In 1979 Stiff Little Fingers, a four piece Northern Irish Punk band released their debut album Inflammable Material. And rarely has the title of an LP been more apt. The songs express the inflammatory energy of punk, which changed a lot, even if only by burning many people's previous listening habits. Fast-paced chords combine with reliable hooks, and most of the lyrics are based on experiences from the Troubles in Northern Ireland in the 1970's. Of course, no decent punk record at that time would be complete without a reggae song. And with their cover of Bob Marley's Johnny Was, they more than succeeded in this endeavor. Inflammable Material is one of those albums that, even after almost 50 years, has lost none of its fascination.
Back in 1979 an Irish punk band appeared on the scene with a record named Inflammable Material. And this record was really hot. Most of the songs were new, gigantic and awesome. This is a song I love from the the first time I heard it until now. Only two riffs that lead you into a new dimension of sound that most of us agree with. This chords was the opening for everything that came after and I have to agree that no one before had these openings for a song before and after.
It is 30 years ago that Beastie Boys climbed to number one with their first album. Originally a hardcore punk band they demonstrated the genre of hip hop and rap rock on this album. It was a sound I've never heard before. And it was a sound a lot of people could agree with. Suddenly a few opened their ears on a new kind of music and that's one of the reasons why they have they their place in history. Sadly not everyone followed their next recordings that are better in my opinion but less successful. Sadly Adam Yauch passed away too soon.
I don't know on which album this was but I like their version of a late 60's classic.
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.
While I have written my series '40 records in 40 years' if I have bumped over and over again into the debut albums of artists that for me are unforgettable and also even today worth are to be heard (again). So I decided to start a new series about those records. Therefore, I will continue in irregular distances this series - unless, nobody would like to read this.
In 1979 Stiff Little Fingers a Belfast based punk-band release Inflammable Material - and the name was program. It stands in the classical tradition of the Clash, the Lurkers or the Ruts. The tracks are raw, however, partially a little bit haltingly produced, look by the teamwork of two guitars more full than some other album of this time. As with almost every classical punk group is the song material of a little bit different goodness: Classical single tracks with catchy tune quality like Suspect Device, Barbed Wire Love or Alternative Ulster"are mixed with rather average material. Their lyrics were mostly in the tradition of this time like 'Here we are nowhere - nowhere left to go'. They got more politically in songs like White Noise when the sung about the hostility to foreigners in the UK or Alternative Ulster, stamped by her North-Irish descent. Of course they learned by The Clash to put a reggae song on your record. And they did it - the covered Bob Marley's Johnny Was. However, differently than other punk bands they do not play reggae with the means of a punk group, no they take tempo out, adapt the title, however, to an almost classical rock song which is marked by the teamwork of both guitars. Not softly and melodically like with Wishbone Ash, but rough and roughly and with an irresistible drive. The intro is White Noise more than one minute to built up dynamic and it takes seven minutes more until they come to an end. It's a monolith.
This year I have concluded my education. My employer has offered to me an unlimited contract which I have also accepted. Main reason was to save some money to start a life on my own feet. In the middle of the year a letter arrived in which I was invited to pattern. In my whole life I have never dealt to go to the army. In my whole life before I used to protest against what I've seen about military operations and wars that accompanies since I grew up. Therefore, I have found out about the fact which possibilities there are, so that I am not drawn. The only possibility consisted in refusing the military service and therefore the service in the weapon. It worked in this way: You had to write down the reasons why you won't use a rifle or something like that. Most of my mates did it that way and argued that they have ethical reasons not to use any kind of guns.
The next thing was that you were invited to an interview where you have to explain your reasons again and again. They listened slowly to your arguments and they asked for example: 'What would you do if you and your girlfriend are in the park late at night and some guys come around trying to rape her. If you have a gun - will you use it?'. With questions like that they wanted to destroy your arguments of being a peaceful one. Of course you could get briefed about this questions and answers but my biggest problem was that I was in this time very active and successful in a protection association. I have denied competitions on state level so that my name was well known in my sport. When I come to the interview they just asked me the question why I take shooting as a sport but will not be able to carry a gun in the army. After all I failed and I had to accept to join the army next year. Knowing that I wouldn't have enough money when I do my job for 15 month in the army I didn't make a great vacation. But all in all it wasn't a very bad year.
In 1978 the Bee Gees entered the top of the charts with 'Staying alive' and 'Night fever'. Disco was born and Studio 54 in NYC was the blueprint of all clubs was founded.
