Babble

 

After the fabulous The Undertones separated the Derry's O'Neill brothers formed with lead vocalist Steve Mack That Patrol Emotion. Following their post-punk hymns they created a new style in indie-rock and included elements of Television and CCR to their sound. When their debut was a very good one, Babble their second one from 1987 was one of the albums that was played at my place often decades ago. Sharp guitars and great hooks were a trademark of TPE and there were so many classic tunes on this album. Not to forget that many of their songs had political statements in their lyrics. For me another underrated album of this era.

Summer

 

As of today, it is June, the meterological beginning of summer, and the weather is with us. For the first time in a row, it has been warm, sunny and pleasant to sit outside, meet with friends and spend wonderful evenings. For me, there is nothing better than enjoying this time of the year. I've been thinking about which songs make the start of the new season easy for me, but there are too many of them to rank. With this in mind, just a few songs that came to mind ad hoc and without completeness or ranking. A good start into the new season to all.

News From The Past

 

After the split of London based Northern Ireland post-punk band The Undertones brothers O'Neill returned to their home in Derry to form another band. That Petrol Emotion returned from the ashes with a new sound. More guitars as The Undertones, different arranged songs full of hooks on their first two albums. They combined the energy of new wave with the ability to write great pop hymns. I still love their early output from the mid 80's because they hit my nerves. Someone once said that they combine The Clash with CCR and listening to their songs I can't say he's wrong. Babble is for me the better album than their debut because it more raw than their first one. An album that is almost complete when you listening to it in full length in a row. 

That Patrol Emotion - Swamp

That Petrol Emotion - For What It's Worth

But TPE weren't only a post-punk band they also experimenting with new sounds like remixes, samples and other stuff like this and prepared the floor of the upcoming sound of Manchester that came popular in the following years.

That Petrol Emotion - Abandon (Boys Own Remix)

That Petrol Emotion - Hey Venus (Mad Thatcher Disease Remix)

Does Anyone Remember Oi-Punk?

A few days ago I got the news that the albums by Cock Sparrer was released in a box-set of their albums released almost 40 years ago. As I read the news I got a flashback into the late 70's/early 80's when this band released songs that was on heavy rotation in my house and I played their songs while I was DJ-ing long time ago. All right - some of them will categorize them in a fascist way because there songs were hymns to skinheads and football hooligans. But for me they were nothing more or less perfect combinations of punk, pub rock and hooligan attitude. Formed in the mid 70's they had the chance to support the early Sex Pistols but Malcolm McLaren wasn't willing to spent them a couple of beers they declined to support them. Probably their biggest mistake ever. After decades it is still fun listening to urban hymns by West Ham United supporters. Bands like Boomtown Rats and The Undertones learned from them.

Cock Sparrer - Take 'Em All
Cock Sparrer - We Love You
Cock Sparrer - Runnin' Riot
Cock Sparrer - Riot Squad

Live Music On German TV

It was a series I had a few month ago. Most of the footage I saw the first time was on a monthly show called Musikladen. One of the earliest shows I remember was watching Slade performing. Getting big in the age of glam they were one of my earliest heroes. This band took me to the music and influenced my musical taste a lot. Now I know that I am not the only one who cited them as a main influence. The Clash, Sex Pistols, The Undertones and The Ramones cited them as well as a heavy influence. This are two classic songs of their early days. And Dave Hill was the first hooligan lookalike in these days.

Who's Afraid Of The 80's? Pt 4

These songs from this sampler made me want to buy the albums of these artists. And I went straight to my local record dealer to get these records not knowing that they would be classic records of this decade. The Undertones impressed me with their classic short songs telling us about teenage feelings and how to stand it (or not).

The B52's were retro as retro could be. Bringing back the Rickenbacker guitar to our memory. I was huge impressed of their first record. Everything was stylish: the music, the outfit, the cover and especially their 60's hairstyle

This compilation introduced me to The Slits as well. Never heard sounds like this before. This mixture of punk, new-wave and reggae was very unique at this time and only less people listened to them at my place at this time.

Here Comes The Summer

The last days the temperature increased at my place over 30 degrees Celsius these days, Work is hard to do without any air condition right now. Every place outside the office is a place where you sweat all over. I don't want to complain but finally summer arrived at my place. Hope you can enjoy the summer as well.

Indie Scene 1978

It was in 1978 and lots of people felt happy listening to Rod Stewart singing about 'Hot Legs' or Kansas' 'Dust in the wind' I turned into another kind of music. I felt bored with all this music - not that I didn't liked some of these but now there was another kind of music that gave me much more. It was fast, loud, raw and full of emotions. But it was hard to talk about this music with the folks I hang around. Most of them disclaimed this music because they stuck in the old fashion patterns they were used to have. You've got no chance to convince them that 'Alternative Ulster' is more than a whole record by Van Halen. It took me a long time to understand that this music is more a conviction and a boundary from everything 'old'. In this time I started to listen to the lyrics more than before and I understood that there were more people out there thinking the way I do. And the more I listened to this music the more the lads changed I shared my time. There were a few punks that adapted this attitude, some Teds and ordinary looking people like me. And finally we were a little scene in our town and years later we started to play our music in a club (but this will be another story to be told). Punk and New Wave wasn't played in public radio in these days so I began to buy NME regularly to get informed what's new. An older friend of mine which I used to play football together was the owner of a record shop and he had open ears for this new music. And he was very quick to get the new stuff to sell. I don't know how many hours I hang around in his shop listening to the new arrivals.

So enjoy the songs and have a perfect weekend

The Lurkers - Ain't Got A Glue
Stiff Little Fingers - Alternative Ulster
The Fall - Bingo Masters Breakout
Joy Division - Glass
TV Personalities - Part Time Punks
The Undertones - Teenage Kicks
The Normal - Warm Leatherette

Telephone Calls # 2

Derry, North Ireland, a town to us till then only by her political riots has struck gave us a treasure: The Undertones. They started as an semi-acoustic band but turned into electric music when punk rock appeared. They played that real three-chord pop punk and got success with the support of our beloved DJ John Peel. Beside the guitar-heavy garage rock sound the volume lent before all singer Feargal Sharkey with his striking tenor her unique character. I can listen to them songs anywhere at any time. Songs like Teenage Kicks, My Perfect Cousin, Get Over You, Here Comes The Summer are unbeatable in it's way. I like this band not only because of her music, but they also had the gift to express all essentials in short words in her songs. Also in this song that could be reduced to one sentence: You've got my number - why don't you use it? Seldom heard about another teenage drama reduced to this few words.

The Undertones - You've Got My Number (Why Don't You Use It)