Munich Machine - Munich Machine (1977 - 320kbps)

Munich Machine - Munich Machine

I know, I know, I should be on E, but I got the munchies for some M&Ms.

You thought the last album I posted was the decline of western civilization, well think again. If this shit doesn’t scare & thrill you at the same time, well crawl back in you’re October coffin. You’re dead, Jim.

Giorgio (Hansjoerg) Moroder, an German-speaking Italian from the South Tyrol area near the border between Italy & Austria, is a three-time Oscar winning record producer, songwriter & performer. His work with synthesizers during the 1970s & 1980s had a significant influence on new wave, house, techno & electronic music. Moroder started Musicland Studios in Munich 1n the 1970s, which was used as a recording studio for artists including Electric Light Orchestra, Led Zeppelin, Queen & Elton John.

Moroder is particularly well known for his work with Donna Summer during the era of disco (including "I Feel Love" “Love to Love You Baby”). In addition to his work with Donna Summer, Moroder also produced: a number of electronic disco hits for The Three Degrees; two albums for Sparks; & numerous songs for a variety of others including Irene Cara, Madleen Kane, Melissa Manchester, Blondie, Japan, & France Joli.

He also founded his own record label, Oasis Records, which later became a subdivision of Casablanca Records. He released three albums on Casablanca Records between 1977-1979 under the name Munich Machine.

Munich Machine was, for the most part, a moniker for the fairly regular cast of studio musicians including: Pete Bellotte; Keith Forsey; Geoff Bastow; Mats Björklund; Dino Solera; & singers Lucy Neale; Gitta Walther (aka Jackie Robinson); & Claudia Schwarz (The Midnite Ladies) among others. Aside from the three albums released as the Munich Machine, the "Machine" was also anonymously credited for the ‘accompaniment’ on a few of Donna Summer's albums & Roberta Kelly's Trouble Maker album. The ‘Munich Machine’ was not just a group of musicians, but also something of a trademark for their distinct sound, characterized as their own disco-era, European equivalent of the Motown Sound which Moroder called the ‘Munich Sound Machine’ in a 1978 interview with NME.

As far as 'Munich Machine,' the recording project goes, the best known Munich Machine single would probably be the slick & sexy 15 minute disco workout "Get On The Funk Train" (check out the bass break-out at about the 10 minute mark) which reached #7 on the Billboard Disco charts in 1977 off this album. The album is essentially made up of sped-up, largely instrumental remakes of the so-called ‘soft-disco’ productions from the albums Moroder & Bellotte did for Donna Summer ("Love To Love You Baby," "Try Me I Know We Can Make It"), Roberta Kelly ("Trouble-Maker"), as well as from Giorgio's own Knights In White Satin lp ("I Wanna Funk With You Tonite"), all augmented with some heavy, loopy synths. This particular album, however, bears less resemblance to the Munich Euro-disco sound & more to the cooler, sharper progressive electronic style that would eventually become Moroder's trademark sound.

Year of Release: 1977
Label: Casablanca Records NBLP 7058
Genre: Disco

Tracklist:
Side 1 -
Get on the Funk Train

Side 2 -
Love to Love You, Baby
Trouble-Maker
Try Me, I Know We Can Make It
I Wanna Funk with You Tonite
Spring Affair
Love to Love You, Baby (reprise)
(because Side 2 is really a disco mega-mix with no breaks between songs, I have included the split & unsplit tracks for your choice)

Download: Munich Machine - Munich Machine
Download Size: 109MB (ripped from disco vinyl at 320Kbps)

Various Artists - The Decline of Western Civilization OST

UPDATE: This post was re-uploaded 01/01/2014. Enjoy, NØ.

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This record is a partial soundtrack for the movie The Decline of Western Civilization, an American documentary directed by Penelope Spheeris that was filmed in L.A. in 1979 & 1980 featuring concert footage of legendary Los Angeles punk bands with interviews of both the bands & with the punks who made up their audience.

The soundtrack was released in 1980 by Slash Records on LP & was later released in the late 1990s on CD. I believe it is now out of print.

