Can't Stop To Mess Around

Since last Sunday's post about Urgh! A Music War, I've been listening to a lot of music from the punk and post-punk period. So much so, in fact, that I've got two Dubhed selections in the bag.

I considered whether to include them all in one bumper post, but reason prevailed (and the realisation that it's Monday, i.e. work, tomorrow). So, it's Side 1 today and Side 2 on Monday.

In the spirit of my original Urgh! mixtape, both of these selections will fit neatly on each side of a C60 cassette. 

As well as some very familiar names such as Stiff Little Fingers, The Only Ones, The Damned and The Slits, I've included a few from outside the UK that I've been introduced to in more recent times by the wonderful blogging community. A couple of examples today: The Rude Kids from Sweden with (I guess) a Stranglers diss song and, from Germany, Abwärts with the title track of the VFM 5-track Computerstaat EP.

The thing that all ten songs have in common is that they are designed to be played LOUD.

More on Monday.

1) Blank Generation (Album Version): Richard Hell & The Voidoids (1977)

2) Suspect Device (Album Version): Stiff Little Fingers (1978)

3) New Race: Radio Birdman (1977)

4) (Get A) Grip (On Yourself) (Single Version): The Stranglers (1977)

5) Stranglers (If It's Quiet Why Don't You Play?): The Rude Kids (1978)

6) Another Girl, Another Planet (Album Version): The Only Ones (1978)

7) New Rose (Album Version): The Damned (1976)

8) Gary Gilmore's Eyes (Single Version): The Adverts (1977)

9) Typical Girls (Album Version): The Slits (1979)

10) Computerstaat: Abwärts (1980)

1977: Blank Generation: 1

1977: Damned Damned Damned: 7

1977: Gary Gilmore's Eyes EP: 8

1977: Grip / London Lady EP: 4

1977: Radios Appear: 3

1978: Stranglers (If It's Quiet Why Don't You Play?) / Punk Will Never Die! EP: 5

1978: The Only Ones: 6

1979: Cut: 9

1979: Inflammable Material: 2

1980: Computerstaat EP: 10

Side One (29:56) (GD) (M)

Outta My Mind On A Saturday Night

Celebrating Brian James, 18th February 1955* to 6th March 2025.

The Grim Reaper has been relentless so far this year. I was putting the finishing touches to a tribute to Roy Ayers when i saw the news of Brian's passing. I added a footnote to that day's post, promising that I would write about Brian in a future post.

As i finished and uploaded this post's accompanying Dubhed selection, news broke that Stedman Pearson of Five Star has died. I'll be honest, I loathed Five Star's music as a teen so you won't be seeing a dedicated post here, but nevertheless, enough obituaries already.

Brian James first and greatest achievement in music was co-founding The Damned in 1976 and writing - singlehandedly, in most cases - most of the songs that appeared on their first two albums, Damned Damned Damned and Music For Pleasure, both released in 1977.

The Damned had split by 1978, and although they officially reformed without James in 1979, the albums, B-sides and radio sessions capture moments of genius and brilliance.

Not that I was switched on to this at the time, I wasn't even in double digits, age-wise, and my first (and only) time seeing The Damned live was in 1986 by which time Brian James was long gone and the band a much different prospect from their punk origins.

For obvious reasons, I've focused today's selection exclusively on The Damned circa 1976-77. Mostly drawn from the two albums, with a few John Peel sessions and a Beatles cover B-side to boot. All in, 45 minutes of The Damned at their blistering best.

Before then, an appetiser. I couldn't resist including a trio of clips available on YouTube, all featuring Brian James on guitar, although the camera in the third pick seems to favour Dave Vanian and Captain Sensible.

Starting as things must with the debut single New Rose, followed by Fan Club live at The Roxy in London on 13th January 1977 and finally a performance of Neat Neat Neat on ITV kids' show Supersonic on 26th March 1977. Stirring stuff and infinitely preferable to The Nolans. 

After that tasty delight, scroll to the bottom for a 17-song Saturday selection. As they say, damned if you do...

Cheers, Brian.

