Show # 273

Another fill in was featured on today's program, this time a newer CJAM volunteer named Ash. Today's program highlighted a lot of new Canadian releases, and mostly new music in general. Short update this week, will be more news next week so check back!

This Week's Play List:

1.  A History Of  - DC Heat
2.  The Black Halos - Bombs Not Food
3.  Despised Icon - Diva of Disgust
4.  Red Mass - Saturn
5.  Brilliant Colors - Should I Tell You
6.  The King Khan And BBQ Show - Crystal Ball
7.  Thomas Function - Ew Way Ew
8.  Hostage Life - White Jesus
9.  Nothingtons - Sleep Tonight
10. Sub City - Silence
11. The Job - Problem
12. The Hoa Hoa's - Flowers Are Free
13. NOFX - No More Lies
14. Etaion Shrdlu - Knew Dudes
15. Julian Casablancas - Left in the Dark
16. Pennywise - We're Gonna Fight
17. Pulley - Wrecking Crew
18. Sub City - Sweet Misery
19. Spiral Beach - Domino
20. The Stand Stills - Blind

To download this weeks program, visit CJAM's schedule page for Revolution Rock and download the file for November 10th. Or subscribe to Revolution Rock as a Podcast.

Nirvana Bleach 20th Anniversary....Show # 272

This week's program was hosted by Chris of I Am Collecting Beautiful Things. A wide variety of rock was played, new and old. Some of my favourite selections from this week's program was new music by Julian Casablancas and music from the re-issue of Nirvana's Bleach album.

Nirvana released a re-issue of their 1989 album Bleach celebrating the albums 20th anniversary this week. The album was originally released on June 15th, 1989. It featured songs such as "Blew", "Floyd the Barber", "Negative Creep", and "School" all of which reflected a heavier version of the band. "About A Girl" is also featured on Bleach and it is the albums purest pop moment, it reflects Kurt Cobain's Beatles influences. The album did not chart when it was originally released, but when Nevermind was released in 1991 and Nirvana they started to become more popular, Bleach was re-issued and remastered in 1992.  Technically this is the second re-issue of the album, but this remaster of Bleach does have a noticable difference. For one all of the tracks have been remastered by Jack Endino (the albums original producer), and there is a bonus disc featuring a live concert from Nirvana at the Pine Street Theatre in 1990. In addition to this the linear notes have been expanded with additional notes and photos. 

Some other interesting facts about Bleach are that originally the title was going to be Too Many Humans.  Also Kurt Cobain is credited as Kurdt Kobain, and Dale Crover is featured as the drummer on some of the tracks and Chad Channing is the drummer on the other tracks.  It is a must for any Nirvana fan. 

Nirvana has also released a DVD of their Reading Festival performance in 1992, titled Live At Reading.  There are 25 live performances on the DVD and the picture has been remastered, it has been circulating in bootleg circles for sometime.  This is an excellent performance from the band.  There are some special editions of the album that contain both the audio and video of the Reading concert.  Usually there is a new Nirvana release every November, but last year there was no new Nirvana release, it looks like it was made up for because now there are two new releases available.  Both the 20th anniversary deluxe edition of Bleach and the Live At Reading DVD are now available to purchase. 


For a full history on Nirvana visit:

Endless, Nameless: The Nirvana Story Part One
Verse Chorus Verse: The Nirvana Story Part Two

The Play List:

1. North Of America - Central Port Of Equal Time
2. A History Of - Action In The North Atlantic
3. The Hoa Hoa's - Postcards
4. Alec Ounsworth - South Philadelphia (Drug Days)
5. Julian Casablancas - 11th Dimension
6. Chuck Prophet - American Man
7. Mission Of Burma - After The Rain
8. Les Dales Hawerchuk - A Soir On Sort
9. Grooms - Dreamsucker
10. The Stand-Stills - Bound
11. Little Girls - Youth Tunes
12. Evening Hymns - Dead Deer
13. Thomas Function - Belly Of The Beast
14. Black Feelings - Last Rings Pt. 1
15. Talk Normal - Hot Song
16. Devil Eyes - Teeth
17. Times New Viking - 2/11 Don't Forget
18. King Khan & BBQ Show - Anala
19. Nirvana - Dive (live)
20. Etaoin Shrdlu - 1995-1997
21. Gospel Gossip - Home Is Where the Hibah Is

To download this weeks program, visit CJAM's schedule page for Revolution Rock and download the file for November 3rd. Or subscribe to Revolution Rock as a Podcast.

