What Do You Call That Noise?...Show # 144

Coming from Swindon, in London England, one of the first incarnations of XTC was in 1976, but they were then known as Star Park. After going through a few name changes, they changed thier name to XTC (taking its name from the drug known as Ecstasy, XTC being the shorter street name for the drug) in 1977 after being turned down by CBS. An EP titled 3-D was then released in 1977 on Virgin records. The band consisted of Andy Partridge (guitar/vocals), Colin Moulding (bass), Terry Chambers (drums), and keyboardist Barry Andrews. They were a British New Wave Pop band that came out at the time of the UK punk explosion in the late 70s. Influenced largely by the New York Punk scene, XTC also had a vareity of influcences. Bands such as The Clash, Sex Pistols, Dub Music, Bob Dylan, The Kinks, Pink Floyd, The Beach Boys and The Beatles were some of the msuical influence that built up XTC's sound.



White Music was released in 1977. It featured Catchy but odd pop songs such as, "Statue of Liberty", "This is Pop?", and "Radio's in Motion". The album also contained a cover the Bob Dylan song "All Along the Watch Tower", in true XTC style. None of punk inspired pop songs charted. In 1978 Go 2, was released. The album featured a different tracklisting in the UK than in Canada/The US. The album's cover is also very unique. Instead of a typical cover, it features typewriter text. After a quick US tour there would be some line up changes amongst the band. Keyboardist Barry Andrews would leave the band and would go on with Robert Fripp to form The League of Gentleman. Another guitarist was added at this time David Gregory. Gregory was added instead of finding another keyboardist. XTC would then record the single "Life Begins at the Hop", their first single to chart. The album Drums & Wires followed in 1979. The record was a more poppier album than the first two. It would reach #37 on the charts. Black Sea came out in 1980, which produced more hits for the band. "Sgt. Rock", and "Generals and Majors" were singles. English Settlement would be released next in 1982. It would be a double album that gave the band a top ten hit, "Senses Working Overtime". 

In support of English Settlement in 1982, while the band was on a major tour, Partridge suffered a complete mental breakdown, causing panic attacks. The tour would be canceled. Also at this time drummer Terry Chambers would leave the band. Partridge said that the band would never perform on stage again. They then announced that they would be a studio only band, not performing live, except for some TV appearances. This would last from 1982 until the present. Mummur was released in 1983, and the band had a new drummer Pete Phipps. The Big Express followed in 1984, and Skylarking in 1986. The Todd Rundgren produced album brought the band back to commercial success, despite the fact that Partridge was not happy with the finished product. The band would continue to record, and in the late 90s the band would no longer be with Virgin Records. 

XTC would go independent in 1998. Partridge discovered around this time that the record company was with holding royalties from the band. After a settlement, Partridge and Moulding built their own studio, and formed their own label Idea Records. When recording their next album Apple Venus Volume 1, Dave Gregory left the band. The band would continue to record and release albums despite losing Gregory who had a great impact on XTC's sound. The next album Wasp Star (Apple Venus Volume 2) was released in 2000.

Here's the play list:

1. Big Audio Dynamite – v. thirteen
2. Public Image Limited – f.f.f.
3. Rich Kids – empty words
4. The Police – bombs away
5. Elvis Costello & The Attractions – radio, radio
6. Gang of Four - at home he's a tourist (bbc)
7. Only Ones – another girl, another planet
8. Active Dog – nothing holding you
9. AKA – 634 dog
10. Hot, Hot, Heat – get in or get out
11. XTC – life begins at the hop
12. Talking Heads – artists only
13. The Mods – out of your hands
14. The Odds – say you mean it
15. Wire – too late
16. The Pretenders – the wait
17. Iggy Pop – five foot one
18. Offspring – I got a right
19. Love Me Nots – move in tight
20. The Rapture – whoo! Yeah alright…uh-huh
21. Joe Strummer & the mescaleros – globo a go-go
22. The D4 – mysterex
23. Sloan – living with the masses
24. Sloan – HFXNSHC
25. X – we’re desperate

Here's some cool XTC Videos:

Life Begins at the Hop
Generals and Majors
Statue of Liberty (OGWT 1978)
This Is Pop? (Revolver 1978)

Another Band, Another Planet... Show # 143

The Only Ones were formed in 1976 by Peter Perrett. John Perry was on guitar, Alan Mair on Bass and Mike Kellie on drums. The band was influenced by bands such as The Clash, Buzzcocks, Ramones, but also bands such as New York Dolls, 60s garage and psychedelic music. The band was lumped in with the late 70s Punk and early 80s New Wave movement. The band is more of power pop band that just came out at the time of punk, but never the less are punk in nature.  The band was known for Perrett's sleazy romantic pop songs.

After independently releasing a single in 1976 ("Lovers of Today") the band got a record deal with CBS in 1977. Their first album The Only Ones was released in 1978 and contained the single and one of their best songs, "Another Girl, Another Planet". The album received good reviews, but the band would never really gain mainstream or popular status. In 1979 Even Serpents Shine came out and Special View was released in America. Basically Special View was like a compilation-type album for America (similar to the US release of the first Clash album). In 1980 Baby's Got A Gun was released. Both Even Serpents Shine and Baby's Got a Gun were slightly different than the first Only Ones album, but still maintained the Only Ones Sound.

In 1981, the group split up. They would release three albums, but would gain a cult following partly due to the fact that "Another Girl, Another Planet" was liked so much by fans. The band would have many post-humous releases after this. In the 80's Perrett would record and release solo albums, and one in the 90s. In 2007, The band reunited. The Only Ones did a UK tour in June of 2007 and toured thorough out 2008 and 2009.

I also played a new track from Queens of the Stone Age titled, "Sick Sick Sick". The song features Julian Casablancas from The Strokes and will be on the Upcoming Queens of the Stone Age album Era Vulgaris.

Queens of the Stone Age - Sick Sick Sick Video

Here's the play list:

1. Ultravox! – rockwrock
2. Demics – talk, talk
3. Vibrators – wake up
4. Blam Blam Blam – there is no depression in New Zealand
5. The Radiators – prison bars
6. Sex Pistols – did you no wrong
7. Johnny Thunders – leave me alone
8. The Gruesomes – serves you right
9. Smugglers – to serve, protect, and entertain
10. Tricky Woo – let us sing
11. Marble Index – we can make it
12. The Strokes – the way it is
13. Arctic Monkeys – d is for dangerous
14. Queens of the Stone Age – sick sick sick (featuring Julian Casablancas)
15. Neil Young – see the sky about to rain (live Massey Hall 1971)
16. Undertones – I told you so
17. Buzzcocks – nothing left
18. Generation X – live medley (Live in Sheffield 1978)
19. Carbon/Silicon – the system
20. Nirvana – stay away
21. Nirvana - territorial pissings
22. Pearl Jam – grievance
23. Pearl Jam - God's dice
24. Soundgarden – no attention
25. Soundgarden - Ty Cobb
26. Rage Against The Machine – tire me

You Can't Put Your Arms Around a Memory... Show # 142

Johnny Thunders was born John Anthony Genzale Jr. in Queens, New York and is known as being the guitar player in the proto punk glam rock band, New York Dolls. A band that influenced numerous punk bands such as Sex Pistols and The Clash. Johnny Thunders was a guitarist that would struggle with battles of drug and alcohol addiction throughout his life, living similar to his idol Rolling Stones guitarist Keith Richards. Thunders influences included The Rolling Stones, Chuck Berry, The Kinks, The Yardbirds, and various blues and R&B artists.

Thunders originally went under the name Johnny Volume being in various bands before joining the New York Dolls in 1971. At this time he renamed himself Johnny Thunders, possibly due to the fact that the Kinks had a song called "Johnny Thunder" on their 1968 album The Village Green Preservation Society. After releasing two albums The New York Dolls and Too Much Too Soon, The New York Dolls broke up. They were also managed by a short time by future Sex Pistols manager Malcolm Mcclaren.

