Love Bites: The Music of Pete Shelley & Buzzcocks & Show # 761

Pete Shelley formed the early punk band Buzzcocks in the UK with Howard Devoto in 1976 after seeing a Sex Pistols gig in Manchester in 1975. Along with Steve Diggle and John Maher, Buzzcocks recorded and released their Spiral Scratch EP in 1977 on their independent label, New Hormones. It was one of the first independent releases during the UK punk era of the late 70s, put out without the help of major record labels. Adhering to the DIY punk ethos, the success of this release inspired other bands and DIY labels to put out music on their own. Shortly after this release, Howard Devoto left the group, with Shelley taking the lead vocal/lead guitar role in the group. Steve Diggle switched to rhythm guitar from bass and bassist Steve Garvey would eventually join the group that when combined with drummer John Maher, formed the classic Buzzcocks band lineup.

Signing to United Artists, during Buzzcocks initial run with the classic band lineup they released three full-length albums, Another Music In A Different Kitchen (1978), Love Bites (1978) and A Different Kind of Tension in 1979. They also put out numerous singles and B-sides during this time period, most of which were collected for the 1979 compilation album Singles Going Steady. Originally released via I.R.S. Records in 1979, this compilation was put together to coincide with a tour that the band were doing of the US. It was also the first Buzzcocks album to be released in North America and also served as an introduction of the band to US audiences. Due to the strength of the songs in this collection, many people often cite this as one of the band’s best albums despite the fact that it is a compilation album made up of singles and their corresponding B-sides. At the time of this album’s release, Buzzcocks were on the verge of collapse and in 1981 the band split.

In addition to playing in Buzzcocks, Shelley’s also had a solo career, beginning with 1980’s Sky Yen. This album ventured into electronic and drone music. 1981’s Homosapien explored electronic pop and synthesizer based music in its early pioneering days. The music created during this period yielded three solo albums all within a similar synth rock vein. The first two albums Shelley recorded were produced by Martin Rushent. Homosapien (1981) and XL1 (1983) both explored what was new musical technology at the time such as synthesizers, sequencers and drum machines. The sound created on these albums were in part experiments with new sounds, but at the same time they still showcased Shelley’s ability to write catchy pop songs. “Homosapien” and “Telephone Operator” are good examples of Shelley's songwriting in the 80s when armed with different musical landscapes and technologies. The sounds he created were later explored to greater success with The Human League, whose album Dare was also produced by Rushent. In 1986, Shelley released Heaven & The Sea. Produced by Stephen Hague, the album added more texture and layers to the sound that Shelley developed on Homosapien and XL1.

Buzzcocks reformed in 1989 and an album followed in 1991 entitled Trade Test Transmissions. The lineup of the band would shift at this time and during different time periods in the later parts of Buzzcocks career, but the band toured from 1989 pretty much until Shelley’s passing in December 2018. Many albums were recorded and released in between this period including All Set (1996), Modern (1999), Buzzcocks (2003), Flat-Pack Philosophy (2006) and The Way in 2014. Buzzcocks mastered the art of the short pop song. The song “Ever Fallen In Love (With Someone You Shouldn’t’ve) from Buzzcocks 1978 album Love Bites, was inspired by a line from the movie Guys and Dolls and has been called a pop masterpiece by many. The music he created with Buzzcocks often combined elements of punk, pop and power pop, to create catchy, memorable songs, often dealing with love gone wrong. Lyrically, his songs were often witty and open to interpretation and challenged the conventions of song writing. The songs that he created often spoke to people in a certain way, people of all types and will continue to do so.

Love Bites: The Music of Pete Shelly & Buzzcocks Playlist:

1. Buzzcocks - Ever Fallen In Love (Live Lesser Free Trade Hall 7-21-1978) (Love Bites (Deluxe Edition) - EMI - 2010)
2. Buzzcocks - Boredom (Spiral Scratch EP - New Hormones - 1977)
3. Buzzcocks - Lester Sands (A Drop In The Ocean) (Time's Up - Voto - 1978)
4. Buzzcocks - Don't Mess Me Around (Time's Up - Voto - 1978)
5. Buzzcocks - Whatever Happened To (Demo) (Another Music In A Different Kitchen (Deluxe Edition) - EMI - 2010)
6. Buzzcocks - Fast Cars (Peel Session 09-07-1977) (The Peel Sessions Album - Strange Fruit - 1989)
7. Buzzcocks - Fiction Romance (Another Music In A Different Kitchen - United Artists Records - 1978)
8. Buzzcocks - Love You More (Singles Going Steady - I.R.S. Records - 1979)
9. Buzzcocks - Promises (Singles Going Steady - I.R.S. Records - 1979)
10. Buzzcocks - Nostalgia (Love Bites - United Artists Records - 1978)
11. Buzzcocks - Sixteen Again (Love Bites - United Artists Records - 1978)
12. Buzzcocks - E.S.P. (Love Bites - United Artists Records - 1978)
13. Buzzcocks - You Say You Don't Love Me (A Different Kind of Tension - United Artists Records - 1979)
14. Buzzcocks - Hollow Inside (A Different Kind of Tension - United Artists Records - 1979)
15. Pete Shelley - Homosapien (Homosapien - Genetic Records/Arista Records - 1981)
16. Pete Shelley - Yesterday's Not Here (Homosapien - Genetic Records/Arista Records - 1981)
17. Pete Shelley - Telephone Operator (XL1 - Genetic Records/Arista Records - 1983)
18. Pete Shelley - XL1 (XL1 - Genetic Records/Arista Records - 1983)
19. Pete Shelley - On Your Own (Heaven & The Sea - Mercury Records - 1986)
20. ShelleyDevoto - Can You See Me Shining? (Buzzkunst - Cooking Vinyl - 2002)
21. Buzzcocks - Morning After (Buzzcocks - Cherry Red/Merge Records - 2003)
22. Buzzcocks - Flat-Pack Philosophy (Flat-Pack Philosophy - Cooking Vinyl - 2006)
23. Buzzcocks - Everybody's Happy Nowadays (Singles Going Steady - I.R.S. Records - 1979)
24. Buzzcocks - Noise Annoys (Peel Session 10-04-1978) (The Peel Sessions Album - Strange Fruit - 1989)
25. Buzzcocks - What Do I Get? (Singles Going Steady - I.R.S. Records - 1979)
26. Buzzcocks - I Look Alone (C81 - Rough Tapes - 1981)

To download this weeks program, visit CJAM's schedule page for Revolution Rock and download the file for February 9.

