The Damned — Anything

• Artist: The Damned
• Title: Anything
• Year: 1986
• Format: Vinyl 12 in.
• Rating (1-10): 8
• Owner: Mary and Tracy, two copies
• Acquired: 1986 – When she worked at Plan 9 Records in Richmond, VA
• Keeper: Yes

The now sound, the wow sound, the psychedelic Goth rock sound of The Damned is back only one year after their biggest hit, Phantasmagoria with Anything. I saw a review at AllMusic bashing this record. The reviewer seemed to have some facts wrong, and I completely disagree with the opinions. Anything is great. It’s a strange mix of the big goth sound, pseudo-classical interludes, and a soulful ’60s rock. At times it sounds like a goth version of The Fleshtones. The title track, “Anything”, opens the album and it’s my favorite.

We have two copies of Anything. My copy is the boring American release, but Mary’s copy is a great looking UK version with a gatefold cover and die-cut pop-up of the band inside. The UK version has a colorfully painted carving on the front with the unpainted version on the liner, and lyrics! The US version just has the unpainted carving on the front… and nothing else. Mary’s copy is pictured below.

The Damned — Phantasmagoria

• Artist: The Damned
• Title: Phantasmagoria
• Year: 1985
• Format: Vinyl 12 in.
• Rating (1-10): 8
• Owner: Tracy
• Acquired: No idea
• Keeper: Yes

If the cover of Phantasmagoria doesn’t make it abundantly clear, song titles like “Sanctum Sanctorum”, the sounds of organs and harpsichords, and David Vanian’s deep-voiced singing should; The Damned got their Goth on in a big way with this record. Some people didn’t like it. They were turned off by the big production and the theatrical imagery. They thought The Damned had forgotten their punk rock roots and sold out. But I love this record, and since it was their highest charting album I know I’m not alone.

Some think The Damned invented “Gothic” rock, but unlike most other all-too-serious bands that would follow, they always seemed to have a sense of humor about it. My favorites are the epic album opener “Street of Dreams”, and the surprisingly cheerful-sounding pop goth songs “Grimly Fiendish” and “Edward the Bear.”

The Damned — Strawberries

• Artist: The Damned
• Title: Strawberries
• Year: 1982
• Format: Vinyl 12 in.
• Rating (1-10): 6
• Owner: Tracy? Mary?
• Acquired: No one knows
• Keeper: Maybe

Live from Alexandria, VA. More specifically, from the home of our good friends and generous hosts the Brokamps. Robert is sitting next to me typing on his laptop about retirement, and I’m typing about old records.

I’ve said this before: Most records by The Damned are pretty inconsistent. I love the songs “Stranger on the Town” and “Dozen Girls”, but not much else on Strawberries. I probably didn’t give it a fair listen since I was trying to jam in some records before we hit the road. It just doesn’t grab my attention, unlike the cool cover.

Fad Gadget — Under the Flag

• Artist: Fad Gadget
• Title: Under the Flag
• Year: 1982
• Format: Vinyl 12 in.
• Rating (1-10): 5
• Owner: Mary
• Acquired: 1983 – Olsson’s in DC
• Keeper: Yes

Tracy says it’s all about emotional attachments, and I have ’em to this LP. My logical grown-up self says, “This record screams early ’80s pretentious goth rock”, but my inner teenager says “I remember when I was in art school, the 9:30 Club played ‘Collapsing New People’ between band sets (a Fad Gadget song not on this LP), and I went to poetry readings.” Poetry readings? I must of had a lot of free time.

The music consists of keyboards, some neat sound effects, a drum machine, and topped with arty lyrics in a Bauhaus vocal style. Like the kids say (said) on American Bandstand, “it’s got a good beat and it’s easy to dance to”, or at least to brood to.

I bought this in Washington in early 1984 or late 1983 in that store on Dupont Circle, Olsson’s? I want to keep it. And why is it in the middle of The Fall records, and shouldn’t it be before Faith even? F-A-D. Oh Well. I also didn’t see the 12″ of Collapsing… If I had to choose between the two, I’d keep the 12″ over this. Oh, I’ll rate it a 5.