Germs singer Darby Crash appears on the soundtrack album cover, as well as the movie poster. He died from a heroin-overdose suicide shortly before the film was released. Live preformances by Germs, Flags, Bags, CircJerks,Claude Bessey & Catholic Discipline, X’s ‘Johnny Hit & Run Paulene”, all of Lee V. & Fear...this album hits hard.

The movie contains eight additional songs by the various bands, so if you want to hear all the great musick, then seek out the film.
Musick contained in the film includes:
The Bags (billed at the time as The Alice Bag Band) - "Gluttony", "Prowlers in the Night";
Black Flag - "Depression", "Revenge" & "White Minority";
Circle Jerks - "Back Against the Wall", "Beverly Hills", "I Just Want Some Skank", "Red Tape" & "Wasted";
Catholic Discipline - "Barbee Doll Lust" & "Underground Babylon";
Fear - "Beef Bologna", "I Don't Care About You", "I Love Living in the City", "Let's Have a War" & "Fear Anthem";
The Germs - "Manimal" & "Shutdown";
& X - "Beyond & Back", "Johnny Hit & Run Paulene", "Nausea", "Unheard Music" & "We're Desperate.

Album contains lyric sheet insert.

Year of Release: 1980
Label: Slash Records SR-105
Genre: Punk

Tracklist:
Side 1-
Intro (thank you)
White Minority – Black Flag
Depression – Black Flag
Break (Blackie’s)
Revenge – Black Flag
Break (Germs)
Manimal – The Germs
Break (Claude Bessey)
Underground Babylon – Catholic Discipline
Break (Exene)
Beyond & Back – X
Johnny Hit & Run Paulene – X

Side 2 -
Intro (desperate)
We're Desperate – X
Break (nu wave)
Red Tape – Circle Jerks
Back Against The Wall – Circle Jerks
Break (Hey, man)
I Just Want Some Skank – Circle Jerks
Beverly Hills – Circle Jerks
Break (just to get aggressions out)
Gluttony – The Alice Bag Band
Break (eat my fuck)
I Don't Care About You – Fear
Break (go die)
I Love Livin' In The City – Fear
Fear Anthem – Fear

Download: Various Artists - The Decline of Western Civilization OST
 MEGA decryption code in comments
Download Size: 85.7MB (ripped from vinyl at 320Kpbs)

Donovan - Like it Is, Was, & Evermore Shall Be

I guess I’ll be disclosing my ancient age, but 1968 was a pivotal year in my life. The U.S. industrial-military complex decided that in order to expand & maintain their imperialist war in Vietnam that it was necessary to institute a Draft Lottery for the inscription of young men into the war machine. My lottery number was 40. I was destined for tropical Southeast Asia unless things in my life drastically changed. Donovan was a big influence on me at that time. Often mentioned together in musickal commentaries of the time, Dylan was the greater poet & probably the better musickian, but songs like “Universal Soldier” & “The War Drags On” put Donovan’s humanity squarely into the minds of a generation, while classics like “Catch the Wind” & "Sunny Goodge Street" touched that deepest spot within our souls where we all desired to reside.

Like it Is, Was, & Evermore Shall Be is a compilation album from Scottish singer-songwriter Donovan (Leitch) released in the U.S. on Hickory Records in April 1968. This was the second Hickory Records compilation using Donovan's 1965 Pye Records material, following the moderately successful The Real Donovan from 1966. By 1968, Donovan had released a string of hit singles & albums in both the U.S. & U.K.

Although most of the songs on Like it Is, Was, & Evermore Shall Be had been released on: What's Bin Did & What's Bin Hid (U.S. title: Catch the Wind); Fairytale; The Universal Soldier ep & the Turquoise single , the new compilation did contain "Why Do You Treat Me Like You Do" & a cover of Bert Jansch's "Do You Hear Me Now?", neither of which had been included on any of Donovan's U.S. lps.

