Essential Logic - Beat Rhythm News (1979)

Formed by Lora Logic after she left (was sacked) from X-Ray Spex in 1978.  The band completed by William Bennett (guitar), Mark Turner (bass), Philip Legg (guitar/vocals), Rich Tea (drums, incidentally one of my favourite types of biscuit), and Dave Wright on saxophone.

They didn't leave a huge legacy of recordings as Lora split the band fairly soon to go solo, before she retreated from music to concentrate fully on the Hare Krishna religion. Lora used some of the sax lines she'd came up with for X-Ray Spex on this release, even though they appeared on the X-Ray Spex album she was not credited.

She rejoined X-Ray Spex in the mid 90's when they reformed. In 2001 Essential Logic were brought back to life and released new material. This release is my favourite, it displays their jarringly creative style really well.

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Really Red - Teaching You the Fear (1981)

If I could time travel I'd definately go back to Texas in the early 80's, not because I want to be a cowboy, although watching Roy Rogers at Saturday morning cinema did have an impact, but not that much. Anyway, Texas, what was it about that place that produced such a diversity of style? Big Boys, Dicks, MDC, Really Red all pretty much unique.

Whilst the others may be well written about, Really Red don't get that much exposure, try a net search to see what I mean....yet they should, as they were equally as important as any band you care to mention. 

They didn't release a single dud, but I think this is their best release. I'd be hard pushed to describe what they sound like, suffice to say they are NOT your typical hardcore/punk sound, they are unique.  They were a political band, but the politics never managed to over shadow the music. It's a real shame that after they split that none of them went on to notable bands......and a even bigger suprise.

Really Red were an amazing band and remain a huge favourite.

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As an added extra, here's the lyrics to the album. Lyrics

Fastbacks - It's Your Birthday (1981)

No Threes was a record label I followed religiously as they'd produced so many greats. This release was no exception.

Formed in 1979 by Kurt Bloch (guitarist),Lulu Gargiulo (guitar/vocals) and Kim Warnick (bass/vocals) and a million different drummers, on this release it was Duff McKagan later of Guns & Roses. This release is so good, it's pure pop/punk. They lasted until 2001 before splitting up. Their back catalogue is well worth exploring.

If you download nothing else from this site you need to get this one, it's that good. I never get tired of hearing it...shame I sold my copy to a guy in Japan. On the upside he did pay a small fortune for it :)

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The Clash - Live, Hammersmith Odeon (1979)

Paul McCartney organised benefit concerts for Kampuchea in '79 at one the Clash made an appearance. This recording was taken from the sound board and was bootlegged many years ago. 1979 is the peak of the Clash for me and this recording shows how good they were.

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The Mutants

Formed in Liverpool 1976 and split up by the middle of 1978.  A short life for a good band who didn't give a shit what anyone thought of them.  They looked like they'd been created from a punk by numbers set and had a guitarist who looked like Larry Wallis, but again, they didn't give a shit.

Sweet William - Vocals
Al Sation - Bass
Keith 'Kid' Steele - Guitar
Roddie Rodent - Guitar
Paul Pleasant - Drums

This is typical 77 style punk, snotty, stripped down and aggressive....and I love it.  I've coupled both their 7'' here Boss Man and School Teacher.

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The Damned - Sessions of the Damned

A collection of radio sessions from 77-84.  It's The Damned....need I say more?

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Sluglords - Trails of Slime (1983)

Another one of those "hidden gems" from the hardcore days.

The Sluglords were formed by guitarist Bruno DeSmartass, ex Bad Posture and after sluglords split up some members went on to form Morally Bankrupt. I can't tell you a whole lot about this album as my copy has been in storage for years and there is precious little information on the web about the personnel. Some of the songs featured on this album were also played by Bad Posture in their day.

What I can tell you is that this is a CLASSIC.  It combines great musicianship with a very good mixture of melody, speed and driving tunes. They originated in San Francisco and played many shows, but seem to have fallen well under the radar for some inexplicable reason. Life without Justice has an immediately catchy chorus.  I'd put this is the same bracket as HVY DRT and would urge you to download this if you don't have it. It's a taster, for more info look at the later entry.

Music

Mindfunk - Dropped (1993)

A band started at the tail end of the 80's by ex members of Chemical Waste and Uniform Choice. This is their second, and best, album. Their first was a fairly patchy funk metal album as was the fashion at the time, but displayed glimpses of what they would become on Dropped. By the time this album was released the band had been dropped by Sony records, hence the album title. They'd also replaced a couple of members and now comprised: -

Patrick Dubar - vocals (Uniform Choice)
Louis Svitek - guitar, vocals (M.O.D., Ministry)
Jason Everman - guitar, vocals (Soundgarden, Nirvana)
John Monte - bass (M.O.D., Chemical Waste)
Shawn Johnson - drums

This album showcased the direction the band had taken and was released by Megaforce records. It's a shame it wasn't released on Sony as they might have received the backing they deserved . They really are a well kept secret in stoner rock circles, although they'd hate being put into that bracket and described themselves as "just a rock band". They deserve to be talked about more than Kyuss and it has been suggested that Queens of the Stone Age listened to this album quite a lot.

