The Jam — Setting Sons

• Artist: The Jam
• Title: Setting Sons
• Year: 1979
• Format: Vinyl 12 in.
• Rating (1-10): 7
• Owner: Mary
• Acquired: 1986? Used at Plan 9?

I don’t care what the critics say, this is not my favorite record by The Jam. Setting Sons has some excellent songs, but overall it just seems a little flat. I’m hoping we have things out of order in the collection because the three albums before this are fantastic. They must be in there somewhere. After doing some reading I was surprised to see they charted in the US with this one, for the first time.

My favorite song is the last one, “Wasteland.” I’m a sucker for the recorder or flute in rock, think The Troggs not Jethro Tull. Wikipedia lists the side two songs first, but don’t believe them, believe me! I’m looking at it right now and “Wasteland” is last.

Read more about The Jam, and Setting Sons.

Head of David — ‘LP’

• Artist: Head of David
• Title: ‘LP’
• Year: 1986
• Format: Vinyl 12 in.
• Rating (1-10): 6
• Owner: Tracy
• Acquired: 1988 – Vinyl Solution in London

I was already a fan of Head of David (Trouser Press) when I found this in a small record store called Vinyl Solution in London. This record is titled simply ‘LP’ with single quotes as I’ve typed it here. I didn’t even know it existed so I snapped it up.

If you agree with the expression “if it’s too loud, you’re too old” then be prepared to age significantly before getting through both sides of ‘LP’. No matter how young you are now, with the passing of each grinding, noisy, layered, psychedelimetallic dirge you will feel life leaking away. They are more metal than metal. If you want to hear it again then you are more metal than metal. I’m not sure how metal I am, but I guess I’ll keep it. The later stuff is better.

Etched in the run-off margins:
A — Kill ugly ron. A porky prime cut.
B — Clean up the filth.

Gang of Four — Hard

• Artist: Gang of Four
• Title: Hard
• Year: 1983
• Format: Vinyl 12 in.
• Rating (1-10): 9
• Owner: Tracy
• Acquired: 1983, not sure where…

Server migration, DNS propagation lag, Charter Communications… All of you, can kiss my ass. Now where were we?

Right! Gang of Four’s late period album, Hard. My collection is missing the previous album Songs of the Free and that gap makes this record sound like a rather abrupt change to a more pop sound. Even though Hard is full of classic pop sounds, things like soulful backing vocals and staccato strings, the music is just as strange and interesting as their earlier work. Of course, the lyrics are fantastic too. I played the crap out this record way back, and you can tell from the grime on the cover. My favorite song is “A Man With a Good Car.”

Who is that?
Just what is your business?
Fate is in your hands
And your decisions

A man with a good car needs no justification
Fate is in my hands and in the transmission

The Fall — Call For Escape Route

• Artist: The Fall
• Title: Call For Escape Route
• Year: 1984
• Format: Vinyl 12 in.
• Rating (1-10): 7
• Owner: Mary
• Acquired: ?

The songs on Call For Escape Route are pretty catchy for a band that’s pretty arty. The Fall released this three song EP in 1984. Most people would call a three song record a 12 inch single and name it after the lead song. Call For Escape Route is merely a title for this package that contains the songs:

“Draygo’s Guilt”
“Clear Off!”
“No Bulbs”

The sticker on front cover says that there’s a free 7″ included, but I’m not seeing it. Maybe it’s been filed with the other 7 inchers.

Echo And The Bunnymen — Echo And The Bunnymen

• Artist: Echo And The Bunnymen
• Title: Echo And The Bunnymen
• Year: 1987
• Format: Vinyl 12 in.
• Rating (1-10): 6
• Owner: Mary, if she’ll claim it
• Acquired: I’m not gonna ask
• Keeper: Maybe

Oh man this album is lame, for Echo And The Bunnymen that is. Now I remember why they were dead to me, DEAD I tell you!, by the time this record came out. Maybe I didn’t give it a fair listen, but I’m not playing it again. If I was right the first time I’ll just suffer again for nothing. The hits “Bedbugs and Ballyhoo” and “Lips Like Sugar” are probably the best songs on Echo And The Bunnymen.