Coming Up On Revolution Rock in 2019!

February is theme month once again for Revolution Rock. I will be doing a different themed program for each of the four weeks in February 2019. This year’s programming will begin with a program devoted to the music of James Brown. Each program will air on a Saturday from 7-9 PM and can be streamed/listened to online via www.cjam.ca or on the FM dial at 99.1 FM in the Windsor/Detroit area.

Revolution Funk: The Music of James Brown
Saturday February, 2nd
7-9 PM
CJAM 99.1 FM (www.cjam.ca)

James Brown’s “Funky Drummer” was originally recorded at a jam session in 1969. The song was released as a two-part single via King Records in 1970 and eventually released on the compilation album In The Jungle Groove in 1986. The song however, is one of the most sampled songs in hip hop and popular music. The break in the song around the five minute twenty second mark features a drum break played by Clyde Stubblefield has been sampled over one thousand times and is weaved among so many songs its often hard to keep track. This is just one of the songs that has been sampled by music created by James Brown. It is also an example of the vast influence he has had on music. James Brown, often known as “The Godfather of Soul” helped to secularize gospel music and in turn had a role in the creation of soul music. He would combine these elements of soul and R&B music to lay the foundations and to help create funk music. With his emphasis on the first note of every measure (known as “the one”), Brown and his band developed the downbeat, which created a groove that would become his signature.

In addition to this this, Brown addressed many social and political issues through his music with songs such as “Don’t Be A Dropout”, “Say It Loud (I’m Black and I’m Proud)”, “Funky President (People It’s Bad)”, and “Talkin’ Loud and Sayin’ Nothing” to name a few. By the early 70’s James Brown and his band, The J.B.’s established a funk sound that can be heard on songs such as “Get Up (I Feel Like Being A) Sex Machine”, “Soul Power”, “Hot Pants”, “Make It Funky”, and “The Payback”. James Brown became a major figure in music in the 20th century and also provided captivating live shows that often involved his unique dance moves. With dance moves such as the mashed potato, the funky chicken, the robot and his tour de force move, the split, Brown had a combination of factors that made him influential in numerous ways. All of this earned him the nick name “The Godfather of Soul”. Revolution Rock celebrates Black History Month by playing music from James Brown’s catalogue, along with deep cuts, live recordings and a variety of other selections. Also joining the program will be guest host Graeme Sylvio of CJAM’s Sylvio & Soul radio program.

Love Bites: The Music of Pete Shelley
Saturday February, 9th
7-9 PM
CJAM 99.1 FM (www.cjam.ca)

Pete Shelley formed the early punk band Buzzcocks in the UK with Howard Devoto in 1976 after seeing a Sex Pistols gig in Manchester in 1975. Along with Steve Diggle and John Maher, Buzzcocks recorded and released their Spiral Scratch EP in 1977 on their independent label, New Hormones. It was one of the first independent releases during the UK punk era of the late 70s, put out without the help of major record labels. Adhering to the DIY punk ethos, the success of this release inspired other bands to DIY labels to put out music on their own. Shortly after this release, Howard Devoto left the group, with Shelley taking the lead vocal/lead guitar role in the group. Steve Diggle switched to rhythm guitar from bass and bassist Steve Garvey would eventually join the group that when combined with drummer John Maher, formed the classic Buzzcocks band lineup.

Signing to United Artists, Buzzcocks mastered the art of the short pop song. The song “Ever Fallen In Love (With Someone You Shouldn’t’ve), was inspired by a line from the movie Guys and Dolls and has been called a pop masterpiece by many. The music he created often combined elements of punk, pop and power pop, to create catchy, memorable songs, often dealing with love gone wrong. Lyrically, his songs were often witty and open to interpretation and challenged the conventions of song writing. In addition to playing in Buzzcocks, Shelley’s also had a solo career, beginning with 1980’s Sky Yen. This album ventured into electronic and drone music. 1981’s Homosapien explored electronic pop and synthesizer based music, in its early pioneering days. For this episode, Revolution Rock will devote an entire program to music that has been created by Pete Shelley, featuring music from Buzzcocks, his solo career and other projects that he has been a part of.

The King Khan & BBQ Show Radio Special
Saturday February, 16th
7-9 PM
CJAM 99.1 FM (www.cjam.ca)

The King Khan & BBQ Show are a Canadian garage duo from Montreal. The band is comprised of King Khan and BBQ (which is an alias for Mark Sultan). The duo formed in 2002 after a series of bands that both Khan and Sultan were playing with disbanded. Prior to this, Sultan and Khan collaborated in an earlier band called The Spaceshits, who disbanded in 1999. When King Khan, then going by the name Blacksnake, decided to live in Berlin, that group ended. He would go on to form King Khan & The Shrines following this. Around this time Mark Sultan formed the garage rock band Les Sexereenos. In 2002, Sultan began performing and recording as a one-man band under the name BBQ. It was not too long after this that Khan and Sultan began collaborating and recording together. The first self-titled King Khan & BBQ Show was released in 2005 on Goner Records in the US and on Hazelwood Records in Europe.