The Heartbreakers were formed shortly after with New York Dolls drummer Jerry Nolan, Walter Lure on guitar, and Richard Hell on bass. Richard Hell would leave just after being in this band for a short while, he was replaced by Billy Rath. With Johnny Thunders as the band leader, Johnny Thunders & The Heartbreakers released L.A.M.F. (Like a Mother Fucker) in 1977. The album was one of the best punk albums to come out of New York at this time. It featured Sleazy punkish rock and roll in true Rolling Stones fashion. The album contained numerous tracks and one titled "Chinese Rocks" that was written by Johnny Thunders, Dee Dee Ramone, Richard Hell, and Jerry Nolan. The song a reference to heroin was featured not only on L.A.M.F., but also on the Ramones album End of The Century. The song makes reference to Dee Dee Ramone in the Thunders version with the line "Hey is Dee Dee Home" and to Johnny in the Ramones version with the line "Hey is Johnny Home". 

The band was featured on the Anarchy Tour with UK punk acts such as Sex Pistols, The Clash, and The Damned in 1977. The tour known for having more shows cancelled than played was an infamous tour in UK punk history. The band would move to the UK as well. The band would tour on and off, but would split up after this album, which got poor promotion. 

In 1978, So Alone a Johnny Thunders solo album was released. The album would feature guest musicians such as Steve Jones and Paul Cook of Sex Pistols, but also Chryssie Hynde (Pretenders), Walter Lure, Billy Rath, and Peter Perrett (Only Ones). The basic band was Thunders, Jones, and Cook though. The album featured a remake of a New York Dolls song "Chatterbox" from their album Too Much Too Soon; It was retitled "Leave Me Alone". The album also featured a cover of the Chantay's surf classic "Pipeline", and the excellent Johnny Thunders track "You Can't Put Your Arms Around A Memory". This album along with L.A.M.F. is Johnny Thunders best work. Due to laziness probably caused due to drug addiction, Thunders continued to record, but it was off and on. Apparently shortly after its release Thunders played in the band The Living Dead for a little while. In 1984 L.A.M.F. was re-released as L.A.M.F. Revisited. It was a remixed version of the 1977 album done by Thunders and members of The Heartbreakers. In 1985 a collection of new songs by Thunders was released Que Sera Sera.

Thunders would continue to perform throughout the 80s and was also in the band Gang War with MC5 guitarist Wayne Kramer. The band has several live bootleg recordings, but also did record some demos. In 1991, Thunders died of what many people believe was a drug overdose. The issue of his death is controversial because some people believe that he was murdered. The details of how he passed may never be known, but his music still stands up in not only the New York Dolls, but also Johnny Thunders & The Heartbreakers and as a solo artist.

Several years after this post, I wrote an article on The Heartbreakers L.A.M.F. album.  Check that out here.  

Here's this weeks play list:

1. MC5 – keep movin’
2. Velvet Underground – foggy notion
3. The Who – (I’m a) road runner (live)
4. The Stooges – she took my money
5. Johnny Thunders & The Heartbreakers – pirate love
6. Diodes – blonde fever
7. The Furies – what do you want me to be
8. Corsage – shame I feel
9. U-J3rks – Eisenhower and the hippies
10. The Saints – messin’ with the kid
11. John Lennon – cold turkey
12. The Clash – Janie Jones
13. The Clash – Capital radio one
14. The Dogs – no way
15. Modernettes – Barbra
16. Popular Front – synchronized swimmers
17. Ramones – rockaway beach
18. Ramones – cretin hop
19. Libertines – vertigo
20. Ride Theory - i'm on board
21. Dirty Pretty Things – blood thirsty bastards
22. Radio 4 – as far as the eye can see
23. Subways – with you
24. Raconteurs – broken boy soldier
25. Arctic Monkeys – brianstorm
26. Arctic Monkeys – teddy picker
27. The Gruesomes - come and see me (i'm your man)

Friction... The Television Story ... Show # 141

Television was interesing band that came out of the New York CBGB's scene in the late 70s. The group would be influenced by The Rolling Stones, 13th Floor Elevators, Count Five and Velvet Underground. In addition to this, it is apparent that Tom Verlaine and the band had an interest in Jazz music. In 1975, Tom Verlaine and Richard Hell formed Television. After recording a demo and playing live with the band, Hell would leave the group to form his own. Fred Smith (ex Blondie bassist) would replace Hell. The group would have Richard Lloyd on rhythm guitar and Billy Ficca on drums (Verlaine would be vocalist/guitarist). Despite making a demo produced by Brian Eno, the band did not get signed. It wasn't until the group recorded the song "Little Johnny Jewel" (a song apparently about Iggy Pop) on their own record label that they would get notice. The song became a hit with the underground and in 1976 they would sign to Elektra Records. The group also convinced CBGB's owner Hilly Kristal to let them play at his club which stood for (Country Blue Grass and Blues music), Television were the first rock band to play at CBGB's. The place would become a significant venue for the New York Punk Rock movement of the late 70s.

When Marquee Moon was released in 1977 it received recognition, but did poorly in album sales. It did fairly well in the UK (reaching #28 on the charts), but it did not do well in America. The album is a classic album, that employed garage rock, jazz influenced guitar lines and a rhythm style that would influence New Wave and Post Punk. The album was originally made up of eight tracks. When it was re-issued in 2003, it was expanded with alternate versions of songs and other bonus tracks. Songs featured on the album such as "See No Evil", "Prove It", and "Friction" really stand out. The song "Venus" is an interesting composition. Lyrically it addresses finding safety in the lost arms of the mythological Greek statue Venus de Milo. There is also the ten minute "Marquee Moon". When "Marquee Moon" was originally released in 1977, it faded out a little after 9 minutes. The re-issue contains the full version of the song without a fade out, it lasts for almost 11 minutes. These songs combined with the wonderful weaving guitars supplied by Verlaine and Lloyd, all make the album a work of art.

Television's second album Adventure, would be released in 1978. The album did better sales-wise in America, and would eventually become a top ten hit in the UK. It was produced differently. Instead of the album sounding straight to the point (as Marquee Moon did), Adventure features a different side of the band. It still had great songs such as "Foxhole", "Careful" and "Glory". Both "Foxhole" and "Careful" were songs that the band played during their early lives shows. Members of the band all had their own visions of what Television should be which would partly lead to their break up. That combined with Richard Lloyd's drug related issues, would cause Television to break up in 1978. Fred Smith would re-join Blondie and the two guitarists, Verlaine and Llyod would pursue solo careers.

In 1991, the group re-formed and recorded an album Television that would come out in 1992. The reunion did not last long, they would stop touring in 1993. In 2001, the group reformed again for a few shows in the UK. Several bootlegs of the band exist. There are live releases such as The Blow-Up, Live At The Academy and Live At The Old Wardorf are all excellent examples of the bands live qualities. Television was yet another band that were around for a short time that made a huge impact. While the albums did not sell that much at the time they influenced numerous other bands musically.

