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If it ain't STIFF it ain't worth a fuck was the labels' claim. It was a message to all of those who were interested in new music. Formed in the era of punk in 1976 by Jake Rivera and Dave Robinson they signed a lot of artists with pub rock roots trying to make their own sound based on the basics. STIFF records were a trademark in these days bringing quality and new music to me. Most of the releases showed artists that became famous during the years. The quality of their producers, especially Nick Lowe and Elvis Costello made this label famous. They were alive until the mid 80's and vanished afterwords. STIFF introduced me into so many new music like none other label. They opened my ears to very new and great music in the late 70's. It is hypothetical question if my musical taste would be different without them. But I think they were at the hight of the musical taste in new music in these days. So let's get a journey back in the early days of STIFF were music was new, fresh and exciting. Not everything of this song are the music I listen now but it was a very pleasurable journey back in time.

So enjoy.

Buena

Any time there were labels one could count on. There were Sun Record, Chess and Motown in America and Island and Stiff in Great Britain. From the late 70s to the early 80s I bought a lot of albums released by Stiff Records because they have very often met my taste. In 1980 they released an album by an artist they signed from the United States. Joe King Carrasco and the Crowns appeared on the scene as the reincarnation of Sir Douglas Quintet with their Tex-Mex sound. I loved they weired mixture of Tex-Mex, Rock and Roll, New Wave and Garage Rock played with passion. It was the sound of the summer and played on almost every party. And I think that's what they stand for: having fun and making you a good time. And by the way: He had later Michael Jackson on backing vocals on a song.

Joe King Carrasco and the Crowns - Caca De Vaca
Joe King Carrasco and the Crowns - I Get My Kicks On You
Joe King Carrasco and the Crowns - Nervoused Out
Joe King Carrasco and the Crowns - Susan Friendly

What Happened To Pub Rock # 19

Our today's artist is not necessarily to be assigned to this genre. But to present his skill without live background and it's experience it would be difficult having success. Eric Goulden or better known as Wreckless Eric was one of the first artist signed to the legendary STIFF label. He wrote with Whole Wide World maybe one of the best love song ever. His first record is full of little pop gems but none got the grade of Whole Wide World. After several years of living with his wife Amy Rigby in France they now living and performing in the US. I maybe listened to his song hundreds of times and never get bored. People may say he's a one-hit wonder and this might be true but he's an artist that I combine with one of the best eras in music.

Wreckless Eric - Whole Wide World
Elvis Costello and the Attractions - Whole Wide World (live)
Wreckless Eric and Amy Rigby - Do You Remember That

Twanging Tuesday # 24

Today the Internet offers infinite possibilities to investigate. In 1980 these possibilities were not available. This is the reason why I didn't knew for long years that today's song as a classic tune. Stiff records released in this year a record by a band called Joe 'King' Carrasco and the Crowns. I got this record just because of it's cover. This band was from Texas and played a mixture of punk styled rock and roll with a great influence of tex-mex music. I loved this band and their party-styled sound. One of the tracks I listened often was Party Doll not knowing that this was a cover by an another Texas-based musician. Buddy Knox is another great artist of the rockabilly decade. I think the story of Joe 'King' Carrasco will be told during the next weeks.

Buddy Knox - Party Doll

What Happened To Pub Rock # 6

As I wrote on this series punk and new wave music had it roots in bands that used to play live pubs. One of those bands were Brinsley Schwarz named by their guitar player. Other members were Bob Andrews on keybords, Billy Rankin on drums an the magnificent Nick Lowe on bass and vocals. On their first records they played a kind of The Band inspired country with a little bluesy and pscychedelic touch. They got a bigger fanbase about playing a laid back country rock in later times. In the mid 1970s they played the backing band on Frankie Millers debut and started a collaboration with Dave Edmunds who produced their last records The New Favourites of Brinsley Schwarz which is the best one for me. After this record the band split and the members started solo careers or were found in other bands or as session musicians in the following years. Maybe their biggest legacy was one song written by Nick Lowe and made famous years later by Elvis Costello: What's so funny but peace love and understanding.

Brinsley Schwarz - Ballad of a has been beauty queen
Brinsley Schwarz - What's so funny about peace, love and understanding
Brinsley Schwarz - The look that's in your eye tonight

Although Brinsley Schwarz was named by their guitarist the mastermind of the band was Nick Lowe. He wrote the most songs - especially the ballads and his distinctive voice. He and Ian Gomm (who joined the original set up from the second record) started solo careers - but really successful was just Nick Lowe. According to my opinion he is the connecting piece to the new fresh upcoming music. He signed to the STIFF-label and his single So it goes was the first release of the label. In the following years he made some great records with very good ballads, songs with perfect hooks and he transported the power of Rock 'n' Roll into the upcoming punk and new wave era. The story of his collaboration with Dave Edmunds should be told another time.

Nick Lowe - I love the sound of breaking glass
Nick Lowe - Nutted by reality
Nick Lowe - Heart of the city

What Happened To Pub Rock?

The short break is over - I'll have to go back to my desk in the office. I don't wanna know how much mails appeared in the last days that wanted to be answered. Anyway I think I'll answer them step by step. A few days ago I was in contact with Mr. Mondo via twitter. We talked a little bit about Mickey Jupp and his early record 'The Flaming Red Boot'-record. Mickey Jupp played guitar and piano in his band Legend. The released a few records in the early 1970s. They were all very good but too less people bought the records to be successful and the band split. In 1977 he started a career as a solo artist and made some good rhythm and blues records again. A lot of his songs was covered by Elkie Brooks, Joe Cocker, Kursaal Flyers, Nick Lowe and Dave Edmunds. The most success he had when he signed to STIFF-records.
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In the days STIFF-records were founded they signed a few bands from the so called pub-rock era as Dr. Feelgood , The Tyla Gang and Nick Lowe. All these bands were hardly trained playing in pubs for local audience. That might be the reason why they know how to handle their instruments and their feeling for good songs. In this background could raise also acts like Elvis Costello and The Pogues.

I remember the days in the early 1980s in my hometown when there were five or six pubs local bands could play. But more and more pubs like these disappeared or changed their style. Well, it might sound sentimentally but sometimes I miss these days when you go out for a beer and listen to some bands.

So enjoy these songs:

Mickey Jupp - Another Guy
Mickey Jupp - Lorraine (Part One)