With Mark Sultan (aka BBQ) on drums (bass and snare drum), guitar, vocals and King Khan on vocals and lead guitar, the band mixed elements of punk rock and doo wop, combined with their garage rock mentality to create a sound all their own. Following the release of the band’s first album, they embarked on a world tour playing in the US, Europe and South America. The band gained a reputation for their wild, energetic and controversial live shows. More albums followed with 2008’s What’s For Dinner? and 2009’s Invisible Girl. During the tour for Invisible Girl, Leo Chip (of the band Deadly Snakes), joined The King Khan & BBQ Show for some live dates as a drummer/organist. However, in 2010 the band split. In 2015, The King Khan & BBQ Show returned with the album Bad News Boys. They have continued to tour off and on since 2011/2012. Throughout this band, after their initial split and even currently, King Khan and Mark Sultan have continually collaborated and recorded with other musicians and recorded music. Most recently Mark Sultan has released a full-length album called Let Me Out and King Khan released his solo album Murderburgers in 2017. This episode of Revolution Rock will feature selections from The King Khan & BBQ Show catalogue, along with a selection of other songs that both King Khan and Mark Sultan have recorded solo or with other groups.

Revolution Surf: The 13th Edition: Horror Themed Surf Rock
Saturday February, 23rd
7-9 PM
CJAM 99.1 FM (www.cjam.ca)

On Saturday February 23rd, the 13th annual edition of Revolution Surf will air on CJAM FM. To commemorate this episode, the program will be made up entirely of horror themed tracks. Horror themed surf songs have been something that has been present in surf music for quite some time. Many horror-based themes have surfaced in surf/instrumental rock songs going back to the beginnings of surf music. Most likely due to the influx of the many monster movies of the time period, this type of surf music has been combined with film and TV on countless occasions adding a different mood and dimension to whatever it is associated with. Horror themed surf music is often creepy and spooky sounding, although some of it has often been seen as kitschy or cheesy. This type of surf music has operated parallel to the sunnier themed surf songs that have been created in the genre. On this episode expect to hear spooky tracks from artists such as The Deadly Ones, The Ghastly Ones, Messer Chups and many others. This year’s Revolution Surf program will once again feature a guest segment from Surf Rock Radio’s Derk Brigante and more surprises!

Meet The Teardrops....The Story of The Teardrops..Show # 316

The Teardrops were a very short lived New Wave band that formed in Manchester, England in 1978. The band was assembled by Steve Garvey, who was at the time playing bass in another Manchester based band Buzzcocks. The band initially consisted of Steve Garvey (bass/vocals), Trevor Wain (guitar/vocals), John Key (guitar/vocals), Dave Brisbane (guitar), and John Donelly on drums. With this line up, a four song EP was recorded and released in 1978 by Bent Records entitled In and Out of Fashion. Shortly after the release of this EP, the line up of the band changed to include Tony Friel and Karl Burns, both were previously in the band The Fall. Another EP was released in the same year titled Leave Me No Choice that had the exact same tracklisting as the In and Out of Fashion EP. It seems that the EP was re-recorded with the new band members.

In 1979, a single was released titled Seeing Double. This 7 inch single may or may not have Steve Garvey on it. According to the Buzzcocks discography he does play on it, but it is believed that he did not participate on this single. By 1980, the band had almost run its course. With a few new members (Helen Barbrook, Trev Wain, and Dave Price) the band recorded and released its only full length album that was titled Final Vinyl. Released in January of 1980, the album featured some re-recordings of previous Teardrops songs "Teardrops and Heartaches", was now known as "Everything's O.K" it was originally a B-side on the Seeing Double single. "Teenage Vice" was also on this album, it was previously on the In and Out of Fashion EP and the Leave No Choice EP. The music on this album is for the most part experimental. There are elements of 70s Punk and New Wave on Final Vinyl, at times sounding like a mix between Buzzcocks and The Fall. The band essentially dissolved by 1981. In 1980 a compilation featuring Manchester bands called Identity Parade was released, it featured a song by The Teardrops called "Colours". A very short lived band emerged following The Teardrops called Bok Bok. They released one single in 1980 called Come Back To Me.

While information on this band is scarce, they have released several recordings, that are by now impossible to find (White Dopes on Punk, a compilation released by Castle in 2005 featured two songs by The Teardrops). In 2010, a collection of tapes from sessions that the band did at Graveyard Studios in Prestwich, where the band recorded their final album were found and restored by Blind Eye Records. A series of 7 inch vinyls are set to be released in early 2011.


The Play List:

1. The Libertines - I Get Along
2. The Demics - The Grey and The Black
4. Livid Scaries - Oh Well
5. Pink Cadilac Scat Cats - New York City (Acoustic)
6. Shaky Jack Whiteside - I Won't See You No More
7. Seven Story Redhead - Don't Wanna Know
8. West Coast Pop Experiment Band - If You Want This Love
9. The Music Machine - The People In Me
10. Hollywood Brats - Sick On You
11. The Count Bishops - Teenage Letter
12. White Stripes - Jolene (Live)
13. Fitz & The Tantrums - Breakin' The Chains of Love
14. David Bowie - Move
15. Sheep Look Up - Jumper
16. The Teardrops - Leave Me No Choice
17. The Teardrops - Everythings O.K.
18. The Teardrops - Meet the Teardrops
19. Undertones - Girls That Don't Talk (Demo)
20. Magic Hall of Mirrors - Rosewater Harpsichord
21. Young Rival - Search & Destroy (Live @ Phog Phest 2010)
22. The Pagans - Not Now, No Way
23. Pearl Jam - I Got Shit (Live JonesBeach, New York, August 24, 2000)
24. Radio 4 - Enemies Like This
25. The Hives - Fall is Just Something Grown Ups Invented

To download this weeks program, visit CJAM's schedule page for Revolution Rock and download the file for September 7th. Or subscribe to Revolution Rock as a Podcast.

You Know You Can't Help It...A Different Kind of Tension Special Edition and Show # 226

In October of 2008, Buzzcocks re-issued their first three albums (Another Music in A Different Kitchen, Love Bites, and A Different Kind of Tension) in special edition format. All of the Special Editions feature two discs containing the original album. non album singles/B-sides, demos, live recordings and outtakes. In celebration of these releases Buzzcocks will play Another Music and Love Bites back to back on a small UK tour. This week on my show I played a block of songs featured on the A Different Kind of Tension Special Edition.

