Something That I Said - Ruts Virgin Records Released 31st August 1979
In a few days time Ruts DC are to begin their UK Tour to celebrate the 40th Anniversary of the release of the Ruts debut album The Crack. They will be playing the album in sequence and probably a bunch of great classic Ruts tunes as well as Ruts DC songs.
Seeing as that's about to happen I thought I would post 'Something That I Said' as today's Tidy Tune. Also below is a link to listen afresh to the debut album 'The Crack', as well as the Ruts with Henry Rollins performing two classic tunes live and Ruts DC performing the Ruts debut single 'In A Rut' acoustically. Enjoy.
The Crack - The Ruts Virgin Records Produced by Mick Glossop Released 29th September 1979 UK Chart #16
The Crack Full Album with Bonus Tracks
Side 1
Side 2
Personnel
Ruts Malcolm Owen - vocals Paul Fox - guitar, organ, backing vocals John "Segs" Jennings - bass guitar, piano on "Jah War", backing vocals Dave Ruffy - drums, backing vocals Additional Personnel Richard Mannah - backing vocals on "S.U.S" and "Criminal Mind" Mick Glossop - synthesizer on "It Was Cold" Gary Barnacle - saxophone Luke Tunney - trumpet
1990 Reissue on LP and CD included Bonus Tracks
B6 Give Youth A Chance 3:07 B7 I Ain't Sofisticated 2:16 B8 The Crack 5:49
2016 A Picture Disc Reissue was released
The Tracklisting was the same as the Original 1979 Release.
(I have posted about this album a couple of times in the past few years but as a number of the links on those posts are dead I thought I'd revisit the album and update with some additional artwork etc. - Doug, S4L)
(L to R: Paul Fox (RIP), Segs Jennings, Malcom Owen (RIP), and Dave Ruffy)
I wrote this on a previous post on the album and I still think this way about the album:
"The Ruts debut album The Crack takes me right back to my teenage years in South East London, Forest Hill to be precise (I was 16 years old when it was released). It makes me think about many of the friends who I used to hang about with - the Forest Hill Punks. Some of them I know are still around, and like me have grown up, got married etc. Others I have no idea about, except the ones who are no longer with us.
Listening to the album makes me think not just about good times but bad times as well because there's lots of stuff going on lyrically that made an impact upon our young lives - the attitude of the cops toward us (Sus and Jah War), the violence of the age (Something That I Said), the bleakness (It Was Cold), the addictions (Criminal Mind), the betrayals (Backbiter), and the smell of danger (Out of Order).
It makes me remember hanging around Counterpoint Records in Forest Hill listening to the latest music when some of us should have been at school, or day trips, when we bunked off school, to go up to the Portobello Road and hang around Virgin Records' Offices hoping to scrounge new posters, badges etc of our favourite bands on that label (Skids, Sex Pistols, The Members and The Ruts).
When I hear it now I don't, to quote that great Pete Shelley song, wish "I was sixteen again". Time has moved on but a lot of stuff that happened in those days shaped who I am today and that's fact.
But listening to the album also makes me think of the band who made it. Segs and Ruffy lived in Forest Hill at the time and I reckon that they are still one of the best Rhythm Sections around, only Sly Dunbar and Robbie Shakespeare are better! In 2016 they are still playing many of these songs but also writing and performing new ones with Ruts DC. It makes me think of guitarist Paul Fox who was one of the most exceptional around. People always talk about the sounds that a guitarist like The Edge makes when he plays but Foxy was able to make some incredible noise without even a third of the technology that U2 have at their disposal. Sadly Foxy is no longer with us having passed away after a battle with cancer in 2007. Also it makes me think of Malcom, the volatile frontman who tragically died of a heroin overdose in July 1980 aged 26, ten months after the release of this album. It was a life snuffed out far too young! It makes me think about what could have been.
Finally it's an album that makes me remember that life goes on, inspite of all that I went through, what this band went through, there is still a life to be lived.
There's not a poor track on it and from start to finish you enter a world where Punk and Reggae meet on a level playing field and this wonderful sound just blows your mind. You feel the anger, the discrimination, and perfectly understand the violence conveyed because it was exactly what your life was like at the time and was clearly what was going on in society at the time."
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The Crack is still one of my favourite debut albums 38 years on. The combination of Punk and Reggae was something that was not done to jump on any bandwagon and follow the likes of The Clash etc. It was part of the make up of the group and the things that they drew influence from.
My favourite tracks on the album aside from the singles are S.U.S., It Was Cold, Savage Circle and Criminal Mind. Human Punk was a live recording and you can listen to the full show from the Marquee in 1979 on the link below.