 

 


1) I Fall (Album Version By Nick Lowe)

2) I Feel Alright (Album Version By Nick Lowe)

3) Don't Cry Wolf (Album Version By Nick Mason)

4) Help! (Single Version By Nick Lowe) (Cover of The Beatles)

5) You Take My Money (Album Version By Nick Mason)

6) Feel The Pain (Album Version By Nick Lowe)

7) Creep (You Can't Fool Me) (Album Version By Nick Mason)

8) Fan Club (John Peel Session, Transmitted 16th May 1977)

9) Stretcher Case (Album Version By Nick Mason)

10) Sick Of Being Sick (John Peel Session, Transmitted 16th May 1977)

11) Your Eyes (Album Version By Nick Mason)

12) New Rose (Album Version By Nick Lowe)

13) Idiot Box (Album Version By Nick Mason)

14) Neat Neat Neat (Album Version By Nick Lowe)

15) Problem Child (Album Version By Nick Mason)

16) Stab Your Back (John Peel Session, Transmitted 10th December 1976)

17) See Her Tonite (Album Version By Nick Lowe)

Outta My Mind On A Saturday Night (45:28) (KF) (Mega)

* the consensus is that Brian was born in 1955, though some sources state 1950. 

Fearlessness

After a week of bombarding you with music from this year, time for a trip in the Dubhed time machine (one careless owner, 23 million years on the clock, needs some re-upholstery and an oil change).

Materialising in 1977, your soundtrack today is 15 songs spanning punk, dub, alternative, (Egyptian) reggae, lovers' rock and most definitely not a Christmas song from Neil Young, handily split into two sides for your listening pleasure.

Settle back with a pack of Rowntrees Tots, a can of Blue Raspberry Panda Pop and a copy of 2000AD or Blue Jeans and enjoy the music before the sugar-induced coma hits.

 

Side One

1) Screwed Up: Menace

2) Judgement Dub: Tapper Zukie

3) Nightclubbing: Iggy Pop

4) Cheat: The Clash

5) Rasta Dub: Lee 'Scratch' Perry

6) Bored Teenagers: The Adverts

7) Star Of Bethlehem: Neil Young

8) We Are The One: The Avengers

Side Two

1) Sweet Gene Vincent: Ian Dury

2) Neat Neat Neat: The Damned

3) Zion Gate: Yabby You

4) Alison: Elvis Costello

5) Reuters: Wire

6) Egyptian Reggae: Jonathan Richman & The Modern Lovers

7) Someone To Love Me: Candy McKenzie

Side One (22:17) (KF) (Mega)

Side Two (22:36) (KF) (Mega)

Just Walk Don't Talk

A companion of sorts to the Floorshow compilation I posted last summer, it's back to the alternative 1980s for a lucky 13 of 12" and extended versions.

I've stuck with most of the artists from Floorshow, but with different song selections, the majority of which haven't appeared on this blog previously. Again, whilst many of these songs didn't make it onto the decks at the alternative pubs and clubs I bothered as a pan-stick caked and hairpsrayed teen, they would get played to death at home, to my parents' frequent dismay.

I've managed to hold onto some of the original vinyl 12" singles: The Sisters Of Mercy, The Damned (transparent yellow vinyl 10"), Siouxsie & The Banshees, Psychic TV. Others have been replaced with shiny disc. A couple - The March Violets and the Razormaid mix of Vicious Pink - have been 21st century discoveries thanks to the power of the blogosphere. 

 

And yes, that misspelling of Ressurection Joe still bugs me, four decades on.

 

I think I'd need more than pan-stick and hairspray to look halfway decent this days, but the music takes me right back, even if there is a soundtrack of creaking bones and groans running in parallel...!

 

1) Stranger (Album Version By Clan Of Xymox, Ivo & John Fryer): Clan Of Xymox (1985)

2) This Corrosion (12" Version By Jim Steinman): The Sisters Of Mercy (1987)

3) Peppermint Pig (12" Version By Alan Rankine & John Fryer): Cocteau Twins (1983)

4) 506 (Full Length Version): The Leather Nun (1985)

5) Anything (And Yet Another Mix By Lance Phillips): The Damned (1986)

6) Sister Europe (Album Version By Steve Lillywhite): The Psychedelic Furs (1980)

7) Song From The Edge Of The World (Columbus Mix By Mike Thorne): Siouxsie & The Banshees (1987)

8) Walk Into The Sun (Extended): The March Violets (1984)

9) Modesty Plays (Long Version): Sparks (1983)

10) Take Me Now (Razormaid Mix By Joseph Watt): Vicious Pink (1986)

11) Swamp Thing (Full Length Album Version): The Chameleons (1986)

12) Roman P. (Fireball Mix By Mark Freegard): Psychic TV (1986)

13) Ressurection Joe (Long Version By Chris Kimsey): The Cult (1984)

Just Walk Don't Talk (1:20:16) (KF) (Mega)

Flying In The Face Of Fashion

A very special mix for a very special friend on a very special day. Happy birthday, Claire!