The Damned — The Black Album (Again)

• Artist: The Damned
• Title: The Black Album (Again)
• Year: 1980
• Format: Vinyl 12 in.
• Rating (1-10): 6
• Owner: Tracy ?
• Acquired: I don’t know
• Keeper: Maybe

Hey! I’ve already posted this album, except it was a different. This version of The Black Album by The Damned doesn’t have the gatefold cover, the front is much simpler (boring), and there is no second LP with the live stuff. Anything else I could say I’ve already said. I did play it again, in case you’re wondering, because that’s the deal. Everything gets played, at least one more time.

The Damned — The Black Album

• Artist: The Damned
• Title: The Black Album
• Year: 1980
• Format: Vinyl 12 in.
• Rating (1-10): 7
• Owner: Tracy
• Acquired: ? I’m thinking…
• Keeper: Yes

This version of The Damned’s The Black Album is the original release on the Chiswick label. That means it’s a full color gatefold sleeve double album. We also have another version that is mostly black, with no gatefold, and no second record. The second is mostly live stuff. I can’t remember when and where I got this, but I do remember that not too long ago it still had the shrink wrap on it. So, it’s old, but almost new, if you know what I’m saying.

I’ve always loved the song “Wait for the Blackout” and there are some other great ones on this record. But there’s some other stuff that just drags it down. Which is how I feel about every record by The Damned. Read more about The Black Album.

The Damned — Music for Pleasure

• Artist: The Damned
• Title: Music for Pleasure
• Year: 1977
• Format: Vinyl 12 in.
• Rating (1-10): 7
• Owner: Mary?
• Acquired: Unknown origin

“Music for Pleasure”, the second album by The Damned, is a lot more garage rock punk than I remembered. There are also moments that sound more like acid rock. I guess for 1977 that was more likely than it seems now. I like it and it’s hard to sit still when it’s playing, but I’ll admit that we won’t play this one that often. Gotta love the “smile price” sticker placed directly(?) on the record jacket. A real bonus is the oxblood colored vinyl. Not available on cassette, CD, MP3, etc.

Not sure where the first The Damned record is, but it’s gotta be here somewhere. While I look for it you can read about the complicated history of the band, or the “Music for Pleasure” record, or the cool label that put it out, Stiff Records.

Xmal Deutschland — Sequenz

Xmal Deutschland -- Sequenz

• Artist: Xmal Deutschland
• Title: Sequenz
• Year: 1985
• Format: Vinyl 12 in.
• Rating (1-10): 6
• Owner: Mary
• Acquired: 1985 – Bought when she worked at Plan 9 Records in Richmond, VA
• Keeper: Maybe

“Sequenz” is a three song 12 inch by Xmal Deutschland. When I played the first side I asked Mary if she knew who it was and she guessed Siouxsie and The Banshees. And that’s funny because I later saw this Wikipedia article about Xmal Deutschland and it noted that the singer was often compared to Siouxsie Sioux. I don’t know… I loved the first song “Jahr Um Jahr II”, but the other two, “Autumn” and “Polarlicht” were kinda… blah.

Fad Gadget — One Man’s Meat

• Artist: Fad Gadget
• Title: One Man’s Meat
• Year: 1983
• Format: Vinyl 7 in.
• Rating (1-10): 6
• Owner: Mary
• Acquired: 1983 – Olsson’s in DC?
• Keeper: Yes

After just one listen to “One Man’s Meat” you might think it’s just angsty, electronic, New Wave, disco. You wouldn’t be completely wrong, but there’s more to it than that. It definitely sounds like the early 1980s, so yes it’s a bit dated, but it’s also pretty interesting. The flip, “Sleep”, is a plodding arty electronic bore. Or, is that just his serious side? The package included another 7 inch of “Collapsing New People.” We’ve already played and logged that song in 12 inch format on a previous letter F day.

The Danse Society — 2000 Light Years From Home

• Artist: The Danse Society
• Title: 2000 Light Years From Home
• Year: 1984
• Format: Vinyl 7 in.
• Rating (1-10): 5
• Owner: Mary
• Acquired: 1984 – Tower Records in DC.
• Keeper: No

This is the most dreary version of The Rolling Stones’ “2000 Light Years From Home” I’ve ever heard, and I’ve heard a few. The package is a gatefold holding twin 7 inches with a total of four songs. The three originals are better. This record belongs to Mary, but I have my share of music from The Danse Society. So, when I say that I found it boring, believe me, I tried to like it.