Compiled by the team behind other Cherry Red box sets (Scared To Get Happy, Still In A Dream,
Millions Like Us, Action Time Vision, etc.), this 5 CD box set titled from Shot By Both sides the classic
Magazine song explores the roots of Post Punk and the labels behind it.
For most true Punk lovers it was all over in 1977/78 but it was not the end of Punk, in its new form
labelled Post Punk, labels like Rough Trade, Fast Records, Mute, Zoo and Cherry Red released a
barrage of new acts under the Post Punk umbrella that along with their counterparts paved the way
for more experimental but still cutting edge new music that would fill the void left by original Punk and
major label soft punk.
This grand 5 CD set includes landmark singles from the likes of Echo and The Bunnymen, Public
Image, Gang Of Four, The Slits, Killing Joke, The Fall, ATV, The Human League New Order and
many more..
Another great set from Cherry Red and one for the Christmas list, again it’s a mix of classics but
where these releases really work for me (I include recent releases Action Time Vision and
Manchester North Of England) are the booklets and the tracks sometimes lost in the back of mind.
CD1, chucks you in with Young Savage the only Ultravox tune I ever liked, Shot by Both Sides
Magazine and the classic I am The Fly by Wire, so its easy in from the start, but like I said above
suddenly we get TVOD by The Normal and thank heavens, my original Mute vinyl copy is to the
bones and virtually unplayable but still one of my favourite 45`s from this period. Repetition by The
Fall is a good call, as is the Zoo version of the Teardrops Sleeping Gas, and tailing the CD Fairytale in
The Supermarket by The Raincoats another single on its last legs in my vinyl collection.
Playing through the other 4 CDS (tracks listed below) its clear why UK Independent labels led the way
after Punk, the Slits, Au Pairs, Girls at Our Best and Mo Dettes here in proof and rightly so that all girl
post punk bands had a big influence on some our current explosion of female bands.
Scotland gets its moments, too, The Fire Engines, Joseph K, The Associates plus the experimental
Human League and early PIL.
Im not sure where the term Post Punk actually comes from or if it should exist at all, it seems on
listening a natural progression of punk, on lower budgets with less spit and tighter trousers, but no
doubt this compilation serves a good reminder of the time even if a few pivotal tracks are missing.
The compilation also features a 48 page booklet of band histories by Neil Taylor ex NME, and is on
sale from Dec1st and pre order via Cherry Red… and worth the investment.
8.5/10
Leggy Mountbatten
Track List:
DISC ONE:
1. YOUNG SAVAGE – Ultravox!
2. SHOT BY BOTH SIDES – Magazine
3. I AM THE FLY – Wire
4. EAST SHEEN – ‘O’ Level
5. UNITED – Throbbing Gristle
6. T.V.O.D. – The Normal
7. PUPPET LIFE – Punishment Of Luxury
8. BOMBERS – Tubeway Army
9. REPETITION – The Fall
10. PRIVATE PLANE – Thomas Leer
11. CHINA’S ETERNAL – The Tights
12. WAX DOLLS – Fischer-Z
13. SKANK BLOC BOLOGNA – Scritti Politti
14. DAMAGED GOODS (LP VERSION) – Gang Of Four
15. SUMMERTIME BLUES – The Flying Lizards
16. SUICIDE A GO GO – Big In Japan
17. STEADY EDDIE STEADY – Fashion
18. HEARTS IN EXILE –The Homosexuals
19. THIS IS YOUR LIFE – Glaxo Babies
20. SLEEPING GAS (ZOO 7” VERSION) – The Teardrop Explodes
21. NEEDLES AND PILLS – The Passions
22. FAIRYTALE IN THE SUPERMARKET – The Raincoats
DISC TWO:
1. THE DIGNITY OF LABOUR PT. 1 – Human League
2. LOST IN ROOM – Alternative T.V.
3. THE PICTURES ON MY WALL – Echo And The Bunnymen
4. DEATH DISCO – PiL
5. EINE SYMPHONIE DES GRAUENS – The Monochrome Set
6. COURTS OR WARS – Second Layer
7. IDEOLOGICALLY UNSOUND – Poison Girls
8. TYPICAL GIRLS – The Slits
9. SOLDIER SOLDIER – Spizzenergi
10. YOU – Au Pairs
11. TRANSMISSION – Joy Division
12. BACK TO NATURE –Fad Gadget
13. 16 HOURS – The Passage
14. WE ARE ALL PROSTITUTES
14. WE ARE ALL PROSTITUTES – The Pop Group
15. SPIRIT OF YOUTH – The Last Gang
16. THIS WEEK – The Adicts
17. TURN TO RED – Killing Joke
18. SECOND STILL – Modern Eon
19. WE LOVE YOU – The Psychedelic Furs
20. WHITE MICE – Mo-Dettes
21. EMILE ZOLA – The Deep Freeze Mice
22. FROM THE CRADLE TO THE GRAVE – Crispy Ambulance
23. SKETCH FOR SUMMER – The Durutti Column
DISC THREE:
1. LET’S BUILD A CAR – Swell Maps
2. WARM – Family Fodder
3. CARTROUBLE – Adam And The Ants
4. BRIGADE – Clock DVA
5. WARM GIRLS –Girls At Our Best!
6. ICE AGE – The Membranes
7. BOOTS FOR DANCING – Boots For Dancing
8. LULLABY CHEAT – Ludus
9. SWANS ON GLASS – Modern English
10. SQUARES AND TRIANGLES – Thompson Twins
11. MARY MILLINGTON – The Disco Zombies
12. FIRE – Occult Chemistry
13. FINAL ACHIEVEMENT –In Camera
14. GIRLS DON’T COUNT – Section 25
15. HARD OBJECTS – Art Objects
16. RADIO DRILL TIME – Josef K
17. CONTROVERSIAL SUBJECT – The The
18. MY MOTHER WAS A FRIEND OF AN ENEMY OF THE PEOPLE – Blurt
19. THE AFFECTIONATE PUNCH – The Associates
20. THERE GOES CONCORDE AGAIN – …And The Native Hipsters
DISC FOUR:
1. THE FRIEND CATCHER – The Birthday Party
2. PRECINCT – The Cravats
3. IT’S SO DIFFICULT – Dislocation Dance
4. DO DIFFERENT DANCES – Spöön Fazer
5. B. – Colin Newman
6. DISNEY BOYS – Blue Orchids
7. CABBAGE – Mass
8. GET UP AND USE ME – Fire Engines
9. ANONYMITY – Dance Chapter
10. OVERSPREADING ART GENIUS – Blancmange
11. WE ARE ALL ANIMALS – The Diagram Bros.
12. A STILL REFLEX – Repetition
13. CEREMONY – New Order
14. HUNGRY, SO ANGRY – Medium Medium
15. 50 YEARS OF COMPARATIVE WEALTH – Steve Diggle
16. ANOTHER REASON – Five Or Six
17. CLOCK – The Danse Society
18. SOMETIMES I WISH – The Laughing Apple
19. RAINDANCE – The Past Seven Days
20. INVISIBILITY – Eyeless In Gaza
21. IDIOT STRENGTH – The Nightingales
22. NOTHING – My Captains
DISC FIVE:
1. REBEL WITHOUT A BRAIN – Theatre Of Hate
2. I AM THE BISHOP – Notsensibles
3. CENTRAL PROPOSITION – New Asia
4. LIFE IN REVERSE – Marine
5. WATCHING THE HYDROPLANES – Tunnel Vision
6. FADING – Jah Wobble
7. SNAKES AND LADDERS – TV21
8. HAPPY FEELING – The Sinatra’s
9. TRIBES – Soul
10. STORAGE CASE – The Drowning Craze
11. IMAGINATION – Sad Lovers And Giants
12. HU – Dif Juz
13. ANIMALS – Spider King
14. VEGAS – Nico
15. I DON’T WANT TO LIVE WITH MONKEYS – The Higsons
16. I’D LIKE TO SHOOT YOU DOWN – APB
17. NOTHING – René Halkett David Jay
18. STRETCH (7” VERSION) – Maximum Joy
19. AFTERWARDS – Artery
20. LAST WORDS (7” VERSION) – 23 Skidoo
21. EVERYBODY THINKS EVERYBODY ELSE IS DEAD BAD – The Skodas
22. HEART DISEASE – Biting Tongues
23. COUNTRIES – The Reflections
24. RADIO PRAGUE – This Heat
No Comment