The following are the original releases of each song:

"Why Do You Treat Me Like You Do?" b-side of "Catch the Wind" released March 12, 1965;
"Josie" & "Catch the Wind" from What's Bin Did & What's Bin Hid released May 14, 1965;
"Summer Day Reflection Song", "Colours", "To Try for the Sun", & "Sunny Goodge Street" from Fairytale released October 22, 1965;
"Do You Hear Me Now?", "Universal Soldier", & “The War Drags On” from The Universal Soldier ep released August 15, 1965;
& "Hey Gyp (Dig the Slowness)" b-side of "Turquoise" released October 30, 1965.

Year of Release: 1968
Label: Hickory Records LPS143
Genre: Alt-folk

Tracklist:
Side 1-
Summer Day Reflection Song
Do You Hear Me Now? (Bert Jansch)
Colours
Universal Soldier (Buffy Sainte-Marie)
Josie
Catch the Wind

Side 2-
Why Do You Treat Me Like You Do?
To Try for the Sun
Hey Gyp (Dig the Slowness)
The War Drags On" (Mick Softly)
Sunny Goodge Street

Download: Donovan - Like it Is, Was, & Evermore Shall Be
Download Size: 70.3MB (ripped from 40 yr. old vinyl at 320Kpbs)

Musick Today Brought to You by the Letter C & the Number 4

Just too damn busy this week-end to post up any musick. Doing this all by my lonesome is kinda a challenge, if I get too busy, then the posts stop coming... oh, shite. Try to make up for my foibles by posting up some weight (or if not weight, then at least number). Hope nobody got too impatient & I hope this satisfies.

The Clash - This is Radio Clash 12“ ep

Another foray into the world of dub after the work on Sandinista!, this is one of the Clash’s most memorable outings in this vein. Timely now perhaps with the upcoming release of the film Pirate Radio, the lyrics here find the band likening their mission of spreading their musickal views to that of a pirate radio station bringing music to the masses, "This is Radio Clash on pirate satellite/orbiting your living room, cashing in on the Bill of Rights." Its combination of wordy lyrics & simple melodic content lends itself nicely to the dub style: Joe Strummer spits out the lyrics machine-gun style over a churning musical backdrop that weaves jazzy saxophone riffs, burbling synthesizer lines, & hip-shaking funk guitar into a poly-rhythmic wall of sound. All these elements add up to an exciting record that offers both dance-friendly rhythms & food for thought. Released in the U.S on November 25, 1981, with various different releases, this one has the standard Epic label.

Year of Release: 1981
Label: Epic 49-02662
Genre: Dub

Tracklist:
Please Save Us Side -
This is Radio Clash
Radio Clash

Not the Whales Side -
Outside Broadcast
Radio Five

Download: The Clash - This is Radio Clash 12“ ep
Download Size: 43.4MB (ripped from vinyl at320Kbps)

Chris & Cosey - Synaesthesia 12“ ep

Chris Carter & Cosey Fanni Tutti formed CHRIS & COSEY out of the ashes of their seminal 70s Industrial band Throbbing Gristle. Throbbing Gristle (& Carter/Tutti) helped start the Industrial music genre. They were some of the first performers to successfully fuse electronic & acoustic instrumentation. Their musical legacy is still very much in evidence today. This ep was the #5 Top40 single in 1991.

Year of Release: 1991
Label: WaxTrax 9153
Genre: Techno

Tracklist:
WaxTrax Side:
Synaesthesia (Daniel Miller Mix)
Synaesthesia (C&C Mix)

Synaesthesia Side:
Synaesthesia (Daniel Miller Instrumental Mix)

Download: Chris & Cosey - Synaesthesia 12“ ep
Download Size: 40.7MB (ripped from vinyl at 320Kbps)

Cathedral Of Tears - self-titled

After TSOL & right before Tender Fury, True Sons vocalist & co-founder Jack Grisham (Jack Greggors in TSOL, here as Jack Loyd) joined up with Mike Patton & some other musickian friends to release the one-off Cathedral of Tears on Enigma.