Here's the play list:

1. Neil Young – don’t let it bring you down (live Massey Hall 1971)
2. Tell-tale hearts – I get up in the morning
3. The Shades – new clientele
4. The Jam – going underground
5. The Zeros – radio fun
6. Riff Raff – what’s the latest
7. Klark Kent – don’t care
8. The Gears – baby runaround
9. Magazine – shot by both sides (single version)
10. Elvis Costello & The Attractions – (i don't want to go to) chelsea (BBC)
11. XTC – science friction
12. Hot, Hot, Heat – save us s.o.s.
13. Pointed Sticks – somebody’s mom
14. Young Canadians – just a loser
15. Smugglers – paper doll
16. Rolling Stones – she said yeah
17. The Metros – on the radio waves
18. Television – prove it
19. Television - see no evil (alternate version)
20. Red Hot Chili Peppers – I get around (live)
20. Talking Heads – with our love
21. The Visitors – hell yes
22. The Hives – see through head
23. Dead 60’s – horizontal
24. Fiction Plane – two sisters
25. The Jam - that's entertainment
26. Buzzcocks - ever fallen in love
27. Wire - i am the fly

Blank Generation comes in spurts... Show # 140

Richard Hell was one of the originators of punk in the CBGB's scene. Richard Hell (real name Richard Myers) is known for his fashion, poetry and music. He would move to New York (originally he was from Lexington, Kentucky) to join his friend Tom Miller (later he would change his name to Tom Verlaine) and the two formed the Neon Boys in 1972. They would be a three piece with Hell on bass, Verlaine on guitar and Billy Ficca on drums. The group would not last long and would eventually the Neon Boys would Morph into the band known as Television. Richard Hell would not last long in Television due to the positions of creative control within the band. It has been said that Verlaine eventually refused to play Richard Hell written songs and would tell Hell to stop jumping around on stage during the songs. Despite this Richard played with Television for a short while, Hell would leave in 1975 along with his compositions. It was around this time that The New York Dolls split up and guitarist Johnny Thunders and drummer Jerry Nolan were looking for a new group. Lasting for approximately eight months, Richard Hell briefly played Bass with Johnny Thunders & the Heartbreakers. He would quit due to various reasons, one being that he felt cramped and was not very happy with the musical situation amongst the band.

A few months after this, Hell formed his own band. They would be known as Richard Hell & the Voidoids. Consisting of Hell on bass, Ivan Julian on guitar, Robert Quine on guitar and Marc Bell on drums (later he would be known as Marky Ramone), the bands first release was Another World EP in 1976. It only featured three songs, "Blank Generation", "You Gotta Lose", and "(I Could Live With You In) Another World". In 1977 Blank Generation was released on Sire Records. Being the bands first full length album, It is a punk classic from the era which was fresh and both artistic. The album would feature songs such as "Blank Generation", "Love Comes in Spurts", "Liars Beware" and "Betrayal Takes Two". It should be noted that the versions of "Blank Generation" and "(I Could Live With You In) Another World" on the Blank Generation LP are different than the versions found on the Another World EP.

The group would play among the CBGB's crowd alongside Blondie, Ramones and Talking Heads. Hell would wear a fashion style of ripped clothing that would become known as the punk fashion in the UK when punk broke there in 1977. The band would open for the Clash, but they would never gain the popularity of a band such as The Clash or Sex Pistols. They did not tour enough to support their albums. The group seemingly broke up, but in 1982 they returned minus guitar player Ivan Julian. In 82, Destiny Street was released. The album would feature covers and few new compositions. The band gained new members Naux as the second guitarist and Fred Maher on drums (Marc Bell left to become a member of the Ramones during the Voidoids hiatus). The album would feature six new compositions (one B-side), and three covers (the Kinks, Them, and Bob Dylan). After this the group once again failed to tour behind the album and would break up.

In the 80's Hell would continue to do poetry and was in a few movies. In 1980 he was in the film Blank Generation, and in 1985 he was in Desperately Seeking Susan with Madonna. In 1984 a collection of outtakes was released titled R.I.P., and later Funhunt (a live album). Hell would be involved with various smaller musical projects, in 1992 he joined Dim Stars (a group that had Quine from the Voidiods and Thurston Moore from Sonic Youth) and would release an album. He would release various novels of his poetry, and in the late 90's he was featured in a book called Please Kill Me : The Uncensored Oral History of Punk. In 2000, the Voidoids reformed with the original line-up and recorded a new song "Oh". In 2005, Spurts: The Richard Hell Story would be released, an anthology cataloging Hell's career with various groups.

I also played two new Arctic Monkeys tracks "The Bad Thing", and "Old Yellow Bricks" which is on their new upcoming album Your Favorite Worst Nightmare. The album isn't released until April 24th, but if you look hard enough on the net you can find it. I also suggest if you do download it and you like it, go and buy it when it comes out on April 24th, as I will be doing.

Here's the play list:

1. Sex Pistols – problems
2. Chuck Berry – too much monkey business
3. The Kinks – harry rag
4. Scavengers – money in the bank
5. Buzzcocks – paradise
6. The Demics – new york city
7. Teenage Head – picture my face
8. Gruesomes – what’s your problem?
9. Los Strait Jackets - all day and all of the night
10. Richard Hell & The Voidoids – kid with the replaceable head
11. Richard Hell & The Voidoids – time
12. Generation X – flash as hell
13. Public Image Limited – analisa
14. Wire – outdoor miner
15. The Police – does everyone stare
16. Neil Young – cowgirl in the sand
17. Modernettes – I can only give you everything
18. Marble Index – I don’t wan to try and change your life
19. The Stooges – greedy awful people
20. The Stooges - she took my money
21. The Briefs – stuck on you
22. The D4 – exit to the city
23. Sloan - nothing lasts forever anymore
24. Sloan – back stabbin’
25. Arctic Monkeys – the bad thing
26. Arctic Monkeys - old yellow bricks

Terminal Rock...Show # 139

The Diodes are a Canadian band from Toronto, Ontario. They were signed to Columbia Records in 1977 making them the first Canadian punk band to be signed to a major label. In 1978 their first self-titled debut was released. It featured a cover of the Paul Simon song "Red Rubber Ball". The band was influenced by punk bands such as The Clash and Ramones, but they also had a different melodic almost new wave style to their songs. It was obvious that the band was punk influenced and the album was available in the US and UK. The band would tour with other acts such as Ramones, the Nerves, Talking Heads, Ultravox! and U2. They had credibility. The band consisted of Paul Robinson (vocals), John Catto (guitar), Ian Mackay (bass), Mike Lengyell (Drums).

In 1979, their second album Released came out. The song "Burn Down Your Daddies House" was cut from the final album due to the fact that it was seen as controversial. Due to poor album sales, the band was dropped from their label after this album. The band would move to England and release Action/Reaction in 1980. The band would break up after this and release an album featuring outtakes and demos in 1982 titled Survivors. In 1983 members of The Diodes and The Barracudas formed a band called High Noon. They recorded material in London, but it has never been released. In 1998 Tired of Waking Up Tired a combination of the bands first two albums, served as a greatest hits of their material released for Columbia (from 1977-1979). The band also reformed in January 1999 to play on The Mike Bullard Show in Canada, for one time only to promote Tired of Waking Up Tired.

One more thing I have to mention please visit the CJAM Jammie web page and vote for the Jammies. The voting ends on April 6th.

Here's the Play List:

1. Pretty Things – midnight to six man
2. Small Faces – sha-la-la-la-lee
3. MC5 – shakin’ street
4. Diodes – midnight movie star
5. Neon Boys – that's all I know
6. Real Kids – reggae reggae
7. Piranhas – green don’t suit me
8. Pointed Sticks – the witch
9. Tricky Woo – get around
10. The Stems – can’t resist
11. Lime Spiders – out of control
12. The Saints – one way street
13. Ramones – Havana affair
14. The Clash – (whiteman) in Hammersmith Palais
15. Undertones – more songs about chocolate and girls
16. Fastbacks – won’t have to worry
17. Vindicators – thinking of birds
18. Joy Division - leaders of men
19. Mudhoney – poisoned water
20. The Stooges – free & freaky
21. The Doors – take it as it comes
22. Neil Young – the needle and the damage done (live at Massey Hall 1971)
23. Neil Young - tell me why (live at Massey Hall 1971)
24. Ride Theory – hey sugar
25. White Stripes – walking with a ghost
26. The Scientists - atom bomb baby

Changes...

