The Rolling Stones: Schoolboy Blues (Cocksucker Blues) 1970

Here is the infamous last single recorded by The Rolling Stones for Decca Records. In 1970 The Rolling Stones’ contract with Decca had come to an end and the band had formed Rolling Stones Records. Deeca informed the band that they owed them one more single. So, to fulfil their contractual obligations The Stones gave Decca this obscenity ridden, unreleaseable blues number. Known as Cocksucker Blues but its actual title was Schoolboy Blues. 

 

Schoolboy Blues

Schoolboy Blues Version 2

As a bonus here’s Andrew’s Blues, an obscenity ridden jam from 1965. The Andrew in the song is of course Andrew Loog Oldham.

Andrew's Blues

Killing Joke: Requiem 1980

Killing Joke were formed in 1978 in Notting Hill, London. Although they shared an aggressive element with Punk, they were different from most London bands of the time. They played slower, denser songs and they used a synthesizer. Their earlier records were released on their own Malicious Damage label. Requiem was released on EG Records in 1980. It was Killing Joke’s third single. It’s a different version than the one that appears on their self-titled debut album. The B-Side, Change was originally released as limited edition seven inch. Only 300 copies were sold. It appears on the American version of their debut album, but not the British version.

Produced by Killing Joke

Jaz Coleman        Vocals, Keyboards
Geordie Walker                      Guitars
Youth                                          Bass
Paul Ferguson                         Drums

  

Requiem.mp3

Change.mp3 

As a bonus here is the Eighties. It’s the song Killing Joke claim Kurt Cobain copied for Come As You Are. In 1993 they sued. The suit was dropped when Kurt Cobain committed suicide in 1994. 

Eighties.mp3

Robyn Hitchcock & The Egyptians: Balloon Man 1988

Robyn Hitchcock was a member of Cambridge band The Soft Boys. Formed in 1976, they were often labelled ‘New Wave’ by the English press, even though they were more influenced by Syd Barrett than Sid Vicious. After their demise in 1980, Robyn Hitchcock pursued a solo career. Balloon Man was released in 1988. It became a College radio hit in the USA. The video for the song was even played on MTV. He is backed on the record by the Egyptians. Which he formed in 1984 and were made up of the Soft Boys rhythm section.

Produced by Robyn Hitchcock & The Egyptians and Pat Collier

Robyn Hitchcock      Piano, Guitar, Vocals
Andy Metcalfe                                    Bass
Morris Windsor                                Drums

On A globe of frogs
Peter Buck                        12 String Guitar

Warning recorded from vinyl**surface noise**
Balloon Man.mp3

A Globe of Frogs.mp3

Discharge: Decontrol 1980

Discharge were formed in Lemmy’s hometown of Stoke-on-Trent in 1977. They were a Punk band, but their songs have been covered by the likes of Metallica, Anthrax, Sepultura, and Napalm Death. Often hailed as the first band to blend Punk and Metal. Their sound was so widely copied it became know as D-beat (D for Discharge). The two songs on the B-side, It's No T.V. Sketch and Tomorrow Belongs To Us typify that sound. Decontrol was released in 1980 on Clay Records. It reached number 5 on the UK Indie Chart.

 Producers John Brierley and Mike Stone

Cal          Vocals
Bones      Guitar
Rainy         Bass
Tezz        Drums

Warning recorded from vinyl. Surface noise can be heard

Decontrol

It's No T.V. Sketch

Tomorrow Belongs To Us

Blues Magoos: (We Ain't Got) Nothing Yet 1967

Originally formed in The Bronx, New York in 1964 as The Trenchcoats. In 1966 they changed their name to Bloos Magoos, before settling on Blues Magoos. Their debut album (Psychedelic Lollipop) was released in 1966. Even though (We Ain’t Got) Nothing Yet was included on that album, it was not released as a single until 1967. Written by Ron Gilbert, Ralph Scala and Mike Esposito, it pecked at number 5 on the Billboard Top 100.  Gotta Get Away was the B-Side. Just over a year later, after releasing two more albums, they broke up.  But the band’s management and singer/guitarist Peppy Castro backed by various hired musicians kept the name alive until 1972. 

    It's fair to say Deep Purple’s 1970 hit, Black Knight owes a debit to (We Ain’t Got) Nothing Yet’s main riff.