In Jack’s own words,
“This is one of those mistakes you make that you can’t take back. My dad died, I was going through a lot of shit...I stole the tapes. We had a record...we wrote a bunch of new songs, went in the studio & I stole the tapes. Our record company had said, ‘There's no song here that will get radio play,’ & I was like ‘Bullshit, there is.’ So I stole the tapes from the record company, took it to the radio station, & they were playing our song (“Black Emotion”) while I was driving away. (laughs) & it turned out to be the number four requested song on the station that year. With no record out. & then Enigma finally put it out. They finally put it out, but it was too late. I had already done the damage by the time it came out.“

Cathedral of Tears were: Jack Loyd (Grisham) - vocals; Mark Ford - guitar; Mike Patton - bass; Eddie Sedano - keyboards; & John Guerrero - drums; with additinal help from Mike Borens & Jon St. James - guitars; & Chaz Ramirez - backing vocals.

Year of Release: 1984
Label: Enigma Records E-1045
Genre: Darkwave
Tracklist:
This Side -
Trap
A Situation Of
Calm Storm

The Other Side -
Black Emotion
Ballet
Whisper From The Deadland

Download: Cathedral of Tears - Cathedral of Tears
Download Size: 44.3MB (ripped from vinyl at 320Kbps)

Lloyd Cole & The Commotions - Lost Weekend (extended version) 12“ ep

Although I am not much of a Britpop listener, I do have a bit of Lloyd Cole in my collection. Within a few years of this release, I was listening to Glasgow noise almost exclusively, bands like Dog-Faced Hermans, Dawson, Stretchheads, Whirling Pig Dervish, Badgewearer & more. They were definitely not ‘pop’.

However, Lloyd Cole & the Commotions were a very popular British pop act of the mid 1980s, based in Glasgow, Scotland. They rivaled the Smiths in popularity in the Britpop indie scene. Rattlesnakes, LC&C’s first release, garnered a great deal of attention for the band. So, quickly Polydor beckoned & the band set about recording Easy Pieces. Paul Hardiman, who had produced Rattlesnakes was replaced by Clive Langer & Alan Winstanley, flush from success with Madness. The Commotions were appalled that Hardiman had been sacked, but they felt powerless to do anything about it.

Cole & Co., to a man, disliked Easy Pieces, despite its yielding two top 20 singles & their biggest hit, the Iggy Pop inspired (though Cole insists it ended up sounding like Madness) “Lost Weekend”. Langer & Winstanley wanted Cole to control the vibrato in his voice. Suddenly the singing became more artificial, more self-conscious. Polydor didn’t really care. Their bottom-line was that Easy Pieces sold more in the first two weeks of release than Rattlesnakes had in a year. It contained the bands biggest commercial success, the single "Lost Weekend", which made #17 in the UK charts.

Year of Release: 1985
Label: Polydor COLEX 5
Genre: Britpop

Tracklist:
Side A -
Lost Weekend (Extended Version)

Side B -
Big World
Nevers End
Lost Weekend (7" Version)

Download: Lloyd Cole & the Commotions - Lost Weekend (Extended version) 12“ ep
Download Size: 28MB (ripped from vinyl at 320Kbps)

Bush Tetras - Rituals 12" EP

In New York in the late '70s & early '80s, the Bush Tetras blazed brightly in the sweaty clubs of the Lower East Side, playing music that was a blend of funk rhythms & dissonant guitar riffs.

Lead guitarist Pat Place had been the original guitarist & one of the founding members of the No Wave band The Contortions. With the Bush Tetras, she continued to pursue some of the musical ideas she had explored in that band, themes of driving rhythm & nihilistic trance...hypnotic, tribal, & dirty. Together with vocalist Cynthia Sley they produced the most distinctive aspects of the Tetras sound. Sley’s half-spoken, half-sung vocals, often repeating simple phrases over & over again, creating a hypnotic monotony similar to Place's guitar rhythms.

The Bush Tetras toured with the Clash & struck up a friendship with Topper Headon that lead to his producing this, the Rituals ep on Stiff Records in 1981.

