Best Ever Albums

Re: Early '80s alternative UK indie/punk and synth-pop

Anonymous — Sat, 11 Feb 2012 01:06:44 GMT

Author: Anonymous

Posted: 02/11/2012 06:06

hairymarx1 wrote:

Mancsoulsister,

My God, you have reminded me of bands that I'd forgotten about - Dolly Mixture, Kitchens of Distinction and The Boothill Foot Tappers. I have a vague memory of seeing the latter at some agricultural college in Truro or some place similar back in the early '80s. 'Cow-punk' was a shortlived (thankfully) genre.

Your posting of The Adverts and Screaming Blue Messiahs reminded me of two superb live performances these bands gave on the BBCs 'Whistle Test programme'. Check them out, in particular the Messiahs performance played during 'Live Aid'. It blew me away when I saw it at the time, and still does.

For a three-piece, the decibel levels are incredible. 'The second track 'Good And Gone' is visceral bliss. They were ahead of their time. David Bowie was a real fan of theirs and used to see them play live regularly during this period:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2Yc-X2lG_HM

Here's The Adverts playing 'Bored Teenagers':

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PFkSGbd3okA

They are great clips Hairy... The Old Grey Whistle Test is another one of those shows that was a great showcase for new (and established bands). The live performances were amazing... I wonder why it disappeared... 😕

One of my favourite sets on Whistle Test from the Specials

Link

Re: Early '80s alternative UK indie/punk and synth-pop

hairymarx1 — Thu, 9 Feb 2012 06:36:47 GMT

Author: hairymarx1

Posted: 02/09/2012 11:36

Peel session playlist:

Guana Batz - Goofing Around http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T_lFc-Akk0c
The Meteors - Maniac http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_IAZbrf1L9Y
Gallon Drunk - Ruby http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K48Od4xRMDk
The Birthday Party - King Ink http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xU-RI5okHWw
Delta 5 - Triangle http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W04FhS_Kwgs
Au Pairs - The Set Up http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wj3GjFCDrU0
The Smiths - Rusholm Ruffians http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bHYt-GKzfF0
Blue Orchids - A Year With No Head http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=INeA_H8TlqI
Altered Images - Dead Pop Stars http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=62XLy4I9AZg&feature=related
X-Ray Spex - Art-I-Ficial http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LnHmqVpzXVg
Siouxsie And The Banshees - Love In A Void http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yqxfSM7uGLY

Re: Early '80s alternative UK indie/punk and synth-pop

hairymarx1 — Thu, 9 Feb 2012 05:38:17 GMT

Author: hairymarx1

Posted: 02/09/2012 10:38

Mancsoulsister,

My God, you have reminded me of bands that I'd forgotten about - Dolly Mixture, Kitchens of Distinction and The Boothill Foot Tappers. I have a vague memory of seeing the latter at some agricultural college in Truro or some place similar back in the early '80s. 'Cow-punk' was a shortlived (thankfully) genre.

Your posting of The Adverts and Screaming Blue Messiahs reminded me of two superb live performances these bands gave on the BBCs 'Whistle Test programme'. Check them out, in particular the Messiahs performance played during 'Live Aid'. It blew me away when I saw it at the time, and still does.

For a three-piece, the decibel levels are incredible. 'The second track 'Good And Gone' is visceral bliss. They were ahead of their time. David Bowie was a real fan of theirs and used to see them play live regularly during this period:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2Yc-X2lG_HM

Here's The Adverts playing 'Bored Teenagers':

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PFkSGbd3okA

Re: Early '80s alternative UK indie/punk and synth-pop

videoheadcleaner — Thu, 9 Feb 2012 04:14:39 GMT

Author: videoheadcleaner

Posted: 02/09/2012 09:14

First two lists looked through. Going to try and experience what I can. So far got Mo-Dettes, Scritti Politti, Girls At Our Best, The Plastics and Shriekback. Expanding my knowledge further!

Re: Early '80s alternative UK indie/punk and synth-pop

Anonymous — Thu, 9 Feb 2012 02:47:31 GMT

Author: Anonymous

Posted: 02/09/2012 07:47

A further homage to the wonderful John Peel

Misty in Roots John Peel Session - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s-ddWOZ4EDI
The Field Mice - Everything About You - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QbzrazV8toY
The Pastels - Different Drum - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iReembPfvIU
Dislocation Dance - Bottle of Red Wine - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LXQmTdUogRk
The Chills - I love my leather jacket - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dhh86VfSB5Q
Lotus Eaters - First Picture of You - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kNYJtZPL_dM
Boothill Foot-Tappers - Too Much Time - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WbxzRH-_nWY
Dinosaur Jr - Freak Scene - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pxLpEX2bt8w
Kitchens of Distinction - Her Last Day in Bed - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HsZrpMEG26M
The Family Cat - Tom Verlaine - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QtOwIMzCkFo
Screaming Blue Messiahs - Wild Blue Yonder - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6usDlkZIZOo
Cabaret Voltaire - Just Fascination - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sWDdWOk0HTg
The Adverts - Bored Teenagers - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WmX5mgO_KtQ
Magazine - Shot By Both Sides - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ybUqM8jf3mU
China Crisis - Wishful Thinking - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0sMC8MsRqpQ
The Bodines - God Bless - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IrjRJWVCfSk
The Associates - Club Country - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IrjRJWVCfSk
Dolly Mixture - Everything and More - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uogX4qtizaE