I've never stopped playing this album since I bought it.  Their third album is definitely worth a listen as well. It's in the same vein as Dropped if a little slower. If anyone likes this let me know and I'll upload the 3rd as well.

Here's the Video of Goddess, the opening track of this cd. Goddess

Music

Urban Waste - st (1982)

I think the USA kicked the UK's arse in the 80's in terms of quality, and quantity, of punk/hardcore bands. They had the diversity that the UK had in the 70's. I used to sit with fanzines I'd import/trade/buy from America reading about this hardcore scene like it was some mythical land filled with wonder.

So I clearly remember getting my copy of this record and it felt like I'd stolen the crown jewels. This was one of the holy grails of hardcore and I'd managed to get a copy. I couldn't believe that I paid £4 for it...and that covered the import fees! Score!!!!!

There's not a lot to say about the band if you know who they are you probably already have it, if you don't and you enjoy hardcore...you need to have this in your collection. A true classic.

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M.I.A. - Murder in a Foreign Place (1984)

Formed in 1980 as The Swell before they split and three members moved to Orange County and reformed as MIA.  They left quite a few releases behind them with each of them moving a little further ahead in style/format.  This album has always been my favourite as it manages to combine a sophistication with the basics of hardcore, it's the album where they moved from a typical hardcore band to a more poppy/rocking band. It's panned by many as being their weakest, so either I'm very wrong or I can hear something that others don't.

They were amongst the best of the second wave of hardcore and as I keep saying they don't have the profile of so many inferior bands. They should be better known as they were better than credited.  They split up in for good in  '88 and sadly Mike Conley (vocalist) died in early 2008, but the band have since reformed to play shows and continue to this day. If I was forced to compile a top 100 tunes, the title track from this album would be in there.

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Basement 5

A band who were inextricably linked to the early punk days. Comprised of: -

Dennis Morris - Vocals (Sex Pistols photographer)
Leo Williams - Bass (Roxy club barman)
J.R. - Guitar
Richard Dudanski - Drums (ex 101'ers and PIL)

Managed by Don Letts, they existed for a short time and left far too few recordings behind. I've coupled their first 7'', first album and their Peel session together in this zip. They're not punk, but I defy anyone not to like the 1965-1980 album. After they split some members went on to form Urban Shakedown, who I remember seeing on a channel 4 telly programme in the early 80's. Another band worth checking out.

Dennis Wilson has a new band with Youth from Killing Joke on bass called Stanley Kubrick Goes Shopping, who sound pretty good.

Music

The Edge

No, not the overratted Irish guitarist, but the band formed by Lu Edmonds (guitar), Jon Moss (drums) when their stint with The Damned came to an end.

In my Damned crazed mind way back when, I was after anything related to the band, demos, live, collaborations and ex members. The Edge were one of those pleasent suprises when I received their first 7'' and none of their releases disappointed me.

Along with Lu and Jon the band was completed by Glyn Havard (bass) and Gavin Povey (keyboards). With the exception of Jon Moss all three members went on to record with a million different and good bands. I'd recommend a net search for their catalogue of work, which is both satisfying and extensive. Gathered here are 2 of the 3 singles', Downhill and Macho Man and their album Square One. Enjoy.

Sadly, my favourite single is missing from this zip file.....so this is a request; if anyone can point me to their "Watching You" 7'' I'll be eternally grateful.

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HUGE thanks to Roberto for sending me the following file.  Watching You is this best single the Edge released in my opinion and it's soooo good to hear it again after 20 years or so.

Watching You 7''

The Stukas

I really can't remember how I came by this band, I think it was nothing more than being on the Chiswick label, who'd released some diamonds. They're more pub rock than punk rock, but from the first hearing I was hooked. Klean Livin kids is pure gold.

Here are their 3 7'' to enjoy.

The band were: -

Paul Brown - Vocals
Mick Smithers  - Lead Guitar
Raggy Lewis - Rhythm Guitar
Kevin Allen - Bass
John Mackie - Drums

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Suburban Studs

Especially for Kenny as I remember you posting on that "other" site that you didn't like them......hopefully you've revised that opinion....if not give these another whirl.

A hugely underratted band who should have been a contender instead of an also ran. How they don't have a higher profile is a mystery to me, even more so 30+ years after they formed and fell apart. They could play their instruments better than most of their contemporaries, they could construct a lasting tune and had all the energy/aggression of any band from the time. 

This is the complete recordings cd that includes a couple of early demos where Steve Heart played saxophone prior to bailing to the Neon Hearts.....a real shame as I think the sax adds an extra dimension to an already great band. The original album lasted up 'till track 17, some of the others aren't up to the standard of the album, but still worth a listen.

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So real life has forced itself in the way of me doing this blog.  I intend to upload more files, but they will be very sparodic. In the meantime...Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.