Hey,

I just thought I'd make a post since I changed the layout of the website a bit. It's more punchy, I think. Leave a comment let me know what you think. Once again my show will not be on next week, but it will return the week after (April 3rd) at 9PM.

Don't forget go to the CJAM website and vote for the Jammies!

See you in two weeks.

Here's some cool video's to tide you over in the meantime:

Arctic Monkeys - Brainstorm
The D4 - Party
The Clash - English Civil War (Live)
The Clash - Live in Manchester 1977
Ramones - California Sun (Live)
Dead 60's - Loaded Gun

Fiction Cigarettes ...Show # 138

Here's the play list for show # 138:

1. The Hives – knock knock
2. Arctic Monkeys – brianstorm
3. Fiction Plane – wise
4. Albert Hammond Jr. – in transit
5. The Odds – make you mad
6. Marble Index – I believe
7. The Expos – little red hook
8. Dead 60’s – the last resort
9. Exploding Hearts – not the fall that hurts
10. Love Me Nots – cry
11. Dirty Pretty Things – B.U.R.M.A.
12. Nirvana – serve the servants
13. Franz Ferdinand – fade together
14. The Rapture – pieces of the people that we love
15. Radio 4 – caroline
16. Queens Of The Stone Age – tangled up in plaid
17. The Stooges – the weirdness
18. Rage Against The Machine – new millennium homes
19. Pearl Jam – severed hand
20. Ride Theory – dead radio love
21. Hot, Hot, Heat – this town
22. The D4 – diamond, ruby, stone

Professional Rich Kids ... Show # 137

This weeks show was a collection of mostly obscure punk and new wave/post punk bands. Two bands in particular that I'm going to talk about this week are The Rich Kids and The Professionals.

Rich Kids was a band formed by Glen Matlock after being kicked out of his previous band, Sex Pistols. The band consisted of Glen Matlock (Bass), Steve New (guitar), Midge Ure (vocals), and drummer Rusty Egan. The band formed in 1977, but would only record one album Ghosts of Princes in Towers which came out in 1978. The group was more of an experimental rock group as opposed to punk, but they did mix punk elements into their music. They would break up after one year due to differences between bassist Glen Matlock and vocalist Midge Ure. Ure would go on to sing in Ultravox and Matlock would reappear in music on Iggy Pop's Soldier album (which he played on and helped write). He would also appear in a variety of other bands but in 1996 he reunited with Sex Pistols for their reunion tour. In 2004 he released On Something. 

The Professionals on the other hand was the band that Steve Jones and Paul Cook of Sex Pistols formed after they split up. The Professionals (as the Rich Kids) did not last long. They were around for about two years and have released some albums Professionals (1980) and I Didn't See It Coming (1981). The albums are virtually the same despite a few track changes. The songs are Sex Pistol-ish, but are missing the power of Johnny Rotten. Steve Jones sings the songs, but there are a few good songs here. "Kick Down the Door" and "Crescendo" are great tracks, in 2006 I Didn't See It Coming was released with bonus tracks, some better than the album songs. Songs such as "1-2-3", and "Mods, Skins, Punks" come to mind. In 2005 a greatest hits compilation was also released. The band is interesting to hear due to the fact that Steve Jones is leading the band; if you're a Sex Pistols fan then they are worth checking out. In 1996, Steve Jones and Paul Cook reunited with Sex Pistols (as well as Glen Matlock and Johnny Rotten). He has done various side projects and even appeared on the Johnny Thunders So Alone album along with Paul Cook. Steve Jones currently does a radio show in LA where he plays some of his favourite bands punk and non-punk. He has also had a variety of musical guests such as Eddie Vedder (Pearl Jam), Billy Idol, and many others.

Video of The Professionals - 1-2-3
Video of The Professionals - Just Another Dream

For more information on The Professionals and Steve Jones visit:
This site

Here's what was played:

1. Velvet Underground – rock & roll
2. The Bureaucrats – the grown up age
3. Gruesomes – cry in the night
4. Modern Lovers – Pablo Picasso
5. Gang of Four – why theory?
6. Talking Heads – new feeling (alternate version)
7. Rich Kids – ghosts of princes in towers
8. The Professionals – 1-2-3
9. Big Audio Dynamite – harrow road
10. PiL – theme
11. Private School – science friction
12. The Scissors – mystery movie
13. Wire – sand in my joints
14. Devo – love without anger
15. The Dub Rifles – delicate action
16. Fire Engines – hungry beat
17. The Stooges – ATM
18. The Stooges – my idea of fun
19. Chelsea – urban kids
20. Smugglers – the b’n’i
21. The Madness – one step beyond
22. The Specials – you’re wondering now
23. The Victims – television addict
24. Radio Birdman – aloha steve & danno

Tuff scabs & weirdness...Show #136

I'm just going to mention a few thing's this week. First off I played a band called Tuff Darts. They were one of the lesser known bands from the CBGB punk music scene, in the late 70s. The band released their self titled debut in 1978 on Sire records (Ramones and a few other punk bands were also on that label). It was a mix of retro rock and pop. The band would not last long. After getting a new drummer, a new singer was brought in and a new group would be formed Tommy Frenzy. The band was Robert Gordon (vocals), John DeSalvo (Bass), Jeffrey Salen (guitar), Bob Butant (guitar), and James Morrison (Drums). Tuff Darts! was reissued in 2002 in CD form.

The Scabs were Exeter's first punk band to release a record, they formed around 1977. There is not much information on the band because they were short lived. They released a self-titled EP in 1979, which contained four tracks. The band was inspired by the UK punk ethic of do it your self. I played "Armory Building" from their EP.

The Stooges new album came out this week, The Weirdness. It is the first Stooges album since 1973's Raw Power. The album was produced by Steve Albini, and still sounds like The Stooges, and if you're worried about Iggy Pop not sounding good that's not a problem, his voice still sounds great. The album is worth picking up because The Stooges are one of the best bands to come out of the Detroit area. They are also doing a world tour. 

Here's this week's play list:

1. Sex Pistols – holiday in the sun
2. The Chords – breaks my heart
3. The Standells – medication
4. The Damned – fan club
5. Tuff Darts –phone booth man (p.b.m)
6. The Scabs –armory building
7. The Nerves – working too hard
8. Demics – the grey and the black
9. Avengers – we are the one
10. The Dishrags - i don't love you
11. Active Dog – nothing holding you
12. Female Hands – divided by three
13. The Stooges – trollin’
14. The Stooges – you can’t have friends
15. The Only Ones – city of fun
16. Generation X – Kleenex
17. Television – marquee moon
18. Richard Hell & The Voidoids – walking on the water
19. Cheap Trick – hello there
20. The Stray Cats – (she’s) sexy + 17
21. Teenage Head – total love
22. The Diodes – red rubber ball
23. The Visitors – euro girls
24. Suburban Reptiles - megaton
25. Young Canadians - don't tell me
26. 101'ers - letsagetabitarockin'
27. Ultravox! - satday night in the city of the dead

Surfin' in the Garage...Show # 135

This week I did an entirely different show, one that was all surf rock and garage rock instead of good old punk rock. Why? for some variety, also because I've been collecting and listening to surf rock and garage rock for quite some time. I had so much of it I figured I'd play some it on CJAM for some variety. I'd also like to point out that this show was just a mix of bands I thought sounded surfish or garageish. I played The Who and The Kinks. These guys are kind of garagey at times, they influenced early punk in my opinion. Sex Pistols loved The Who and they used to cover "Substitute" in concert. The Clash also loved both these bands. They opened for The Who in the 80's and have stated that they practiced Kinks songs when first starting out. In fact the song "Dead End Street" eerily sounds like The Clash's "London Calling". 

