Malcolm McLaren R.I.P

I only just heard that sadly Malcolm McLaren died earlier today of a rare form of asbestos related cancer in Switzerland at the age of 64.
I didn't know him, have never met or even seen him personally but it's still a shame that someone who has contributed to some enjoyment in my life is no longer with us.
If you want the story it's here - BBC Page, which gives you more facts than I can be bothered to write because most will know more than me anyway.
Nice comment from John Lydon who said "Above all else Malcolm was an entertainer and I will miss him, and so should you." which sums it up nicely.

Jamming Fanzine

And now for something completely different ...
Another find in the boxes in the loft an old punk fanzine called Jamming, I used to have a few of these fanzines but it seems this is the only one left intact.
Just looked it up on the net and it says it's from April 79 and is moderatly rare although it must be a hard thing to authenticate as it's basically just photocopies stapled together.
I bought this in a record shop up London around 79 so it should be an original, those I've seen for sale have a different colour front page?
Features on Prag Vec, Sid Vicious, Rezillos, Lurkers, Bill Nelson and a variety of other stuff in typical fanzine style.

Sid Vicious - Too Fast To Live

A random collection of the best of Sid, the first 2 tracks are Sid's vocals on 2 Pistols singles, My Way everyone should know.
Plus 11 Live tracks recorded in Kansas in 78, plus a few other rare tracks make up a reasonable compilation.

01 Something Else
02 C'mon Everybody
03 My Way
04 Born To Lose (Live)
05 I Wanna Be Your Dog (Live)
06 Take A Chance On Me (Live)
07 Stepping Stone (Live)
08 My Way (Live)
09 Belsen (Live)
10 Something Else (Live)
11 Chatterbox (Live)
12 Search And Destroy (Live)
13 Chinese Rocks (Live)
14 I Killed The Cat (Live)
15 My Way (Take 3)
16 From Beyond The Grave
17 Something Else (1st Mix)

Sex Pistols - Live At The Screen On The Green Islington 1976

Another one from 1976 these are the Pistols tracks from the Midnight Special gig at the Screen on the Green in Islington London.
The Clash and Buzzcocks were both on the same bill that night, so quite a night for anyone who attended.
I wasn't there so I can't vouch for authenticity although I believe it's the real thing.

01 Anarchy In The UK
02 I Wanna Be Me
03 Seventeen
04 New York
05 (Don't Give Me) No Lip
06 (I'm Not Your) Stepping Stone
07 Satellite
08 Submission
09 Liar
10 No Feelings
11 Substitute
12 Pretty Vacant
13 Problems
14 Did You No Wrong
15 No Fun

Sex Pistols - Live At Burton On Trent 1976

Here's the Sex Pistols live at the 76 club at Burton-on-Trent from July 76.

01 Anarchy In The UK
02 I Wanna Be Me
03 Seventeen
04 New York
05 No Lip
06 Steppin' Stone
07 Satellite
08 Submission
09 Liar
10 Substitute
11 No Feelings
12 No Fun
13 Pretty Vacant
14 PA Problems
15 Problems

Sex Pistols - Live At Chelmsford Prison

Originally recorded in 1976 this CD was released in 2000 although I've read that a lot of the crowd reaction was cut including a near riot after anarchy.Strangely despite living within 15 miles of Chelmsford I never go there, apart from two appearances at the crown court, where luckily I've avoided visiting the venue for this CD :)
Incidently the cover picture is misleading as Glenn Matlock was still in the band when this was recorded.

01 Lazy Sod
02 New York
03 No Lip
04 (I'm Not Your) Steppin' Stone
05 Suburban Kids
06 Submission
07 Liar
08 Anarchy in the UK
09 Did You No Wrong
10 Substitute
11 No Fun
12 Pretty Vacant
13 Problems
14 I Wanna Be Me

Stranglers - Something Better Change

The Stranglers third hit which I thought was a double A because both sides were played on the radio but the single lists A and B sides.
Personally prefer Straighten Out but both are great tracks.

Stranglers - Something Better Change
Stranglers - Straighten Out

Spizzenergi - Where's Captain Kirk

The nearest Spizz ever came to having a hit (should have been number one).
Spizz of the ever changing names, the first single I bought by them had them as Spizz Oil and they had previously been Spizz 77, and later became Athletico Spizz 80 etc etc.

01 - Where's Captain Kirk
02 - Amnesia

Stranglers - Grip

The one that brought the Stranglers into the public eye although only a minor hit (well it's the first time I'd heard them anyway).

Blah Blah!
OK so only 30+ years late I've finally looked up the lyrics for London Lady and found I've been singing along with all the wrong words!! mine made no sense at all but does it matter if you like the record? :)
My embarrassing misheard lyrics were -
Actual "Little lady with Dingwall's bullshit", Mine "Little lady with Dingles Bushing"
Actual "Plastic's real when you're real sick", Mine "Plastic straw when you're off sick"
Oh well :)

01 - (Get A) GRIP (On Yourself)
02 - London Lady

Stranglers - Nuclear Device

Another great track from the golden era of the Stranglers.
The B side is an oddity as it sounds like it's recorded backwards.

