All I Want.

Supersuckers - She's My Bitch. Sub Pop 7". SP225.

2012-02-29T09:30:00.000Z

Never ones for subtlety, Supersuckers present their tender side on the A-side of this 1993 release. It's a better, less adorned, more sonically-original version than the one on La Mano Cornuda. The b-side is an acoustic knock-off 'recorded in a van on the highway somewhere'. I'm glad I didn't have to pay for it. Anyhow, in celebration of February 29th, the day 'the gals' are supposed to propose to 'the guys', here's a tender sweet love song. Enjoy.

Supersuckers - She's My Bitch. Sub Pop 7". SP225.

The Saturn V featuring Orbit - Buckleshoe Stomp. Hypothermic Records 7". H-100.

2012-02-23T23:34:00.000Z

The Saturn V featuring Orbit. Or what Johnny did next. Following his departure from The Phantom Surfers Johnny 'Big Hands' Bartlett needed a new band so assembled this group of garage rock superstars. Orbit, he's the big fella in the middle of the photo above, went to school with Raul Balcarcel from out of The Fingers. It's true. Ron Silva (that's him far right, holding the drum skin) was in The Crawdaddys - the once and future Kings of the Chelsea Boot Stomp. Chris Von Sneidern (CVS) has a third sector organisation named after him in England. And I can't remember if that's Tom Ward or Teenage Rob Douglas on the far left. Rumours of the band's potential reformation have begun to be spread by manager Riff Ryan. Enjoy.

The Saturn V featuring Orbit - Buckleshoe Stomp. Hypothermic Records 7". H-100.

Southern Culture on the Skids - Come And Get It (Before It Done Gets Cold) Giant Claw 7" GCS-007.

2012-02-22T23:01:00.001Z

A great release on Australia's Giant Claw records. Southern Culture On The Skids were and are one of those bands who I have be in just the right mood to listen to. When the mood is right they work for me. When it's not they sound 'gimmicky'. Which I know is wrong, but hey, I'm only human. As far as I can recall, this is the only 7" by them that I have left. I even, stupidly, sold the Los Falanas singles they produced in collaboration with Bassholes' Don Howland. I do still have the Peckin' Party 10" and the Telstar-released vinyl version of their Dirt Track Date LP which dates from that odd period when some major label stuff was farmed out to indies for vinyl release. I know it happened with SCOTS and Helmet, I have a suspicion it may have happened also with The Muffs. Anyhow, Southern Culture On The Skids and their shit-kicking sound. Enjoy.

Southern Culture on the Skids - Come And Get It (Before It Done Gets Cold) Giant Claw 7" GCS-007.

Jack 'O Fire - Bring Me The Head Of Jon Spencer EP. Undone Records 7" UR002

2012-02-21T23:49:00.001Z

First insert.

Second insert.

Jack O'Fire (note the ' is in the right place here, unlike on the cover of this record) were a band I found very easy to love. Sure, they were a covers band, but such fantastic covers! On this, their debut release, we have songs made famous by Howling Wolf, Blind Willie McTell and those well-known blues artists Joy Division. No Love Lost was on 'An Ideal For Living', the first release from Joy Division. Download a superb version of it here.

In addition, the whole Young Lions Conspiracy schtick made their early releases doubly entertaining. There were two 'tracts' with this release. As is policy, I've scanned them both. Enjoy.

Jack O' Fire - Bring Me The Head Of Jon Spencer EP. Undone Records 7" UR002.

Various Artists - The Mummies and Supercharger Tour 93 - Pin-Up Records flexi - PINUP 93006

2012-02-16T22:17:00.001Z

I got this in a trade with a band member, except I didn't get the proper sleeve. Mine was a photo-copy. This, however, makes fuck all difference to the quality of the music. Considering this is a flexi the sound quality is great - particularly when compared to the super-shitty pressing of The Untamed Youth 7" from a couple of days back. If you've only previously heard these tracks on Death By Unga Bunga and The Singles Party then you've not really heard them. Enjoy.

Various Artists - Mummies and Supercharger Tour 93 - Pin-Up Records flexi - PINUP 93006.

Man... Or Astro-Man? vs. Europa. Homo Habilis 7". HH706

2012-02-15T23:28:00.002Z

For a band with strong attention to detail and an eye for the gimmick I was always surprised that this was the only time Man... Or Astro-Man? produced a single for tour release. Disappointingly for me I got the postcard informing me of their imminent arrival after they had been and gone. I ended up buying my copy from Estrus mail order. I note the dates of the tour and wonder exactly where they spent Christmas 1993. I hope they were looked after. Enjoy.

Man... Or Astro-Man? vs. Europa. Homo Habilis 7". HH706

The Untamed Youth - Special European Tour 45 1996 - Lemon Special Products - U-1

2012-02-14T23:54:00.000Z

Another European Tour 7"single, another 'special message'. Enjoy Pabst Blue Ribbon.

The Untamed Youth - Special European Tour 45 1996 - Lemon Special Products - U-1.

Various Artists - The Phantom Surfers and The Astronauts split single. Pin Up Records 7". PIN UP 94013.

2012-02-13T23:20:00.000Z

Jesus, where did the time go? I never meant to be away for nearly a month, but real life got in the way. Not in the way of transcribing vinyl, more in the way of sitting down and writing and uploading. It's been a busy time and, frankly, I've not been arsed enough to do stuff. Not now, though. I return, embiggened and there's a lot to share. The next four posts are themed - European Tour singles 'only' available from merchandise stalls during Our Favourite Bands' tours of Yoop. Tonight, it's the turn of The Phantom Surfers and The Astronauts. The former from the United States, the latter from Germany, but they got to play two dates in England so that meant some kind of getting over here vibe for them. Coming up next, in no particular order, The Untamed Youth's Special European Tour 45 1996, Man Or Astroman? vs Europa and The Mummies & Supercharger Tour '93 flexi-disc (from flexi-disc). Enjoy.

Various Artists - The Phantom Surfers and The Astronauts split single. Pin Up Records 7". PIN UP 94013.

The Mummies - Stronger Than Dirt. Telstar Records 7".

2012-01-27T23:32:00.000Z

More Mummies. On the excellent Telstar Records. The A-side is on the Never Been Caught LP, also on Telstar, the flip is a Troggs cover which also appeared on remarkably good, but would have been better as a single LP, Dog Meat Records' Troggs tribute compilation double LP Groin Thunder. Enjoy.

The Mummies - Stronger Than Dirt. Telstar Records 7".

Gravel - As For Tomorrow. Estrus 7". ES733.

2012-01-25T23:30:00.000Z

centre of sleeve

I raised this before with regard to Marble Orchard; there were definitely two levels of Estrus bands - the Killer and the Filler. Gravel were, based on this dreary outing most definitely in the latter camp. I can only hope they confounded expectations and were dynamite on wheels live. Enjoy.

Gravel - As For Tomorrow. Estrus 7". ES733.

The Passage - Troops Out. A Disc By Night & Day 7". ampm 22:00.

2012-01-23T23:13:00.000Z

The Passage were the kind of art-rock politically-motivated band that would get nowhere near a major label these days, but here they are on Virgin Records offshoot Night & Day. Having seen them in London around the time their second LP For All And None came out a friend told me they sounded like Discharge with synths. It was meant to be a put down. In retrospect that would be A Good Sound. The records, of course, aren't anywhere near as rough, particularly given lead fella Dick Witts' classical background, and the major label backing. This release was a true rarity, support for the withdrawal of British troops from the north of Ireland at the height of The Troubles, complete with contextual information and contact details. Enjoy.

The Passage - Troops Out. A Disc By Night & Day 7". ampm 22:00.

Go To Blazes - Got It Made E.P. Estrus Records 7". ES 741.

2012-01-16T12:00:00.000Z

I've got to be honest, I know next to next to nothing about Go To Blazes. This was a disc I received as part of my then membership of the Estrus Crust Singles Club. Having dug around the internet it turns out they were from Philly and were highly-regarded in Americana circles, but ultimately unsuccessful. Here's their 'obituary' from the Philadelphia City Paper edition of January 16th, 1997. Enjoy.

Go To Blazes - Got It Made E.P. Estrus Records 7". ES 741.

The Pooh Sticks - The World Is Turning On. Zoo Entertainment 7". Wales 1.

2012-01-08T23:25:00.002Z

In retrospect The Pooh Sticks were one of those bands who are 'poppy' only for a limited, very specific audience. When they were around it seemed that they were only a quick polish and a large marketing budget away from chart success. This was their first release on a major label (it's BMG in disguise) and exposes their weaknesses for rambling and weak flipsides. That's not to say I don't like it. I especially like The World Is Turning On, but there's nothing there for Joe Public to buy into. It's not good enough and it's not bad enough. It's telling that Orange Juice, another non-poppy pop band, had their only major hit with the boring and untypical Rip It Up. The Pooh Sticks never found that one breakthrough track. Their potential wider audience never found them. Enjoy.

The Pooh Sticks - The World Is Turning On. Zoo Entertainment 7". Wales 1.

The Rezillos - Can't Stand My Baby. Sensible Records 7". FAB1.

2012-01-03T23:36:00.000Z

First release from Scotland's estimable Rezillos. Independently released in '77 then reissued with major label backing a couple of years later. I have no idea which version this is, nor do I care as it sounds super duper nevertheless. There is a picture sleeve, but I don't have it. I also think this Wings bag looks better on it. Macca would be so proud. Kisses on the bottom. Dick. A-side is a different version of Can't Stand My Baby from that on Can't Stand The Rezillos. AA-side is a Beatles cover, which must have gone down really well with the No Elvis, No Beatles, No Rolling Stones miseries. Enjoy.