I will talk briefly of two bands this week one surf and one garage. First the surf band, The Ventures. The Ventures formed in 1959 in Tacoma, Washington. They were a popular instrumental band. They would have many hits and charted singles/albums, but their larger fan base would be in Japan. Originally stemming from the group The Impacts, Bob Wilson and Don Wilson formed a group. After getting a bass player Nokie Edwards and a drummer Howie Johnston The Ventures were in place. The band would cover many different types of music for example, garage rock, psychedelic, and of course surf (which is what they started out doing). The band would also do TV Themes, one of the most notable being the theme song for the TV show Hawaii Five-O; it would reach #4 on the charts in 1969. After this around the early 70s, the band would focus more on the Japan music market. The band would continue to play, members came and went and played through out the 80's and even in 1996.

Now for the garage band. The Sonics are a band from Tacoma Washington as well. The band was a unique and raw sounding band. They are defined as garage rock, but they are just a early rock and roll group. The band was Gerry Rosalie (vocals, piano/organ),Bob Bennett (drums), Andy Parypa (guitar), Larry Parypa (Bass) originally. The band was influenced by bands such as The Kinks and early blues from the 50s. The bands recordings are rough, raw and gritty. They were a big local attraction and influenced many bands, but never made it out of the Washington area. The band would not last long at all, they would break up in the late 60s (they formed in the mid-60s). Many bands have been influenced by them today too.  Pearl Jam's Eddie Vedder is a Sonics fan, also the Pointed Sticks a Canadian band played on my show have covered "The Witch" which The Sonics have done.

A variety of bands were played this week from obscure Canadian bands like The Ugly Ducklings to Atomic 7, to more familiar bands such as The Beach Boys and The Who. Most of the bands that were played this week and are classified as garage rock, were influential or were a prelude to what was going to become punk rock in the late 70s. The Who definitely had a larger impact on early punk, The Count Five were also influential on Sex Pistols. Next Week I will return to my original format of punk and punk inspired rock, it will be loud, angry, and awesome so tune in next week to CJAM 91.5 FM Wednesday at 9pm (or stream it at www.cjam.ca).

Here's what was played:

1. Dick Dale & His Deltones – miserlou
2. The Chantays – pipeline
3. The Challengers – one man flight
4. The Charms – so romantic
5. The Vipers – cheated and lied
6. Ugly Ducklings – nothin’
7. Great Scots – ball and chain
8. Jury – who dat
9. Atomic 7 – she’s got haggar party slacks
10. Atomic 7 – seven stranded castanets
11. Surf Trio – crash
12. The Torpedoes – torpedoes
13. Aqua Velvets – subterranean
14. Secrets – cryin’ over her
15. One Way Street – I see the light
16. The Stems – she’s a monster
17. Dick Dale & His Deltones – surf beat
18. The Ventures – dick tracy
19. The Ventures – Hawaii five-o
20. The Trashmen – surfin’ bird
21. The Missing Links – some kind of fun
22. The Kinks – till the end of the day
23. The Who – Out in the Street
24. The Fun Things – lipstick
25. The Tornadoes – bustin’ surfboards
26. The Sonics – it’s all right
27. Thundermug – Africa
28. Metalunas – blast off!
29. Phono Comb – pummeled
30. The Count Five – pretty big mouth
31. The Beach Boys –surfin’ safari
32. The Beach Boys – shutdown

White and Red Blood Cells ... Show # 134

This post used to feature information on The White Stripes and The Raconteurs.  For more information on The White Stripe please visit the following links:

The White Stripes De Stijl: An Article About De Stijl

The White Stripe Elephant: An Article About The 10th Anniversary of Elephant

Also I played "Myxomatosis" by Radiohead. The song is from their 2003 album Hail To The Thief and is about a disease introduced to the Britain rabbit population to help control it. Last year singer Thom Yorke released a solo album and now Radiohead have no record label, but Radiohead still show interest in playing and recording music. Next week I will be doing a show devoted entirely to garage rock and surf music. Bands such as The Ventures, Dick Dale, The Missing Links, The Vipers and many more obscure, but great bands. Be sure to check this show out next week because it will definitely be a different one.

Here's the play list:

1. The Clash – radio one
2. The Police – shadows in the rain
3. Pointed Sticks – true love
4. Gruesomes – hey!
5. Buzzcocks – sixteen again (BBC Session)
6. Pointed Sticks - 1-2
7. Ramones – Chinese rocks
8. Terrorways – never been to Borstal
9. The Saints – (I’m) stranded
10. Undertones – emergency cases
11. Dishrags – I don’t love you
12. Actionauts – party dog
13. Iggy Pop – loco mosquito
14. Talking Heads – found a job
15. Blondie – call me
16. Pretenders – Thumbelina
17. Fratellis - flathead
18. The Ride Theory – on fire
19. White Stripes - hypnotize
20. The D4 - rocknrule
21. Albert Hammond Jr. – postal blowfish
22. Sloan – suppose they close the door
23. Radiohead – myxomatosis
24. Richard Hell & The Voidoids - love comes in spurts

This is not it... & Show 133

This post used to feature information about The Strokes. You can find more information on The Strokes in these two posts:

The Strokes Angled: An Article About Angles

50/50: An Article About Comedown Machine

Also, The Police played at the 2007 Grammy Awards on Sunday February 11th. I played "Roxanne" from that performance. The video can be seen here. The Police are set to have a full scale reunion tour this summer, I am and you should be very excited. I also played a very long version of the song "I Need Somebody" by The Stooges. This was taken from the Heavy Liquid box set. The song is basically a jam that is about 18 minutes. It features Iggy Pop discussing how to work out/change the song and him trying different lyrics. The box set also contains various live shows, rehearsal recordings, and studio recordings. For Example, there are multiple takes of the song "I Got A Right".

Here's what was played:

1. The Police – Roxanne (live @ 2007 grammys)
2. Sex Pistols – whatcha gonna do about it
3. The Gruesomes – I’m down
4. The Stooges – I need somebody/sweet child/ I like the way you walk
5. The Clash – police on my back
6. Ramones – all the way (demo)
7. Buzzcocks – lipstick (BBC)
8. Buzzcocks – everybody’s happy nowadays (BBC)
9. Generation X – one hundred punks
10. Smugglers – luau!(live)
11. Modernettes – Barbra
12. The Features – city scenes
13. The Saints – no time
14. Gang of Four – ether (BBC)
15. Talking Heads – a clean break (live)
16. Elvis Costello & The Attractions – no action
17. Public Image Limited – low life
18. XTC – wake up
19. Tricky Woo – let us sing
20. The Strokes – razorblade
21. Albert Hammond Jr. – holiday
22. Sloan – stand by me, yeah

Monkey Puzzle..Show # 132

I played some more obscure stuff this week. First off the song "Simple Love" is a song by The Saints, but not the normal Saints I usually play on my show. This song was taken from their 1981 album Monkey Puzzle. This album is NOT like the other Saints albums.  Chris Bailey (the lead singer) took the band in a different direction, but all the other band members were also different on this release. Ed Keupper (original guitar player) left to pursue a career in Laughing Clowns, a band that fused jazz with punk rock (I also played a song by them on my show). Monkey Puzzle is an average album, it is rock but very, very different; It also features a cover of the song "Dizzy Miss Lizzy" originally by Larry Williams.  The song has also been covered by bands such as The Beatles. The song I played by the Laughing Clowns was "Winter's Way". The song starts off with a pretty good rock riff, but then adds a crazed jazz horn section.  I found this song and played it from the 2005 release Cruel, But Fair which is a 3 CD box set containing all of the Laughing Clowns material.  It is definitely something very different to hear.