Stranglers - Nuclear Device (The Wizard Of Aus)
Stranglers - Yellowcake UF6

Stranglers - 5 Minutes

Another favourite from the Stranglers.

Stranglers - 5 Minutes
Stranglers - Rok It To The Moon

Stranglers - Who Wants The World

One of the last singles of the era when I would buy anything that the Stranglers released.
Funny thing I read about this one is that this "Limited edition" is far more common than the non limited edition? :)

Stranglers - Who Wants The World
Stranglers - The Meninblack (Waiting For Em)

Stranglers - Bear Cage

This was listed as a double A side although the radio stations would only play Bear Cage, as far as I remember Bear Cage wasn't on the original vinyl of the Raven LP but appears on the CD version.

Stranglers - Bear Cage
Stranglers - Shah Shah A Go Go

Regents - 7 Teen

Great Pop/punk song from the Regents whatever happened to them?
Despite many many plays it's one of the least crackly pieces of vinyl I own (well the A-side anyway), must be a higher grade of plastic :)

Regents - 7 Teen
Regents - Hole In The Heart

Rezillos - Top Of The Pops

Another of the 70's Punk royalty, this one usually features on any compilation of the era.
The B-Side 20,000 Rezillos Under The Sea is loosely based on a tune I can't actually remember the title of? something like "Hoots Mon" watch out for that false ending.

Rezillos - Top Of The Pops
Rezillos - 20,000 Rezillos Under The Sea

Clash - (White Man) In Hammersmith Palais

Here's the vinyl version of White Man.

01 - (White Man) In Hammersmith Palais
02 - The Prisoner

Ruts - Babylon's Burning

Another classic punk tune, here's the 7" version of Babylon's Burning.

Ruts - Babylon's Burning
Ruts - Society

Various Artists - Cover Versions

I tend to either love or hate cover versions, if they are too similar to the original I'll label them as shite, or if a band has put their own distinctive mark on them I usually love them.
Here is a totally random selection, by no means the best and probably not even including all my favourites (just ones that sprung to mind without having to search too hard).
A lot with punk influence but enough of other genres to make it interesting.
Everyone has their favourites and their own opinions I looked up a couple of articles on top rated covers and to be honest hated most of them.