Produced by Bob Wyld, Art Polhemus

Mike Esposito                 Guitar
Geoff Daking                 Drums
Ronnie Gilbert                  Bass
Peppy Castro      Vocals/Guitar
Ralph Scala        Organ/Vocals

(We Ain't Got) Nothin' Yet.mp3

Gotta Get Away.mp3

John Foxx: Underpass 1980

 

In 1979 after Ultravox! were dropped by their record company, singer and electronic music pioneer John Foxx decided to leave the band for a solo career. Unfortunately, Ultravox’s subsequent success with new singer Midge Ure over shadowed John Foxx’s solo work. By 1985 (his last live gig was in 1982) he had reverted to his original name (Dennis Leigh) and his original career (Graphic Design).  In 1992 he was a Graphic Arts & Design lecturer at the Leeds Metropolitan University. He re-entered the music business in 1997 making Dance and the Triphop music. Underpass was his first solo single. Released by Virgin Records in 1980. It reached number 31 in the British singles chart, his highest solo chart position. All instrument were played by Foxx.

Underpass

Film One

Guided By Voices: Motor Away 1995

 

Guided By Voices was originally formed in 1983 as a bar band in Dayton, Ohio. It was seen as a part-time thing, with all its members having day jobs. Over the next few years there was an ever-changing line up except for songwriter Robert Pollard who was the band’s only constant member. By the early 1990’s the band had evolved into more of a recording project. They self-released a string of lo-fi albums. Only a few hundred copies of each were pressed. In 1994 they signed a deal with Matador Records and became a gigging band again. At the time the line up included Pollard, guitarists Tobin Sprout and Mitch Mitchell, bassist Dan Toohey, and drummer Kevin Fennell. Now seen as the “classic line up”. Released in 1995, Motor Away was their first single for Matador, their eighth over all. It was written by Robert Pollard and Tobin Sprout. It is different from the version that appeared on the album Alien Lanes. The Color Of My Blade was the B-Side.

 

 Robert Pollard              Vocals
Tobin Sprout                  Guitar
Mitch Mitchell                Guitar
Dan Toohey                    Bass
Kevin Fennell               Drums

Motor Away

Color Of My Blade

The Creation: How Does It Feel To Feel 1968

In 1966, Cheshunt based Pop Art band The Mark Four changed their name to The Creation. Guitarist Eddie Phillips is credited as the first person to play his electric guitar using a violin bow. Jimmy Page, who later popularised the technique in Led Zeppelin, always cited Phillips as the inventor. By 1968 they started to introduce more psychedelic elements into their sound.  How Does It Feel To Feel was The Creation's sixth single. Released in Europe on Ploydor Records and in the US (with a different mix) on Decca Records. In the UK the B-Side was Tom Tom (released as an A-Side in German) but in the US it was Life Is Just Beginning.

Produced By Shel Talmy

Bob Garner               Vocals
Eddie Phillips             Guitar
Jack Jones               Drums
Kim Gardner                Bass

How Does It Feel To Feel
Tom Tom

Young Marble Giants: Final Day 1981

Young Marble Giants were formed in Cardiff, Wales in 1978. Adopting a less is more approach to their music. They simplified the songs and turned down the volume. Not wanting to use a loud ‘live’ drummer, they used tape recordings of a home made drum machine or no drums at all. This is their first single, released on Rough Trade Records a few months after their debut album, Colossal Youth. Final Days and the B-Sides Radio Silente and Cakewalking were all written by guitarist Stuart Moxham. They released one more EP, Test Patten without singer Alison Statton before splitting up.

Alison Statton              Vocals

Philip Moxham                Bass

Stuart Moxham   Guitar, Organ

Final Day 7"

The Pretty Things: Talking About The Good Times 1968

In 1967 the legendary wild men of the British Blues movement, The Pretty Things, sign to a new label (EMI's Columbia label). They took that opportunity to change their sound to a more Psychedelic one. Their first ‘Psychedelic’ single, Defecting Grey fail to chart. Talking About The Good Times was their second Columbia Records single. Unfortunately it also failed. Recorded at the beginning of the sessions for their S. F. Sorrow album. Although, neither it or the B-Side Walking Through My Dreams appeared on the concept album.

Produced by Norman Smith

Dick Taylor                 Guitar
Phil May                    Vocals
John Povey                Organ
Wally Waller                 Bass
John Charles Alder     Drums

Talking About The Good Times 

Walking Through My Dreams

Wimple Winch: Rumble On Mersey Square South 1967

Liverpool’s Wimple Winch originally formed 1964 as Dee Fenton & the Silhouettes, before changing their name to Four Just Men, then to Just Four Men. In 1966 their sound changed from MerseyBeat to a more Psychedelic Freckbeat sound. So, they changed their name once again, this time to Wimple Winch. They got a new manager, and record label (Fontana) and moved to Stockport. Rumble On Mersey Square South was their third and final single. Mersey Square South is in Stockport. Wimple Winch were the house band at The Sinking Ship nightclub, which was near the square. In 1967 they spilt up after all their band gear was destroyed by a fire at the The Sinking Ship and they where dropped by their label.