I also played a song by Lou Reed titled "Nowhere At All". It is a bonus track from the 2006 remaster of Coney Island Baby. This was the album that Lou Reed made after Metal Machine Music, an album of odd noises and feedback. This was a back to rock basics album for Lou, and it sounds a lot like Velvet Underground. It was originally released in 1976. "Kingdom of Doom" is a song from the band The Good, The Bad & The Queen which I played on the show as well. The album of the same title, is a band put together with Damon Albarn (Blur), Simon Tong (The Verve), Paul Simonon (The Clash), and Tony Allen (Africa 70). The band sounds nothing like the Clash, Blur or even Damon's other side band, Gorillaz. It is melodic rock and an interesting listen. If you liked what you heard you can go buy their album or visit their myspace page to hear more tracks.

Here's the play list:

1. The Jam – a bomb in wardour street
2. Undertones – Jimmy, jimmy
3. Generation X – trying for kicks
4. Teenage Head – picture my face
5. Diodes – Blonde fever
6. Buzzcocks – promises (bbc session)
7. Ramones – danny says
8. Ramones – high risk insurance
9. The Saints – simple love
10. Laughing Clowns – winter’s way
11. Young Canadians – Hawaii
12. The Gruesomes – leave my kitten alone
13. The Police – bombs away
14. The Clash – magnificent dance
15. Big Audio Dynamite – I turned out a punk
16. Magazine – a song from under the floorboards
17. Elvis Costello & The Attractions – radio, radio
18. Lou Reed – nowhere at all
19. Tricky Woo – fly the orient
20. The Ride Theory – parking ticket
21. Sloan – seems so heavy
22. The Good, The Bad & The Queen – kingdom of doom
23. Futureheads – help us out
24. The D4 – savage
25. Albert Hammond Jr. – everyone gets a star
26. The Love Me Nots – mine
27. The Hives – missing link

A Question of Degree ... Show # 131

This week I played songs by The Stooges and Awesome Color. The song I played by The Stooges, "My Idea of Fun" is a newly recorded Stooges track that will appear on their forthcoming release The Weirdness in March; you can hear a streamed version of the song at their myspace page. Awesome Color is a band that is originally from Ann Arbor, Michigan, but relocated to Brooklyn. The band sounds like a combination of The Stooges, Black Sabbath, and Mudhoney. I played "It's Your Time" from their self titled 2006 release.

Finally I played two songs by a band called The Love Me Nots. The two songs, "Move in Tight" and "Voice in My Head" were from their album In Black & White. The band is a combination of various elements. They are influenced by garage rock bands such as the Sonics, and the Fuzztones, but also by surf music such as Dick Dale. They also have some punk in them, they use a lot of organ on their songs which reminds me of Elvis Costello & The Attractions. The Love Me Nots are a very cool band from Arizona.

This page used to contain a post about the band Wire.  A reworked more informative post on the band can be found in my Outdoor Miners Post. 

Here's the play list:

1. The Adverts – one chord wonders
2. The Only Ones – another girl, another planet
3. The Stooges – my idea of fun
4. The Furies – what do you want me to be
5. The Enigmas – teenage barnacle
6. Tell-Tale Hearts – I get up in the morning
7. The Damned – liar
8. Generation X – your generation
9. Sex Pistols – (I’m not your) stepping stone
10. Buzzcocks – noise annoys (BBC)
11. Ramones – it’s not my place (in the 9 to 5 world)
12. The Gruesomes –whirlpool
13. Pointed Sticks – waiting for the real thing
14. Gang of Four – armalite rifle
15. The Police – driven to tears
16. The Saints – looking for the sun
17. The Clash – clampdown
18. The Clash – rocker’s galore…UK tour
19. Marble Index – what we need
20. Sloan – work cut out
21. Wire – two people in a room
22. Awesome Color – it’s your time
23. The D4 – peepshow
24. The Rapture – crimson red
25. The Love Me Nots - move in tight
26. The Love Me Nots - voice in my head
27. The Hives - no pun intended

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

They Say What They Mean...

Hey I just thought I'd make a post about the Sloan show from Saturday January 20th. First off a band from Toronto called Spiral Beach, opened the show. They are a weird mix of music. They are quite an odd little band from Toronto.

Before Sloan came on stage, the music that was playing through the speakers was mostly old punk music, that I regularly play on my radio show I Heard MC5 "American Ruse", The Clash "Drug Stabbing Time", Buzzcocks, and Ramones. Sloan came on stage around 10-ish. They played a total of 30 songs. Most of the concert consisted of new stuff from Never Hear The End Of It, but that's not a bad thing. It was interesting to see the band members switch positions. It happened twice, when drummer Andrew Scott was to sing his songs, he went on guitar/vocals, Jay Ferguson went on bass, and bassist Chris Murphy went to drums, Patrick Pentland stayed on guitar. It was a great live show that rocked, and they sounded so good. Sloan played something from almost every album. Twenty songs from Never Hear The End of It, two songs from Navy Blues, three from One Chord To Another, two from Pretty Together, one song from Twice Removed, and one from their greatest hits compilation A Sides Win. It was a nice mix of material, and it was an awesome concert to see.

Here's their set list/what they played:

Flying High Again
Who Taught You To Live Like That?
Will I Belong?
Ill Placed Trust
The Other Man
The Lines You Amend
Fading Into Obscurity
Golden Eyes
Love Is All Around
Living With the Masses
HFXNSHC
Blackout
All Used up
C'Mon C'Mon (We're Gonna Get It Started)
Everybody Wants You
I Understand
You Know What It's About
Someone I Can Be True With
Money City Maniacs
I Can't Sleep
I Know You
Something's Wrong
I've Gotta Try
Everything You've Done Wrong
Can't You Figure It Out
Pen Pals
The Good In Everyone
Another Way I Could Do It

Encore
Chester the Molester
If It Feels Good Do It

Sloan-Mania! - Show # 129

This week I did a show devoted entirely to the band Sloan. Why? Well one reason is because Sloan is an awesome rock band, the other is simple. Sloan is playing a concert at St. Andrews Hall in Detroit this Saturday, January 20th. I played at least one song from every Sloan album and one rare track.

Sloan formed in Halifax, Nova Scotia in 1991. Jay Ferguson and Chris Murphy initially played in a local band that was called Kearney Lake Rd. The other members (Patrick Pentland, and Andrew Scott) met and came together while at the Nova Scotia School of Art and Design. In 1992 Sloan recorded the Peppermint EP. It contained six songs one of which was "Underwhelmed" a song that would be a Canadian hit when re-recorded for their first full length album Smeared; it was also released on their own label, Murder Records. Smeared was released in 1992/1993, it was a very grunge-sounding album. It sounded very much like indie grunge bands such as Sonic Youth, but it also showed their pop Beatles-ish side. On my show I played "Take it In" and " Two Seater" from Smeared.

Next came what many people called at the time one of the greatest Canadian albums ever recorded, Twice Removed. This album was a different sounding record than its predecessor, it was not as grungy, it was more pop and indie sounding. The album featured songs like "Coax Me", " People of the Sky", and "Shame, Shame". These last two were played on my show this week. During this time Sloan was signed to DCG, Geffen Records. The label poorly promoted the band in the United States, the band did very well on the Canadian Market,but the US market was not promoted well by the label. Around this time Sloan took a break, and considered splitting up. During this time the band also pursued side projects, but decided to come back together and recorded 1996's One Chord To Another. The band switched label's, they signed to a division of EMI Records.