The Bush Tetras on Rituals were: Cynthia Sley - vocals; Pat Place - guitar; Laura Kennedy - bass; & Dee Pop - drums. Recorded July 1981 at Electric Ladyland Studios, “Funky Version” remixed September 1981 at Marcus Music, London, Produced by Topper Headon.

Year of Release: 1981
Label: Stiff Records TEES 12-07
Genre: No Wave Dance

Tracklist:
Rhythm Side -
Can’t Be Funky
Funky Version

Paranoia Side -
Cowboys in Africa
Rituals

Download: Bush Tetras - Rituals 12“ ep
Download Size: 27.64MB (at 320 Kbps)

Assassins of God - Black Tongue Speaks Vol. I

Assassins of God appeared suddenly out of nowhere, released three albums, & disappeared without really ever causing a great stir. They played the first Lolapalooza & toured Europe often.Of their three discs, Black Tongue Speaks, Vol I is without a doubt their masterpiece. It is characterized by a dark atmosphere on songs like “I am My Disease” & “The Hate Song”, also by restless, hysterical guitar & fantastic bass runs. There are walls of sound & noise that go on to develop into the most beautiful melodies & riffs. It is hard to explain their music & I’ve never heard another band like them. They were occasionally classified as “Jazzcore”. Personally I feel they don’t fit into any category.

The members of AOG: Ken Kearney (guitar & vocals); Ellen Schoenwetter (bass); & Bruce Ducheneaux (drums) are part of the incestuous art/musick scene in San Francisco. Ken Kearney appears with the Mutants on Forensic Report. Lately Ken has been playing more straight ahead jazz backing Tracy Sirota & in his own Ken Kearney Quartet. Ken Kearney early on played in the Atones with Mark Weinstein of MX-80 Sound (& Amoeba Records owner).

MX-80 Sound were one of those bands ahead of their time, influencing bands such as Sonic Youth, the Swans & Live Skull among others. MX-80 played rather dissonant, discordant heavy-rock. Their main influences seem to be Captain Beefheart & the Stooges, yet at times they seem more akin to Pere Ubu, Television, early Siouxsie & the Banshees, sometimes even managing to sound not unlike Joy Division.

Mark Weinstein & Bruce Anderson of MX-80 Sound had a ensemble group Pluto that Ken Kearney played in along with Len Paterson & his wife Ellen Schoenwetter. About Pluto’s The Field Recordings, “There is no way to describe the music & lyrics on this LP. All the world loves a good, healthy search for a lost set of keys…” It's not exactly rock'n'roll & it's not exactly jazz. It's more like something Tom Waits might play while relaxing in the bath after a hard day banging brake drums (Pluto also features Ralph Carney [tenor saxophone, clarinet, trumpet] from the Tom Waits band).

Len & Ellen play in the group Flowtilla (formerly The Len Paterson Trio) formed in 2000. Their driving sound is an eclectic mix of funk, afro, jazz & world tinged grooves. They released their first cd under the name Len Paterson Trio entitled Sunny Cloudy. They have released two more c.d.s as Flowtilla, 2003s Out of the Inside & 2006s Clariphonic.

Drummer Bruce Ducheneaux also has an extreme musickal pedigree. He originally joined the band Bomb after they were dropped by Warner/Reprise & after original drummer Tony Flag quit. This gives him an early connection to Ken Kearney, as Jay Crawford of Bomb was recruited for the band Housecoat Project (circa 1986). Ken played guitar for the Housecoat Project on a west coast tour while Jay was on tour with Bomb. Bruce has drummed with Waycross, Cinnamon Girls, & The Primal Abyss as well as being an integral part of several Gary Floyd (of Dicks, Sister Double Happiness infamy) projects, namely The Gary Floyd Band & Black Kali Ma.

Year of Release: 1991
Label: Bonzen Records (Germany) BONZ 007
Genre: Avant-garde punk or Experimental punk

Tracklist:
Logo Side:
Suitcase Nukes
Long Live the Jihad
I am My Disease
Cowbell Rock
The Hate Song
Virus

This Side:
The Vortex
Inuyxl Turbo - 1
Divinstein
Be Diminished
UFO's
Brontosaurus God
Bruce's Blues
(note: The first two songs on logo side run together. I have included both the run-together & split tracks. Take your pick.)