Dee Christopholus     Vocal/Guitar
John Kelman                      Guitar
Barry Ashall                         Bass
Larry King                          Drums

Rumble On Mersey Square South
Typical British Workmanship

The Nipple Erectors: King Of The Bop 1978

The Nipple Erectors are today remembered as the first band of  The Pogues’ Shane MacGowan. Formed in 1976 by early converts to Punk, MacGowan and Shanne Bradley. They playing their first gig at the legendry Punk venue the Roxy Club. At a time when Teddy Boys and Punks saw themselves on opposite sides, the Nipples Erectors were punks influence by rockabilly and played songs with the ’12 Bar’ blues structure. They were Punks who wore Zoot Suits. Released in 1978 on Soho Records, King Of The Bop was their recording debut. After its release they changed their name to The Nips and released a further three singles and a live album. Calling it quits in 1981.

Shanne Bradley & Shane O'Hooligan

Roger Towndrow                            Guitar
Arcane Vendetta                            Drums
Shane O'Hooligan  (MacGowan)   Vocals
Shanne Bradley                               Bass

***Warning Ripped from Vinyl. Some Surface Noise.***

King Of The Bop

Nervous Wreck

The Really 3rds: Everyday, Everyway1981

This is a self-released single from Welsh Power Pop trio The Really 3rds. This 1981 7” was their sole release. They changed their name to Shake Some Action soon after this release and joined the then Mod revival. Everyday, Everyway was written by Neil Lawrence. The B-side is by Neil Lawrence and Paul Pember, who, with someone called Philip made up The Really 3rds. And that is all that is known about them.

Everyday, Everyway
Daptapper

Lightning Raiders: Criminal World 1981

 

The Lighting Raiders are one of those bands that should have been huge, but for some reason never made it. They had the songs, they had the connections and credibility. Original bassist Andy Allan played on the Sex Pistols single Silly Thing. Steve Jones and Paul Cook returned the favour and played on the Lightning Raiders debut single (Psychedelic Musik). They could pull a crowd, and had a fierce live reputation. The critics’ love them, reviews were always positive. They released the Criminal World 7” and an EP in 1981 both on Island Record’s subsidiary label Revenge Records. Who then mysteriously dropped them from the label just as the recording of the album was about to start. And that was it for Lightning Raiders they broke up.

John Hodge (Little John )     Guitar
Gass Wild                            Vocals
Duncan Sanderson                Bass
Bruce Irvine                          Guitar 
George Butler                     Drums

***Warning Recorded off of Vinyl. Surface Noise and a few clicks.***
Criminal World
Citizens

The Teardrop Explodes: Sleeping Gas 7" 1979

This is the debut release by Liverpool’s The Teardrop Explodes. Released in February 1979 on Zoo Records. Which was co-owned by David Balfe, who joined the band as their keyboardist shortly after this was released. Singer Julian Cope had previously been in a band called Crucial Three with Ian McCulloch of Echo & The Bunnymen and Wah!'s Pete Wylie. This was the first release by an ex-Crucial Three member. Echo & The Bunnymen’s Pictures on My Wall was released (also on Zoo) a month later. Sleeping Gas was re-recorded as part of the Kilimanjaro sessions less than a year later. This is the original 7” version.

Julian Cope        Singer/Bassist
Mick Finkler                     Guitar
Gary Dwyer                    Drums
Paul Simpson           Keyboards

Sleeping Gas

Camera Camera

Kirkby Workers Dream Fades

The Zombies: Whenever You're Ready 1965

Whenever You're Ready was The Zombies’ sixth single. It was written by singer/organist Rod Argent and bassist Chris White. Released in August 1965, exactly one year after the release of  their debut  single (She's Not There), and like the previous four singles it failed to chart. But the song on the B-side, I Love You (written solely by Chris White) had a life of its own. It was included on the Japanese version of the album The Zombies and it became a hit there and in The Philippines. In 1968 it was translated into Japanese by Kenji Sazanamias as Sukisa Sukisa Sukisa (好きさ好きさ好きさ) and recorded by Japanese band The Carnabeats. Who had a hit with it. A year later a cover by American band People! was a huge international hit. It reached number one in Japan, Israel, Australia, Italy, South Africa, and the Philippines. It also peaked at #14 on the US Billboard Hot 100. Since then it has been covered many times. It was been sung in Spanish and Portuguese, as well as, several versions in Japanese.

Colin Blunstone             lead vocals
Rod Argent                 organ, vocals
Paul Atkinson             guitar, vocals
Chris White                 bass, vocals
 Hugh Grundy                       drums

Whenever You're Ready

I Love You

As a bonus here's People!'s version of I Love You

People! - I Love You

Three Lost Singles From The 1990’s

Buffalo Tom
Velvet Roof
1992

Velvet Roof was the sixth single from Boston, Massachusetts’ three piece, Buffalo Tom. Released on Situation Two/Beggars Banquet in 1992. It was written by the band, who also co-produced it with Paul Q. Kolderie and Sean Slade. 

