40 Years of Punk & New Wave 1977: Television Screen - The Raidiators From Space

Television Screen / Love Detective

Chiswick Records

Produced by Roger Armstrong

Released 22nd April 1977

A-Side

Television Screen

 B-Side

Love Detective

In their homeland of Ireland it was released on CBS Ireland with a Different Picture Sleeve

The single reached #17 on the Irish Charts and is considered to be the first Punk Single to chart in the Top 20 anywhere in the world!

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The Raidiators From Space are one of those bands that are often overlooked when it comes to talking about the best bands around in 1977. People often talk of the bands that sprung up in Northern Ireland but when it comes to the South they usually only mention The Boomtown Rats! I think that's a real shame because they should be given a lot more praise for putting Ireland on the map when it came to Punk (the Rats wouldn't release their Debut Single until four months later).

The band were formed in Dublin in 1976 and featured Stephen Averill (AKA Stephen Rapid) on vocals, Philip Chevron - guitar and vocals, Pete Holidai - guitar and vocals, Mark Megaray - bass and James Wynne (AKA James Crash). They recorded a four track demo sometime in 1976 that fell into the path of Chiswick Records via the hand of Eamon Carr of the band Horslips, who signed them early in 1977.

1977 would be a busy year for the band releasing two further singles (Sunday World - September 1977 and Enemies - November 1977 ) and their Debut Album T.V. Tube Heart, all, apart from Sunday World (CBS Ireland), on Chiswick Records.

Stephen would leave the band not long after the album was released and Philip Chevron would take over vocal duties.

The band toured supporting Thin Lizzy and after the album was released relocated to London.

The Debut Single Television Screen was listed by Sounds music paper as one of the Singles of the Week alongside Blondie's In The Flesh and a Weather Report single entitled Birdland.

I actually really liked it because I thought it sounded musically similar to Eddie and The Hot Rods Teenage Depression stuff with that kind of Rock 'n' Roll vibe to it.

 Listen To T.V. Tube Heart Here.

40 Years of Punk & New Wave 1977: One Chord Wonders - The Adverts

One Chord Wonders / Quickstep - The Adverts

Stiff Records (BUY 13)

Produced by Larry Wallis

Released 22nd April 1977

 One Chord Wonders

(written by Tim Smith)

I wonder what we'll play for you tonight.
Something heavy or something light.
Something to set your soul alight.
I wonder how we'll answer when you say.
"We don't like you - go away"
"Come back when you've learned to play"

I wonder what we'll do when things go wrong.
When we're half-way though our favourite song.
We look up and the audience has gone.
Will we feel a little bit obscure.
Think "we're not needed here"
"we must be new wave - they'll like us next year"

The wonders don't care - we don't give a damn. 

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Here's the story of The Adverts in a few simple steps:

Step 1: Form a band.
TV (Tim) Smith  and Gaye Advert (Black) moved from Bideford in Devon to London in 1976 and recruited guitarist Howard Pickup (Boak) and Laurie Driver (Muscat). The Adverts are born.

Step 2: Play Your First Gig
January 1977 The Adverts make their live debut supporting Generation X at The Roxy.

Step 3: Play Your Second Gig
Their second gig, also at The Roxy (they played there a number of times between January and April), they supported Slaughter and the Dogs (from Manchester). The gig is recorded and Bored Teenagers ends up on the Top 30 album The Roxy London WC2.

Step 4: Play Your Third Gig and Get Signed
Supporting The Damned this time around The Adverts are signed to Stiff Records.

Step 5: Release Your Debut Single
 The Adverts they release their Debut single on Stiff Records entitled One Chord Wonders on the 22nd April 1977. On the cover it is called One Chord Wonder and the label on the actual record has One Chord Wonders.

 Step 6: Get A John Peel Session
On the 25th April 1977 The Adverts stroll into the studios to record their debut session for John Peel. This is broadcast on 29th April 1977.

Songs on the session are:

    Quickstep
    Looking Through Gary Gilmore's Eyes
    One Chord Wonders
    New Boys
    Bored Teenagers

Step 7: Go Out On Tour To Promote The Single
In May 1977 they launched out on tour supporting The Damned. Stiff Records used all their wit and wisdom to come up with a great enticement to witness the tour:  

"The Damned 

Can Now Play Three Chords The Adverts 

Can Play One 

Hear All Four Of Them At..."