Electro Rock...Show # 271

Cyborgs Revisited was an album released by Simply Saucer in 1989. The Hamilton, Ontario band lasted from 1973 to 1979 and only ever released one single officially when they were together. "She's A Dog/I Can Change my mind was released in 1978. The bands style was a mix of bands such as Alice Cooper, MC5, The Stooges, Velvet Underground, and Hawkwind.

The song "Electro Rock", featured on today's program can be found on the album Cyborgs Revisited. The album was made up of two sides, the first being a demo session that the band did with Daniel and Bob Langlois and the second was a concert recorded in 1975 from Hamilton, Ontario. When the album was released in 1989, it was hailed as a lost Canadian classic ranking on top Canadian album lists. Most recently it was ranked # 36 in the Top 100 Canadian Albums book by Bob Mersereau. In 2003, Cyborgs Revisited was re-released with nine bonus tracks. The band has reunited and plays with a different line up.

Play List:

1. The Cure - Plastic Passion
2. The Passions - I Radiate
3. The Scars - Everywhere I Go
4. The Fall - Stepping Out
5. The Horrors - Who Can Say?
6. Little Girls - Tambourine
7. The Secretaries - Hey Girl
8. Jook - Aggravation Place
9. The Arkells - Deadlines
10. Laughing Clowns - Lucky Days
11. Dirty Pretty Things - The North
12. The Flaming Lips - Unconsciously Screamin'
13. Simply Saucer - Electro Rock
14. 63 Monroe - 99th Floor
15. Young Rival - Got What You Need
16. Devil Eyes - Noctilucent Ghost
17. The Flashing Lights - The Flashing Lights Are On
18. The Zeros - Mainstreet Brat
19. Deja Voodoo - Surfing On Mars
20. The Yauchts - Secret Agent
21. The Government - Real Computer
22. Dead 60s - Red Light
23. Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds - Albert Goes West

To download this weeks program, visit CJAM's schedule page for Revolution Rock and download the file for October 27th. Or subscribe to Revolution Rock as a Podcast.

Yes Sir, No Sir... The Kinks Arthur Turns 40... & Show # 270

Its hard to believe that forty years ago in 1969, The Kinks first released their album Arthur (Or The Decline of The British Empire). It was released following their album The Kinks Are The Village Green Preservation Society, that upon it's initial release sold poorly. Since then Village Green has gone on to become a cult classic and many Kinks fans favourite Kinks album, but people often overlook Arthur. It is based upon a concept revolving around Arthur, who moves to Australia from England with his wife after World War II. The album originally had its first inception by Ray Davies as the soundtrack for a television play. When the play was cancelled Ray, used the themes and ideas he created and transferred them into album form via The Kinks.

The album was recorded from May to July at Pye Studios in the UK in 1969. Another interesting fact about this album is that it was produced by Ray Davies (as was Village Green). The albums concept was based loosely on Rose (Ray's Sister) and her husband Arthur Anning, who moved from England to Australia. This was also the very same Rosie that the song "Rosie Won't You Please Come Home" from Face To Face was based on. Themes on the album are addressed such as war, British oriented nostalgia, and the boringness of suburban life. The album opens with "Victoria", a Hard Rock based song that lyrically addressed the British Empire in a satirical way. The ballad "Some Mother's Son", addresses the horrors of war, while the song "Shangri-La" is in a world of its own. It addresses what seems to be a paradise, but as the song carries along the listener finds out that what Arthur thinks is his paradise is actually his own prison as well. Musically, the song mixes elements of Folk, Hard Rock and has been said to be one of Dave Davies favourite Kinks songs that his brother, Ray Davies has written.

