Vinyl #21 - The Stranglers

"Sverige (Jag ar insnoad pa ostfronten)" (7" single)

I always loved The Stranglers - the first band I saw live. I loved them so much that in the first few years of their existence I bought everything they released - including a few imports.

Their initial output was phenomenal - first album ("Rattus Norvegicus") released in April 1977; then in September 1977 a mere five - yes five - months later a second album ("No More Heroes") and then in May 1978 a third album ("Black and White"). Plus assorted non-album singles and b-sides.

And it's from that brilliant third album that this single was taken - with a catch. It was only released in Sweden and was sung in Swedish. The English-language version was only ever an album track ("Sweden - All Quiet On The Eastern Front"). It contains a fantastic and typically Stranglerish keyboard and guitar motif (at 2.01 mins on link below)

But being the Stranglers freak I bought it - which was only possible via mail order. The NME used to have pages of adverts to order records by post, but I must have been sooo excited when this plopped on the map. 

I knew the song was about how grey and boring Sweden was (is?) - based on singer/guitarist Hugh Cornwell's time there doing post-graduate research. And it was so typically contrary for them to record a version in Swedish and release it there. For that reason alone I prefer this version even though I can't understand it. I've no idea how it did in the charts. Not well I suspect!



Here's the music:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BLzGMs7vgZc

Vinyl #20 - The Ruts

"West One (Shine On Me)" (7" single)

I'd  become aware of The Ruts via the John Peel radio show, in particular their excellent debut single "In A Rut" and they subsequently had a top 10 hit with "Babylon's Burning" (and appearances on Top Of The Pops etc).

But this was the only single of theirs that I ever bought and I think it was the best thing they did - showing how far they had developed since their debut single only a couple of years before, and brilliantly showing off their rock, reggae and dub influences. 

It was also released only a month or so after the death of lead singer Malcolm Owen which obviously put a halt to their career (although the remaining members eventually continued as Ruts DC and still tour and record today)

Here's the music: https://youtu.be/-s8k0GtLZ4o

Vinyl #18 - Buzzcocks

"Love You More" / "Noise Annoys" (7" single)

I remember exactly where I was when this was released. It was the summer of 1978, and although I was still only 15 years-old I had finished my O Levels at Havant Grammar and had left school, so I had a summer job at IBM in Havant - my parents both worked there at the time. IBM had this great system of flexi-time where you could build up 5-minute increments of time - so if you started work 5 mins early you could leave 5 mins early etc. I remember trying to save up enough time to get a decent early finish to go and buy this single. 

Looking back it was my first introduction to an adult workplace, goodness knows what they all thought of this naive teenage boy whose Mum got him a job! I recall wondering what all these bits of computer print-out really meant and what I was meant to do with them! Somehow I survived the few weeks until I started my real job at Lloyds Bank as soon as I turned 16 at the end of August. And they paid me as well!!

Anyway music was what I was really into and Buzzcocks were my favourites. This single was two new tracks - neither appeared on an album (apart from compilations in the future) and showed Pete Shelley's ability to write perfect teen-angst love songs set to buzz-saw guitars and the sharpest, busiest drums. Buzzcocks had this fantastic ability of sounding like the four members of the band were individually playing slightly different songs but when put together it made a perfect cocktail of sound.

Both songs were brilliant and got equal billing, although see pictures below of labels that 'Love You More' is the A-side whilst 'Noise Annoys' is the 1-side. The former got played more because it's more instantly catchy and it maybe the shortest single ever released - 1 minute 45 seconds!! A real case of small is beautiful.  It charted so Buzzcocks subsequently appeared on Top of The Pops playing it and I wanted to be Pete Shelley. It was worth watching all the middle-of-the-road dross usually on TOTP just to see this little gold nugget shining through. 

Just a perfect piece of vinyl.