The Rezillos - Can't Stand My Baby. Sensible Records 7". FAB1.

Johnny Hash - Summer of Cum. In The Red Records 7". ITR 028.

2012-01-02T22:53:00.000Z

Cards on table time here. I haven't really listened to this record. I owned and hated (bought unheard from Estrus Mail Order, before you ask) the first Johnny Hash 7", Blues is Depressing, so sold it on. This one was in the pile of plastic my good pal Ricardo lent me a while back and I thought I'd better document it as there's bound to be somebody out there who would go crazy for it and also because it's on In The Red and the completists amongst you would require it. Enjoy.

Johnny Hash - Summer of Cum. In The Red Records 7". ITR 028.

Supersuckers - Hell City, Hell. Sub Pop Records 7". SP 170.

2012-01-01T09:05:00.000Z

The World's Greatest Rock'n'Roll band present Hell City, Hell, a cut from their first LP, The Smoke of Hell. I've no idea if it's an alternative mix, but having been pressed to 7" it will definitely sound different to that on the vinyl LP and better than that from fragile silver disc. On the flip is a cracking cover of Ice Cube's Dead Homiez. Enjoy.

Supersuckers - Hell City, Hell. Sub Pop Records 7". SP 170.

'68 Comeback - Flip, Flop & Fly. Get Hip Records 7". GH-168.

2011-12-31T07:56:00.001Z

Finally, and on the last day of 2011, more from '68 Comeback. The band, as previously noted, featured a dazzling array of talent, including Peg 'Mo Tucker' (look at that pic above) O'Neill of Gories fame, Darin Lin Wood who played with Fireworks and Blacktop and the esteemed Monsieur Jeffery Evans, who had previously fronted The Gibson Brothers. Here we have covers of Big Joe Turner's Rhythm and Blues blast, Flip, Flop & Fly and traditional gospel track, He's My Everything. Much, much more to come. See you in 2012. Enjoy.

'68 Comeback - Flip, Flop & Fly. Get Hip Records 7". GH-168.

Boris The Sprinkler - Grilled Cheese. Bulge Records 7". Bulge 1.

2011-12-24T20:21:00.000Z

Daft arse, madcap punk from Green Bay, Wisconsin. Frontman The Rev. Norb used to have a column in Maximum Rock and Roll and his taste for the SF Budget Rock sound chimed well with that scene's love of the cheap and theatrical. Such as The Rezillos, whose Bad Guy Reaction is covered on the flipside of this first release. It sounds like the kind of record that would be released by the kind of band who would wear glasses to make them look like a fake 'new wave' band on CHiPs. In a good way. Enjoy.

Boris The Sprinkler - Grilled Cheese. Bulge Records 7". Bulge 1.

Cud - Lola. Imaginary Records 7". Mirage 007.

2011-12-23T23:30:00.000Z

Cud were, in their time, on the side of the Good Guys. Sometimes seduced by promises of commercial success, but always lured away from it by their need to embrace the stupid, the random, the uncommercial. This Kinks cover is a bit polite, the production a bit flat, but you can hear what they were getting at. The flipside was from their debut LP 'When In Rome, Kill Me' and is more representative of their sound. They were always more of a live band, anyway. Enjoy.

Cud - Lola. Imaginary Records 7". Mirage 007.

Grow-Up - Joanne. Object Records 7". OM12.

2011-12-22T20:45:00.000Z

My introduction to Grow-Up was through their debut LP, 'The Best Thing', which was also released on Object Records a few months before this single. 49p from Virgin Records in Manchester when it was at the bottom of Market Street. Cheers, Richard. A few years later when in Brighton and enthusing about the LP it gets assumed that I already had a copy of this. I didn't, but I heard it and I knew that I had to have it. But this was the olden days and finding a record, particularly a limited release, niche market independent 7" from a few years previous, meant you had to actually get off your arse and trawl through record shops new and second-hand as well as rely on huge amounts of luck. And eventually I did. I wish I could remember where, but I just recall that it was just sitting there and it was cheap. And now you can have it too. Sleeve lists tracks as A. Joanne. B. Two Tunes. Label echoes the sleeve for the A, but B is 1a. Affirmation of Existance. 1b. Reaffirmation of Existance. 1c. Swept Away (0.36) 2. GGGDADGADADAD (1.46). Enjoy.

Grow-Up - Joanne. Object Records 7". OM12.

Don Caballero - AndAndAnd... Third Gear Records 7". Third Gear 3G-04.

2011-12-21T22:59:00.001Z

Some call it Post-Rock. Whatever that is or was, this is, fundamentally, full-on instrumental rock and roll. And that chimes with my hatred of smarty-pant lyrics and posey-arsed singers. Give me silence or give me stupid, Mr or Ms. Show-off vocalist. Then fuck off. Enjoy.

Don Caballero - AndAndAnd... Third Gear Records 7". Third Gear 3G-04.

Impala - Power Of Bob Records EP. POB 01.

2011-12-15T23:36:00.001Z

File under I Wish I'd Seen 'Em. Impala were/are a Memphis, Tennessee, instrumental band. This 7" on Power of Bob was, based on the label number, their first release. Received wisdom is that their first release was a split-cassette with The Oblivians, but that has a later label number. As far as I am aware, The Oblivians set was later issued by Goner as a limited edition LP. If, and I know this is a long shot, anybody has and would care to share the cassette... Kisses all round. Anyhow, here are Impala. They're not a surf band. Enjoy.

Impala - Power Of Bob Records EP. POB 01.

Josef K - Sorry For Laughing - Les Disques Du Crepuscule 7" TWI 023

2011-12-15T00:11:00.001Z

Recorded especially for Les Disques Du Crepuscule in January 1981. Presumably at a time when the band were passing through Belgium, otherwise why ship four Scotsmen over just to record two tracks? Sorry For Laughing was the title of Josef K's aborted first release. The LP that made it as far as test-pressings and art samples but was then binned (until later revival on CD, naturally). Anyway, good stuff... Enjoy.

Josef K - Sorry For Laughing - Les Disques Du Crepuscule 7" TWI 023.

Jack O'Fire - Soul Music 101 Chapter 3. Sympathy For The Record Industry 7". SFTRI 253-3.

2011-12-08T23:41:00.001Z

More from The World's Greatest Cover Band. Jack O'Fire tear up a storm no matter who they cover, and a band who can cover The Fall and Sonny Boy Williamson with equal levels of respect are deserving of your love. Here they take on twitchy Seattle Power Poppers, The Fall Outs and deceased instrumental powerhouse Link Wray. Enjoy.

Jack O'Fire - Soul Music 101 Chapter 3. Sympathy For The Record Industry 7". SFTRI 253-3.

Supersnazz - I Wanna Be Your Love. Lucky Records 7" LKY005.

2011-12-06T23:32:00.001Z

An all-female Japanese guitar band who took their name from the The Flamin' Groovies' first LP. Does this stuff get any more 'niche'? Probably. They released their first LP on Sub Pop and their second on Sympathy For The Record Industry. More? The two songs on the flipside are, of course, Sonics covers. And now? Well, not now, but more recently they ceased being an all-female band and feature Shoe on drums and Marky on guitar. That's Shoe from Teengenerate. And Marky, who is no doubt some Japanese kid who yearns for The Ramones. Enjoy.

Supersnazz - I Wanna Be Your Love. Lucky Records 7" LKY005.

Various Artists - Revenge of the Amphetamine Generation. Dig The Fuzz Records LP.

2011-12-05T23:45:00.001Z

Living proof that the garage explosion set off by The British Invasion in America had a recoil action. A vinyl-only collection of Freakbeat, Punk and R&B acetates that can live alongside anything with a comics code stamp on it.

Sleeve notes and more detail of those bands who can be identified (some of the best tracks are anonymous) can be found at the Acid Visions website. Enjoy.

Various Artists - Revenge of the Amphetamine Generation. Dig The Fuzz Records LP.

Easterhouse - Whistling In The Dark - Rough Trade Records 12" RTT 164.

2011-11-30T23:54:00.001Z

A 'political' band for a Political day in the UK. It's going to get a lot worse but stick together and we can beat these cunts. Enjoy.

Easterhouse - Whistling In The Dark - Rough Trade Records 12" RTT 164.

Various Artists - Teengenerate / Screaming Bloody Marys split. Wallabies Records 7". WAL-002.

2011-11-24T23:23:00.001Z

Screaming Bloody Marys are the curiosity here, and possibly the reason for many to download this, given the two Teengenerate tracks are on the Smash Hits LP (that said, they don't benefit from proper 7" mastering and crackle on that compilation). The first SBM track, 'Junior', is about the Peter Bagge character from Neat Stuff comic. I tried to use Google Image to find a picture of Junior as I can't be arsed scanning a picture, but nothing particularly great came up apart from the picture below which shows up if you search for 'Peter Bagge Junior'. It's The Bionic Man with Big Foot. The real Big Foot, not the fake one from that Super 8 Footage.

The real peach of this download is Teengenerate owning The Nervous Eaters' 'Just Head', but you knew that already. We're in Sinatra Sings Cole Porter territory. Enjoy.

Various Artists - Teengenerate / Screaming Bloody Marys split. Wallabies Records 7". WAL-002.

Bastards - Who Cares? - Treehouse Records 7" TR011.

2011-11-23T23:18:00.000Z

This little piggy was in the bag of records my good old pal RHJ lent me a few months back. A bag of records which I'll be handing back to him when we have a curry at the Yadgar on Thursday. I'll pass on your thanks to him. So, Bastards. Noise rock on Treehouse Records from the days when every other release felt like it was noise rock from Minneapolis. Or New York. And sometimes on PCP. You know the scene. Very humdrum. The song titles - 'Who Cares' and 'Shit For Brains' pretty much say it all. Enjoy.