The movie 'Saturday Night Fever' presented us the first star on the dancefloor with John Travolta. Now kids wanted to dance and act like him. After appearing in the American TV series 'Welcome back Kotter' he became famous with this movie and the following 'Grease'. It was the start to a lot of dancing movies following the next years.
With the dance boom the gay movement had it's coming out in the late seventies. With bands like the Village People they came proud out of their clubs. Without them and their attitude and confession to their gayness many bands in the later years would have it much harder to stand (like Frankie goes to Hollywood, Bronski Beat, etc).
It was also the year Kate Bush appeared with her fantastic and clear voice and brought us some unforgettable songs.
Garry Rafferty released his number one hit Baker Street with one of the most remarkable saxophone solo ever (our neighbor tried it for years but never got the right tune).
Stiff Little Fingers gave us their perception on the conflict in Northern Ireland with their song 'Alternative Ulster'.
Ian Dury came returned with my favorite 'Hit me with your rhythm stick'. Fantastic bass line.
Warren Zevon told us stories about 'Werewolfs in London'. (I saw a werewolf with a Chinese menu in his hand walking down to Mayfair).
Blondie was present now on international stage but a hit all over Europe was Paul McCartney wit 'Mull of Kintyre' - what a shame (and I didn't notice any song from Siouxie and the Banshees, the Buzzcocks, Patti Smith at all)
Remarkable records that was published in 1978:
George Benson - Weekend in LA: Maybe his best record at the highest level. Listened so often to this record all over the years.
REO Speedwagon - You can tune a piano, but you can't tuna fish: Bought this record just because of the title. Old fashioned rock but great songs and guitars on it.
Nick Lowe - Jesus of cool: Producer of a lot of band (mostly on the STIFF label) got time to make a record with some of his best songs.
Little Feat - Waiting for Colombus: Aanother fantastic live record presenting the last days of inspired classic rock.
Thin Lizzy - Live and dangerous: Never been better than this. We danced to them songs until we fall down to the ground.
The Rezillos - Can't stand the Rezillos: Get us party all night long. Great record still.
Pere Ubu - Dub housing: Music from another planet
George Thorogood & the Destroyers - Move it on over: Back to the roots of rhythm' n' blues
Herman Brood - Cha Cha: Pure rock with a lot of punk style in it from our neighbors in Netherlands
Nina Hagen Band - same: Great voice from Eastern Germany with a fantastic German version of 'White punks on dope'
Steele Pulse - Handsworth Revolution: Pure British reggae.
Blondie - Parallel lines: Could listen to Debbie Harry often at this time What movies from 1978 are still worth to see again:
Halloween: Part one with Jamie Lee Curtis is still the best one
The Deer Hunter: Michael Ciminos drama with Robert De Niro and Christopher Walken of men going to a war that couldn't be won and coming traumatised.
Dawn of the dead: When there is no more room in hell the dead will walk the earth
Up in Smoke: Cheech and Chong doped
La Cage aux Folles: Gay couple, one of them running a drag club in St. Tropez adverrtising ultra-conservative parents
The Last Waltz: Goodbye to a great band
What moved the world in 1978.
Pedro Cardinal, a leading critic of the Nicaraguan governments was assasdinated - riots against the Somoza's regime started; Northeastern US blizzard kills more then 100 people; China bans the works of Aristole, Shakespeare and Dickens; American porn publisher Larry Flint is shot and paralyzed in Lawrenceville, GA; the Democratic Republic of Afghanistan is proclaimed under pro-communist leader Nur Mohammad Taraki; Messner/Habeler made the first ascend to the Mount Everest without supplemental oxygene; FIFA-World Cup was won by Argentine - Germany lost in semi-final against Austria; Iranian Army troopers open fire to rioters in Teherean, killing 122, wounding 4000; President Carter signs bill that allows homebrewing of beer; the world got a new pope with John Paul II - the first non Italian pope sins more than 400 years; Nobel Peace Price is won by the premiers Sadat and Begin.
My personal favorite this year was Magazine' first record 'Real Life'. It is one of the best first records ever. Punk turned into New Wave and the sound was different now. The three chords songs turned into another dimension. Now you could hear a new kind of songwriting. The member of the bands knew how to handle their instruments and to arrange songs. One of the best examples was 'Real life'. The band was formed by Howard Devoto after leaving the famous Buzzcocks with John McGeoch on guitar. They recruited Barry Adamson on bass, Jim Dickinson on keyboards and Martin Jackson on drums. Their first record is filled with experimental sounds that would be the blueprint of many other bands.
The songs are still fresh and innovative after all the years. I love to hear them again from time to time.