Re: Early '80s alternative UK indie/punk and synth-pop

Anonymous — Wed, 8 Feb 2012 13:47:56 GMT

Author: Anonymous

Posted: 02/08/2012 18:47

hairymarx1 wrote:

Yeah, Peel had a record collection that ran into many thousands - so many that he was running out of space in his home. The total value of his collection following his untimely death was estimated at about a million quid. From this massive collection he had a special box that contained his select few of 'desert island' discs which he intended to save in the event of a fire. Among the records were the complete set of albums from his beloved band The Fall, Misty In Roots 'Live At The Counter Eurovision 79' album, Undertones 'Teenage Kicks', plus a selection of psychedelic obscurities/rarities and 50's Blues and rockabilly albums and singles that he collected in the early sixties during the time he spent as a radio host/DJ in Dallas, Texas. But there were also many surprises such as singles from people like Status Quo and even Bill Oddie.

My God I had forgotten all about 'Misty in Roots'! Their Peel Session recordings were incredible!

This is such a good thread Hairy - John Peel deserves all the praise that you heaped on him! He was my hero growing up...

I'll post some more exerts when I get home again tonight

Re: Early '80s alternative UK indie/punk and synth-pop

HigherThanTheSun — Wed, 8 Feb 2012 12:24:07 GMT

Author: HigherThanTheSun

Posted: 02/08/2012 17:24

Ok so I was 13 when John Peel died and I can remember hearing it on the news and wondering what the fuss was about. Seems crazy how a radio DJ can leave such a legacy but he did.

Amazing how many awesome Peel sessions are out there, still played on the radio ahead of the studio versions on the likes of 6music or XFM from time to time. The reverance which fellow DJs and artists speak of him is testament to his greatness, seems a shame I was too young to appreciate him while he was around.

Anyway thanks for all the links, I'll definitely be working through them over the next few days.

Re: Early '80s alternative UK indie/punk and synth-pop

hairymarx1 — Wed, 8 Feb 2012 11:46:53 GMT

Author: hairymarx1

Posted: 02/08/2012 16:46

Lol....Very good.

Re: Early '80s alternative UK indie/punk and synth-pop

Facetious — Wed, 8 Feb 2012 11:41:04 GMT

Author: Facetious

Posted: 02/08/2012 16:41

hairymarx1 wrote:

Eggman, it was a replica post.

You mean a TROUT MASK replica post. 🤣

Re: Early '80s alternative UK indie/punk and synth-pop

hairymarx1 — Wed, 8 Feb 2012 11:38:44 GMT

Author: hairymarx1

Posted: 02/08/2012 16:38

Eggman, it was a replica post.

Re: Early '80s alternative UK indie/punk and synth-pop

Facetious — Wed, 8 Feb 2012 11:23:13 GMT

Author: Facetious

Posted: 02/08/2012 16:23

hairymarx1 wrote:

deleted post.

What, why?

Re: Early '80s alternative UK indie/punk and synth-pop

hairymarx1 — Wed, 8 Feb 2012 11:20:55 GMT

Author: hairymarx1

Posted: 02/08/2012 16:20

I cannot begin to explain just how influential John Peel was for an entire generation of budding would-be musicians. The early to mid-1980s was a particularly fertile and creative period in the alternative UK music/cultural scene of the time, with an explosion of artists and bands emerging from the cities as if out of nowhere. High rates of youth unemployment in what were then decaying de-industrialized urban areas mainly in the north of England and Scotland, was the catalyst for this burst in creativity.

Taking their cue from the ethos of punk rock, there was hardly a UK band of the period that was not directly inspired by either Captain Beefheart, The Velvet Underground, The Doors or The Stooges. Peel sensed there was something in the air and began nurturing and encouraging what would become the indie scene by playing records other DJs of the period wouldn't touch.

The early to mid 1980s in the UK was a extremely important era in music that I feel is sometimes unfairly overlooked. My main reason for starting this thread is to hopefully capture the sense of excitement and joy many of my generation had when we first heard some of this music and to pass it on to a new generation of music fans. It makes me happy to think that a younger generation are possibly as excited about this era as much as I was back in the day.

Here's a few more tracks that revolutionized how I perceived music, having first heard these Peel session tracks late at night on John Peels programme. The Fall's, Joy Division's and Birthday Party early Peel sessions (see below) in particular were like 'Jesus, this is like friggin' incredible'. It's no exaggeration to say that as far as I was concerned, nothing would ever be the same again. As somebody commented, 'this was a time when we were briefly free'. Something similar had happened in the late 1960s and boy did we know it. There was literally a feeling in the air, that the world was up for grabs.