"Mr. Churchill Says" references the effects of World War II on the British people. Musically the song picks up from a slow Blues influenced Rock song to being Hard Rock once again. The song actually features paraphrased parts from the speeches of Prime Minister Winston Churchill and a siren in the middle of the song that is supposed to represent the air-raid siren heard during World War II. The album also features many other songs playing into this over aching concept. There are other interesting songs such as "Brainwashed", "Arthur", "Nothing To Say", and the six minute "Australia" which features excellent guitar work from Dave Davies. Overall, the album musically is an exciting Rock album.

The album sold poorly in the UK, but in the US it received greater acclaim and reached #105 on the US album charts. Singles released for the album were "Drivin'", "Shangri-La", and "Victoria". Only "Victoria" would do well on the singles market (with the exception of "Shangri-La" in the Netherlands). It went to #62 on the US Billboard Hot charts and #33 on the UK singles charts. Arthur would also mark the beginnings of The Kinks return to mainstream success and a return to the bands Hard Rock style. Arthur was reissued in 1998 with several bonus tracks.

Other Kinks Links:

Waterloo Sunset: The Story of The Kinks Part One
Drivin': The Story of The Kinks Part Two
Some Kinda Kinks (Village Green/Dave Davies Post)
Dave Emulen's Kinks Website


The Play List:

1. The Kinks - Nothing To Say
2. Supergrass - Never Done Nothing Like That Before
3. The Black Hollies - Gloomy Monday Morning
4. The Flaming Groovies - Teenage Head
5. One Way Street - I See The Light
6. J.B & The Playboys - Leave My Woman Alone
7. The Count Five - Double Decker Bus
8. Dr. Feelgood - Riot in Cellblock No.9
9. The Dishrags - Sold Out
10. Ex-Boyfriends - Special Occasions
11. Lost Patrol - Outta My Mind
12. Dream Dates - Search and Destroy
13. Ramona - A Way Over
14. The Goodamn Goodamn's- Steel City Livin'
15. No Age - You're A Target
16. Islands - Vapours
17. The Raveonettes - Bang!
18. Carbon/Silicon - What's Up Doc?
19. Young Executives - Ice Age
20. Mando Diao - Go Out Tonight
21. Van Morrison - Everyone
22. The Clash - Every Little Bit Hurts
23. The Kinks - Shangri-La

To download this weeks program, visit CJAM's schedule page for Revolution Rock and download the file for October 13th. Or subscribe to Revolution Rock as a Podcast.

In addition to my feature on The Kinks album Arthur, I also played a new song by Carbon/Silicon. Here is the music video for "What's Up Doc?"

CJAM Redefined....Show # 269

CJAM is now 99.1 FM. That being said, Revolution Rock aired for the first time on 99.1 FM this Tuesday October 13th. The show has been on CJAM since 2004 and this week marked my 269th program. If you are a visitor of this blog, it is a good idea to check out the new CJAM website. You can subscribe to individual programs and even subscribe to an RSS Podcast by going to the programs section.

The downloads from CJAM's site are now a bit different, but are easier to get. To download the show you can visit the Revolution Rock page , all of the files will be listed in this link if you'd like to download a particular show from a particular week. Also if you click the Podcast RSS button, you will be able to subscribe to Revolution Rock as a Podcast.

99.1 FM Play List:

1. Almighty Defenders - All My Loving
2. BBQ - Outta My Mind
3. BBQ - I Wanna Be the Only One
4. Black Lips - Boomerang
5. The Scruffs - This Thursday
6. The Real Kids - Rave On
7. The Poles - CN Tower
8. The Reaction - The Kids Arrived
9. Spiral Beach - After Midnite
10. Rick White - Belief
11. Speaking Tongues - Run To My Door
12. Nirvana - School
13. Tank - Storm Trooper
14. Julian Casablancas - 11th Dimension
15. Devo - Mongoloid
16. Peace - I Forget
17. Turbo Fruits - Trouble!
18. Generation X - Anna Smiles
19. XTC - Wait Till Your Boat Goes Down
20. Gang of Four - Love Like Anthrax
20. The Saints - This Perfect Day (Single Version)
22. Undertones - I Don't Wanna See You Again/I Told You So
23. Modernettes - Barbra
24. Pearl Jam - Gonna See My Friend
25. Buzzcocks - Operator's Manual

To download this weeks program, visit CJAM's schedule page for Revolution Rock and download the file for October 13th. Or subscribe to Revolution Rock as a Podcast.