Here's the music:

https://youtu.be/uMvFL8IK60E

https://youtu.be/_7kfJ9qmP7o

Vinyl #17 - Gang of Four

"Damaged Goods" (7" single, 45 rpm)

A classic of its era, released at the end of 1978. The Leeds-based Gang of Four were at the forefront of the 'post-punk' movement and this single was their debut. Again I must have heard it on the John Peel show. As the attraction of punk wore away - and as I got older I suppose - the Gang of Four offered a very attractive alternative, with political, left-wing lyrics and statements set to dance-able, rhythmic guitar music. If you want to know where Franz Ferdinand learnt their angular guitar licks then start here!

And just as the Rough Trade label in London offered a near-guarantee of quality, so did Fast Product - based in Edinburgh - north of the border. This was Fast 5 (the debut single by The Human League was Fast 4).

All three tracks are great but the A-side is the star, a slice of northern punk-funk, with a pulsating and looping bass, driving drums and a guitar that slices and slashes across it all. Top it all with lyrics that require listening and interpreting, you have all the ingredients this 16 year-old needed in the music he listened to.

Here are the three songs:

https://youtu.be/JFU_1h7io0Y

https://youtu.be/1Rws1YFS6sw

https://youtu.be/Akz2efTdJ-E

Vinyl #16 - Stiff Little Fingers

"Suspect Device" / "Wasted Life" (7" single, 45 rpm)

A brilliant band from Northern Ireland who wrote great guitar-based rock songs that spoke about the 'Troubles' in Ulster (hence "Suspect Device"). I immediately warmed to them when John Peel picked up on this - their debut single which was originally released on their own Rigid Digits label [rigid digits = stiff fingers, geddit?], and then picked up by that guaranteed-high-quality label Rough Trade - and this is the version I bought at Focus Records in Waterlooville. They subsequently recorded several great sessions for Peel.

SLF had a raw power and songs with honest lyrics that told the real story of what it was like to be a teenager living in a religiously divided province - they sang about issues that nobody else would sing about - often directly addressing the terrorists in their midst.

A more polished version of the song reappears on their classic debut album "Inflammable Material" but for sheer aggression and power this is my preferred version. I went on to buy several more of SLF's records (which may indeed appear on this blog at a later date) and saw them live at the Portsmouth Guildhall where they didn't disappoint. Like a lot of original punk bands SLF still play live and have a loyal, if ageing following. Personally I don't feel the urge to see them again, they were perfect for the time, but the world and the issues they sang about have moved on...






Here's the song:

https://youtu.be/ZedI0NPU6U4

Vinyl #15 - U.K. Subs

"Stranglehold" (7", 45 rpm)

The UK Subs were part of the original punk rock scene, having formed in 1976, but this  single is the only record of theirs I bought. Although Peel played them a lot, they never really registered with me but this is a little gem of a song, a typical punk song of limited chords but great hook. And only just over two minutes long. Perfect. I love the red vinyl but can't remember whether that was a factor in buying it (quite possibly though!). 

The really interesting thing about the UK Subs is that they are still gigging and touring around the UK, and that 73 year-old (yes I said 73) lead singer Charlie Harper is the only original member left (he also writes the songs). I actually saw him at the Concorde 2 last October - he was at the bar watching his old mates the Buzzcocks who were playing at the venue. Looked pretty good for 73 years old, and still looks cool in a leather jacket...

And here's the song:

https://youtu.be/S0VEFalOnyQ

Vinyl #14 - The Only Ones

"Another Girl, Another Planet" (7", 45 rpm)

Someone once described this as the best rock song ever written and it's hard to disagree with that. I'm not sure where I first heard it when it came out in April 1978 but it was probably the John Peel show. It knocked me sideways and I remember buying it as soon as I possibly could from my local record shop (Focus Records in Waterlooville), getting it home and playing it time after time. In fact I can't remember ever playing the B side which was unusual for me.

I also remember that it was NOT a hit record, and I just couldn't understand why that was the case when it is such a brilliant and hook-laden song. Subsequently it was re-released a few years later and I think it charted and I think it's also been used in various TV series. 

Back then I also had no idea that the song was about lead singer Peter Perrett's heroin addiction. Innocent days indeed...

Here's the beauty:

https://youtu.be/lKuc3faQAEs