 

51 minutes of pure '80s, picked from the vinyl and mixtapes we used to listen to at yours on Sundays and after school, particularly Talk Talk 12" singles, and not forgetting two memorable gigs, seeing The Damned and The Psychedelic Furs live in concert. 

From those days as 15 year old dreamers to today, whether we've been in or out of contact, the world is a brighter place for having you on it. Have a wonderful day, my beautiful friend.

 

xx

1) Messages (10" Version): O.M.D. (1980)

2) Fade To Grey (Dance Mix): Visage (1981)

3) Love My Way (U.S Remix): The Psychedelic Furs (1982)

4) Blind Vision (Edited Version): Blancmange (1983)

5) A Question Of Lust (Album Version): Depeche Mode (1986)

6) Give It Up (Album Version): Talk Talk (1986)

7) World Shut Your Mouth (Julian Cope vs. Trouble Funk) (12" Mix): Julian Cope (1986)

8) Anything (Yet Another Mix): The Damned (1986)

9) Desire (Come And Get It) (Extended Version): Gene Loves Jezebel (1986)

10) Nightporter (Remixed By Steve Nye) (12"): Japan (1982)

1980: Messages (10"): 1

1981: Visage (USA 12"): 2

1982: Nightporter (12"): 10

1983: Blind Vision (USA 12"): 4 

1986: Anything (Limited Edition Yellow Vinyl Remix 10"): 8

1986: Desire (Come And Get It) (12"): 9

1986: Give It Up (12"): 6

1986: Pretty In Pink (12"): 3

1986: A Question Of Lust (12"): 5

1986: World Shut Your Mouth (Limited Edition Remix 12"): 7

 

Flying In The Face Of Fashion (51:06) (KF) (Mega)

Floorshow

Mix CD-R, originally compiled November 2004 by Atom Boy for my wife & I, and "kind of dedicated to the mighty Phil Sainsbury and the various clubs where he DJ'd" in Bristol in the 1980s/1990s. By his own admission, some liberties were taken with the tracklisting: the Ofra Haza version of Temple Of Love over the original, for example. I've taken a few more liberties by re-inserting the 12" mix of Psychic TV, which wouldn't fit on the original CD-R, time-wise. I've also replaced the 7" version of Cccan't You See... with the 12" French mix, which (for me) is the definitive version and wasn't originally included as Atom Boy's vinyl was "unlistenable". As a consequence, I've split the compilation into two sides, which would comfortably fit onto a C90 cassette and is more fitting with the period of the music. Image is by Atom Boy, taken from the front cover of the CD-R. Draw the curtains, get some dry ice and low lighting on, down a pint of Snake Bite and forget it's Sunday morning...

Side One

1) A Day (Re-Mixed By Ivo & John Fryer): Clan Of Xymox (1985)

2) Singing Rule Britannia (While The Walls Close In): The Chameleons (1985)

3) The Shadow Of Love (The Ten Inches Of Hell Mix): The Damned (1985)

4) Israel (Single Version): Siouxsie & The Banshees (1980)

5) She Sells Sanctuary (Album Version): The Cult (1985)

6) Live For Today (Extended Version By Todd Rundgren): Lords Of The New Church (1983)

7) Temple Of Love (Touched By The Hand Of Ofra Haza): The Sisters Of Mercy ft. Ofra Haza (1992)

8) Lorelei: Cocteau Twins (1984)

Side Two

1) I Can Smell Your Thoughts (Remix): The Leather Nun (1987)

2) Turn To The Sky (The Spiral Tribe Edition): The March Violets (1995)

3) Heartbeat (Album Version): The Psychedelic Furs (1984)

4) Native Love (Step By Step) (Remixed By Rudy Turner): Divine (1982)

5) Good Vibrations (Kundalini Mix By Phil Harding): Psychic TV (1986)

6) Cccan't You See... (French Extended Mix): Vicious Pink (1984)

7) The Number One Song In Heaven (Long Version By Giorgio Moroder): Sparks (1979)

8) A Day (Re-Mixed By Ivo Watts-Russell & John Fryer) (Reprise): Clan Of Xymox (1985)

 

Side One (44:04)

Side Two (44:16)