Alphabet Beats #161: X is for....X-Ray Spex

X is for...

One of the voices of the early UK Punk scene that stood out, mainly because she was female, was Poly Styrene. After seeing the Sex Pistols in pretty much an empty hall in Hastings in 1976 she formed X-Ray Spex and although in their time they released only one album and five singles (Poly herself recorded some material Solo after her time in the band) it is enough to carve their name in stone as one of the great Punk bands.

A second album followed many years later after they had reformed for the second time in 1995 (the first being in 1991 when they played a sell-out show at the Brixton Academy).

In 2008 the band played The Roundhouse in London performing 'Germfree Adolescents' in full (with exception of 'Plastic Bag'). This was recorded and filmed and the following  year a live CD and DVD of the show was released.

Personally I was not too taken with 'Concious Consumer' prefering the original output more. 'Let's Submerge' is one of my favourite songs and 'Identity' is a single that I still get pleasure out of listening to all these years on.

Album

Germfree Adolescents 

Released 10th November 1978

EMI

UK Album Chart #30

Tracklist

Side one
    1. Art-I-Ficial - 3:24
    2. Obsessed with You - 2:30
    3. Warrior in Woolworths - 3:06
    4. Let's Submerge - 3:26
    5. I Can't Do Anything - 2:58
    6. Identity - 2:25

Side two
    1. Genetic Engineering - 2:49
    2. I Live Off You - 2:09
    3. I Am a Poseur - 2:34
    4. Germfree Adolescents - 3:14
    5. Plastic Bag - 4:54
    6. The Day the World Turned Day-Glo - 2:53
 

Concious Consumer

Released 28th September 1995

Receiver

Tracklist

1.  "Cigarettes" 2:53
2. "Junk Food Junkie" 3:26
3. "Crystal Clear" 4:31
4. "India" 3:21
5. "Dog in Sweden" 3:14
6. "Hi Chaperone" 2:58
7. "Good Time Girl" 2:59
8. "Melancholy" 3:53
9. "Sophia" 2:49
10. "Peace Meal" 2:30
11. "Prayer for Peace" 3:58
12. "Party"  2:48

Singles
    "Oh Bondage Up Yours!" / "I Am A Cliché" (September 1977: Virgin Records, VS 189); also released as a 12" single (VS 189–12)
    "The Day The World Turned Day-Glo" / "I Am A Poseur" (March 1978: EMI International, INT 553) – No. 23 UK Singles Chart
    "Identity" / "Let's Submerge" (July 1978: EMI International, INT 563) – No. 24 UK
    "Germfree Adolescents" / "Age" (October 1978: EMI International, INT 573) – No. 19 UK
    "Highly Inflammable" / "Warrior in Woolworths" (April 1979: EMI International, INT 583) – No. 45 UK
 

Sessions/Live/Other Bits

Who is Poly Styrene? (BBC Arena 1979).

Live on Musikladen.

Let's Submerge (Live at Hope and Anchor 1977).

Oh Bondage Up Yours (From 'Punk in London').

Identity (From 'Revolver').

Warrior in Woolworths (From 'Old Grey Whistle Test').

I Live Off You (From 'Old Grey Whistle Test').

Artificial (From 'Old Grey Whistle Test')

1st John Peel Session (1978).

2nd John Peel Session (1978).

The Day the World Turned Day-Glo (Top of the Pops).

 Live at the Hope and Anchor (London Weekend TV Show)

Part One.

Part Two.