Bastards - Who Cares? - Treehouse Records 7" TR011.

The Go-Betweens - Hammer The Hammer - Rough Trade Records 7". RT 108.

2011-11-22T23:05:00.000Z

The sleeve for this one is hardly going to keep the World's greatest graphic designers awake at night. Well done, Rough Trade. Flip side By Chance is from The Go-Betweens second, and greatest, LP, Before Hollywood. This was the A-Side's debut appearance. It has since appeared on a number of compilation releases. The Go-Betweens are a band whose lack of wider success is a mystery for many, but this release is from their earlier, less compromising, post new wave period. The production budgets were smaller and the sound was more thud and crash than the smoother pop sound which was introduced on their next LP, their major label debut, Spring Hill Fair. All periods of The Go-Betweens, have their merits, though. More from them soon. Enjoy.

The Go-Betweens - Hammer The Hammer - Rough Trade Records 7". RT 108.

The Swingin' Neckbreakers - Workin' & Jerkin' - Estrus Records 7". ES747.

2011-11-21T22:44:00.001Z

Inside

The Swingin' Neckbreakers are, unless things get weird, the only band likely to feature on this blog AND appear on The Sopranos. The only thing more uplifting than seeing this bunch in The Bada Bing was hearing John Cooper Clarke's Evidently Chickentown played over the end credits of Sopranos episode Stage 5. Basten Street, Salford 7 meets Noo Joisey. Back to The Swingin' Neckbreakers. The band look like they've stepped out of the photocopied sleeve notes for one of Crypt Records' Back From The Grave releases. And that's also what they sound like. Enjoy.

The Swingin' Neckbreakers - Workin' & Jerkin' - Estrus Records 7". ES747.

The Wolfhounds - The Anti-Midas Touch - Pink Records 7". Pinky 14.

2011-11-17T00:30:00.000Z

Following their inclusion on the NME's C-86 cassette - an influential but patchy grab-bag of indie, angry, shambling or shite white kids - The Wolfhounds outgrew an early, limiting, obsession with The Fall and started to issue blinders like this. Somewhere in the dictionary of finger-popping hipster slang there is an entry for this record correctly identifying it as a 'tune'. Enjoy.

The Wolfhounds - Anti-Midas Touch - Pink Records 7". Pinky 14.

The James Taylor Quartet - Blow Up. Re-Elect The President Records 7". FORD1.

2011-11-16T00:30:00.000Z

Some super-wiggly organ pseudo jazz for you all. One of my favourite memories of my time in Brighton was seeing this lot at The Concorde Bar on the beach. A total invasion by 80s mods and skins that could have gone either way ended up with people recreating one of those typically bonkers swinging party scenes from a 60s movie. This was by far their best release. Enjoy.

The James Taylor Quartet - Blow Up. Re-Elect The President Records 7". FORD1.

The Mono Men - Shut The Fuck Up. Estrus Records 10". ES101.

2011-11-14T23:41:00.001Z

Those who bought the CD version of this 10" found a bra crudely drawn onto the chest of the young lady pictured and the title changed to the much more sedate Shut Up! You get what you pay for, I guess. Here are Bellingham's finest smashing their way through a mix of original and cover version instrumentals. Enjoy.

The Mono Men - Shut The Fuck Up. Estrus Records 10". ES101.

The Wishing Stones - Wildwood. Heavenly LP. HVNLP4.

2011-11-11T06:00:00.000Z

The Wishing Stones were the evil twin brothers of the more successful, but infinitely more irritating, Creation Records act, The Weather Prophets. Both bands emerged from the split up of The Loft. Bill Prince (Bill Black when he wrote for the music press) formed The Wishing Stones, Pete Astor convened The Weather Prophets. The Wishing Stones released a couple of singles on pre-Heavenly label, Sub Aqua, but this, their debut LP, didn't see light of day until two years after the band had split. Originally released on this very day in 1991, here are The Wishing Stones. A splendid band. Enjoy.

The Wishing Stones - Wildwood. Heavenly LP. HVNLP4.

Transcript of accompanying press release:

It's 1988, Caroline Coon's predicted date for the end of the influence of Punk Rock. It's Spring and London, in the full ripened years of Enterprise Culture, sees its youth overdosing on style facism, commodity-buying and credit binges.

Meanwhile, back in the world that never went away, that smoke-infested demi monde of pub backrooms and college bars, a band called THE WISHING STONES are presenting something for the disenfranchised to buy into.

After flirtations within the narrow parameters of 'indie pop' (and several line ups) Wishing Stones mainman Bill Prince was now fronting a blowzy-but-deft rock'n'roll quartet. Wandering into Camden's Falcon pub in April, I witnessed (along with three men and a dog) one of the most searing guitar duels I'd heard since wearing out the grooves on Television's 'Adventure'.

With Prince-all Stratocaster and gritted teeth vocals - was John Niven, his Billy The Kid, six string cohort perpetually raging full on. Here were frontmen steeped in the Dylan / Robertson, Hell / Quine and Verlaine / Lloyd - style Fender - toting double acts; and in Andrew Kerr and Stewart Garden, the Stones had an effectively unobtrusive rhythm section.

But it wasn't all guitars. Bill Prince is a songwriter in the grand tradition, literate, but never name - droppingly verbose, his lyrics are little paranoid dramas, couched dreamy metaphors, all tossed out with that lugubrious voice - part doom - laden, part starry - eyed and almost innocent.

After two great singles on the Sub Aqua label, the band split on the verge of a major tour. In March '89 I saw their last gig, bombing in front of 100 Spacemen 3 fans at the Notre Dame Hall when a ropey PA and the smell of patchouli oil overcame the miscast quartet. Their parting shot, 'Lost In The Well' was a fitting sayonara.

The album The Wishing Stones had been working on in the Winter of '88 finally saw the light of day on the Heavenly label in 1991. For anyone who ever liked Punk Rock, Neil Young, Television or, erm Paris in the Spring, here's another vital item for your collection.

David Sheppard
London 1991.

Dwarves - Lucifer's Crank. No. 6 Records 7".

2011-11-10T07:38:00.001Z

Inner flap.

Nine tracks of bootleggy goodness from everybody's favourite perverts, The Dwarves. I say bootleggy because the legal status of this record, and its sister release, Tooling For A Warm Tea Bag, has never been clear. Some, maybe all, of the tracks come from radio broadcasts, but the source is much clearer than that of some other FM-sourced bootlegs, which suggests somebody near the band had a hold of a pre-FM master of the material. Anyway, it's The Dwarves at their juvenile best. Enjoy.

Dwarves - Lucifer's Crank. No. 6 Records 7".

The X-Rays - Booze and Speed EP. ...lowlife 7". MONTY2.

2011-11-04T07:31:00.000Z

Sometimes you just cannot see what's under your nose. Despite having owned this release since it came out I know virtually nothing about The X-Rays. A proper, go-to, worth-a-listen garage band from Nottingham, England. One of my favourite UK cities and I never saw them live. The bands they most resemble are The Mono Men and The Sinister Six. The latter making even more sense given the information that they released a couple of LPs on Empty Records. I just checked Grunnen and they released a stash of singles during my garage punk blackout period. I should, I suppose, go out and get 'em. Enjoy.

The X-Rays - Booze and Speed EP. ...lowlife 7". MONTY2.

Various Artists - Locked In To Surf - Volume Two. Alopecia! Records LP.

2011-11-01T22:53:00.000Z

Stop Press - Last minute sleeveage thanks to Brandonio!

Another LP. I can't find a large enough scan of the cover of this one and my own attempts at photographing ten and twelve inch releases were laughably bad, so instead here's some great footage of two of the acts on this LP, The Astronauts and The Trashwomen. The Astronauts were from Germany and can be seen here performing the theme from the hit German TV show, Die Munsters. The Trashwomen treat us to Let's Go, which was simultaneously released, to worldwide acclaim, by German label Pin-Up and US label Repent.

Other acts on here include Sir Bald Diddley and his Right Honourable Big Wigs, Los Kogas, The Finks, The Surf Trio, The Apemen and The Green Hornets. All worthy of your attention. I'm sure there must be a full track-listing out there somewhere...

Various Artists - Locked In To Surf - Volume Two. Alopecia! Records LP.

Various Artists - Puget Power Volume Four. Regal Select Records 7".

2011-10-31T22:46:00.001Z

The final Puget Power compilation and the final release on Regal Select. The Statics and The Sinister Six are the box office pull on this release, although Flathead bring some kudos earnt from the garage cogniscenti's appreciation of their split single with The Gorls. And, before you ask, I had it, I sold it. Something had to give. More Statics soon. Enjoy.

Various Artists - Puget Power Volume Four. Regal Select Records 7".

Gaunt - Jim Motherfucker. Get Hip Records 7". GH-158.

2011-10-30T23:35:00.001Z

One of the least celebrated of the Ohio-based garage/blues bands, I saw Gaunt on a triple bill at TJs in Newport, Wales with Teengenerate and The New Bomb Turks and they held their own in such acclaimed company. So much so that Gaunt's drummer sat in for the NBT drummer who has injured himself in some way. I suspect this release is Gaunt's best known (based on no firm information whatsoever) and is super-catchy. Enjoy.

Gaunt - Jim Motherfucker. Get Hip Records 7". GH-158.

Various Artists - Alive In The Living Room. Creation Records LP.

2011-10-28T20:28:00.000+01:00

I've had this one squirreled away for a while. I don't know if it ever came out on CD but if it did it would be a completely redundant release given the bootleg quality of the original release. Still, it's Creation Night on BBC Four tonight and there's a clip of The Loft included in it. In addition, on this record you can hear early Creation acts The Legend! (aka journalist Everett 'Jerry' True), The Jasmine Minks and The Pastels, as well as other pre-C86 luminaries The Three Johns, The Television Personalities, The Mekons, ATV and God's Own Band, The June Brides. Enjoy.