Released in 1979, A Different Kind of Tension was different than Buzzcocks previous two albums. It was recorded at a time when the band were battling a vicious cocktail of difficulties with record companies, drugs, and financial issues. The cover of the album features different shapes and the colour scheme of orange yellow and purple. Inside the centre triangle is a silhouetted picture of the band, surrounded by a purplish light, they look like they are from a different planet. This album was once again produced by Martin Rushent, and musically it sounds both spacious and cramped, staying true to the title. The band are sharp and precise which was most likely due to the tour that they had just come off of. Lyrically Shelley questions just about everything, the lyrics are also darker in nature. Guitarist Steve Diggle also supplies the album with high quality songs to help make this album great. The first single in 1979 for the band was "Everybody's Happy Nowadays", the song went to # 29 on the UK singles charts. "Harmony in My Head" was another non album single released by the band, it reached # 32 in the UK. The song was sung and written by Steve Diggle, apparently prior to recording the vocals to this track Diggle smoked 20 cigarettes to get a harsh sound from his voice. The other singles released for this album were the songs "You Say You Don't Love Me", and "I Believe", they were also featured on the album A Different Kind of Tension. On the album charts A Different Kind of Tension went to # 26 in the UK and # 163 in the US.

The Special Edition contains a plethora of bonus tracks. Not only does it contain the bands Parts 1,2,3 EP, but it also contains the bands last track with their classic line up, "I Look alone". If that isn't enough you also get all the associated singles ("Everybody's Happy Nowadays", "Why Can't I Touch It", and "Harmony in My Head"), Peel Sessions, and demos. What's interesting about the demos is that there are versions of songs such as "I Don't Know what To Do With My Life" with an extra verse, and slower early versions of "Mad Mad Judy", and "Harmony in My Head". You also get four unused songs that were made for A Different Kind of Tension. "I Don't Know" (an instrumental), and "Run Away From Home" both written by bassist Steve Garvey, and "Jesus Made Me Feel Guilty", and "The Drive System" (written by guitaris Steve Diggle). This special edition perfectly collects songs from the last moments of the this period of Buzzcocks (from 1977-1981). After this album they would split in 1981, but reform in 1989.

A full band history of the band can be found here. The A Different Kind of Tension Special Edition can be purchased on the Amazon UK website or the Amazon.com website.


In other news, this week I played a song by a new upcoming band known as The Stanley Blacks. Coming from Guildford in London, England the band is currently working on an EP and Gary of Always Searching For Music was kind enough to notify me of this, and supplied me with a track to play on my show. The band has made this track available for download as well, so you can download it here. They are also looking for feedback so if you'd like to comment on the song, you can head over to ASFM and leave a comment.

Stanley Blacks - In Sight
Stanley Blacks Myspace

Play List:

1. Buzzcocks - Paradise
2. Buzzcocks - Run Away From Home
3. Buzzcocks - Mad Mad Judy (Demo)
4. Buzzcocks - I Don't Know What to Do With My Life (Peel Session)
5. Sturgeons - Punk Rock Virgins
6. The Jury - Who Dat?
7. Don Norman & The Other 4 - Low Man
8. Young Rival - Your Island
9. The Magic - The Harder Way
10. The Stanley Blacks - In Sight
11. Gang of Four - Glass
12. Public Image Limited - FFF
13. Big Audio Dynamite - London Bridge
14. Wire - Sand in My Joints
15. Luger Boa - What is Real?
16. Clap Clap Riot - Don't Want Your Baby
17. The Jam - A Bomb in Wardour Street
18. Golden Hands Before God- Communist Party
19. Locust Have No King - Trench Song
20. The Kinks - Picture Book
21. Jakob Dylan - Evil is Alive and Well
22. Neil Young - Everybody Knows This is Nowhere
23. Lou Reed - Crazy Feeling
24. Dirty Pretty Things - Come Closer
25. Dirty Pretty Things - Faultlines

To download this week's show visit the CJAM archives and select the files 10:00 AM and 11:00 AM on December 9th, 2008. (Note: My show starts thirty minutes into the first download)

Nostalgia...Love Bites Special Edition...Show # 225

In October of 2008, Buzzcocks re-issued their first three albums (Another Music in A Different Kitchen, Love Bites, and A Different Kind of Tension) in special edition format. All of the Special Editions feature two discs containing the original album. non album singles/B-sides, demos, live recordings and outtakes. In celebration of these releases Buzzcocks will play Another Music and Love Bites back to back on a small UK tour. This week on my show I played a block of songs featured on the Love Bites Special Edition. Next week I will feature a block from the A Different Kind of Tension Special Edition.

Released in September of 1978, Love Bites was a transition album for the band. It was an album where the Shelley fronted Buzzcocks began to evolve into a new sound of their own. While musically the album sounds very punk influenced, it also had more of a pop and power pop production style. Around the time of this release, the world in which was known as punk was changing. Lyrically Shelley addresses topics that can be seen as directly relating to that period of time. With song titles like "Real World", "Nostalgia", "Sixteen Again", and "Nothing Left", this theory is evident. The lyrics can also be identified as relating to other subjects such as love, and real life in general, but the lines are blurred. The album was produced by Martin Rushent, and was the bands second full length album. Not only was it their second album, but it was also released in the same year as the bands first album Another Music in A Different Kitchen. The album would feature the song "Love is Lies", which is the first song to feature lead vocals by guitarist Steve Diggle. Bassist Steve Garvey is credited for the instrumental track "Walking Distance", and the whole band gets credit for the song "Late For the Train". Pete Shelley is credited for the rest of the songs on the album as the bands main composer, with the exception of the song "Just Lust". The albums first single was the non album track "Love You More". The song went to #34 on the UK singles charts. It was followed by the song "Ever Fallen In Love (With Someone You Shouldn't Have), which went to #12 on the UK singles charts and was also featured on Love Bites. The third single was another non album track, "Promises" (#20 in the UK). The album itself went to #13 on the UK album charts.