CJAM Pledge Drive 2009!

This week's program was my annual Pledge Drive show. Once a year CJAM, which is a non-profit campus/community radio station relies on donations to keep the station running strongly for all of it's listeners. This year in particular is a very different kind of Pledge Drive. CJAM will be switching frequencies following the end of the drive and relocating on the 99.1 FM frequency. CJAM has been operating on 91.5 FM for the past 26 years, but due to unprotected status related issues we will require a frequency change. Now CJAM is about to begin a new era, with a new frequency. To do all of this, the station has had to install a new antenna which will result in a stronger signal and more range for it's listeners in some areas. As for the people who listen online, the station is also going to be launching a new comprehensive website, which will be more technologically advanced that the previous website. This will make listening to your favourite CJAM shows easier and faster.

My show this week featured several CJAM DJ's helping out. Adam (of Fear of Music), Clara (of The Washing Machine), and Chris White (of I Am Collecting Beautiful Things), all of which did a great job. My show did not reach its my desired pledge goal, but you can still help out! If you would like to donnate and help out CJAM you can visit the CJAM Website for instructions how to donate online through PayPal and to see the wonderful incentives we offer as a thank you for your donation. Pledge Drive will continue until October 5th at midnight. At that time CJAM will go off the air for good as 91.5 FM and retrun shortly after the installtion of a new antenna as 99.1 FM. The only thing that's changing about CJAM is the frequency, we will still offer the same great programing. Due to this my show will not be broadcasting next week, but check this website for special content.

This Week's Play List:

1. The Stooges - I Wanna Be Your Dog
2. Jay Reatard - Always Wanting More
3. Elvis Costello & The Attractions - The Beat
4. Joe Strummer & The Mescaleros - Cool N' Out
5. The Mongols - Nautoloid Reef
6. The Spys - Underground

To download this week's show visit the CJAM archives and select the files 10:00 AM and 11:00 AM on September 29th, 2009.

Noise, Noise, Noise...The Story of The Damned & Show # 267

The Damned came together through a pool of musicians that had all been in previous bands in some shape or form. Three of the band members that would be in the original line up of The Damned first played in a group that never played outside of band practices. Masters of the Backside featured Captain Sensible (Raymond Burns), Rat Scabies (Chris Millar), Dave Vanian (David Letts), and Chrissie Hynde. The band who was being managed by future Sex Pistols band manager Malcolm Mclaren, broke up due to management related issues. Chrissie Hynde would go on to form The Pretenders, while the remaining members added Brian James (Brian Robertson) to their ranks. James who was at the time returning to London after playing in a band called The Bastards, joined up briefly with a band that also never played live called London SS. He would leave the group which featured future members of The Clash (Mick Jones) and Generation X (Tony James) to join The Damned. Dave Vanian became the vocalist, Captain Sensible the bassist, Rat Scabies the drummer and Brian James, the guitarist. The name of the band has said to come from a variety of sources, one being the movie The Village of The Damned. The name was also the idea of lead singer Dave Vanian, who would often dress up in a vampiric style. The band played their first live show in 1976 at the 100 Club opening for Sex Pistols. The Damned were influenced by bands such as The Stooges, MC5, New York Dolls, Sex Pistols and others.

