2 comments:

  1. Hey Graeme - this is a brilliant selection! But . . . The Furies only recorded 2 demo songs in '77 so these tracks are either (1) recorded live in '77 or (2) the re-recorded songs from their CD in 2007. Either way, they're great and I'm glad to have heard them!

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  2. Yeah, they sound early but if it turns out they're the re-recorded versions, so what? It's the music that counts!

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