Buffalo Tom - Velvet Roof

Ride
Twisterella
1992

Meanwhile over the Atlantic, in Oxford, England, Ride were gazing at their shoes. This was Ride’s fourth single, released on Creation records in 1992. It debuted at number 36 on the UK Singles Chart, only to fall to 54 the next week before disappearing altogether.

Ride - Twisterella

Steam
No Shoes, No Home
1995

Firstly, I apologise for the quality of the mp3. It was recorded off of a record that was etched not pressed. One of the King Worldwide Records lathe cut records. Grooves etched on to polycarbonate rather than pressed into vinyl. This single was given away with a issue of Captain Stupid Comic's. Steam were a bit of a local New Zealand super-group. Drummer Rob Key had played for The Cakekitchen and The Expendables, guitarist Danny Manetto for Shaft and Voom. bassist Nick Kreisler, the Pet Rocks and Greg Fleming & The Trains and singer Chris McKibbin was Lee Harvey.   

***Warning recorded off of etched vinyl. A lot of Surface Noise***

Stream - No Shoes, No Home

Three Lost Singles From The 1970’s

Smith
Take A Look Around
1970
.

The name of the band is Smith, not The Smiths. Smith hailed from Los Angeles, California. They had a hit in 1969 with a cover of Baby It's You. This is their last single to chart (#46) Take A Look Around from 1970.

***Warning recorded from vinyl. Surface Noise***
Smith - Take A Look Around

Silk
Forever and Ever
1976
.

Known as Midge Ure’s first band. It was also the first band for Kenny Hyslop who drummed for The Skids and Simple Minds. Forever And Ever was written and produced by Bill Martin and Phil Coulter. Who wrote Puppet On A String for Sandy Shaw and Congratulations for Cliff Richard. They also worked with Bay City Rollers, which shows on this track.

Silk - Forever And Ever

The Records

Teenarama

1979
.

 

Dodgy 1970’s lyrics aside, this is a power pop gem. It was written by drummer Will Birch and singer/guitarist John Wicks and was produced by Robert John "Mutt" Lange. Teenarama was The Records third single. It has often been overshadowed by their biggest hit, Starry Eyes. 

The Records - Teenarama

Three Lost Singles From The 1960’s

Hugh Barrett & The Victors

There Was A Fungus Among Us

1961

In 1961 Chicago DJ Dick Biondi started using the phrase “there was a fungus among us” on his WLS radio show. It quickly became a favourite local schoolyard saying. Biondi had borrowed it from Terry Noland's 1958 song of the same name.  Chicago label Madison records saw an opportunity. They hired Hugh Barrett, Debbie and Sandy, and the some other local musicians to re-record it. It became a hit in the Chicago area. Thanks in part to Biondi's heavy promotion. First time I heard this, I thought The Cramps must have covered it, but I can’t find a version by them.

Hugh Barrett & The Victors - There Was A Fungus Among Us

The Poets

Now We're Thru

1964

The Poets were a Scottish band managed by Andrew Loog Oldham. Between 1964-67 they released six singles, but no albums. This is their 1964 debut single Now We’re Thru.

The Poets - Now We're Thru

The Soup Greens

Like A Rolling Stone

1965

This is the only record Brooklyn, New York’s The Soup Greens ever released. 1965’s Like A Rolling Stone. The song is a cover of half of a Bob Dylan song.  They don’t play the verses (too hard), for two and half minutes they just repeat the chorus over and over again with guitar brakes in between.

The Soup Greens - Like A Rolling Stone

Modern English: Smiles And Laughter 1981

   The biggest problem Modern English has, is they will always be remembered for I Melt With You. The quintessence 80’s synth-pop hit. It has been forgotten that they were an early signing to the 4AD label along with the Cocteau Twins.  Members of Modern English were also part of This Moral Coil. Whose biggest hit, a haunting version of Tim Buckley’s Song to the Siren, started life as a B-side to a medley of two Modern English songs (Sixteen Days and Gathering Dust).
   1981’s Smiles And Laughter was Modern English’s fourth single for 4AD. It and the B-side - Mesh And Lace - were recorded around the same time as their debut album. Yet neither is included on the album, despite the fact the album was called Mesh And Lace. Both song titles are "something" and "something", Smiles And Laughter, Mesh And Lace. 

Robbie Grey                      vocals
Gary McDowell       guitar, vocals
Michael Conroy        bass, vocals
Richard Brown                   drums
Stephen Walker           keyboards

Produced by Modern English & Robbie Mayhew

Smiles and Laughter

Mesh and Lace

As a bonus here's the two Modern English song This Moral Coil covered.

Sixteen Days

Gathering Dust