The special edition of this album features the original eleven track album, with non album tracks and B-sides ("Love You More", "Noise Annoys", "Promises", and "Lipstick"), Peel Session tracks, demos and a live concert from July, 21st 1978. The Peel Sessions feature the first performance of the instrumental song "Late For the Train", which was apparently written for the show, but re-recorded for Love Bites. It also features a different arrangement of the song "ESP". The demos feature the song "Raison D'etre" which would be a song on the bands third album A Different Kind of Tension. There is also an early version of the song "Promises", it is called "Children". Finally the demos include the joke song "Mother of Turds", which is a fun song that is not only humorous to the listener, but to the band as well because they cannot stop laughing through out the recording. What's interesting about the live concert is that it really shows off the band in their prime. Steve Garvey plays the bassline to the song "Breakdown" different, and better than the original in my opinion, giving it melody and depth. He also helps sing on the song "Autonomy".

A full band history of the band can be found here. The Love Bites Special Edition can be purchased on the Amazon UK website or the Amazon.com website. Next week my show will have a feature on the third Buzzcocks Special Edition release A Different Kind of Tension.

Play List:

1. The Nerves - Hanging on the Telephone
2. Gruesomes - Cave In
3. Stolen Minks - Black Widow
4. Sacred Sailors - I Can't Stand It
5. (International) Noise Conspiracy - Washington Bullets
6. Waking Eyes - Wolves At the Door
7. Marble Index - We Can Make It
8. Ugly Ducklings - Do What You Want
9. The Clues - Footsteps
10. Velvet Underground - I Can't Stand It
11. RTT - Frustration
12. Ian Hunter - Lisa Likes Rock N Roll
13. Cut Copy - Unforgettable Season
14. Bloc Party - Waiting For the 7:18
15. Kaiser Chiefs - Can't Say What I Mean
16. The Clash - Revolution Rock
17. Neil Young - Stupid Girl
18. Will Curie and The County French & Sloan - Push Pins
19. Buzzcocks - ESP (Peel Session Version)
20. Buzzcocks - Nostalgia
21. Buzzcocks - Raison D'etre (Demo)
22. Buzzcocks - Breakdown (Live July 79)
23. Radio Birdman - Murder City Nights
24. Guided By Voices - Shocker in Gloomtown
25. Standells - Rari
26. Young Rival - Too Hip

To download this week's show visit the CJAM archives and select the files 10:00 AM and 11:00 AM on December 2nd, 2008.

Videos:

Interview + What Do I Get (Live in Toronto 1979)

Music From A Different Kitchen...Show # 224

In October of 2008, Buzzcocks re-issued their first three albums (Another Music in A Different Kitchen, Love Bites, and A Different Kind of Tension) in special edition format. All of the Special Editions feature two discs containing the original album. non album singles/B-sides, demos, live recordings and outtakes. In celebration of these releases Buzzcocks will play Another Music and Love Bites back to back on a small UK tour. This week on my show I played a block of songs featured on the Another Music in A Different Kitchen Special Edition. Next week I will feature a block from the Love Bites Special Edition and the following week a block from A Different Kind of Tension.

Another Music in A Different Kitchen was first released in 1978. The album featured the first recordings of Buzzcocks second line up (their original line up featured Howard Devoto on vocals). The result was an album that featured a catchy punk/pop style unlike any other. The albums title was inspired by the title of artwork done by Linder Sterling called Housewives Choosing Their Own Juices in A Different Kitchen. Apparently the band was going to also use artwork by Sterling for the cover which was of a salad bowl with eyes inside, but decided against this. Prior to the albums release the band released two singles "Orgasm Addict" (which failed to chart due to its subject matter) and "What Do I Get?" (which went to # 37 on the UK singles charts). The only single released from the album was "I Don't Mind", which went to # 55 on the UK singles charts.

The Special Edition features demos of almost every song on the album, some BBC Sessions and a never before released live concert. There are 14 demos in total, they are a mix of songs that would appear on the Another Music album, non album tracks and one song not used at all, "Boredom" with Pete Shelley on vocals; Previously the song "Boredom" was recorded for the bands Spiral Scratch EP with Howard Devoto on vocals. Some of the demos are quite different from the finished versions. The BBC Session tracks are "Fast Cars", "(Moving Away From) The Pulsebeat", and "What Do I Get?". The tracks were originally recorded for a John Peel Session in 1977. Finally the live concert featured on the album is one from 1977. A full band history of the band can be found here. The Another Music in A Different Kitchen can be purchased on the Amazon UK website or the Amazon.com website. Next week my show will have a feature on the second Buzzcocks Special Edition release Love Bites.

Play List:

1. Elvis Costello & The Imposters - Stella Hurt
2. Cause Co-Motion! - Baby Don't Do It
3. Ex-Po - Tasty Bites
4. Young Knives - Stand and Deliver (XFM Session)
5. Pigeon Detectives - Take Her Back
6. The Craft Economy - Menergy
7. Relief Maps - Hair Play
8. XX Teens - My Favourite Hat
9. David Byrne & Brian Eno - Strange Overtones
10. Talking Heads - Pull Up the Roots
11. David Bowie - D.J.
12. Roxy Music - Serenede
13. Luger Boa - Mutate or Die!
14. The Visitors - Sad TV
15. The Government - Acute Angle
16. XTC - Respectable Street
17. Modelos - Tidal Wave
18. Subhumans - Pissed Off For A Good Reason
19. Pointed Sticks - The Real Thing (Demo)
20. The Cure - Freakshow
21. Buzzcocks - I Don't Mind (Demo)
22. Buzzcocks - Whatever Happened To? (Demo)
23. Buzzcocks - Sixteen
24. Buzzcocks - Fast Cars (BBC Session Version)

To download this week's show visit the CJAM archives and select the files 10:00 AM and 11:00 AM on November 25th, 2008.

Harmonies in My Head: Buzzcocks Special...Show # 199

This week I did a show of all Buzzcocks songs. It was a mix of songs from some of my favourite albums by the band (mostly early ones). I already have done an extensive band history on the band. You can read that by clicking this link. Recently the band released 30. The album is a live CD containing 28 tracks, celebrating the 30th anniversary of the band. Here's an interesting and Newer Interview with Pete Shelley.


Next week will be my 200th show. The show will focus on the music of the New Zealand band The D4.