Signing to Stiff Records, The Damned recorded New Rose, it was released in late October of 1976. Produced by Nick Lowe, the energetic single was the very first single to be released by a UK Punk act. The B-Side of the single was a cover version of The Beatles song "Help!", played at an accelerated rate. The single sold so well that the initial first pressings of the single were sold out on mail orders alone. In 1977, The Damned released the first UK Punk album ever. Produced by Nick Lowe, the album was titled Damned Damned Damned, the album featured 12 songs (one of which was "New Rose"). The songs bled the spirit of fast paced Rock and Roll. Songs such as "Neat Neat Neat", "Fan Club", "I Fall", and "So Messed Up", all of which were written by guitarist Brian James are good examples of The Damned's style. The only songs that were not written primarily by James were "Stab Your Back" (written by Rat Scabies) and "I Feel Alright" (which was a cover of The Stooges song "1970"). The albums cover featured the band after having a pie fight. The cover is a good representation of the bands music displaying their sense of humour and love of reckless Rock and Roll abandonment. The back cover originally had a misprint on it. What was supposed to be a picture of The Damned playing live, was actually a picture of the band Eddie and the Hotrods. The overall album design is credited to Big Jobs Inc., but it is actually just an alternate name for Barney Bubbles. The album went to # 36 on the UK album charts.


The Damned then joined the infamous Anarchy Tour in the UK with the likes of Sex Pistols, The Clash, and Johnny Thunders & The Heartbreakers. The tour which is known for having more cancellations than shows played, did not feature The Damned for long. They would leave the tour and open for T.Rex's last tour. They also set another record for UK Punk by being the first UK Punk band to tour the USA, in turn influencing the beginning of US hardcore with their fast paced shows. When they returned from the USA, The Damned recorded two songs ("Stretcher Case" and "Sick of Being Sick") with legendary producer Shel Talmy. After more touring, The Damned added guitarist Lu Edmunds as a second guitarist and set out to record their second full length album. The album would not be produced by Nick Lowe (he was not available at that time to produce), instead it was produced by Nick Mason of Pink Floyd (originally the band had the intention of using Syd Barrett as producer). The album which is often frowned upon by critics, is actually a well written album which incorporates more intricate guitar parts and song structuring alongside the bands fast paced Punk sound. The album was meant to be different than its highly charged Punk predecessor, it was meant to be their Psychedelic album. It was released in November of 1977.

The issues surrounding the album also helped shape Music For Pleasure. Drummer Rat Scabies wanted to quit the band, but was convinced to stay for the recording, and the band went into the studio with hardly any new music ideas. Despite these issues, the album featured great songs such as "Problem Child", "Don't Cry Wolf", "You Take My Money", "Idiot Box, and "Your Eyes". The album once again contained a large majority of songs penned by Brian James, but it also featured a handful of songs written by and with the assistance of other band members. Music For Pleasure ends with the song "You Know", which features an ending saxophone solo. This ending is somewhat influenced by The Stooges, their album Funhouse ends in a similar fashion. Artwork for the album was done once again by Barney Bubbles, the cover featured versions of each band member in an almost abstract/cartoon form. Since the album also flopped commercially, Stiff Records dropped the band and they broke up.

After the members of the band went out to try other music projects, they decided to reunite. All of the members of The Damned returned with the exception of Brian James. Former bassist Captain Sensible would switch to guitar, and Algy Ward (former bassist in The Saints) became the groups new bassist. For a short period of time, Lemmy of Motorhead filled in on bass and even played some live shows, the band were called The Doomed briefly. When Ward came in, the second era of The Damned began. Signing to Chiswick Records, the band entered a studio to record their third full length album. In April 1979, The Damned released their first single in two years, it was titled "Love Song". The single did very well chart-wise going to #20 on the UK Singles charts. In September The Damned released the single "Smash It Up", the song was banned from BBC 1, due to its lyrical content. The bands full length album would be titled Machine Gun Etiquette. The album differed from The Damned's previous albums, incorporating elements of Garage Rock, Psychedelic, Punk and Pop into the music. The album featured the singles "Love Song", and "Smash It Up", and also other songs such as "Melody Lee", "Noise, Noise, Noise", "Liar" and "Looking At You" (which was a cover of a song originally done by MC5). Machine Gun Etiquette was also recorded at Wessex Studios in 1979, at the same time that The Clash were recording London Calling. As a result, Joe Strummer and Mick Jones of The Clash are featured vocally on the song "Machine Gun Etiquette", but are not credited. The album received good reviews, and went to #31 on the UK album charts.