1996's One Chord To Another was a huge success in Canada, and the US when it was released there in 1997. This album was a dramatic jump in terms of musical ability by the band and remains one of their, if not their best albums to date. Also import version of this album came with a 10 track bonus disc titled Live At A Sloan Party. The disc featured two Sloan tracks and the rest were cover songs ranging from bands like Roxy Music, and Jonathan Richman, to the Everly Brothers. After this 1998's Navy Blues was recorded and released. The album was yet another expansion upon their Beatles-ish sound from One Chord To Another. It also featured the song "Money City Maniacs" which was a huge hit for the band. It was an album that is equally as great as One Chord To Another.

Next, came a double live album 4 Nights at the Palais Royale, and the album Between the Bridges. Between the Bridges was a more of a experimental record, it was very poppy, but more like retro pop songs. after this album came 2001's Pretty Together. This album featured the song "If It Feels Good Do It", a great rock song, that is very AC/DC-ish. The rest of the album was a mix of melodic songs, but it was different than their previous albums.

2003 saw the release of Action Pact. An album where Sloan attempted to make all rock songs. The album is the only album that did not feature any songs written by drummer Andrew Scott. All members of the band write and sing their songs (as The Beatles did), just not all the time. The majority of the songs come from guitarist Patrick Pentland and Bassist Chris Murphy. The album is not bad, but definitely not one of Sloan's best albums. In 2005 a greatest hits compilation was released titled A Sides Win. It featured two new songs "All Used Up' a distorted rocker, and "Try To Make It" a rock song with Irish sounding synthesizer parts.

Never Hear The End of It, was released in 2006. it features 30 tracks some not even being one minute long. It is another Beatles-ish album but also contains great rock songs. It features songs from every Sloan band member including Guitarist Jay Ferguson, who didn't have a single since 1996; the single from this album was "Who Taught You To Live Like That". "HFXNSHC" is another song I'd like to mention, it is a fast punk song and almost a hardcore song. It is about the Halifax, Nova Scotia Hardcore scene, and is not longer a minute and a half.

Sloan Play List:

1. underwhelmed (Peppermint EP 1992)
2. take it in (Smeared 1992)
3. two seater (Smeared 1992)
4. People of the sky (Twice Removed 1994)
5. Shame, Shame (Twice Removed 1994)
6. the good in everyone (One Chord To Another 1996)
7. autobiography (One Chord To Another 1996)
8. G turns to D (One Chord To Another 1996)
9. Can’t face up (One Chord To Another 1996)
10. dignified and old (Live at a Sloan Party 1996)
11. she says what she means (Navy Blues 1998)
12. money city maniacs (Navy Blues 1998)
13. sinkin’ ships (Navy Blues 1998)
14. on the horizon (Navy Blues 1998)
15. sensory deprivation (Between the Bridges 1999)
16. take care of the poor boy (Between the Bridges 1999)
17. if it feels good do it (Pretty Together 2001)
18. never seeing the ground for the sky (Pretty Together 2001)
19. ready for you (Action Pact 2003)
20. I was wrong (Action Pact 2003)
21. all used up (A Sides Win 2005)
22. living with the masses (Never Hear The End of It 2006)
23. HFXNSHC (Never Hear The End of It 2006)

Marble Indexing, and show #128

On this weeks show I played a variety of Canadian bands that I've never played before; I'll just mention a few of them. The Marble Index are a three-piece from Hamilton, Ontario. They first started in 2001, the band some say sound garage rock. They are just a good fashioned rock n' roll band, some of their influences range from The Clash, The Jam, The Who, and many other Canadian artists. Their most current release is Watch Your Candles, Watch Your Knives. I played the song "All That I Know" from this album.

Next up, The Ride Theory. They are yet another band from Hamilton, Ontario. They are also fairly newer, they first started out in around 2002, and released their first album, The Ride Theory that same year. The song that was played on tonight's show was "I'm On Board", which is a song from their current 2006 release, In This City. They sound kind of garagey like Marble Index, but they have more of an edge, they sound post-punk almost. You can tell by listening to the band that they liked Iggy Pop and the stooges, and early punk rock. They are also influenced by surf rock.  (Note:  The Ride Theory are now known as Young Rival.)

Two other quick notes, the song "Olio" by The Rapture is not the same version as on their 2003 album Echoes. It was a more rock version of the song from their 1999 album Mirror. Finally, the song "Love Reign O'er Me" was a cover that Pearl Jam did for a new Adam Sandler movie of the same name. It can be found on their most recent Christmas single.

Next week I will be doing a show devoted entirely to the Canadian band Sloan. Sloan are playing a concert at St. Andrews Hall on January 20th. So if you'd like make a request for next weeks show by leaving a comment at the end of this post, I will play the song you want next week.

Here's the play list from this week:

1. The Saints – the chameleon
2. The Scavengers – mysterex
3. The Kings – this beat goes on
4. The Kings - switchin’ to glide
5. Richard Hell & The Voidoids – water
6. Iggy & The Stooges – scene of the crime
7. Black Sabbath – rat salad
8. Ramones – come on now
9. Ramones – kicks to try (demo)
10. Buzzcocks – I look alone
11. The Clash – gates of the west
12. U2 – streetmission
13. Radio Birdman – didn’t tell the man
14. The Police – man in a suitcase
15. The Ride Theory – I’m on board
16. Tokyo Police Club – nature of the experience
17. Flash Bastard – bastard radio
18. The Rapture – olio (1999 mirror version)
19. The Subways – oh yeah
20. Marble Index – all that I know
21. Sloan – hollow head
22. The Hives – born to cry (dion and the belmonts cover)
23. The D4 – out of control (limespiders cover)
24. Pearl Jam - love reign o'er me (the who cover)
25. Rage Against The Machine - in my eyes (minor threat cover)

Scavengers, Nerves, and a Police Reunion? Show #127

As my first show of the year 2007 I played a couple of bands I've never played on my show before. First was The Scavengers. The Scavengers were a band from Auckland, New Zealand in 1977. They were influenced by bands such as Sex Pistols, The Stooges, and The New York Dolls. They broke up around 1978/79, and never had any album released officially. They did record a 12 song demo, that finally saw the light of day in 2003 (they have had various songs released on compilations before hand). The band split up and would go onto other bands, Brendan Perry would later form Dead Can Dance.

The Nerves were a band formed by Jack Lee, Peter Case, and Paul Collins. The Nerves EP would be released in 1979, it contained four songs. "Hanging On The Telephone" was the song played on tonight's show, but most people mistake it as a Blondie song. Blondie did cover the very same song, but it was originally done by The Nerves. After the short Nerves career, Peter Case would form the Plimsouls, and Paul Collins The Beat;Jack Lee had a short solo career.

Compulsive Gamblers are a band from Memphis Tennessee. They formed in the 90's, "Stop & Think It Over" was the song played on tonight's show. I first heard the song being covered by the Swedish punk band, The Hives. The song is taken from the bands 2000 album, Crystal Gazing Luck Amazing. I also played songs from various John Peel BBC sessions form Buzzcocks, The Cure, and Madness.


Also it has circulated around the Internet as a rumour that The Police will be reforming for a tour this year. It is just in the rumour stage, but it looks likely that this will happen. Along with a tour, a set of releases are set to come out as part of the 30th anniversary of their single "Roxanne".

Here's the play list:

1. The Jam – Billy hunt
2. The Nerves – hanging on the telephone
3. The Scavengers – true love
4. Johnny Thunders & The Heartbreakers – flight (early demo)
5. Undertones – you’ve got my number (why don’t you use it)
6. Buzzcocks – what do I get (BBC session)
7. The Demics – the 400 blows
8. Teenage Head – brand new cadillac
9. The Saints – this time
10. The Clash – groovy times
11. The Clash – capital radio two
12. Iggy Pop – girls
13. The Cure – 10:15 Saturday night (BBC Session)
14. Talking Heads – who is it (1975 cbs demo)
15. Ramones – we want the airwaves
16. Ramones – you sound like your sick
17. The Police – someone to talk to
18. Hot, Hot, Heat – eyes ear mouth (demo)
19. Sloan – live on
20. The Rakes – retreat
21. Compulsive Gamblers – stop & think it over
22. The Specials – ghost town
23. The D4 – omerta
24. Madness - the prince (BBC Session)

Show #126 Best of 2006

For my last show of 2006, I decided to do a best releases of 2006 show. I played new albums, reissues/remasters, and box sets. The order of the songs somewhat constitutes a list of the order of my favourite releases from 2006. There were some that didn't make the list, as far as overall releases which includes remasters, box sets, and new albums, this is what I thought of the music of 2006.



