‘Punk’ is a rather nebulous entity and subject to many varied theories. I bought many ‘punk’ records and saw some of the bands (well after the event if you believe those who were there in 1977 and before) so, what’s it all about? I’ve obtained quite a few ‘punk’ compilations and have decided to try and see if I can put something together.
First out of the gate is the latest CD I’ve turned up. Saddled with the title Punk! It seems as good a place as any to start. Although the recordings here seem to date from 1977 -1980, there’s a Mohican on the front cover. I’m sure they didn’t really start to sprout until The Exploited became massive, but have now become a convenient shorthand for ‘punk’. Oh well, here goes…
Punk! Cd – 2000
1, Generation X - Ready Steady Go
What a great start! Pulse pounding opening, an adrenalin rush of a song. Generation X featured Billy Idol, a member of the Bromley Contingent and Tony James, a member of the London SS. They played the Roxy and became pop stars .Their early songs featured stories about life as a punk, albeit hilariously glamourised.The lyrics of this particular song are perhaps a sell-out as they hark back to the 1960s, specifically a pop programme fronted by mod bird Kathy McGowan. This tune was featured in the British tosh film Party Party (along with The Rezillos Flying Saucer Attack and The Clash’s cover of Brand New Cadillac). Who could forget those brilliant opening chords being played over the vision of a young lady in a leopard-skin mini-skirt bending over to rummage in a fridge whilst Daniel Peacock looked on? Probably everyone. Name checking The Beatles, The Stones and ‘Bobby’ Dylan doesn’t help but Ready Steady Who can lead us to…
2, The Jam - In the City
Good follow up. The Jam may not have looked like stereotypical punks (like, say, early Generation X) but their first album was 30 minutes of anger, aggression and bile – but with a positive message. In The City is their calling card and has some great statements, even if ‘at least we can say we tried’ sounds unfortunately a bit Ed Miliband at present.
3, The Undertones - Jimmy Jimmy
I can’t hack The Undertones. I did listen to this but they make my toes curl. I don’t know if it’s Fergal Sharkey’s voice but …no…..
4, Buzzcocks – Promises
A love song, delivered with the ‘Cocks usual panache.
5, The Stranglers - 5 Minutes
Huzzah! One of my faves from back in the day. The Stranglers got a lot of stick back in the day re pub rock, age, keyboards etc, and were perhaps fortunate that they put out songs with titles like Something Better Change and No More Heroes at exactly the right time to catch the zeitgeist. 5 Minutes is a blast. According to The Stranglers – Song By Song Huge points out that this was about the proximity of well-to-do areas with dangerous places (presumably in London). The line ‘they killed his cat and they raped his wife’ always suggests Sam Peckinpah’s Straw Dogs.
6, Sham 69 - Hurry Up Harry
Oh dear. Sham’s early stuff was terrific voice of the people punk protest, but here the rot’s setting in. The chorus “We’re going dahn the pub” seems designed to appeal to the sort of people who used to beat up punks. I know Pursey had a downer on punk fashions (I loved those Seditionaries t-shirts) but this is a far cry from What Have We Got?, Red London, Ulster, I Don’t Wanna and the like.
7, Dead Kennedys - Holiday in Cambodia
The Clash may have sung I’m So Bored With The USA and then embraced it, but here’s a group of Americans who mean business. It shows what a sheltered life I’d led when I recall being a little shocked by their name, listening to John Peel play California Uber Alles. After Sham’s good time pub singalong (complete with joanna in the middle), here’s a vicious, discordant howl of protest at smug, middle class America. We’re back on track.
8, Eddie And The Hot Rods - Teenage Depression
More pub rock jeers, but this is fast rock’n’ roll with marvellous teenage rebellion lyrics. Ironically first heard this when a friend of my brother turned up one Christmas with an armful of his older sibling’s records – Slade, T-Rex, Mott The Hoople – this one stood out.
9, 999 – Homicide
999 never quite fit the punk mould (which some might say is a good thing). Nick Cash had previous form with Kilburn & The High Roads. They always sounded clean and overproduced, but I liked that. Seems weird to recall seeing them on Cheggers Plays Pop.
10, The Boomtown Rats - She's So Modern
More oh dear. Like The Police, the Rats first couple of singles were fast ‘n’ furious rock’n’roll which fit in well with what was going on. Good name too, even if it was from Woody Guthrie’s autobiography. Not sure they’d have got as far as they did had they remained the Nightlife Thugs. And this sounds like a demo version, it’s certainly not the single.
11, The Damned - Neat Neat Neat
Classic. I always preferred this to New Rose. It’s odd. Apart from the speed, it doesn’t sound trad arr punk, but that’s good. Some almost psychedelic flourishes.
12, The Adverts - Gary Gilmore's Eyes
Can’t go wrong here , neither. 1977 revisited via contemporary news reports. Utterly bizarre.Small time crim commits murder and gets sentenced to the death penalty. He calls America’s bluff by demanding they carry it out, and he gets the choice of his execution method – a firing squad – and donates his eyes to medical science. TV Smith’s lyrics are incredible and witty. And it’s all true! Read Norman Mailer’s The Executioner’s Song (or watch the TV movie with Tommy Lee Jones as Gilmore.)
13, The Nosebleeds - Ain't Bin to No Music School
Absolutely brilliant – and uncliched. Classical music intro. Mention of the dole. Completely outside what you’d expect. Viva Manchester, Vini Reilly and Eddie Garritty.
14, Stiff Little Fingers - At the Edge
I like SLF but this is a bit embarrassing. Good music but the words don’t speak to me anymore – hopefully they will speak to youngsters somewhere.
15, Anti-Nowhere League - Streets of London
We sang the boring Ralph McTell folkie version at school, so when the ANWL cranked it up, I roared with laughter.
16, Sex Pistols - Anarchy In The UK (Alternate Version)
“Words Of Wisdom – Biblical Quotation”. The official recordings do become overfamiliar so it’s good to hear the alternate versions. Still brimming with power and rebellion.
17, The Lurkers - Ain't got a Clue
Another absolute corker. I only saw the Mark Fincham fronted version of The Lurkers (although Pete Stride did give me a light at the 100 Club once). The original single came with a free gold flexidisc (Chaos Bros?) and this ramalama good time knees up is rendered priceless by Howard Wall talking to himself in the middle. “You’re not having a good time? What’s the matter with you?” “I dunno. I dunno. I just dunno any more.”
18, Bow Wow Wow - I Want Candy
I ended up seeing Bow Wow Wow when they reformed recently. They were much better live. My brother had a version of this song by The Count Bishops which was infinitely superior.
19, Spizz Energi - Where's Captain Kirk?
Although not social protest, Spizz’s oddball world was a good one to inhabit. He was always approachable too, and eccentrically funny. Hard not to like this, although I’m sure the original single had a speed-up Smurf style playout including “Frankly Scotty I find this whole thing (bleep) irrational.”
20, Toy Dolls - Nellie the Elephant No way. I like the Toy Dolls but not this.
So, to sum up. Punk? The Sex Pistols definitely. Unutterably. Irrevocably. The Dead Kennedys – yes, especially if you’re American. Of the rest, I’d give it to The Jam and Stranglers for attitude, The Nosebleeds for content, and the Adverts and Lurkers for nostalgia. Of course they’re all punks in their own way. But I'd have taken out The Undertones and The Toy Dolls.