45RPM: #127: Another Girl, Another Planet - The Only Ones (1978)

Another Girl, Another Planet - The Only Ones

CBS

Produced by The Only Ones

Released April 1978

Did Not Chart*

 A-Side: Another Girl, Another Planet

B-Side: Special View

*Whilst the single did not chart first time around it did eventually chart when it was re-released in the UK in January 1992, backed with Pretty in Pink by The Psychedelic Furs to promote the compilation album, Sound of the Suburbs, and appeared in the UK Singles Chart for two weeks, peaking at #57.

(Dutch Picture Sleeve)

(UK 12" Version)

There was also a 7" and 12" released that had As My Wife Says  on the B-side that was apparently released in August 1978. I must confess that I don't think I have ever seen this version myself and the knowledge of it only came from seeing it listed on Discogs!

Another Girl, Another Planet Live on Later with Jools Holland.

 

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Another Girl, Another Planet is quite possibly the only song that most people know of when it comes to The Only Ones. You would imagine that it must have been a one hit wonder back in 1978 but it never actually charted and yet still retains a certain sense of being a stone cold classic single!

On John Peel's The Millennium All Time Festive 50 it was placed at #18 (1978 Festive 50 it was #17, 1979 Festive 50 it was #20, 1980 Festive 50 it was #28, 1981 Festive 50 it was #41,1982 Festive 50 All Time Chart it was #24). Prior to the release of the single it had been recorded as part of a session for John Peel. You can hear the whole of the 5th April session here.

Another Girl, Another Planet

Covered

Blink 182.

Blink 182 recorded a cover of this song for the opening track of Travis Barker's MTV reality show Meet the Barkers. It was later released in 2005 on their Greatest Hits album and as a Promo Single for Radio etc.

I am actually amazed how many cover versions on You Tube there are of Another Girl, Another Planet that attribute the song to Blink 182 and not The Only Ones!

The Replacements

Was the B-Side to their 1989 Achin' To Be single.

Misty Miller.

The Mighty Lemon Drops.

On the album Just Say Anything.

The Monkeywrenchers.

You will never hear a Cover of the song quite like this one!

Ukulele Orchestra of Great Britain.

The Coal Porters.

Shock and Awe.

The Stories.

The Schematics.

The Lightning Seeds.

B-Side of Ready or Not single.

Blondie - Long Time (New Video (April 2017)

I like this time of year a lot. I can't actually recall a day where the only posts on the blog are featuring new music. It might be an absolute first (I'll have to check).

Anyway, yet another new album due out in May is from Blondie. Pollinator will be their 11th Studio album and features original members Debbie Harry, Chris Stein and Clem Burke alongside a truckload of guest songwriters. It's been four years since Ghosts of Download and it's great to see them back again and sounding pretty tidy as well.

Long Time (Official Video)

For details of the new album Pollinator that is due for release 5th May 2017 go to the Official Band Website to check out some of the various packages available.

 Fun (Official Video)

My Monster (Official Audio) 

(Johnny Marr Cover)

Coming Backwards - The Alarm (New Video April 2017)

With the first album of new music since Direct Action in 2010 Mike Peters and The Alarm are set to release Blood Red on 5th May the first of two albums this year (the second will be called Viral Black and will be out in September 2017). The album is available here. All the Limited Editions and Vinyl are sold out now.

You can watch a series of videos that were produced exclusively for The Alarm Website where Mike Peters talks about the up and coming project. Watch here NOW.

"Fighting the same battles over and over again" is something that Mike Peters knows about as he has battled against cancer a number of times and this time around he's had to do it with his wife Jules alongside him also fighting against cancer in her life.

Mike Peters has said that this new work presents a challenge to both himself and the listener and as a listener I think he's right. It's not exactly the kind The Alarm music we have been used to and maybe it's going to take some time to fully embrace it. 

We can start now with the first track to be released a couple of days ago as a video from the album Blood Red....