Various Artists - Alive In The Living Room. Creation Records LP.

Halo of Flies - Death of a Fly. Amphetamine Reptile Records 7". Scale 19.

2011-10-27T19:07:00.000+01:00

The power trio is one of rock and roll's creatures of rare beauty. The Gories, Husker Du, The Minutemen, The Oblivians and Minneapolis' finest, Halo of Flies. Pick'n'mix guitar on top of a bed of solid, pounding rhythm foundation and take turns at singing. Enjoy.

Halo of Flies - Death of a Fly. Amphetamine Reptile Records 7". Scale 19.

Wah! Heat - Seven Minutes To Midnight. Inevitable Records 7". Inev004.

2011-10-26T22:00:00.000+01:00

Wah! Heat, male slags, male slates, at their thrashing, crashing post-Clash best. The production on their records became increasingly mannered, with all the rough edges knocked off and utilising that over-compressed super-tidy 80s major label sound. This, however, is the band at their peak and with production to suit. Enjoy.

Wah! Heat - Seven Minutes To Midnight. Inevitable Records 7". Inev004.

The Waste Kings - Garden Of My Mind. Estrus 7". ES745.

2011-10-25T23:32:00.000+01:00

I wasn't planning to upload another of the weekend's loft-finds for a while, but the flipside to this single, with its relentless Stoogey skronking saxaphone has been in my head all day and deserves to be in yours. The a side is a cover of a 67 track by The Mickey Finn which is as near to a complete rip off of Purple Haze as you will ever hear. Grunnen Rocks lists an additional two releases by this combo. I'm pretty sure I had one (or one that isn't listed - GR is pretty flaky these days) and the band had completely changed their sound. Enjoy.

The Waste Kings - Garden Of My Mind. Estrus 7". ES745.

Girl Trouble - The Track - Estrus 7" ES789.

2011-10-24T23:50:00.000+01:00

I 'found' a bunch of Estrus singles in the loft last week when I was up there looking for horror magazines* for a work colleague. (*I know. I am a cliche). They were at one point e-bay bound. This was one of them. I tried, several times, to 'get into' Girl Trouble, but it never really happened for me. In retrospect this railway-themed single is pretty damned fine, and the one-sided 78-aping sleeve is very, very good. It's not credited, but screams Art Chantry. Enjoy.

Girl Trouble - The Track - Estrus 7" ES789.

Thee Headcoatees / Thee Headcoats split single. Twist Records 7". Twist 5.

2011-10-23T23:59:00.000+01:00

Last minute decision to upload this before midnight. It's 23:57 and I just finished encoding it. Enjoy.

Thee Headcoatees / Thee Headcoats split single. Twist Records 7". Twist 5.

Various Artists - The Whyte Boots / The Girls split single. Lauper Death Records 7". LD69.

2011-10-22T16:34:00.000+01:00

A bit of retro glamour to celebrate the autumnal sunshine that's beaming down this afternoon. Two slices of prime 60s girl band melodrama. Both these tracks were included on the later Girls in the Garage Volume Two LP on Romulan Records, and from the sleeve notes on that I can pass on the following:

The Girls - This California quartet consisted of four sisters: Diane, Sylvia, Rosemary, and Margaret Sandoval. Their two singles for Capitol were outstanding, combining the tricks of the Ronettes and the Shangri-Las, but more garagey. Reportedly they played the clubs awhile with a repertoire based on Stones, Beatles, and original songs. "Chico's Girl" is a Mann-Weil song produced by Steve Douglas (Spector sidekick) which maybe tries a bit too hard for the Shangri-La slut opera style, but is great fun anyway.

The Whyte Boots - Most girl group fans have at least read about this classic record. The group, who set out to be a trashier Shangri-Las, succeeded in waxing the ultimate sleaze-melodrama, owing no little thanks to the production of Pam Sawyer and Lori Burton, who also wrote the song (along with plenty of hits in the '60s, such as 'Ain't Gonna Eat Out My Heart Anymore"). The song can also be found on Lori Burton's fine solo album.

I don't know how common the surname Sandoval is in California, but do wonder if there's any connection between the four Sandoval sisters and shy modern songstress Hope Sandoval. Enjoy.

Various Artists - The Whyte Boots / The Girls split single. Lauper Death Records 7". LD69.

The Mummies - Get Late. Estrus 7". ES94017R.

2011-10-20T19:30:00.000+01:00

My first automated blog post. I'm writing this, slightly pissed. As usual. At 23.56 on Octobobober 19th. But I've set it off, like a little timebomb, to go live when I'm Not At Home. So, fingers crossed you will all be able to access this shoddy, cash-in reissue of a 7" which was initially used to promote The Mummies Play Their Own Records while I do Other Stuff. The sleeve of this reissue is fucking awful. The sleeve of the original ticks all the usual garage punk boxes. And more. Enjoy.

The Mummies - Get Late. Estrus 7". ES94017R.

The Lone Surfer and his Super Pals - Planet Pimp Records Present ... Planet Pimp 7" PPR-003.

2011-10-19T23:31:00.000+01:00

A garage rock/surf super group that only came about because one member of The Phantom Surfers choked when Dick Dale had a gig the same night they were due to play at The Pony Express Pizza Parlour. The full story, along with the story of the fella getting a fist full of cash at the bottom left of the sleeve, can be found here. This release is pure Planet Pimp flogging a dead horse exploitation. Enjoy.

The Lone Surfer and his Super Pals - Planet Pimp Records Present ... Planet Pimp 7" PPR-003.

The Inhalants - Unclean 7".

2011-10-18T23:05:00.000+01:00

It's The Inhalants from last night. They sound a bit itchy. This is their debut release. Enjoy.

The Inhalants - Unclean 7".

Various Artists - Seattle vs. Austin 7". Static Records SR701. The Primate 5, The Statics, Jack O'Fire, The Inhalants.

2011-10-17T23:36:00.000+01:00

What's the point of setting up a fight if there's no way to resolve it? Who wins this particularly pointless battle? Both sides have one 'heavyweight' (and I bet that's the first time The Statics were ever, without irony, referred to as a Seattle 'heavyweight') and one hanger-on. I'm not even sure of the covers to originals ratio on this. Jack O'Fire take on Sonny Boy Williamson's Western Arizona, The Statics amplify their Billy Childish fetish by covering his Kinds of Women (which he no doubt lifted from some other source, light-fingered and unacknowledged). The Primate 5 and The Inhalants? Who knows? I suspect it's their own material as they are the support acts and they have songs to burn. The second release on this label was a Japanese Tour 7" by The Statics. If anybody has it, please share. I'd love to hear Hoppenrath's take on Loli and the Chones' I Hate Your Guts. In the meantime, enjoy.

Various Artists - Seattle vs. Austin 7". Static Records SR701.

Supercharger - Rev It Up! Bag of Hammers 7". BOH009.

2011-10-16T08:56:00.000+01:00

The oddest thing about Supercharger is how few singles they released. In my head they are a 'singles' band, but they only released three singles before they split up. This one, their debut on Pre B.S. and the promo 7" that was available from various select sources when their second LP was issued by Estrus. There were an additional three releases which were split between the 'charger and other, less superior, acts. Sadly, one of these was not the Supercharger/Fingers split which was 'announced' on the label of the band's first single.

Supercharger - Rev It Up! Bag of Hammers 7". BOH009.

As with the Whirl! post, here's a contemporary interview with the band, from long-gone garage site Furball, taken by them from even longer-gone print fanzine Moral Sense.

Rev it up and go with... Supercharger.

It all seemed simplicity in itself. One of Furball's most trusted Gentleman Agents had found himself taking a break in the fair German city of Berlin. After he had unpacked his shooting stick and plus fours he found that two of the New World's finest Garage Punk bands, Supercharger and The Mummies, were entertaining the troops at the oddly-named Knaap Club. Putting through a call to headquarters he requested whether an interview with these American entertainers might be in order. We readily agreed and drank a toast to him with the finest matured Highland whisky that very night. It was here that things began to go rather awry.

"HEY FURBALL. THIS IS GREG OF SUPERCHARGER. YOU GUYS NEED TO GET ONE THING STRAIGHT, I AM RIP OFF RECORDS, NOT DARIN, I PLAY BASS, NOT DARIN. AND ALL THE ANSWERS THAT YOU TRANSCRIBED AND CREDITED TO DARIN, ARE ACTUALLY ME, AND VICE VERSA. YOU GUYS FUCKED UP BIG TIME.

Needless to say, when we received that response from Mr. Greg Lowery, bass guitarist for Supercharger, and the man behind Rip Off Records, we were mightily shamed. Suspicious that Gentleman Agent JW001's answers were a tad on the brief side we had sent a radio-telegram to the United States of America in the hope of receiving more information. What we didn't expect was confirmation that this Gentleman Agent had 'slacked out', neglecting his claret and cigars for a sordid entanglement with the tawdry narcotics of the stinking hippy crash-pad scene.

Furthermore, the whole world had gone into a state of Post Traumatic Stress Syndrome with the news that The Mummies' apparent reformation for a tour of the spas of Europe had only been for what was understood to be a skipful of bandages and rather a lot of liniment, if one knows what one means, after which they were all due back at their ancestral tombs. In the meantime, a second LP now under their belts, Supercharger imploded.