The singles that were featured on it were all brilliant (including Jah War! - Charles Shaar Murray writing for the NME had said in a review of it that it was "Possibly the most unimaginatively earnest piece of white reggae ever" - maybe I should ask him if he knew what the song was inspired by and whether he was aware of the links between The Ruts and Misty in Roots down there in Southall and the violence that had been unleashed on them at the hands of the Metropolitan Police's SPG in April 1979! I thought his review was overly harsh). It was great seeing Babylon's Burning reach the Top Ten (peaking at #7) yet disappointing that the other two singles didn't do as well.
The B-Sides of the singles were also pretty tidy. Society (B-Side of Babylon's Burning) is just a totally in your face assualt speaking of how we are being watched and information being gathered on us - this was 1979, just think how it is in 2017!
"Our media controlled by hate You've been programmed, it's far too late The first time that you open your eyes They plug you into all their lies"
- Society
Give Youth a Chance (B-Side of Something That I Said) was originally called Black Man's Pinch (see John Peel Session link below).
I Ain't Sofisticated (B-Side of Jah War) always gives me a chuckle with it's little dig at Education! Though not keen on the use of the C word on it!
Taken from the album Music Must Destroy The Excellent New Digital Single by The Ruts DC Featuring Kirk Brandon (Spear of Destiny & Theatre of Hate) and Jake Burns (Stiff Little Fingers)
David Ruffy - Vocals, Drums, Percussion and Programming
Leigh Heggarty - Guitar
Additional Personnel/Musicians on the album
Vocals: Henry Rollins, Jake Burns, Kirk Brandon, Tara Rez, and Damon Alexander
Guitars: Captain Sensible, Marco Pirroni, Boz Boorer, and Paul Laventhol
Keyboards: Seamus Beaghen, James Knight, Greg Fleming, David Ruffy, Segs
String Arrangements on Golden Boy: Pete Whitfield
Performed by: Pete Whitfield, Simon Turner and Nick Trygstad
******************
Dave Ruffy, Segs Jennings and Leigh Heggarty (Photo by Raven)
The previous Studio Albumfrom Ruts DC, Rhythm Collision Vol.2 was three years ago! That album played to many of the strengths of the band with their love for Reggae etc and it's no wonder it was my Album of the Year because it was absolutely fantastic and a superb return to form for one of my favourite bands.
Music Must Destroy takes things to a whole new level with the Ruts DC making their first "Rock" album since Animal Now in 1981!
One of the things I love about this brand spanking new album is to hear the wonderful guitar work from Leigh Heggarty unleashed (he's pretty impressive live as well). He's done a great job adding his own stamp on Ruts and Ruts DC classic tunes over the past few years so it's cool to hear him get the chance to make his own mark on this fresh music that he's had a hand in creating. Segs and Ruffy are masters of their craft and "old age" certainly hasn't dimmed their passion for creating great music.
I just read a review of the album by a guy called Dave Mullins for The Punk Archive and let's just say I was a bit shocked!Here's a few of his comments, you can read the full reviewin the link:
"At best, this is a bland record, but at worst it’s a f******* turd (sorry Ruts fans)."
"This is a by-the-numbers rock album. The title track, Music Must Destroy is the only time the record shows any signs of life, but even then it’s a twitch, not a kick."
"While there’s nothing particularly interesting about the musicianship, it’s not badly performed."
"...it still suffers from what is easily the biggest problem with the record…Which is John “Segs” Jennings’ catastrophic vocal performance."
"Simply put, it’s contrived and it’s stale. Every line is forced, overdrawn and awkwardly punctuated. This could by a stylistic choice, but it’s probably more of a case of Segs just not having enough critical input from the rest of the band or the producer."
"So there you have it. I’m pronouncing this record ‘dead on arrival’. If you’re a Ruts fan, your opinion may vary, but I’m incapable of finding any redeeming factors in the record. So, unless you’re a real fan, I’d probably give it a miss."
I think Mr Mullins must have been listening to an entirely different album to me! Segs' "catastrophic vocal performance" as Mr Mullins calls it is actually not catastrophic at all! Actually, for me, I think Segs has grown in greater confidence as a Lead Vocalist and I think comparing his debut as vocalist on Animal Now to Music Must Destroy it is perfectly clear that he has grown a lot in his ability to front the band.
As for being "a bland record" well that's about as far from the truth as Lands End is from John O' Groats! It's a perfectly balanced album that sees the band rocking all out from the opening track Psychic Attack and gives a tip of the hat (they like wearing hats do the Ruts DC chaps) to The Who with Vox Teardrop - I'm sure Pete Townshend would approve) and also sees a moment of gentleness (not necessarily an old punk trait) on the closing track Golden Boy.
I don't know if Mullins was hoping for some speed laced Exploited/Discharge styled album, which you are never going to get with guys who are far more musically talented than many Punk bands around at present. If it was it's no wonder he's disappointed!