 Coming Backwards - The Alarm

THE PRIMITIVES - New Thrills (Ltd Edition EP - May 2017)

  New Thrills - The Primitives 

(Limited edition maxi-single 10"vinyl)

Elefant UK

Released 5th May 2017

Oh Honey Sweet

TRACKLISTING:
1. I'll Trust The Wind
2. Squeak 'N' Squawk
3. Oh Honey Sweet
4. Same Stuff

Notes on the Elefant UK Website
THE PRIMITIVES are back. Paul Court, Tig Williams and Tracy Tracy’s band continue to prove that they are in their second youth. After that exceptional album of covers called “Echoes And Rhymes” and their fantastic last album “Spin-O-Rama”, Elefant Records is releasing a magnificent 10” vinyl maxi-single with four new, original songs by the band, that can keep up with any of their greatest hits.

The guitar that starts off “I'll Trust The Wind” evokes some of the band’s great moments, with a marvellous riff and an incomparable dynamic. Their contagious melodies plus that British touch are evident throughout.

“Squeak 'N' Squawk” is another bullseye, which echoes once again (and why not) other bands’ such as THE JESUS & MARY CHAIN or PRIMAL SCREAM’s finest moments, with a straightforward nod towards early classic PRIMITIVES.

“Oh Honey Sweet” opens the B-side with their more pop facet, less distortion and wonderfully light, with Paul’s voice illuminating everything.

And to finish, so that we don’t forget about some of the British band’s consistent references, “Same Stuff” closes things on a high note with overtones of garage, surf and blues, and a noisy and solid bass riff.

These songs sound as fresh as if they had been composed in the band’s first year of existence. The release will be a 1000-copy limited-edition 10” vinyl.

You Can Order A Copy From Here!

Hard Times - Paramore (April 2017)

Hard Times - Paramore

Fueled By Rayman

Released 19th April 2017

Hard Times (Official Video)

After Laughter - Paramore

Fueled By Rayman

Produced by Justin Meldal-Johnson and Taylor York

Release Date 12th May 2017

Hard Times is the first track to be released that will feature on the brand new album, their fifth studio album, After Laughter. Just from a few listens it would appear that it is along the same lines as the self-titled album from four years ago!

It does seem to have been a long four years since the album Paramore that produced a couple of big hits for the band (Still Into You - US #24, UK #15 and Ain't It Fun - US #10). Between 2013-15 the band had toured on The Self-Titled Tour the USA, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Europe, and also a couple of dates in South America.

There are personal changes once again with the return of drummer Zac Farro. He said he had returned just to do the drums for the album and not as a full member of the band but it was announced in February that he was indeed going to be the full time drummer for the band. He originally left the band along with his brother Josh in 2010 and various drummers have occupied the drumstool for live shows and for work in the studio. Zac Farro has contributed to three of the songs on the new album and the bulk of them are penned by Hayley Williams and Taylor York.

Bassist Jeremy Davis has gone for good this time around (he had a period of time away from the band back in 2004). He departed in December 2015 and by March 2016 had begun legal action claiming to be "eligible to enjoy the benefits of a business partnership with Hayley Williams as a co-owner of the band" (you can read a bit about that here). Was trying to hunt down the end result of this but haven't been able to find it yet. 

In a recent interview Hayley Williams had said that, "I was kind of flat-lined and I think that if it weren't for (bandmate) Taylor (York) the band would be over". Good news that, it isn't! 

Paramore Bounces Back With Old Faces and a New Sound - NY Times 19th April 2017.

The Darling Buds - Evergreen EP Released Today!

Evergreen EP - The Darling Buds

Oddbox Records

Released 21st April 2017

Evergreen (Official Video)

Available on 10" Black Vinyl (400 Copies)

10" Green Vinyl (100 Copies - Sold Out)

Cassette (100 Copies)

You Can Order The EP Here and also listen to the track Complicated.

Review of the EP from A Pessimist Is Never Disappointed. 

50THIRDANDTHIRD Interview.

It's been 25 years since music appeared from a studio that featured The Darling Buds. Today they release a brand spanking new EP that demonstrates that they still have something to give to those who have ears to hear!

Evergreen - Live In Cardiff 2016.

Complicated - Live In Cardiff 2016.