In other news, The Green Man Music Festival which is in the UK from August 15th-18th, 2008 is looking for music lovers to help pick a band to open the festival. The festival is looking for the public to vote on the band that they want to see open the festival by voting using something called the green poll.

This is how it works:

- Bands register for Green Poll on their site
http://www.thegreenmanfestival.co.uk/greenpoll
- The public vote for the bands they like and get a chance to win a pair of tickets
- Band with most votes plays Green Man attended by 10,000 people and they also get 6 extra tickets

Anybody can enter Green Poll signed or unsigned. There's tickets to be won, and new bands to discover. This is a cool opportunity to choose who you'd like to hear open the festival if you are in the area. The festival includes the likes of Super Furry Animals and more.

The Play List:

1. Breakdown (Spiral Scratch 1976)
2. Boredom (Spiral Scratch 1976)
3. Lester Sands (A Drop in the Ocean) (Time's Up 1977)
4. I Can't Control Myself (Time's Up 1977)
5. Orgasm Addict (Singles Going Steady 1979)
6. What Do I Get? (Singles Going Steady 1979)
7. Fast Cars (Another Music in a Different Kitchen 1978)
8. Sixteen (Another Music in a Different Kitchen 1978)
9. I Don't Mind (Another Music in a Different Kitchen 1978)
10. Autonomy (Another Music in a Different Kitchen 1978)
11. Moving Away From the Pulsebeat (Another Music in a Different Kitchen 1978)
12. Love You More (Singles Going Steady 1979)
13. Promises (Singles Going Steady 1979)
14. Real World (Love Bites 1978)
15. Ever Fallen in Love (Love Bites 1978)
16. Sixteen Again (Love Bites 1978)
17. E.S.P (Love Bites 1978)
18. Everybody's Happy Nowadays (Singles Going Steady 1979)
19. Harmony in My Head (Singles Going Steady 1979)
20. Paradise (A Different Kind of Tension 1979)
21. Sitting Round At Home (A Different Kind of Tension 1979)
22. Raison D'etre (A Different Kind of Tension 1979)
23. I Don't Know What To Do With My Life (A Different Kind of Tension 1979)
24. What Do You Know? (Parts 1,2,3 1981)
25. I Look Alone (NME : C81 Compilation 1981)
26. Flat-Pack Philosophy (Flat-Pack Philosophy 2006)
27. Sell You Everything (Flat-Pack Philosophy 2006)
28. Reconciliation (Flat-Pack Philosophy 2006)

The EP Show, Show # 168

This week my show consisted of me playing some of my favourite EP's in full. I played seven in total, I will talk about each of them briefly.

Spiral Scratch was a four song EP released by the Manchester band Buzzcocks in 1976. This was the original line up of the band featuring Howard Devoto on vocals. He would leave shortly after this EP and eventually lead the band Magazine. Spiral Scratch was also one of the first independently financed releases without the help of an official record company. In turn it influenced thousands of bands to make the their own music, bringing the punk do-it-yourself motto to different levels.

Undertones released the Teenage Kicks EP in 1978. The Irish, Derry band did it initially hoping to release nothing else, emulating the Buzzcocks to a degree. The EP did so well they were offered to record further albums, which they did. It contained four fast energetic compositions, including "Teenage Kicks" which can be called their own version of "Blitzkrieg Bop".

The Demics were a band from London, Ontario. In 1979 the Talk's Cheap EP was released containing five songs including, "New York City" one of the their signature songs and voted as one of the best Canadian songs of all time. Invasion of the Tribbles came from the Calgary band, The Hot Nasties in 1980. The band split in 1981. Warren Kinsella (one of the members) is now a politician.

The Cost of Living EP was produced and recorded by Bill Price and The Clash in 1979. The 7" EP came in between the US release of their first self titled album, and London Calling. It featured "I Fought the Law" (a cover song), "Groovy Times" (an acoustic track), "Gates of the West" ( a song originally written by Mick Jones, but the lyrics were re-written by Joe Strummer), and "Capital Radio Two (a re-recording of the song "Capital Radio"). It showed a direction the band would be going into, a more American rock oriented one.

The Yellow EP was released by the new wave/post-punk British band, Gang of Four. Coming out in 1980, the songs were politically charged and some of them would appear re-recorded for their next full length album Solid Gold. The last track on the EP was a B-side to the single "Damaged Goods". The album had no name, but since it was yellow, it became known as the Yellow EP. The D4 EP was originally released in 1999 by the New Zealand band The D4. It featured four high-energy rock and roll numbers ("Come On!"would appear on the first full length album, 6twenty). The EP also featured drummer Rich Mixture, who would leave shortly after this release to be in the band the Rock and Roll Machine; Vaughn Williams would be his replacement for the remainder of the bands career. The band went on hiatus in June of 2006, it is a shame that band this good is no longer around.

Next week I will be doing a show dedicated entirely to the Swedish punk outfit, The Hives. I plan on playing songs from every album, B-sides and rare Hives stuff. Also, I plan on playing some new tracks from their newest release The Black and White Album. If you are a Hives fan, leave a comment and make a request, I will play it.

The Play List:

1. Buzzcocks – Breakdown (Spiral Scratch 1976)
2. Buzzcocks – Time’s Up (Spiral Scratch 1976)
3. Buzzcocks – Boredom (Spiral Scratch 1976)
4. Buzzcocks – Friends of Mine (Spiral Scratch 1976)
5. Undertones - Teenage Kicks (Teenage Kicks EP 1978)
6. Undertones - Smarter Than U (Teenage Kicks EP 1978)
7. Undertones - True Confessions (Teenage Kicks EP 1978)
8. Undertones - Emergency Cases (Teenage Kicks EP 1978)
9. The Demics – I Wanna Know (Talk's Cheap 1979)
10. The Demics - You Tell Me (Talk's Cheap 1979)
11. The Demics - Talk’s Cheap (Talk's Cheap 1979)
12. The Demics - New York City (Talk's Cheap 1979)
13. The Demics - Oh Well (Talk's Cheap 1979)
14. The Clash - I Fought the Law (Cost of Living EP 1979)
15. The Clash – Groovy Times (Cost of Living EP 1979)
16. The Clash - Gates of the West (Cost of Living EP 1979)
17. The Clash – Capital Radio (Cost of Living EP 1979)
18. Hot Nasties – I Am a Confused Teenager (Invasion of the Tribbles 1980)
19. Hot Nasties – Invasion of the Tribbles (Invasion of the Tribbles 1980)
20. Hot Nasties – the Secret of Immortality (Invasion of the Tribbles 1980)
21. Gang of Four – Outside the Trains Don’t Run On Time (Yellow EP 1980)
22. Gang of Four – He’d Send in the Army (Yellow EP 1980)
23. Gang of Four – It’s Her Factory (Yellow EP 1980)
24. Gang of Four – Armalite Rifle (Yellow EP 1980)
25. The D4 – Girl (The D4 EP 1999)
26. The D4 – Come On! (The D4 EP 1999)
27. The D4 – Outta Blues (The D4 EP 1999)
28. The D4 – What U Want (The D4 EP 1999)

Some Videos:

Buzzcocks - Breakdown 1976
Undertones - Teenage Kicks
The Clash - I Fought the Law (Live 1979)
Gang of Four - To Hell With Poverty (1983)
The D4 - Out of Control

Different Kinds of Tensions...Show # 147

Buzzcocks originally formed in 1975 hailing from Manchester, England. Howard Devoto (real name Howard Traford) was on vocals, Pete Shelley (real name Peter McNeish) on Guitar, Steve Diggle on bass, and John Maher on drums. Shelley and Devoto (who were friends from school) decided to form a band after seeing the Sex Pistols perform live in Manchester in 1976. The band would get their name Buzzcocks from a TV show Rock Follies, which used the line "That's buzz, cocks" based on British slang. After getting their initial band line up, the band opened for Sex Pistols in Manchester in 1976. Touring briefly the band would record and release the four track EP, Spiral Scratch. The EP would contain four tracks "Breakdown", "Time's Up", "Boredom", and "Friends of Mine". The EP would be raw and loud backed by a band inspired by punk, sung by the odd yet intellectual lyrics of Howard Devoto. The EP was also independently released on the bands own label, New Hormones. Buzzcocks were the first punk band to have their own independently released album, it proved that you could do it yourself, supporting the DIY ethic of the emerging punk scene. A bootleg of these sessions containing fourteen tracks of the band playing with Devoto is also available, it is titled Time's Up. This would not last, Devoto wanting to return to school would leave the group only months after Spiral Scratch was released; In 1978 he would form the new wave group Magazine. The band would not split up after this despite losing their singer. Pete Shelley would take over as vocalist and guitarist, Steve Diggle would move from bass to guitar, and Steve Garvey would eventually be brought in as the bass player; Bassist Garth Smith would play for the band for a short time before being replaced by Garvey.

The band would then get a record deal with United Artists Records. The band would be a singles band the first being the song "Orgasm Addict" in 1977. The single was too controversial (lyrically) for radio. Garth Smith would be replaced with Steve Garvey after this single. The next and second single "What Do I Get?" cracked the top 40 charts. The band now fronted by Shelley was more pop oriented, lyrically the subject matter would mostly pertain to the topic of love, but other topics were also used. In 1978 Another Music in a Different Kitchen was released, the bands first full length album. The album would contain songs originally sung by Howard Devoto in the bands early days, but were re-sung by Shelley on this album. The songs "Fast Cars", "You Tear Me Up", and "Love Battery" were the songs done originally written and performed with Howard Devoto. The album would be the first pop punk album, it contained repetitious rhythms, simple solos, all packaged in undeniably catchy songs. "I Don't Mind", "Sixteen", Autonomy", "Fiction Romance" and "Get on Your Own" are all perfect examples of Buzzcocks catchy pop yet punk style.  "Moving Away from the Pulsebeat" was a simple yet longer song by the band which showcased Maher's excellent drumming abilities. The album would also contain brief intros and outros. Before the first track "Fast Cars" some of the song "Boredom" is performed by the band. The album would have a single that would do well chart-wise "I Don't Mind" would go to # 55 on the UK charts.

In 1978, Love Bites was released. The Martin Rushent produced album showed the band coming into their own not having any influence by their previous vocalist, Howard Devoto. It is a more shiny and pop album than Another Music; The album featured 11 songs. "Real World" opens the album which features harmonics and traditional buzzing guitars lyrically it is about love and life (as a good majority of the bands songs are). "Ever Fallen In Love" one of the bands catchiest songs and one of their signature songs is also featured here, the song is a romantic pop song that is about romance gone wrong. The album also contained two instrumental tracks ("Late For The Train", and "Walking Distance") and Steve Diggle's first lead vocal track on an album "Love Is Lies" an acoustic track. Other highlights include "Nothing Left", "Sixteen Again", and "E.S.P.".

A year later the band released their third album A Different Kind of Tension in 1979. The album which was made after tours supporting the bands two previous albums was made at a time when the band was showing signs of wear and tear; Another reason for this is because of their alcohol and drug consumption. The album came off sounding as more of a New Wave album. The album which I consider their best also featured more Steve Diggle songs that any previous album. It was a more sophisticated album and was inspired lyrically by literature. The title came from American writer William Burroughs, and the track "Everybody's Happy Nowadays" (which was a single not included on the album) was about the novel Brave New World by Aldous Huxley. Diggle's songs included "Sitting Around At Home", "Mad Mad Judy" and "You Know You Can't Help It". Shelley's songs were also brought up a notch with songs like "Paradise", "Raison D'etre", "I Don't Know What To Do With My Life", he also had some songs that seem of a darker nature lyrically and musically ("Money" and "Hollow Inside"). "I Believe" is a longer track in which the band follows along the same repetitious rhythm and Shelley gives his opinions and views; the song ends with the line "There is no love in this world anymore" being repeated over and over again. The album ends with "Radio Nine" a short 41 second outro that emulates a radio station tuning into Buzzcocks songs "Everybody's Happy Nowadays" and "Why Can't I Touch It?", songs that were singles for the album, but not put on the album.