In 1980, Algy Ward left the group (he would go on to form the band Tank). Paul Gray who had played bass with Eddie and The Hotrods joined as the groups new bass player. The Damned's next album would be a double album, it would also be titled The Black Album. Released in October of 1980, the album featured the band expanding their sound on the song "Curtain Call". The song was 17 minutes and took up the whole third side of the album, when it was released on vinyl. The song ventured into the Gothic music genre. The final side of the album featured four live songs. The album would reach #29 on the UK album charts, it would also be The Damned's last album released on the Chiswick record label. A four song Ep was released in 1981, titled Friday The 13th. It featured four songs (three originals and one cover song). In 1982, The Damned released the album titled Strawberries. It was during this time that Captain Sensible was also involved in a solo career. he would have a hit single in the UK with the song "Happy Talk". Around mid 1984/85, Sensible left the group. During the mid-eighties period, Dave Vanian took over as the core member of the group (he still remains as one of the only original members left with the group). The Damned continued until 1988 (amidst many line up changes), they then broke up yet again.

The Damned released an album in 1985 titled Not of This Earth, and are currently on Nitro Records, which is a label owned by Dexter Holland (of The Offspring). Grave Disorder was released in 2001 and So, Who's Paranoid? in 2008. The band's last album reflected more of a Pop influence, the current line up features Dave Vanian and Captain Sensible, amoung others. All of the Damned's albums up to their 1985 album Phantasmagoria, have been re-issued on CD with bonus tracks. A box set featuring all the recordings with guitarist Brian James was released in 2007 titled Play It At Your Sister. In addition to this a 30th anniversary edtion of Damned Damned Damned was released in april of 2007. This version of the album featured three CD's, which included B-Sides, demos and live recordings.



Next week is CJAM's pledge drive. This year's pledge drive is a little different than past pledge drives. This year will mark the transition from 91.5 FM to 99.1 FM. There are all sorts of incentives that will be available, so there is no reason not to support CJAM. Check cjam.ca for info and pictures of the incentives offered this year. If you would like to make a donnation please read the following information and click the link that follows:

CJAM's annual pledge drive will coincide the final week of broadcasting at 91.5FM and we will be bringing you some additional special programming and events commemorating over 25 years of FM on the frequency.

This year's drive will begin on Friday September 25 and conclude Monday October 5th. But you don't have to wait to donate! Pledge and donate online through CJAM's Website!

The Play List:

1. The D4 - What I Want
2. Lime Spiders - 25th Hour
3. The Misfits - Some Kinda Hate
4. Gentlemen of Horror - Rough Hike
5. The Spores - Shopping Binge
6. The Action - Down Town Boys
7. The Action - Success Without College
8. The Hellacopters - Ain't No Time
9. Wylde Rattz - TV Eye
10. Awesome Color - Ridin'
11. Pluto - Paste
12. Thrush Hermit - Radio Blaster
13. Barracudas - I Can't Pretend
14. Jerry Nolan - Pretty Baby
15. King Khan & BBQ Show - Waddlin' Around
16. The Forty-Fives - Shake
17. The Gun Club - Preachin' The Blues
18. Nervous Shakes - Be A Man
19. Television - Fire Engine (1975 Demo)
20. Sloan - I've Gotta Try
21. Johnny Thunders - Leave Me Alone
22. The Damned - New Rose
23. The Damned - One Way Love
24. Luger Boa - Only A Moment Away

To download this week's show visit the CJAM archives and select the files 10:00 AM and 11:00 AM on September 22nd, 2009.

Damned Videos:

New Rose (1976 Promo Video)
Neat Neat Neat (Live 1977)
Problem Child (Live 1977)
Fan Club (Live 1978)
Love Song (TOTP 1979)
Smash It Up (1979 Promo Video)