I just wanted to mention my favourite release of 2006 is the doors of perception box set. This set includes all of The Doors albums, as well as bonus tracks and videos. I played "Twentieth Century Fox" which is a song originally from The Doors first self titled album. According to the box sets linear notes, the first Doors album is not the correct speed. It is down a few steps, as a result of something that happened during the mastering process when copying from the master tapes. The box set includes a mix of the album at the correct speed (as well as the other way it has always been), and I played from the corrected speed version. It may be hard to notice, but if you were to listen to both versions of the album you can tell the difference, one is a little bit slower, and one is a little bit faster.

My second favourite release was the singles box set from The Clash. Since I've already posted about this box set, I will not discuss it any further. "I Fought The Law" was played from it though. My third favourite releases was the self titled Pearl Jam album. Pearl Jam was released in May of 2006. The album shows that Pearl Jam still can rock, even though they've made so many albums, and that they show no signs of stopping. "Unemployable" was played, it is a track that was written by drummer Matt Cameron and sounds very much like Pearl Jam doing a Black Sabbath song, in my opinion. If I were to choose albums that are composed of completely new material, this would be my top pick of 2006.

Unfortunately the Godfather of Soul, James Brown passed away on December 25th, 2006. James Brown has left behind a legacy of music that has influenced millions. A good majority of his songs have been sampled in various rap songs, he has also influenced bands such as The Clash, who have cited him as an influence for their funky songs. James Brown was a great musician, and his music will forever stand the test of time. I played "Papa's Got A Brand New Bag" from the album Soul On Top. It is one of my favourite James Brown tracks, the version from Soul On Top, is a live version.

Here's: what was played:

1. Mudhoney – empty shells
2. Pointed Sticks – somebody’s mom
3. Albert Hammond Jr. – call me an ambulance
4. Neil Young – after the garden
5. Sublime – paddle out
6. Sex Pistols – Liar (spunk version)
7. Wire – three girl rhumba
8. The Jam – the place I love
9. Red Hot Chili Peppers – make you feel better
10. Talking Heads – stay hungry
11. Johnny Cash – further on up the road
12. Bob Dylan – someday baby
13. Incubus – rogues
14. Arctic Monkeys – red light indicates the doors are secure
15. Rapture – pieces of the people that we love
16. Radio 4 – enemies like this
17. Audioslave – nothing left to say but goodbye
18. Dirty Pretty Things – enemy
19. Sloan – something’s wrong
20. Sloan – another way I could do it
21. Raconteurs – level
22. The Strokes – red light
23. Pearl Jam – unemployable
24. The Clash – I fought the law
25. The Doors – twentieth century fox
26. James Brown - papa's got a brand new bag

Happy Holidays Show #125

Holiday Themed Play List:

1. Pearl Jam – don’t believe in Christmas (sonics cover)
2. Pearl Jam – someday at Christmas (Jackson five cover)
3. The Sonics – santa claus
4. Chuck Berry – run Rudolph run
5. 101’ers – silent telephone
6. Buzzcocks – I don’t mind
7. Buzzcocks – moving away from the pulsebeat (edit)
8. The Clash – city of the dead
9. The Clash – clash city rockers
10. Diodes – terminal rock (alternate version)
11. The Damned – stretcher case
12. Iggy Pop – tell me a story
13. Talking Heads – I want to live (1975 cbs demo)
14. The Police – once upon a daydream
15. Hot, Hot, Heat – aveda
16. The Saints – security (Brisbane city)
17. Ramones – Merry Christmas (I don’t want to fight)
18. Ramones – I believe in miracles
19. Sloan – before the end of the race
20. Sloan - blackout
21. The D4 – don’t believe in xmas (sonics cover)
22. Exploding Hearts – teenage faces
23. Mudhoney – the straight life
24. Billy Idol - jingle bell rock
25. U2 - xanax and wine
26. Television - see no evil
27. Bob Dylan - outlaw blues
28. MC5 - looking at you
29. Sloan - right or wrong

The Clash Singles Box Set & Show #124

On October 30th, The Clash released a 19-CD limited edition box set. On this box set are all the Clash's singles packaged individually as the original singles were but in CD form. The CD's contain a black surface on the back, as did The Rolling Stones, The Who's, and The Buzzcocks singles box sets.

On these CDS you also get bonus tracks. Some are dub versions/remixes of songs, some not. You get all The Clash singles and B-sides, and it also comes with a thick booklet. In the book you get musicians, fans, and friends of the band commenting on individual tracks. Some of the people that comment are Pete Townshend (The Who),Chris Shifflet (Foo Fighters), and Irvine Welsh (Author of Trainspotting). The actual sound of the songs appear to be of higher quality than all previous Clash remasters. It is definitely worth the price of the box set. It is a must for any Clash fan. For more information and more pictures of the single sleeves visit:

The Clash Single Box Set Website.

Here's the playlist from the show:

1. The Damned – politics
2. Modernettes – new society
3. Sex Pistols – anarchy in the UK (demo)
4. Diodes – no right to make me bleed
5. The Beat – two swords
6. The Saints – the prisoner
7. Buzzcocks – orgasm addict
8. Buzzcocks – oh, shit!
9. Pointed Sticks – waiting for your love
10. The Clash – white riot (uk single version)
11. The Clash – 1977
12. The Police – so lonely
13. Talking Heads – thank you for sending me an angel (1975 cbs demo)
14. Gang of Four – guns before butter (BBC session)
15. Pretenders – my city was gone
16. Ramones – highest trails above
17. Ramones – time has come today
18. Hot, Hot, Heat – oh, Goddamnit
19. Iggy Pop – don't look down
20. Sloan – flying high again
21. Sloan – ana lucia
22. The Exploding Hearts – busy signals (unreleased version)
23. The D4 – stops me cold
24. 101’ers – surf city
25. Mudhoney – it is us
26. Blur – M.O.R
27. The Clash – rock the casbah

Hey Ho! Let's Go! & Show #123

This post used to feature information about the Ramones. For a longer more complete history on the Ramones visit these links:

Gabba Gabba Hey: The Ramones Story Part One
Rock N' Roll Radio: The Story of the Ramones Part Two

Here's the play list:

1. Television - Friction (alternate version)
2. The Damned - don't cry wolf
3. Undertones - family entertainment
4. Generation X - stars looked down
5. Buzzcocks - whatever happened to?
6. Buzzcocks - what do I get?
7. Sex Pistols - holidays in the sun
8. The Police - next to you
9. Ramones - what'd ya do?
10. Ramones - psycho therapy
11. The Clash - remote control
12. The Clash - police & thieves
13. The Saints - crazy googenheimer blues
14. The Diodes - weekend
15. Modernettes - new society
16. Hot, Hot, Heat - get in or get out
17. XTC - this is pop
18. Iggy Pop - five foot one
19. Talking Heads - sugar on my tongue (1975 CBS demo)
20. The Pretenders - time the avenger
21. Sloan - I can't sleep
22. Sloan - someone I can be true with
23. Radio 4 - packing up things on the scene
24. The D4 - trust nobody
25. Exploding Hearts - shattered (you left me)