Singles Going Steady was released in America in 1979 to coincide with their first American tour. The album contained 16 tracks which were all of the bands UK singles and B-sides. It featured songs such as "Ever Fallen In Love", "What Do I Get?", "Love You More" and "What Ever Happened To". The album also contains the songs "Everybody's Happy Nowadays", "Harmony in My Head" (one of Diggle's finest songs), and "What Can't I Touch It?" (a six and a half minute track fuelled by a heavy hypnotic bassline). Some people compare this album to being similar (impact and quality-wise) as Nevermind The Bollocks (Sex Pistols), and London Calling (The Clash). In 1980 the band was signed to Liberty Records. They would release the Parts 1, 2, 3 EP which featured a series of singles (3 singles, with the B-sides totalling six songs). The EP showed a band that sounded confused and the songs had things such as horn sections. The EP's songs were induced by drug addiction and the chaotic nature of the band just before its demise. There were three Diggle songs, and three Shelley songs. In 2001, Singles Going Steady was re-released with bonus tracks that included the Parts 1, 2, 3 EP. Around 1981 the band would start demoting songs for a fourth album, they would also have to deal with record label conflicts (United Artists were bought out by EMI Records). The band broke up in 1981 and Shelley would pursue a solo career. Other band members would form other groups (Diggle and Maher formed the short lived Flag of Convenience, Garvey would play with Motivation).

In 1989, Buzzcocks would reform with the same line up as in 1980 for a reunion tour of the United States. Maher and Garvey would leave the group shortly after and Maher would be replaced by Mike Joyce (The Smiths) on drums and Tony Barber would take over the bass. In 1993, Trade Test Transmissions would be released, the bands first album with the new line up. The band would also open up for the band Nirvana on some European tour dates as well. Three more albums would follow in 1996 All Set, in 1999 Modern, and in 2003 Buzzcocks. In 2003 the band also secured an opening slot for the band Pearl Jam on their American tour. Finally in 2006, Flat-Pack Philosophy was released. It is an album that sounds like a return to the early Buzzcocks style. The band continues to tour.

In October of 2008, Buzzcocks Released their first three albums in special edition format, with numerous bonus tracks. More information on these releases can be found in my A Different Music in a Different Kitchen Post, my Love Bites post, and my Different Kind of Tension post. In June of 2008, I also did a radio special celebrating the music of Buzzcocks, which can be found in my Harmoines in My Head Post.

Here's the play list:

1. Stray Cats – rumble in brighton (live 82) 

2. The Jam – news of the world
3. Undertones – here comes the summer
4. The Numbers – when I get older
5. The Wipers – can this be
6. DM3 – high rotations
7. Northwest Company – eight hour day
8. 49th Parallel – citizen freak
9. White Stripes – handsprings
10. Generation X – day by day
11. The Scavengers – twentyone
12. Only Ones – out there in the night
13. Buzzcocks – mad mad judy
14. Buzzcocks – raison d’etre
15. The Demics – the least you could do
16. The Gruesomes – who dat?
17. Hot Nasties - I am a confused teenager
18. The Onoffs – your loss
19. The Draytones – keep loveing me
20. Carbon/Silicon – the news
21. Marble Index – not impressed
22. Sloan – G turns to D
23. Arctic Monkeys – fluorescent adolescent
24. The Hives - Untitled (Live Hurricane Festival)
25. The D4 – rocknrule
26. Sex Pistols - pretty vacant
27. X - adult books
28. The Jam - in the city

Here's some cool videos again:

Buzzcocks Promises Promo Video
What Do I Get Promo Video
Breakdown 1976 With Howard Devoto on vocals
Ever Fallen In Love Live
Sixteen Again OGWT 1978
Everbody's Happy Nowadays on Top of The Pops
The Hives Untitled Live July 2006 (was also played on the show)

The Public Image...Show # 130

This page used to feature a profile on the Post Punk band Public Image Limited. I have expanded this post to include greater detail on PiL. It can be found in my Poptones: The Story of Public Image Limited post.

I played some songs this week by The Smugglers and The Shades. Both are Canadian punk bands from Vancouver during 1977-1988. I also played two songs from a John Peel BBC Session by Buzzcocks, and another BBC Session from Elvis Costello & The Attractions. Buzzcocks BBC Sessions are now out of print, and I don't think Elvis Costello released his BBC Sessions. The Peel Sessions for Buzzcocks can now be found on the expanded deluxe editions of their first three albums (Another Music in a Different Kitchen, Love Bites, and A Different Kind of Tension). Finally I played two songs by the Canadian band Sloan live on a Spanish TV show called ipop. The songs were "Try To Make It", a song recorded for A Sides Win, a greatest hits compilation from 2005, and "Judy is a Punk" which is a cover of a Ramones song. It is pretty cool to hear Sloan doing a Ramones song. You can actually watch the performance on you tube by clicking here

Here's the Play list from my show:

1. Generation X – from the heart
2. MC5 – teenage lust
3. Smugglers – revenge
4. The Wrong - prisons of our isolation
5. The Shades – new clientele
6. Undertones – true confessions
7. Buzzcocks – fast cars (BBC)
8. Buzzcocks – moving away from the pulsebeat (BBC)
9. The Saints – save me
10. Ramones – sleeping troubles (demo)
11. The Gruesomes – I need you
12. The Clash – justice tonight
13. Suburban Reptiles – Saturday night, stay at home
14. The Police – when the world is running down you make the best of what's still around
15. Talking Heads – pulled up
16. Elvis Costello & The Attractions – pump it up (BBC)
17. PiL – public image
18. The Odds – someone who’s cool
19. The Ride Theory – alright
20. Dirty Pretty Things – no signal, no battery (demo)
21. Rage Against The Machine – new millennium homes
22. The D4 – too stupid
23. Sloan – try to make it (live ipop)
24. Sloan – judy is a punk (live ipop)
25. Sloan - Iggy & Angus (Live 4 Nights at the Palais Royale)
26. The D4 - do no right