The music of The Fall, Joy Division and The Birthday Party inspired me to dig deeper and seek out the music of my Uncle's generation that inspired them - The Doors, Stooges, Velvets, Beefheart, Zappa, Can etc etc.

I'm sure you will agree with me, that these session recordings are far superior to any of the versions released on record.

Enjoy!!

The Fall - Smile http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FXtE2bkhAec
The Fall - New Puritan http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=esDd3RXQqFI&feature=related
The Fall - New Face In Hell - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aQ2QgGjWGQs
Joy Division - 24 Hours http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OOEM9SuDFZc
Joy Division - Insight http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7iWJn3quN80&feature=related
Joy Division - Exercise 0ne http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KRLTKdaPOFY&feature=related
The Birthday Party - Sonny's Burning http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GPnvF9cNrGk
The Birthday Party - She's Hit http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mJ1pJzjsPco&feature=related
The Birthday Party - Deep In The Woods http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lzj1NL8wvaQ&feature=related

Re: Early '80s alternative UK indie/punk and synth-pop

hairymarx1 — Wed, 8 Feb 2012 11:13:50 GMT

Author: hairymarx1

Posted: 02/08/2012 16:13

deleted post.

Re: Early '80s alternative UK indie/punk and synth-pop

hairymarx1 — Wed, 8 Feb 2012 09:56:07 GMT

Author: hairymarx1

Posted: 02/08/2012 14:56

Yeah, Peel had a record collection that ran into many thousands - so many that he was running out of space in his home. The total value of his collection following his untimely death was estimated at about a million quid. From this massive collection he had a special box that contained his select few of 'desert island' discs which he intended to save in the event of a fire. Among the records were the complete set of albums from his beloved band The Fall, Misty In Roots 'Live At The Counter Eurovision 79' album, Undertones 'Teenage Kicks', plus a selection of psychedelic obscurities/rarities and 50's Blues and rockabilly albums and singles that he collected in the early sixties during the time he spent as a radio host/DJ in Dallas, Texas. But there were also many surprises such as singles from people like Status Quo and even Bill Oddie.

Re: Early '80s alternative UK indie/punk and synth-pop

Facetious — Wed, 8 Feb 2012 07:24:53 GMT

Author: Facetious

Posted: 02/08/2012 12:24

Also, on the topic of John Peel, I think he had this record box which represented his favorites or something.........does anybody know about that?

Re: Early '80s alternative UK indie/punk and synth-pop

kidamnesiac — Wed, 8 Feb 2012 07:22:23 GMT

Author: kidamnesiac

Posted: 02/08/2012 12:22

yeah nice thread

Re: Early '80s alternative UK indie/punk and synth-pop

Facetious — Wed, 8 Feb 2012 07:12:55 GMT

Author: Facetious

Posted: 02/08/2012 12:12

Wow, those are really long lists, so yeah, I better NOT scream.

Xavygravy wrote:

I'm bookmarking this thread. 8)

Same. 😎

Re: Early '80s alternative UK indie/punk and synth-pop

Xavygravy — Wed, 8 Feb 2012 07:01:24 GMT

Author: Xavygravy

Posted: 02/08/2012 12:01

I'm bookmarking this thread. 😎

Re: Early '80s alternative UK indie/punk and synth-pop

hairymarx1 — Wed, 8 Feb 2012 06:56:56 GMT

Author: hairymarx1

Posted: 02/08/2012 11:56

Mancsoulsister

Blimey, I'd forgotten about some of those. We were very luck to have spent our formative years listening to the John Peel show during the early to mid 1980s.

Hre's a few more gems that I first heard on his programme:

TV Personalities - Part Time Punks http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_pKkOOQR7_o
The Pastels - Nothing To Be Done http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wn-njpBoVEE
The Pooh Sticks - The Rhythm Of Love http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g4Jx9Y_MX9I&feature=related
The Raincoats - Fairytale In The Supermarket http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MZJt56z5Ywc
Go Betweens - Karen http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lPErA7NZISM
Joseph K - It's Kinds Funny http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XL5C7KVA0jA
Orange Juice - Felicity http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cJuNWzgUNfQ&feature=related
June Brides - This Town http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gNOcs_miaLg
The Chills - Doledrums http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VemL2qxDRpw&feature=related
The Chameleons - Up The Down Escalator http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ny_hZlXijRg&feature=related
Comsat Angels - Independence Day http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MXw7a3FdBL4
Wah Heat! - You Better Scream http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NDL010AUCt8

Re: Early '80s alternative UK indie/punk and synth-pop

videoheadcleaner — Wed, 8 Feb 2012 04:01:12 GMT

Author: videoheadcleaner

Posted: 02/08/2012 09:01

Wow, too many bands I have missed. Only heard songs from A Certain Ratio, Fire Engines and My Bloody Valentine.

Will try to get through these!