As for being an album that is "dead on arrival", he again is totally wrong. This is a very fresh sounding record and leans on the past lightly but sounds so present. I think Mullins is going to be in a league all on his own when the rest of the reviews come in for Music Must Destroy! Ruts DC have never sounded as good as this and I can't see that terrible review swaying too many people to adopt a similar viewpoint.
I am happy to say that this was one of the most eagerly awaited albums of the year and it hasn't disappointed me. I look into my crystal ball and forsee that this one will be up there at the top come year end!
Ruts DC have today issued a brand new video for the Title Track to their up-and-coming New Album Music Must Destroy. The release date is set for 16th September 2016, so it's just a week away from one of the most highly anticipated albums of the year. Henry Rollins is featured on the song and the video. Henry of course is not stranger to the band as he worked with them the night he fronted The Ruts at a special night for the late Paul Fox at the Islington Academy back in 2007. You can watch that performance HERE!
Wish to extend some birthday love to two of my favourite rock stars.
Click on the various links for more information. First up Segs Jennings of Ruts/Ruts DC. He's a sprightly 60 years old today! Besides making a new album with Ruts DC and a new single due for release 20th May 2016 (Psychic Attack), he is also going out on the road soon with Dave Ruffy (the wonderful stickman for Ruts DC), Kirk Brandon (Spear of Destiny) and Jake Burns (Stiff Little Fingers) under the banner of Dead Men Walking. You can find out more about the tour here. And second up is Barrie Masters, front man for Eddie & the Hot Rods. Trying to discover exactly how old Barrie is demands a skill set that is above my pay grade! Whatever, he is still rocking away and doing what he's loved doing since the early 1970s. Eddie & the Hot Rods have recently completed a UK Tour and just a few days ago completed a European jaunt playing before enthusiastic crowds wherever they go. To keep up to date with all things in Hot Rods world go to their FB Page.
Personnel Malcolm Owen - vocals Paul Fox - guitar John "Segs" Jennings - bass Dave Ruffy - drums Gary Barnacle - saxophone on "Love in Vain" Bill Barnacle - trumpet on "Love in Vain"
The Second album from the Ruts was probably not the one they had intended to release. They had been recording for a second album earlier in the year of 1980, not sure how many tracks they had recorded but there was a few songs kicking about as they had recorded three new ones for John Peel in their third and final session (hear the full session by clicking the link at the bottom of the page) in February (including the first version of what would become the last single released by the band whilst Malcom was still alive - Staring at the Rude Boys).
In August 1980 the band would release the final Ruts single, West One (Shine On Me) - a song I contend that is worthy of being considered their best! (Yes I know, Babylon's Burning, In A Rut...)
The Grin and Bear It album was basically a compilation of singles and B-Sides, two tracks from their final Peel Session and some live material recorded in Paris for the French TV show Chorus (Click here to see the full performance).
The band would continue on as Ruts DC until 1983 releasing a couple of albums and singles and then they came together again on 16th July 2007 to play a benefit show for guitarist Paul Fox (who had been diagnosed with Cancer) and who sadly passed away 21st October the same year. Henry Rollins took vocal duties for the show and did a mighty fine job as well.
A year after the show Ruts DC were back recording for an album that saw the light of day finally in 2013 - Listen to Rhythm Collision Vol. 2 Here! And they have been hitting the road with Leigh Heggarty on guitar (and doing a mighty fine job if I may say so), Segs still on the bass and taking lead vocal duties, and Ruffy on the drums. They are on tour at this moment - Click here for a performance from 2014 and click here for their Strummercamp performance from earlier this year. It's great that they are keeping the memory of the music of the Ruts alive, but it's also brilliant they are not resting on their laurels as they continue to write and perform new material also.
Third and final John Peel Session
Recorded 11th February 1980
Broadcast 18th February 1980
This was the rebroadcast of the session from 21st April 1980.
Thirty Five Years ago today Malcom Owen, lead vocalist of The Ruts passed away, he was only 26 years old. The best way of remembering him is not to spotlight his addiction to heroin but to turn towards the music that he made with The Ruts between 1977-80.
In my mind The Ruts were one of the best live bands around in the late 70's. Dave Ruffy and Segs Jennings provided a pulsating rhythm track that drew upon the energy of punk and the the deep cool vibes of reggae. Paul Fox
added guitar that was so off the charts at times that you wondered if
he had just stepped out of the future and was bringing back sounds that
were quite alien to our ears and that would frame the sound of rock
guitar for years to come, and Malcom Owen of course added the passion with lyrics and an intense vocal
performance. Put together it was one of the most amazing sounds ever.
Love in Vain. (B-Side to Staring at the Rude Boys)
There has been a lot of interest in The Ruts and Ruts DC down through the years (and rightly so!) and a new book has recently been published telling their story. You can get it from here.
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