"IN REGARDS TO THE BREAKUP, WELL IT IS LONG AND COMPLEX, BUT I WILL TRY. THERE ARE SEVERAL REASONS FOR US BREAKING UP, THE FIRST WAS DARIN'S RELUCTANCE TO PLAY LIVE, AND HIM BASICALLY DESPISING JUST ABOUT EVERYONE WHO SAID THEY WERE FANS, THINKING THEY WERE JUST SAYING THAT TO JUMP ON THE BANDWAGON. HE ALSO WANTED TO BREAK UP THE BAND ALMOST FROM THE BEGINNING, SAYING WE WERE A JOKE AND ALL. BUT THE FINAL NAIL IN THE COFFIN WAS DARIN ACTING LIKE A TOTAL ASSHOLE OVER IN EUROPE, TRYING TO SHOW OFF IN FRONT OF THE MUMMIES AND ALL. SO THAT WAS THAT. I KNEW HE WANTED TO BREAK IT UP, AND THIS WAS HIS WAY OF MAKING SURE IT WAS DONE. SO THAT'S THE STORY. IN REGARDS TO YOUR OTHER QUESTION IF WE STILL TALK TO EACH OTHER, ME AND KAREN DO OBVIOUSLY, DARIN AND KAREN ARE STILL FRIENDS, BUT I TOTALLY DESPISE DARIN FOR WHAT HE HAS DONE TO OUR BAND, AND OUR FRIENDSHIP, SO FUCK HIM".

So, let this interview stand as an epitaph for Supercharger. Let those who come after take heed - Supercharger rocked. They rocked shabbily, but they fuckin' rocked.

"IN REGARDS TO THE FIRST ALBUM, WE RECORDED IT WITHOUT EVER PLAYING LIVE OR BEING INVOLVED IN ANY SCENE. ME AND DARIN STARTED THE BAND, AND NEEDED A DRUMMER IN JANUARY 1991. SO WE ASKED KAREN, WHO WAS/IS (Furnote: ISN'T) MY GIRLFRIEND. (GREG, NOT DARIN). SHE NEVER THOUGHT ABOUT IT, BUT SHE CAME TO PLAY A COUPLE OF TIMES AND LIKED IT, TOOK A MONTH'S WORTH OF LESSONS, AND AFTER A MONTH WE STARTED RECORDING THE FIRST LP. DARIN AND MYSELF WERE PLAYING FOR ONLY A COUPLE OF MONTH'S BEFORE".

Gentleman Agent JW001's questions and answers begin here, any clues as to his whereabouts would be appreciated - he was last seen hitting the Hippy Trail to go 'find himself' in one of those places where nice white boys go.

Do you get out of Daly City often?

"We play San Francisco about once a month - every six weeks - any more would be like tonight, y'know, audience totally bored", said Greg.

So do you have dayjobs then?

"Yeah, yawned Greg, "I sell motorboats, Darin is a brain surgeon".

And Karen?

"Karen is a drug-runner - she smuggles drugs in children's diapers".

So where did you come up with the name Supercharger?

"Well", whined Darin, "I wanted to be called The Superchargers, but was outvoted by Greg and Karen. Greg said 'Supercharger'".

Furball later ascertained that a Supercharger is kind of like our very own Hot Wheels racing track, and is also part of a horseless carriage. What would these mechanically minded young folk be getting up to once they got back to the land of Mom's Apple Pie?

"Well, I'm kind of excited 'cos my new label should be just about ready to go", gushed Greg, "I'll be home in about two weeks, and should be putting out a one-sided 7" by The Statics soon after".

As this was a double-headed tour with The Mummies, it had to be asked whether Supercharger, too, hated CDs?

"Yeah, well", decided Greg, "we don't hate them that much. I used to have one, but I don't like 'em anymore. The real beauty of vinyl is the hunting for something really rare and just holding it in your hands. You don't get that with CDs".

Are there any bands out there who deserve The Supercharger Seal of Approval in the same way that The Mummies championed yourselves and The Fingers for a while?

"No!! It's the other way around", snorted Greg, "too many bands getting the attention they don't deserve. I see a lot of bands, and the majority of them suck. It's not like I'm saying we don't but I just don't like it".

It appears you don't like much, so who do you hate?

"Hmmm", pondered Greg, "besides each other, we hate everybody. We are a Punk Rock band, we have to hate everybody".

Provoked by this I leapt on the path of low-rent cheap and sleazy journalism by asking them who their favourite fuck was.

"Well I could bet in trouble for this", said Darin, "so I'd better say Danielle". (Pimm, of Trashwomen, Brentwoods and Bobby Teens fame).

"I don't want to sound romantic and say definitely Karen", contradicted Greg.

"Actually, she was my favourite too", interrupted Darin, "probably yours, too".

So, besides Karen reading this, what's your biggest fear?

"Oh, I dunno, probably running out of money in Germany", decided Darin.

"Yeah", grinned Greg, "an earthquake happens and a bridge falls. That's my biggest fear, and it's already happened".

Did the split single with The Fingers ever happen?

"No!"

Oh, okay, then you don't mind me asking about another band? What's Raul Balcarcel from The Fingers up to?

"Ha ha ha!", laughed Darin, "He's up to no good - he just kind of turns up, but he seems to have a lot of fur. Shane is starting a new band, though".

Right then, you are a punk rock band. If it came to a fight between you and The Mummies, who would win?

"Well, there's four of them and only three of us, but I guess Karen could take on two of them, which would kind of even things out", decided Darin.

"Basically we're wimps", interjected Greg, diplomatically.

So, would you win?

"The Mummies would", he concluded.

"No way, I can't see it happening", disagreed Darin.

Have you any message for your legions of UK fans who were denied a visit?

"HAHAHA! What fans?", asked Greg, "I'd have to say buy some real records and then you wouldn't have to like us".

And finally, your thoughts for the day, gentlemen?

"I guess I just want to shit on the ledge", snickered Darin in reference to the great German plumbing system which forces you to savour your load before flushing.

And Greg?

"I'd just like to say that Germany sucks and Berlin is the ugliest city I've ever been in".

Auf wiedersehen, pet.

Man... Or Astro-Man? - The Sounds of Tomorrow. Estrus 7". ES783.

2011-10-15T11:12:00.000+01:00

We've not had any Man... Or Astro-Man? for a little while, so here's a 1996 offering from the ever-reliable Estrus records. Track three, Green-blooded Love, is by Thee Shatners, a bunch of Star Trek-loving chancers who had connections with The Ne'er'Do'Wells and The Dukes of Hamburg, and whose only release was an LP on Planet Pimp Records. Enjoy.

Man... Or Astro-Man? - The Sounds of Tomorrow. Estrus 7". ES783.

McCarthy - Keep An Open Mind Or Else! Midnight Music 7".

2011-10-12T23:43:00.000+01:00

From vinyl, from the heart, from deepest darkest Dagenham. It's more McCarthy. A band that worked as the catalyst for other, less worthy, bands. Here's a single off their second LP, The Enraged Will Inherit The Earth. Here also is the press release that came with it. For once, a rare example of a funny, engaging,not just doing it for the cash message to the masses.

McCarthy - Keep An Open Mind Or Else! Midnight Music 7".

The Boss Martians - XKE! - Hillsdale Records 7" HR-45-3.

2011-10-10T20:54:00.000+01:00

Back to normal tonight. Here's an early release by The Boss Martians on Johnny 'Slowhand' Bartlett's Hillsdale Records. If you dig traditional-sounding, twangy surf music you'll enjoy this one, crackles and all. Enjoy.

The Boss Martians - XKE! - Hillsdale Records 7" HR-45-3.

Whirl - They Could Have Been Bigger Than The Bootles.

2011-10-09T20:50:00.000+01:00

In a bit of a departure from the usual way I've posted stuff up here, I've decided to post up everything I have from a band. Mainly because they are virtually lost or, at best, exist as a footnote in the history of other bands. Whirl were my favourite local band from the time I lived in Brighton, and this is as much material as I can gather together. Ironically, the two singles were released when I had escaped to northern climes so I have no real idea how they went down. If you like what you hear, there's a live performance available at the Fruitier Than Thou blog. (You might also recognise the graphic from above ... I hope he doesn't mind...)

So, Whirl. A band who loved Television, Hurrah!, The Beatles and The Go-Betweens, a band whose 'intro' music was Nancy Sinatra's Bond Theme, You Only Live Twice, a band who provided future members for Blow-Up, The Wolfhounds and Eusebio. What we have here are nine demo tracks - recorded at different times, I believe, but can't say for sure - that were recorded for me by Trevor Elliot in 1985, two tracks from a various artist cassette LP released through Especially Yellow fanzine (full tape to follow, but it does have significant quality issues), a 12" release on Playroom Recordings and a 12" release on September Records. I've also included an interview which was written around the time the Playroom Recordings 12" was released.

Demo.
Two tracks from Goodnight Miffy Cassette.

Playroom Single

Interview from 'brighton' micro-fanzine.

Of the four bands covered in this Brighton section, Whirl are probably the longest running - Trevor explained their history. "Alan and I formed Whirl about four years ago and had various line-ups with different singers to start with, for about a year. Then we kicked a couple of people out and a couple left, then Caz joined on bass while we had Chris Windows on drums temporarily, and finally Rob joined about eight months ago."

They are obviously very pleased with their debut release, "The Heaven Forbid E.P.", "I think it's fucking wonderful, actually," enthused Trevor. "The engineer we worked with at Bloomsbury Studios, Chris, he was really good with us and made us work." I asked if they felt they would be competing with any particular bands, Trevor replied that he didn't think they'd be competing with anyone. "It might compete with certain things, but that's not the point," interjected Caz. "It seems to be the only way you get heard now, bands get heard on Janice Long or John Peel because they've made a single, not because they've sent a demo in. Soon they'll be so overwhelmed by singles..." "You'll have to make a video to get noticed", concluded Trevor.