Alien Ant Farm - Smooth Criminal
Anti Nowhere League - Streets Of London
Bad Manners - The First Cut Is The Deepest
Bauhaus - Ziggy Stardust
Beat - Tears Of A Clown
Blondie - Hanging On The Telephone
Bomb The Bass - Say A Little Prayer
Clash - Police And Thieves
Cramps - Route 66
Damned - Ballroom Blitz
Devo - (I Can't Get Me No) Satisfaction
Dickies - Nights In White Satin
Echo And The Bunnymen - People Are Strange
Elbow - Independent Woman
Fall - Gotta See Jane
Flying Lizards - What's New Pussycat
Green Day - Working Class Hero
Green Jelly - Three Little Pigs
Jam - Batman Theme
Johnny Cash - Hurt
Jonathan Richman And The Modern Lovers - Wheels On The Bus
King Kurt - Ghost Riders In The Sky
Limp Bizkit - Behind Blue Eyes
Madness - It Must Be Love
Me First And The Gimme Gimmes - Leaving On A Jet Plane
Modettes - Paint It Black
Motorhead - God Save The Queen
Muse - Feeling Good
Ramones - What A Wonderful World
Red Hot Chili Peppers - Higher Ground
Saint Etienne - Only Love Can Break Your Heart
Saints - Lipstick On Your Collar
Sid Vicious - My Way
Siouxsie And The Banshees - Helter Skelter
Slits - I Heard It Through The Grapevine
Television Personalities - Mr Brightside
Tenpole Tudor - Rock Around The Clock
Tori Amos - Rattlesnakes
Toy Dolls - Blue Suede Shoes
White Stripes - I Just Don't Know What To Do With Myself
-------------------------------------
Abrasive Wheels - Jailhouse Rock
All Seeing I - Beat Goes On
Amateur Transplants - London Underground (Going Underground)
Amy Winehouse - Cupid
Avalanches - Do You Know The Way To San Jose
B52's - Downtown
Billy Bragg - She's Leaving Home
Bjork And PJ Harvey - Satisfaction (Live)
Buzzcocks - Ballroom Blitz
Cult - Born To Be Wild
Dead Kennedys - Viva Las Vegas
Devo - Working In A Coalmine
Eddie And The Hot Rods - Gloria
Elvis Costello - She
Farmer's Boys - In The Country
Fatima Mansions - Everything I Do
Flying Lizards - Sex Machine
Frankie Goes To Hollywood - Suffragette City
Fun Lovin Criminals - We Have All The Time In The World
Ian Brown - Billie Jean
Judge Dread - Al Capone
Kate Bush - Rocket Man
Little Nell - Fever
Manic Street Preachers - Suicide Is Painless (Theme From Mash)
OK Go - Ant Music
Plastic Bertrand - Sha La La La Lee
Presidents Of The USA - Video Killed the Radio Star
Rezillos - Somebody's Gonna Get Their Head Kicked In Tonight
Robert Wyatt - Shipbuilding
Rocket From The Crypt - Press Darlings
Sex Pistols - (I'm Not Your) Stepping Stone
Specials - Return Of The Django
Splodgenessabounds - Two Little Boys
Stranglers - 96 Tears
Thirty Nine Lyon Street (Billy McKenzie) - Kites
Vice Squad - Teenage Rampage
Vinnie Jones - Wooly Bully
Wall Of Voodoo - Ring Of Fire
Weezer - Uptown Girl
Who - Summer Time Blues (Live)
 -------------------------------------
Alberto Y Lost Trios Paranoias - Anarchy In The UK
Bad Manners - Wet Dream
Beautiful South - Everybody's Talking At Me
Billy Bragg And The Blokes - Billericay Dickie
Carter USM - The Impossible Dream
Count Bishops - Route 66
Damned - Eloise
Dickies - Paranoid
Divine Comedy - There Is A Light That Never Goes Out
Faith No More - Easy
Fratellis - Solid Gold Easy Action
Jane Aire And The Belvederes - Breaking Down The Walls Of Heartache
Jet Bumpers - Radar Love
John Otway - Space Oddity
Leningrad Cowboys - These Boots Are Made For Walking
Manic Street Preachers - Raindrops Keep Falling On My Head
Nirvana - The Man Who Sold The World (Unplugged)
Offspring - I Wanna Be Sedated
Radio Stars - Dear Prudence
Ramones - Baby I Love You
Rezillos - I Like It
Selecter - James Bond
Sensational Alex Harvey Band - Delilah
Sex Pistols - Substitute
Sexgang Children - As Tears Go By
Sham 69 - You're A Better Man Than I
Siouxsie And The Banshees - The Passenger
Snow Patrol - Isolation
Soft Cell - What
Specials - Double Barrel
Spizzenergi - Virginia Plain
Splodgenessabounds - Wiffy Woman (Pretty Woman)
Stranglers - Walk On By
Stray Cats - Something Else
Suggs - Cecilia
Vandals - Hocus Pocus
Vic Reeves - Born Free
Wedding Present - Where Everybody Knows Your Name
Wreckless Eric - Clever Trevor
XTC - All Along The Watchtower
 -------------------------------------
Ataris - The Boys Of Summer
Billy Idol - Mony Mony
Bjork - You Only Live Twice
Blue Rondo A La Turk - I Spy (For The FBI)
Blues Brothers - Rawhide
Bronski Beat - It Ain't Necessarily So
Clash - I Fought The Law
Colourfield - Windmills Of Your Mind
Decemberists - Human Behaviour
Human League - Get Carter
J Church - Girlfriend In A Coma
Jam - David Watts
Joe Strummer And The Mescaleros - Redemption Song
Kaiser Chiefs - I Heard It Through The Grapevine
Keane - With Or Without You
Killers - Shadowplay
Kirsty MacColl - A New England
L7 - Hanging On The Telephone
Lawnmower Deth - Up The Junction
Manic Street Preachers - Umbrella
 -------------------------------------
Marianne Faithfull - The Ballad of Lucy Jordan
Marilyn Manson - Down In The Park
Me First And The Gimme Gimmes - Seasons In The Sun
Mint Royale - Singin' In The Rain
Morrissey - That's Entertainment
Mott The Hoople - All The Young Dudes
Nazareth - This Flight Tonight
New York Dolls - (Give Him A) Great Big Kiss
No Doubt - It's My Life
No Way Sis - I'd Like To Teach The World To Sing
Rubinoos - I Think We're Alone Now
Siouxsie And The Banshees - This Wheel's On Fire
Skids - All The Young Dudes
Stranglers - All Day And All Of The Night
Suggs - Alright
Supergrass - Some Girls Are Bigger Than Others
Terry Hall - Music To Watch Girls By
The King - Come As You Are
Toyah - Echo Beach
U96 - Das Boot
 -------------------------------------

Generation X - Generation X

I always thought of Generation X as plastic punks, not to say I didn't like them (I did) but they seemed a bit too clean compared to a lot of the bands around at the time.
Here is the CD version of their debut album plus a few extras.
The track listing is different from the original vinyl with Gimme some truth not even included?

01 From The Heart
02 One Hundred Punks
03 Listen
04 Ready Steady Go
05 Kleenex
06 Promises Promises
07 Day By Day
08 The Invisible Man
09 Kiss Me Deadly
10 Too Personal
11 Youth Youth Youth
12 Your Generation
13 Wild Youth
14 Wild Dub
15 Trying For Kicks
16 This Heat

Generation X - Valley Of The Dolls

Came on "Puke coloured vinyl", despite that it's a great track from Mr Idol and the band.

A - Valley Of The Dolls
B - Shakin All Over