Category Archives: Punk Rock

Chelsea – The Right To Work (1977)

by 1970s, Punk Rock • Tags: ,

Chelsea are an English punk rock band, formed in London in 1976. Three of the four original band members went on to help found Generation X. More than two decades after its release, “Right to Work”, Chelsea’s debut single, was included in Mojo magazine’s list of the best punk rock singles of all time. The original line-up was frontman Gene October, William Broad (later and better known as Billy Idol) (guitar), Tony James (bass) and John Towe (drums, who had come from London SS along with James). After a few gigs, the other three left October to form Generation X. October then recruited Carey Fortune (drums), Martin Stacy (guitar) and Bob Jessie (bass), with the last two soon replaced by Henry Daze (Henry Badowski) and James Stevenson (who also later joined Generation X). This rapid turnover of band members (Simon Cade Williams, aka Simon Vitesse, joined the band as bassist in 1977 for UK tour and the single: “High Rise Living”) was characteristic throughout Chelsea’s existence, with October the only constant presence. Their first single, “Right to Work”, dealing with unemployment, was their most popular song. After spending 1977-78 touring in the UK and overseas, they released their first album, Chelsea, in 1979.






chelsea-right-to-work-step-forward-2theroxy

[via Mark Stewart]

Death – Politicians In My Eyes (1976)

by 1970s, Punk Rock • Tags: , , , ,

In 1974 at Detroit’s United Sound Studios with engineer Jim Vitti, they recorded seven songs written by David and Bobby. According to the Hackney family, Columbia Records president Clive Davis funded the recording sessions, but implored the band to change its name to something more commercially palatable than Death. When the Hackneys refused, Davis ceased his support. At any rate, they only recorded seven songs instead of the planned dozen. The following year they self-released 500 copies from the session on the 7″ single “Politicians in My Eyes” b/w “Keep on Knocking,” on their Tryangle label. Death officially broke up in 1977.

A-Side:



B-Side:



Death – Relief (2012)

by 2010s, Punk Rock • Tags: , , , , , ,

Death presents the first single release of music recorded by the now performing group Death. Releasing a track that is true to the historic Death tradition of straight ahead Rock-N-Roll via Detroit of the 70s. The sound is hard Rock-n-Roll with a very raw Detroit-Rock edge. The song “Relief” (written in 2010) highlights the full circle of Death in bridging Death of today to the Death/Detroit archive of the 70′s. Rock-n-Roll brings Relief. Relief from the mundane, Relief from holding back your emotions, Relief from the system, and the Relief you feel when you have worked all week and the weekend is just beginning, Relief!! Rock-n-Roll!! This is the first Death single release since 1976. In honor of that fact, Death has released the song “Relief” on the original Tryangle Records Label from Detroit in 1975. The Death Story continues to unfold. Please buy the MP3 here.




Television – Little Johnny Jewel (ROIR Version) (1978)

by 1970s, Punk Rock • Tags: , , , , , , , ,

Television made their vinyl debut with “Little Johnny Jewel”, a 7-inch single on the independent label Ork Records in 1975. Ork Records was owned by their manager, Terry Ork. The song was split into two parts, one on each side of the single. Richard Lloyd apparently disagreed with the selection of this song, preferring the never-released “O Mi Amore” for their debut, to the extent that he seriously considered leaving the band. Reportedly Pere Ubu guitarist Peter Laughner auditioned for his spot during this time. ROIR (pronounced “roar”), or Reach Out International Records, is a New York City-based record label founded in 1979 by Neil Cooper. ROIR was founded the same year that the Sony Walkman launched, and initially, the label exclusively distributed its releases in cassette format. ROIR released early recordings by Bad Brains, Flipper and Television.







[via Ivan Aga in Madrid]

The Sods – No Pictures/Plaything (1979)

by 1970s, Punk Rock • Tags: , , , ,

The Sods were a superb band from Harlow Essex who deserved more than history has currently accorded them. Like many bands at least one member had an epiphany after seeing the Pistols … “At the time, I had long shoulder length hippy hair and wore flared jeans and trousers. That night changed my life. The next day I had my hair cut and threw away all of my flares. Never worn them since and never will do again!!” The Sods never managed to make it out of Harlow and onto tours or secure a major recording contract.” It was tough getting gigs in London and it was very cliquey. We just couldn’t be bothered and we were enjoying ourselves locally.” Instead the band like hundreds of others got involved with starting a record label – Stortbeat (the Stort is a tiny river that flows through Harlow) to release their own records. And in the end, like with so many other bands, momentum and arguments just caused the band to fizzle out. Thankfully not before they got to release two now mega rare records. The first No Pictures / Playthings (Stortbeat 79) is a peach in a sort of punky sixties Strangler style with catchy chorus that you will be singing in minutes. The second release was Moby Grope / Negative Positive (Tap records 1979). There certainly was no pictures of them as they seemed to specialise in minimalist picture covers! – “It was cheaper to do them that way and we were skint is the honest truth.” [Source]







Eddie & The Hot Rods – Do Anything You Wanna Do (1977)

by 1970s, Pub Rock, Punk Rock • Tags: , , , ,

Eddie and the Hot Rods are a pub rock band from Essex founded in 1975. They are best known for their 1977 UK top ten hit “Do Anything You Wanna Do”, released under the name The Rods. They originally split up in 1981, but have reformed several times since, with singer Barrie Masters the only constant member.




[via Mats Drougge in Stockholm]

Hüsker Dü – Girl Who Lives on Heaven Hill (1985)

by 1980s, Punk Rock • Tags: , , ,

New Day Rising is the third studio album by the American punk rock band Hüsker Dü, released in 1985 on SST Records. Though less ambitious than prior album Zen Arcade, New Day Rising, in some ways, helped set the template for alternative rock for the next decade. Guitarist and lead singer Bob Mould’s trademark miasma of fuzz distortion is still present, but with much of the harsh rawness of previous efforts abandoned in favor of a more melodic sound. The title track opens the album with mantra-like repetition of “new day rising,” delivered with slowly-increasing levels of intensity and despair. Also present are a few of the group’s most famous songs, such as “The Girl Who Lives on Heaven Hill” and “Celebrated Summer”.



[via Curtis Wenzel in Minneapolis]

Bad Brains – Sailin’ On (1982)

by 1980s, Punk Rock • Tags: , , , , ,

Bad Brains is the first full-length studio album recorded by Bad Brains. Adam Yauch of Beastie Boys has been quoted as saying that this album is “the best punk/hardcore album of all time”. It was originally released on cassette only but has since been re-released by ROIR on both CD and vinyl.




[via Petri H. Lundén in Gothenburg, Sweden]

Dead Kennedys – Holiday in Cambodia (1980)

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by 1980s, Punk Rock • Tags: , , ,

“Holiday in Cambodia” was the second single by the American punk band Dead Kennedys. The record was released in May 1980 on Alternative Tentacles with “Police Truck” as the b-side. The title track was re-recorded for the band’s first album, Fresh Fruit for Rotting Vegetables (1980), and the version that appeared on this single, as well as the single’s b-side, are available on the rarities album Give Me Convenience or Give Me Death (1987). The cover picture of the single is taken from the October 6 1976 Massacre in Thailand, and depicts a member of the rightist crowd beating the corpse of a student protester with a metal chair.







[via Ichiro Isaka in Nagoya, Japan]