Knowing Trevor's interest in The Beatles, I asked if there was any particular recording against which he would ultimately like to be measured. "Well obviously I'd say 'Rubber Soul' was probably the best recorded LP ever. The production on it is fucking brilliant - that and 'Revolver'." The tastes of Caz were a little more modern. "I like the sound of people like Josef K. The way we did the single is like that, I think, it just sounds like we're in there - playing." "It was virtually recorded live, we kept everything really simple", concluded Trevor.

Plans beyond the release of the first single currently include playing more gigs outside Brighton, and eventually releasing a second single for Playroom Recordings. Trevor also pointed out that Alan and he are also going to be busy when the Blow-Up single is released in May, as they are to tour during that month and April in order to promote it.

In keeping with the Brighton of the magazine I asked who their favourite Brighton bands were, outside of the bands in which they play. "I haven't really got one," explained Trevor, "I really liked The Milk Sisters lots, but they split. I don't know, I haven't heard a lot of Brighton bands recently." Caz was a little more certain, "I like some of the Iced Bears' stuff. I like The Quentins [10 Million Quentins] because they're different to everyone else."

The subject of which bands Whirl sound like came up. I favoured R.E.M.and early Hurrah!, but Caz thought that R.E.M. were "a bit boring," and Trevor had been told by somebody that "we're like The Monkees on sulphate, which I thought was a quite good description of us, really, don't you think?" Caz had her doubts, "I don't know. I don't think so, I don't think we sound like anyone. A lot of people say, "Well obviously you like 60s music," and I don't really know much about it - it's not one of my favourite things so I don't really pay much attention to it, but if I knew more then I might link it to something like that."

I asked them what they had done during the 70s. "I went to school and I was into Donny Osmond - that, unfortunately, is my history," apologised Caz, "I had a Donny transfer on my pillow - it was horrible". Trevor's past was sadly not as sordid as he "went to school and then left school, and he became something or other and then I was a punk rocker and I was ...me."

September single.

The Statics - Rat City. Rip-Off Records LP. RIP OFF #005.

2011-09-26T20:46:00.001+01:00

Finally, the first LP from Seattle's greatest band of pre-school garage punkers. Second LP and some demos and stuff to follow soon enough. Does anybody know what Zack Hoppenrath is up to these days? I hope he finally completed his collection of rare Billy Childish singles (or realised that, like painting the Forth Road Bridge, collecting Billy Childish vinyl is a never-ending task). Enjoy.

The Statics - Rat City. Rip-Off Records LP. RIP OFF #005.

The Trashwomen - The Trashwomen vs. Deep Space Pin-Up Records LP.

2011-09-15T22:57:00.000+01:00

The Trashwomen are two bands. On one hand, the shrieky, screechy annoying harridans of doom vocal band and on the other one of the best surf instrumental bands to grace my turntable. Both have their merits, but their own schizophrenic battle of the bands would be won by the vocal-less trio. One day I will separate out their tracks into words and no words. Just so that I can enjoy the full effect of both. In the meantime, enjoy.

The Trashwomen - The Trashwomen vs. Deep Space Pin-Up Records LP.

Girls At Our Best - Politics. Record Records RR2.

2011-09-11T23:43:00.000+01:00

More pure pop from the wrong side of the Pennines. The second single from Girls At Our Best on their own Record Records label. Looking at the line-up on the flipside of the sleeve I was going to suggest that this was proof of the primacy of trios but there's no drummer listed. Both tracks are great but I think that, on this occasion the B-side wins. I'd love to see some footage of this band moving and grooving but, alas, there's nothing out there freely available. Enjoy.

Girls At Our Best - Politics. Record Records RR2.

The Seculars - Social Skills EP - 360 Twist Records 36T019.

2011-09-04T23:25:00.001+01:00

Something about this band reminds me of Teengenerate; it's not just the speed, or the biscuit tin drums. It's the sound of somebody singing in a language which is not his own. Which is weird because, as far as I can ascertain, The Seculars were from the USA where they speak a version of The King's English. This appears to be the only thing they ever released and is on, as pointed out by the old Static Party blog, a label mainly devoted to second division winkle-picker bands. And one first division winkle-picker band. Static Party also points out that most copies are promo-punched. As you can see, my copy is also. That's because I was sent it as a promo. The first two tracks are so closely merged I've left them in one file. The girl on the front looks like a young Angela Rippon. Enjoy.

The Seculars - Social Skills EP - 360 Twist Records 36T019.

The Car Thieves - Shake A Leg. Radio X 7". RX07.

2011-09-03T23:35:00.001+01:00

The Car Thieves inferior release on Radio X. Just plain excellent garage and trash here. Their stupendously good surf single on Planet Pimp sounds like it was recorded by a different band. Enjoy.

The Car Thieves - Shake A Leg. Radio X 7". RX07.

The Galaxy Trio - Saucers Over Vegas. Estrus 10". Estrus Arts ES105.

2011-09-02T23:20:00.000+01:00

One of two 10" EPs I own by this band. Both are on Estrus. Beyond that I don't really know much about them at all. Despite the name, I'd argue that they are an instrumental band, rather than a surf band. Maybe they started out as a straightforward surf band and evolved, similar to the journey undertaken by Man ...Or Astro-Man?. Or maybe they're just bad at being 'surf'. Either way, it's good stuff uncluttered by crap lyrics. Enjoy.

The Galaxy Trio - Saucers Over Vegas. Estrus 10". Estrus Arts ES105.

Laugh - Paul McCartney. The Remorse Label 7". Loss 5. Plus debut Peel session.

2011-09-01T23:43:00.001+01:00

The great lost Manchester band. Laugh had the misfortune to straddle two scenes. Born out of the guitar band activity stimulated through the success of The Smiths and scuppered during the excesses of Madchester. This is their first 'proper' release. Before this, they had a flexi-disc release available through Dave Haslam's estimable Debris fanzine. They followed it with the already-uploaded Take Your Time, Yeah and another, more dance-music influenced single, Time To Lose It, which was more representative of the sound of their only, disappointing, LP, Sensation Number One. For me, they were always at their best as a tune-focussed big beat band. Such as on this seven. The title track in particular. Thanks to Michael for loaning me this record during a camping trip. It's a tricky thing preserving a twenty-four-year-old vinyl single in the middle of a field. As a bonus, I've included their first Peel Session, which features versions of Paul McCartney and Take Your Time, Yeah. Enjoy.

Laugh - Paul McCartney. The Remorse Label 7". Loss 5.
Laugh - Peel Session - March 17th 1986.

The Makers - Bust Out . Rip Off Records 7". Rip Off 007. Like James Bond.

2011-08-21T08:20:00.000+01:00

One-sided, one-covered, but not mono. This is the closest Rip-Off ever got to the winkle-pickers and Beatle wig set. Not that that scene is all bad. So, here are The Makers at their earliest. Pre-Maker-over into a 70s Glam band. Enjoy.

The Makers - Bust Out . Rip Off Records 7". Rip Off 007.

Blacktop - Mojo Kitty - In The Red Records 7" ITR 026.

2011-08-12T23:09:00.000+01:00

We've not had any Blacktop for a few months, and while it's far from their finest moment, it's still pretty, pretty good.

Blacktop - Mojo Kitty - In The Red Records 7" ITR 026.

The Mummies - Food, Sickles and Girls 7". Estrus Records Reissue. ES45002.

2011-08-11T23:41:00.001+01:00

A cultural artefact from the time - and it wasn't that long ago, whippersnappers - when Mummiesmania was burning so strong Estrus Records had to reissue the band's Pre-BS singles. Presumably because Pre-BS major domo Rusty Kwan couldn't be arsed.

It's The Mummies. You've heard it all before. Enjoy.

The Mummies - Food, Sickles and Girls 7". Estrus Records Reissue. ES45002.

Gories - Nitroglycerine - New Rose Records 7".

2011-08-10T22:20:00.000+01:00

Fresh from twenty one years ago. The Gories first single release on French label, New Rose. The last one for a while from my mate, Richard. He fought hard to get this one. His Rosebud. Based on info from Grunnen Rocks, this was the only time the flip side, Makin' Love appeared on vinyl. The only time it appeared on CD was for the New Rose release of 'I Know You Fine, But How You Doin'? Enjoy.

Gories - Nitroglycerine - New Rose Records 7".

Pavement - Demolition Plot J-7. Drag City 7". DC 2.

2011-08-09T23:47:00.000+01:00

Another record from the collection of my good friend, Richard. It's one I used to have myself, but this copy contains a rare treat. The Drag City 'golden ticket' gifting the recipient a free copy of the next Pavement release is still inside. He never redeemed it. I wonder if it is still valid. And if it is, do they accept scanned copies? *ahem*

Pavement - Demolition Plot J-7. Drag City 7". DC 2.

Poison 13 - Love Me EP. Sub Pop Records. SP 274.

2011-08-08T23:32:00.001+01:00

I worked my way backwards into Poison 13 by being a fan of Jack O'Fire, then picking this up as it was a band with Tim Kerr in it. Much like Jack O'Fire, this is an assembly of cover versions, but a very fine assembly of cover versions. I always enjoy hearing covers of Manchester bands by US artists, particularly at the more obscure end of the market, so this cover of Warsaw from the first Joy Division EP, An Ideal For Living, generates the same warmth as Jack O'Fire's assault on The Fall's Container Drivers and Bassholes version of Joy Division's Interzone. Enjoy.

Poison 13 - Love Me EP. Sub Pop Records. SP 274.

The Fingers - You Get On My Nerves. Bag of Hammers 7". BOH 006.