The last album release was this one:

 Erotica - The Darling Buds

Epic

Produced By Stephen Street

Released 1992

And the Last Single/EP was this one:

Long Day In The Universe (Remix) / There's Nothing About You That Makes Me Feel O.K. / Clearlight / Poppy's Spell.

Chaos Recordings / Columbia

Released 1992

40 Years of Punk & New Wave 1977: IV Rattus Norvegicus - The Stranglers (Debut Album)

 🌟🌟🌟🌟

IV (Rattus Norvegicus) - The Stranglers
United Artists
Produced by Martin Rushent
Released 15th April 1977
UK Chart #4

Side One 

Lead Vocals

1. Hugh Cornwell

2. Hugh Cornwell

3. Jean-Jacques Burnel 

4. Jean-Jacques Burnel

5. Hugh Cornwell

Side Two

Lead Vocals

1. Hugh Cornwell

2. Hugh Cornwell

3. Jean-Jacques Burnel

4. Hugh Cornwell

Free Limited Edition 7"

 10,000 pressings

A-Side

Peasant In The Big Shitty (Live)

Vocal: Dave Greenfield

A-Side

Choosey Susie

Vocal: Jean-Jacques Burnel 

Singles on IV (Rattus Norvegicus)

Double A-Side

Grip / London Lady

Released January 1977

UK Chart #44

Double A-Side

Peaches*/ Go Buddy Go

Released May 1977

UK Chart #8 

*Official Clean Version.

 Peaches was not initially released with a Picture Sleeve in the UK but when reissued in 1979 a Picture Sleeve was added.

***************

I had actually intended to post this on the actual 40th Anniversary of its release but was away from home for a few days in a place with very poor internet access so I hope you will enjoy it a few days later than proposed. There's a few links in this piece where you can hear more music from The Stranglers.

Although they were linked to the Punk/New Wave scene The Stranglers were way superior musically to many of their Punk/New Wave counterparts and the sound of the Debut Album clearly showed that they had already moved passed the revolution of Punk.

From 1976 The Stranglers had become associated with the burgeoning punk rock movement, due in part to their opening for the first British tours of American punks the Ramones and Patti Smith. Notwithstanding this association, some of the movement's champions in the British musical press viewed the band with suspicion on account of their age and musical virtuosity and the intellectual bent of some of their lyrics. However, Burnel was quoted saying, "I thought of myself as part of punk at the time because we were inhabiting the same flora and fauna ... I would like to think The Stranglers were more punk plus and then some."

The band of course had a wealth of musical experience stretching back many years and brought together they crafted a really great sound. The epic 7minutes and 30seconds of Down In The Sewer (a song that contained four sections (Falling/Down In The Sewer/Trying To Get Out Again/Rat's Rally) showed clearly how gifted they were.

I always thought they had a bit of a sound like The Doors thanks to the excellent keyboards of Dave Greenfield. The Bass of Jean-Jacques Burnel at times is like a lead guitar, he takes the lead vocal as well on three tracks, though he brings a more sensitive vocal on the excellent Princess of the Streets compared to the more gruff sounding London Lady and Ugly.

The Hugh Cornwall sung Peaches, which was released as the second single, ended up being banned by the BBC due to the dark sexual overtones of the song and it was Go Buddy Go that got the bulk of the airplay (a clean version of Peaches did exist where the offending words were removed - see link for it above). On Top of the Pops Go Buddy Go was the song that the band performed with Cornwell and Burnel switching instruments!


My friend Ronnie Carnwath did a nice piece earlier this year for the blog regarding the Grip / London Lady single and a whole lot more that's worth checking out if you haven't seen it before.

The Stranglers were then the first of the Punk/New Wave bands to break into the Top Ten on the Album Charts and also on the Singles Chart.

Re-issued versions of the album on CD include the free 7" tracks and also Go Buddy Go on the tracklisting.

Bonus

The Stranglers Live At The Roundhouse 17th April 1977.

What's interesting about the setlist is that despite the fact that Rattus had only been out a couple of days they were already playing songs that would feature on their second album later in the year. Only six songs from the Rattus album are featured. Something Better Change/Straighten Out would be released in July as another Double A-Sided Single.

 

Live At The BBC 7th April 1977.

Of the six songs broadcast by the BBC three were taken from Rattus (Sometimes, Peaches and London Lady), the others would be released later in the year.