Flushing my head now with some Wolfmother. Heavy riffs, take me away…

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.

Nick Cave and The Bad Seeds — The Singer

• Artist: Nick Cave and The Bad Seeds
• Title: The Singer
• Year: 1986
• Format: Vinyl 12 in.
• Rating (1-10): 8
• Owner: Mary
• Acquired: 1986 – Plan 9 Records in Richmond, VA.
• Keeper: Yes

I do dig this 12 inch single by Nick Cave and The Bad Seeds. The main track “The Singer”, by Johnny Cash and originally titled “The Folk Singer” is perfect and Cave makes it his own, just like Cash does when he covers a song. The two songs on the flipside are also covers: “Running Scared” by Roy Orbison and “Black Betty” by Leadbelly. This recording of “Black Betty” is definitely the most minimalistic, primitive, and just plain spooky I’ve ever heard.

All three of these songs ended up on the full length album “Kicking Against the Pricks” which I think came out later in the same year. The production guru Flood helped shape the sound of this disk.

Bad Brains — Quickness

• Artist: Bad Brains
• Title: Quickness
• Year: 1989
• Format: Vinyl 12 in.
• Rating (1-10): 8
• Owner: Tracy
• Acquired: 1989 – At our store RIP Records in Norfolk, VA

Ah… back again to greatest band ever, Bad Brains. I know a lot of people were excited to know “Quickness” was coming out. It’s very solid record, if not as mind blowing as “I Against I.” Apparently, it was their best-selling album. Recorded in between break ups of the original band members, like a lot of their stuff, to me it feels like something is missing. There’s more hip hop, more metal, and even some reggae again, but something seems off. Maybe it’s just me. All that said, overall it is a great album. Every time I hear “With the Quickness” I want to stage dive off the couch, only the kids aren’t big enough to catch me, yet.

AC/DC — Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap

• Artist: AC/DC
• Title: Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap
• Year: 1976
• Format: Vinyl 12 in.
• Rating (1-10): 7
• Owner: Tracy
• Acquired: ? Bought it used, a long time ago.
• Keeper: Yes

It’s tragic. My Bon Scott era AC/DC collection is incomplete. And I like the early stuff the best. Brian Johnson is fine, but the early sound was much more garage rock, punk rock, and traditional rock and roll. “Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap” is full of silly songs that you never need to hear more than once, but there are also some classics. My favorite is definitely “Problem Child.” Of course, the title track is also excellent, and so are “Ain’t No Fun Waiting Round to be a Millionaire” and “Ride On.”

Various Artists — ‘Til Things Are Brighter… A Tribute to Johnny Cash

Various Artists --'Til Things Are Brighter... A Tribute to Johnny Cash

• Artist: Various Artists
• Title: Til Things Are Brighter… A Tribute to Johnny Cash
• Year: 1988
• Format: Vinyl 12 in.
• Rating (1-10): 6
• Owner: Tracy
• Acquired: 1988 – Probably was a promo we got at our store RIP Records in Norfolk, VA.
• Keeper: Maybe

“‘Til Things Are Brighter… A Tribute to Johnny Cash” was recorded by the people listed below as an AIDS benefit deal. It’s a lot better than I remember, but I’m still not sure I’ll keep it. The performances are solid, and of course the songs are great. I listed the groups these artists are best known for, but they weren’t necessarily associated with them when this recording was made.

“One Piece at a Time” – Michelle Shocked
“I Walk the Line” – Stephen Mallinder (Cabaret Voltaire)
“Rosanna’s Goin’ Wild” – Steve Mack
“Cry, Cry, Cry” – Sally Timms (The Mekons)
“Country Boy” – David McComb (The Triffids)
“Wanted Man” – Marc Riley (The Fall)
“Straight ‘A’s in Love” – Peter Shelley (Buzzcocks)
“Ring of Fire” – Cathal Coughlan (Microdisney)
“Five Feet High and Risin'” – Tracey and Melissa Beehive
“Home of the Blues” – Brendan Croker
“Boy Named Sue” – Mary Mary (Gaye Bykers on Acid)
“Folsom Prison Blues” – Mekons
“Man in Black” – Marc Almond (Soft Cell)