2011-08-03T22:55:00.000+01:00

My fourth and final Fingers upload. Recorded and engineered by Trent 'Not good enough for The Untamed Youth' Ruane. The picture on the sleeve of this one always sums up The Fingers at their 'exotic' best for me - the band in their skinny-tie, faux new wave costumes, Los Bros White flanking Mr. Raul Balcarel. With a stained crotch. Way to go, Raul! Shitty 90s garage-wise, this is as good as it gets. Only Supercharger's Pre-BS single gets anywhere near. Enjoy.

The Fingers - You Get On My Nerves. Bag of Hammers 7". BOH 006.

Bassholes - Blue Roots. In The Red LP. ITR 014.

2011-08-02T23:49:00.000+01:00

We've not had a full 12" LP for a while - to be honest they are a pain in the arse to prepare - so here's a cracker, Bassholes' debut, Blue Roots, Number One in their Archive Series. For two men they raise one heck of a noise. At some point this band will, posthumously, catch fire with the hipsters and historically-curious. I'm making sure my kids have a full set. The last track is not listed on the sleeve, nor the label. Not sure if it was a mistake in the pressing or a deliberate joke on the part of Bassholes. More Bassholes and related sounds soon. Enjoy.

Bassholes - Blue Roots. In The Red LP. ITR 014.

Meat Whiplash - Don't Slip Up. Creation Records 7". CRE 20.

2011-08-01T23:57:00.000+01:00

Another one from my good friend, Richard, and a record I was surprised to find he owned. Meat Whiplash were one of the second wave of bands signed to Creation following the massive success of their twelth single release, Upside Down by Jesus & Marychain. The single seems to be, deliberately or not, an attempt by Creation to follow up on the success of the Marychain debut by releasing something that sounds not a million miles away from the Beach Boys and feedback template the Reid Brothers had patented. I saw this band just the once, on Sunday, 20 October 1985, supporting Primal Scream and The Weather Prophets at The Clarendon Ballroom in London. The singer was wearing flared leather trousers. At the time it felt very much like a full stop for that scene. The single is, despite my witterings, pretty good. Enjoy.

Meat Whiplash - Don't Slip Up. Creation Records 7". CRE 20.

Scars - adult/ery / horrorshow. Fast Records 7". FAST 8.

2011-07-31T22:51:00.002+01:00

This one's a bit spikier than, All About You, the Scars single I uploaded in May. On Bob Last's tremendous and innovative Fast label, this is a nice slice of 1979 post-punk action. Enjoy.

Tracks:
adult/ery (99 BPM).
horrorshow (101 BPM).

Scars - adult/ery / horrorshow. Fast Records 7". FAST 8.

Man ... Or Astro-Man? - Welcome To The Sonic Space Age. Clawfist 7".

2011-07-29T10:18:00.001+01:00

The previous releases have dropped off the front page, so it's time to upload yet another treat from Man ...Or Astro-Man? The final release from UK singles club label, Clawfist, it's one of a handful of MOA? records that plays at 45 rpm so there are only two tracks. There's some excellent 'theremining' on flipside, Bird's Stuff. Enjoy.

Tracks:
King Of The Monsters (120 BPM).
Bird's Stuff (157 BPM).

Man ... Or Astro-Man? - Welcome To The Sonic Space Age. Clawfist 7".

Various Artists - (Please Find Enclosed) Your Invitation To Suicide. Get Hip Records 2x7".

2011-07-28T23:20:00.000+01:00

Sorry, I've been away for a while. To Spain. Land of Munster Records, who released the CD and double LP versions of this tribute to 70s synth punks, Suicide. This is the 2 x7" version, released by Get Hip, and the Pink Slip Daddy track is unique to this release. The Gories take on Ghost Rider is probably the most well-known track off this, and featured on their 'I Know You Fine, But How You Doin?' LP. Enjoy.

Tracks:
Ben Vaughn - Juke Box Babe (89 Beats Per Minute)
The Gories - Ghost Rider (100 BPM)
Pink Slip Daddy - Dream Baby Dream (139 BPM)
The Nomads - Magdalena 93 (104 BPM)
La Secta - Raver (117 BPM)
The Honeymoon Killers - Fireball (96 BPM)

Various Artists - (Please Find Enclosed) Your Invitation To Suicide. Get Hip Records 2x7".

Wah! - Somesay. Eternal Records 12". Simey 12T.

2011-07-18T22:59:00.000+01:00

It's a 12" single so I've had to nick the sleeve image from the internet. My copy has a sticker on it saying "Expect to pay around £1.25". The 12" adds nothing to the 7" release except that it's mastered super loud with wide open grooves. It's a bit crackly, but it was suffering from a minor mould infestation which I had to clean off. It's Wah! at their most super-bombastic; loud, punchy and confident. This upload is for the anonymous fella who asked for it when commenting on the original release of the flip side of this single, Forget The Down. Enjoy.

Wah! - Somesay. Eternal Records 12". Simey 12T.

Unsane - This Town - Treehouse Records 7". TR 020.

2011-07-17T23:27:00.000+01:00

From the days when it felt like everything was recorded at Fun City, NYC by Wharton Tiers, here's the first single from Unsane. (2nd edition - 500 copies the sharper-eyed amongst you will have noted). Chug, chug, skronk skronk, shout shout. Check out the Thanks To list for an understanding of Unsane's standing in the New York art rock scene in the early 90s. This is the first of a number of sevens I've borrowed from my good friend, and anagram, Mr. JHR. Enjoy.

Unsane - This Town - Treehouse Records 7". TR20.

The Del Lagunas - Time Tunnel. Estrus Records 7". ES760.

2011-07-12T23:33:00.001+01:00

Another in a long series of Estrus-released surf singles that is pretty, pretty good. Estrus maintained that they were 'Greenland's No. 1 surfin' instro combo'. A likely story. Enjoy.

The Del Lagunas - Time Tunnel. Estrus Records 7". ES760.

The New Bomb Turks - I'm Weak. Get Hip Records 7". GH-139.

2011-07-10T15:29:00.000+01:00

The New Bomb Turks were a heavy, heavy Columbus, Ohio punk band who released their first two LPs on Crypt Records. Following this they moved on to Epitaph. They're still going in some form, but activity has been limited over the past few years. Last year, singer Eric Davidson had the book We Never Learn: The Gunk Punk Undergut, 1988-2001 published. A well-intentioned, well-written chronicle of the period, the book is worth reading despite the pointless attempt to rebrand various lo-fi, punk and DIY scenes as 'Gunk Punk'.

The New Bomb Turks - I'm Weak. Get Hip Records 7". GH-139.

The Mummies - Live - 1994-03-11 - London, The Powerhaus. Mono. Incomplete.

2011-07-05T19:59:00.000+01:00

I found this tape over the weekend. It dates from when The Euro Mummies Mark II came over to Europe and played a bunch of shows. Amazingly enough they even got over La Manche to play two dates in London. I was lucky enough to be at both. This was from the first night. I was spectacularly drunk and, as you'll hear, had the tape recorder in my pocket for the first few songs. The sound improves (it never gets above 'really, really shitty') when I remember to get it out but it's amazingly hissy. And I don't know how to fix it or even if it's worth fixing. The band, Larry Winther in particular, are having a running feud with the venue's security, something they carried on into the following night's show at The Frat Shack. Anyhow, it ends suddenly, as you'll hear, at the point where I'm dancing enthusiastically, swinging my arms around with the recorder in my sweaty hand when voop_______________________________________! It flies out and crashes to the ground. I won't be sharing it with the Techlords at Dime A Dozen. Enjoy.

The Mummies - Live - 1994-03-11 - London, The Powerhaus. Mono. Incomplete. Shitty recording. Seriously.

Laugh - Take Your Time, Yeah. The Remorse Label 12". Lost 3.

2011-07-04T23:56:00.000+01:00

Laugh were a band who managed to fall spectacularly between scenes; too angry to qualify for the C86 jelly and ice cream party and too established for the Madchester feeding frenzy. They're also the Manchester band who get closest to That Scouse Skiffle Sound that signifies the best and the worst of that bunch from The Wrong End of The M62. Think The Las, Shack and, Lord forgive me, The Coral. Except Laugh angry it up a bit and whack their drums that little bit harder and shout in your face.

They released a handful of singles and an LP which sounded like all the corners had been knocked off their sound. Too mellow, too wah-wah, too nice one mate, are you on one? This 12" is them at their punk rock best. Enjoy.

Laugh - Take Your Time, Yeah. The Remorse Label 12". Lost 3.

Thanks to Martin at Songs From Under The Floorboards for the sleeve pics.

Girls At Our Best - Getting Nowhere Fast / Warm Girls. Record Records 7". RR1.

2011-07-01T07:51:00.000+01:00

Girls at Our Best were a Leeds-based pop band who should have had the World at their feet in the early 80s. Championed by Peel and the NME, releasing slices of catchy guitar pop and fronted by the lovely Judy Evans, Top of the Pops seemed to beckon. But it was not to be. After five sevens and an LP they called it a day. A posthumous Peel session release reminded everybody what they had been missing a couple of years later. More recently everything was reissued on CD by Vinyl Japan, but that version is inferior as it doesn't have The Crackle. MP3 bit rate has been upped to the top end of the VBR scale, just for Mr. Noon, but I still have about thirty releases ready to go at the lower bit rate so it'll be a while before they're used up. Enjoy.

Girls At Our Best - Getting Nowhere Fast / Warm Girls. Record Records 7". RR1.

The Phantom Surfers - Besame Mucho. Standard Recordings 7". SR71.