Live At The Roundhouse November 1977.

By the time of this show their second album No More Heroes had been out a couple of months and had reached #2 in the Album Charts! Not totally sure what night this was from but between 2nd and the 6th of November the band played five consecutive nights at The Roundhouse.

Hope and Anchor, Islington - 22nd November 1977.

This was the opening night of The Front Row Festival that was recorded for a live double album that featured a number of different bands like 999, X-Ray Spex, XTC, Wilko Johnson Band, Dire Straits, The Tyla Gang, The Pirates, Steve Gibbons Band, Suburban Studs, The Pleasers, The Only Ones, Phil Rambow, Steel Pulse, Roogalator, Burlesque, The Only Ones and The Saints. The Stranglers had two songs on the album Straighten Out and Hanging Around. I'm not sure when the whole show suddenly appeared on Bootleg but I had a copy on Cassette for years that I had picked up somewhere for a couple of pound. I actually like this show a lot because the band are more relaxed playing requests and having a little bit of fun on stage.

40 Years of Punk & New Wave 1977: In The City - The Jam (Debut Single)

In The City / Takin My Love

Polydor 

Produced by Vic Smith and Chris Parry

Released April 1977

UK Chart #40*

A-Side: In The City

*When reissued in 2002 it charted at #36

B-Side: Takin' My Love

Both songs written by Paul Weller would appear on the Debut Album In The City that would be released in May 1977.

**************

"In The City"
(Paul Weller)
In the city there's a thousand things I want to say to you
But whenever I approach you, you make me look a fool
I wanna say, I wanna tell you
About the young ideas
But you turn them into fears
In the city there's a thousand faces all shining bright
And those golden faces are under 25
They wanna say, they gonna tell ya
About the young idea
You better listen now you've said your bit-a

And I know what you're thinking
You're sick of that kind of crap
But you'd better listen man
Because the kids know where it's at

In the city there's a thousand men in uniforms
And I've heard they now have the right to kill a man
We wanna say, we gonna tell ya
About the young idea
And if it don't work, at least we still tried

In the city, in the city
In the city there's a thousand things I want to say to you 

NME REVIEW 23rd April 1977

"First release from the New Wave's finest band, The Jam, and the title cut from their soon-to-be-released album. 'In The City' is the most convincing British penned teenage anthem I've heard in a Very Long Time - perhaps since the halycon days of the '60s. The songs shows The Jam to have been influenced by The Who, and the Townshendesque power chords wrenches from his Rickenbacker back up the impression. But that's like saying The Beatles were never influenced by Motown -everyone has to start somewhere - and The Who never played with the same urgency as this. A huge hit and a record those narrow minded reactionaries who control our radio will have to play." SC

The Jam were making a great name for themselves on the live circuit with their frenetic renditions of Atlantic and Motown Soul as well as songs of their own and whilst not technically a Punk band they did find themselves a part of scene whether they liked it or not! Of course compared to The Clash and The Pistols they were the "smart" boys of the New Wave with their matching suits and ties!

Paul Weller was a gifted young soul who seemed to perfectly pinpoint what exactly was going on in the hearts and minds of youngsters with his Youth Anthems.

With Rick Buckler on Drums and Bruce Foxton on Bass they would be a force to be reckoned with.

Whilst maybe not their best song of their rather large catalogue it was a great taster of what was to come from the Woking Wonders.

Despite only making it to #40 on the Charts The Jam did get to go on Top of The Pops.

In May 2002, Polydor Records decided to commemorate the 25th anniversary of The Jam by re-releasing their debut single in its original packaging, in its original 7" vinyl record format and at its original price of 75 pence. The limited pressing sold out immediately, and the song made the Top 40 one more time, peaking at #36; higher than it did in its original release and two subsequent reissues. It became the first single to chart in the UK Top 40 based alone on limited edition 7" sales since the late 1970s.

Bonus

The Jam Live in 1977

The 100 Club 11th September 1977.

In The City/Bricks and Mortar - Electic Circus, Manchester August 1977.

Slowdown - Electric Circus, Manchester August 1977 .

Takin' My Love - Electric Circus, Manchester August 1977 .

CBGB, New York 15th October 1977.