45RPM: #54 Ambition - Subway Sect (1978)

Released in October 1978 the follow-up to Nobodys Scared was originally recorded for the debut album for Subway Sect that was eventually scrapped. The Album version is a little more rugged than the eventual single version that had been remixed and produced Mickey Foote (the man who had produced the debut album by The Clash). It was released on Rough Trade Records - RTS007, both songs written by Vic Godard but both labels have Goddard, though the picture cover did manage to spell his name correctly).

The Jesus and Mary Chain covered Ambition.

All these years on it still sounds wonderful I think and it's surely one of the best singles ever released on an Indie Label.

A-Side: Ambition

B-Side: Different Story

Vic Godard continues to perform and release material under the name Vic Godard and Subway Sect. Check out his website for more information on recordings, tour dates etc

Last year he released a maginificent album produced by Edwyn Collins called 1979 Now! that is really worth checking out. As is the concert below. This concert from September 1992, staged at the Town and Country Club (now Forum) in Kentish Town, north London, was promoted by New Musical Express, and ended Godard’s decade-long absence from music. It sees him backed by Edwyn Collins, guitarist with Scots band Orange Juice, and former Sex Pistols drummer Paul Cook. The repertoire majors on then current album ‘The End Of The Surrey People’, with some Sect and Orange Juice classics mixed in.

45RPM: #53 Nobodys Scared - Subway Sect (1978)

One of the bands who don't always seem to get a lot of credit during the early days of Punk are Subway Sect. They were there right at the start when Malcom McLaren suggested Vic Godard and his friends form a band to appear on the bill of the 100 Club Punk Festival in September of 1976. Despite their lack of experience they played and then went on tour with The Clash on the White Riot Tour (there's a poor film from Sussex University on 25/05/77 of the band playing Rock 'n' Roll Even on the tour).

The debut single Nobodys Scared was released in March 1978 but they had recorded the song (and the B-Side Dontsplitit) for a John Peel Session in October 1977 (that session is at the bottom of the page). Braik Records (actually this Subway Sect single was the only record released on the label) was owned by Bernie Rhodes who as well as managing The Clash at the time was also managing Subway Sect.

Bernie Rhodes oversaw the recording of the debut album from Subway Sect but for reasons unknown (to this day I still believe) prior to it's possible release Bernie sacked all the band except Vic Godard! The album didn't see the light of day! A second single was taken from the sessions for the album and I'll speak about that in the next 45RPM.

I am of the opinion, and have been for many years, that this single should be regarded as one of The Best and spoken of in the same breath and heaped with a similar amount of  praise as one does for Complete Control by The Clash, Anarchy in the UK by the Pistols, New Rose by The Damned etc

Nobodys Scared / Dontsplitit

Braik Records BRS 01

Produced by George Alexander

Released 24th March 1978

John Peel Session

Recorded 17th October 1977

Broadcast 24th October 1977

01. Chain Smoking

02. Parallel Lines

03. Dontsplitit

04 Nobodys Scared

Gems From My Collection - Subway Sect Retrospective

Back in 1985 Rough Trade released this brilliant little Retrospective of one of the original punk bands. They had released a classic single in 1978 called 'Nobody's Scared' backed with 'Don't Split It' on Braik Records.

They followed that with what is considered to be one of the greatest indie singles of all time released on Rough Trade: 'Ambition' with the brilliant 'A Different Story' on the b-side.

The Retrospective takes in the years 1977-1981 and brings together 12 tunes that demonstrate what a superb band they were. Fronted by Vic Goddard, the band had appeared at the Punk Rock Festival at the 100 Club back on 21st September 1976, supported The Clash on the White Riot Tour and for reasons unknown their debut album, overseen by Bernie Rhodes never saw the light of day.

Tracklist: Nobody's Scared/Don't Split It/Parallel Lines/Chain Smoking/Rock and Roll Even/Ambition/Double Negative/Head Held High/Stool Pigeon/Watching the Devil/Spring Is Grey/Stop That Girl

Nobdoy's Scared/Don't Split It Single

Ambition