2011-06-29T21:32:00.004+01:00

The first single from the golden glove champs of the west coast Go Sound from way back in 1991. A propos nothing at all, here's a good video of them playing in Portugal a couple of years ago. I see Johnny's back. It would have been a GREAT video, but some nit cut out all the inter-song banter. The best thing about any Phantom Surfers performance is the inter-song banter. And the jokes. The music is incidental to the banter. And if any of you were technically-minded enough to download the video (in the best possible quality) and send me a copy I'd be very, very happy.

The Phantom Surfers - Besame Mucho. Standard Recordings 7". SR71.

The Untamed Youth - Minor Chaos. Hillsdale Records 7". HR-17.

2011-06-27T23:19:00.000+01:00

I've not posted any Untamed Youth since March, and that long without access to Mace is verging on the inhuman. Two tracks - the a-side is an uptempo instrumental, it's flip is an emotional cry from the heart from this most sensitive of bands. Issued on Johnny Bartlett's Hillsdale Records long after the tracks were recorded in 1987 and 1991. Enjoy.

The Untamed Youth - Minor Chaos. Hillsdale Records 7". HR-17.

Lord High Fixers - Scat Man. No Lie Records 7". NL-006.

2011-06-26T23:11:00.001+01:00

I never had as much time for Lord High Fixers as I did for Tim Kerr's previous band, Jack O'Fire. In retrospect that's a bit of a shame, but I was also slightly burnt out by what I perceived as a second wave of inferior garage bands and lack of quality control by some of the more prominent labels on the scene. So unlike the tower of vinyl I have for Jack O'Fire, Lord High Fixers are represented in my collection by this single only. It's a good one, though, showcasing the slightly rockier feel of Lord High Fixers and packaged with consumate care by record label, No Lie. The Cub Card shown above is membership card-sized. The inserts continue Kerr's journey with Young Lions Conspiracy USA.

In addition I've linked to a record sent to me by Tim Kerr back in the mid to late nineties. It's a clear vinyl, unlabelled 7" with just the one track on it. In the meantime I have totally forgotten what it is and who recorded it. Any information will be gratefully received. It's a departure musically, but not thematically. As you will hear. Enjoy.

Lord High Fixers - Scat Man. No Lie Records 7". NL-006.

Unknown single from Tim Kerr.

Teengenerate - Out Of Sight - Rip-Off Records 7". RIP OFF 08.

2011-06-24T23:59:00.000+01:00

Friday night. Teengenerate. Enjoy.

Teengenerate - Out Of Sight - Rip-Off Records 7". RIP OFF 08.

The Astronauts - Lost In Space. Pin Up Records 10".

2011-06-23T23:48:00.000+01:00

Germany's finest surf band, The Astronauts, with a superb release on Pin-Up. These fellas could hold their own against any other hard working surf band out there - The Phantom Surfers, Dick et les Espions, even The Trashwomen. Enjoy.

The Astronauts - Lost In Space. Pin Up Records 10".

Bassholes - John Henry. Sympathy For The Record Industry 7". SFTRI 175.

2011-06-22T23:54:00.001+01:00

It wasn't until I spoke to Don Howland that I found out it's Bassholes as in assholes not Bassholes as in bass guitar. And I'd been getting it wrong for all that time. The version of John Henry on this is completely different to the one on the Haunted Hill LP. Enjoy.

Bassholes - John Henry. Sympathy For The Record Industry 7". SFTRI 175.

Josef K - The Farewell Single. Les Disques Du Crepuscule 7". TWI 053.

2011-06-21T23:54:00.001+01:00

A Postcard band but not a Postcard release. Josef K are sharp and angular. Postcard had, I seem to remember, gone West before the release of this single on Holland's super sexy Les Disques Du Crepuscule . The a-side is from a Peel session. The flip side is two versions of the same song. I've upped the bit rate in response to several requests, particularly that from the talented and mysterious Mr. Noon at 'not for the children' blog Nothing But Trash. Enjoy.

Josef K - The Farewell Single. Les Disques Du Crepuscule 7". TWI 053.

The Makers - The Devil's Nine Questions. Estrus Records 10" ES104.

2011-06-19T23:09:00.001+01:00

I've been wanting to upload more from my collection of 10" singles and EPs but have held back for lack of cover material. That is, my scanner is smaller than 10" so it's impossible to scan the sleeves like I do for the 7"ers. Yesterday, though I had the idea to mount the camera on its tripod and shoot the sleeves. Due to the angle of the lens the pictures are slightly skewed, so the cropping is a bit messy. I hope it's an acceptable 'work around' until I decide to invest in an A3 scanner.

So. The Makers. They seemed to come out of nowhere to release a bunch of stuff on The Right Labels, driving to their gigs in a Mummiesesque hearse and championed by their manager, the charismatic Vic Mostly, who would have not been out of place managing a WWE wrestler. This is one of two ten inch EPs by the group that survived The Great Garage Punk Sort Out a few years back. It's all instrumental and is good and all. It's more rocky than surfy, but with only 10" of vinyl to fill they don't outstay their welcome. Enjoy.

The Makers - The Devil's Nine Questions. Estrus Records 10" ES104.

Big Black - Heartbeat. Touch & Go Records 7". T&G #21.

2011-06-17T22:24:00.000+01:00

Big Black cover Wire. This came free with the Headache EP. It's Friday night. I have nothing more to say. Enjoy.

Big Black - Heartbeat. Touch & Go Records 7". T&G #21.

The Krontjong Devils - Romp Out With The Krontjong Devils - Hillsdale Records HR-16.

2011-06-16T23:45:00.000+01:00

The best thing to come out of the European lowlands since the Dutch Cap, The Krontjong Devils provide three tremendous instrumentals and one okay-ish vocal track. Enjoy.

The Krontjong Devils - Romp Out With The Krontjong Devils - Hillsdale Records HR-16.

Cee Bee Beaumont - Chef Do The Business - Hangman's Daughter 7".

2011-06-15T23:48:00.000+01:00

What a lovely object, eh? After Hangman Records went west following distributor problems Billy Childish started Hangman's Daughter. This instrumental gem from Cee Bee Beaumont was an early release. C.B. Beaumont was a character in Ray Dennis Steckler's movie Rat Fink A Boo Boo. And that's it. Enjoy.

Cee Bee Beaumont - Chef Do The Business - Hangman's Daughter 7".

The Fall - Lie Dream Of A Casino Soul. Kamera Records 7" ERA 001.

2011-06-14T23:56:00.000+01:00

If there were such a thing as Cock of The Walk where bands are concerned (and there isn't, so fuck off U2, Radiohead, White Stripes, Wu Lyf etc.) there have been a few times in their career (and it has been a career) where The Fall have been it. Times when they have been Top Dog. The Best Band In The World. Without parallel. Beyond the pail. This period of two drummers, rockabilly rhythms, intelligent, coherent lyrics and yelping dog-like vocals, for example. Enjoy. It's also got a great Savage Pencil sleeve. So double enjoy.

The Fall - Lie Dream Of A Casino Soul. Kamera Records 7" ERA 001.

The Mummies - 1994 Peel Sessions. No label bootleg 7".

2011-06-13T23:02:00.001+01:00

The Mummies on The John Peel Show. Some things were just meant to happen. It's a great shame that the few times the really great surf, garage and trash bands made it over La Manche they didn't record for Peel. So, no Teengenerate, no Oblivians, no Bassholes, no Untamed Youth, no Saturn V featuring Orbit Peel Sessions out there. We do have this, though, which is taken straight from an FM radio broadcast but still manages to sound slicker than the majority of the band's official releases. This is the second line-up of The 'Euro' Mummies with some fella from The Smugglers on bass. Enjoy.

The Mummies - 1994 Peel Sessions. No label bootleg 7".

Man ... Or Astroman? - Amazing Thrills in 3D. Estrus Promo EP ESP7.

2011-06-12T23:59:00.000+01:00

Some more Man ... Or Astroman? for you all. My copy of this came free with a pre-ordered from Estrus blue vinyl copy of Is it...? A limited amount were also sold in record stores. The reverse of the sleeve is blank. Enjoy.

Man ... Or Astroman? - Amazing Thrills in 3D. Estrus Promo EP ESP7.

McCarthy - In Purgatory. Wall of Salmon Records 7" MAC001.

2011-06-11T23:17:00.002+01:00

A band I would happily listen to every day. This is their first, self-released, single from 1985. They commit the cardinal sin of being catchy and political. Ouch. Bad career move. Tim Gane went on to greater success in Stereolab.

McCarthy - In Purgatory. Wall of Salmon Records 7" MAC001.

The Rezillos - Destination Venus. Sire Records SIRE4008.

2011-06-10T23:27:00.001+01:00

I was going to upload this stunner as an accompaniment to Man ... Or Astroman?'s cover of it, but then I realised the Astromen never released their version on 7". So this gets precedence. A record I have owned for nearly 33 years. Ouch. Enjoy.

The Rezillos - Destination Venus. Sire Records SIRE4008.

Marble Orchard - It's My Time. Estrus Records ES736.

2011-06-09T23:12:00.001+01:00

A classic 'filler' band, Marble Orchard were one of those bands whose releases you ended up with - like Gravel and The Mortals - when you bought anything on a label. In this case, Estrus. It's not bad. It's just not great. The flipside is an instrumental and yes, it does end that suddenly. Enjoy.

Marble Orchard - It's My Time. Estrus Records ES736.

Teenage Fanclub - Free Again. The International Pop Underground Vol. XXVI. K Records 7".

2011-06-08T19:32:00.001+01:00

Teenage FC take on Alex Chilton's Free Again and Beat Happening's Bad Seeds, thus providing the direct bridge between The BMX Bandits and The Gories you always need when playing C86 to Garage Punk Six Degrees of Separation. The Chilton cover is super-catchy. Enjoy.

Teenage Fanclub - Free Again. The International Pop Underground Vol. XXVI. K Records 7".