Download: Assassins of God - Black Tongue Speaks Vol. I
Download Size: 106.97MB (ripped from scratchy vinyl at 320Kbps)

John Zewizz/Sleep Chamber - 2012 Free Single

This is taken directly from the incredible Because God Told Me to Do It blog presented by TheeBradMiller. I thought that regulars here at DigitalMeltd0wn who aren’t also BGTMTDI followers might enjoy this, especially any Sleep Chamber fans. (since AllyWonderland previously linked to a We're Late For Class download, I figure Zer0 won't be too mad???)

“Thank you to Inner-X-Musick for supplying this free single. Three different versions of the title track off the upcoming John Zewizz solo release 2012. The release should be available within a month or so. Feel free to post this link EVERYWHERE. Repost this post EVERYWHERE. However you want to do it..."

Year of Release: Not yet released
Label: Inner-X-Musick
Genre: Sleep Chamber

Track Listing:
2012 (Radio Mix)
2012 (Club Mix)
2012 (Soundtrack Mix)

Download: John Zewiss~SLEEPCHAMBER - 2012 free single
Download Size: 49.1MB (in glorious right-from-the-artist’s-mouth 320Kbps)

Yellowman - Nobody Move Nobody Get Hurt

Another change of pace for a somnambulistic hempday humpday in early Autumn...

“King” Yellowman as he is fondly known has an incredible history in Reggae music. He grew up in the Maxfield Home orphanage in Kingston. He was born with albinism. These are huge obstacles anywhere in the world, but especially in Jamaica. He overcame both & went on to become one of the biggest reggae artists since Bob Marley.

Born as Winston Foster in 1959, in Kingston, Jamaica, he was also an alumnus of the Alpha Boy's school where many reggae artists & musicians got their early musical training. He built his early career around the fact that he was an albino. His audiences accepted him for his self-effacing humor & lyrical cleverness. He won the annual Tastee Patties Talent contest held in Jamaica in 1978. Yellowman went on to excite reggae crowds all over Jamaica & the rest of the world. His lyrics are both playfully boastful & filled with strong social commentary.

His first few albums were recorded with the late great producer Henry "Junjo" Lawes. They were released internationally on the UK label, Greensleeves in the early 80's. This album is from that period (1984). King Yellowman was an early proponent of ‘dancehall’ style that took hold of reggae after the death of Bob Marley. In 1986 Yellowman was diagnosed with jaw cancer & given six months to live. He underwent surgery & took an extended leave from the musick industry to recover. By the early 90s he had won his battle against cancer & was ready to return to recording & the world of musick.

Yellowman began his comeback with the song "Blueberry Hill", & his career was re-launched. His first album for RAS came from producer Phillip 'Fatis' Burrell & was called Yellow Like Cheese. Today he is as strong & fit as ever, performing in front of sold-out crowds on tour 4-5 months per year with his long time backing band, the Sagittarius Band. His 1997 release Freedom Of Speech on RAS Records gained Yellowman his first Grammy nomination. Long live the King!

Guess I wasn't the only on channeling Yellowman. As I prepared this post weekend past, over at Psychedelic Dissociative Deliriant they posted up King Yellowman, Zungguzungguguzungguzeng & several others if you're digging the Y'king.

Nobody Move Nobody Get Hurt: Yellowman - vocals; backed by Roots Radics; produced by Henry ‘Junjo’ Lawes; rhythms laid at Channel One; mixed by Sylvan Morris at Harry J.

Year of Release: 1984
Label: Shanachie Records/Greensleeves Records CGR/GREL 71
Genre: Reggae, dancehall

Tracklist:
Side One:
Nobody Move Nobody Get Hurt
Strictly Mi Belly
Bedroom Mazuka
Body Move
Good Loving

Side Two:
Wreck a Pum Pum
Hill & Gully Rider
Yellowman a the Lover Boy
Watch Your Words
Why You so Bad

Download: Yellowman - Nobody Move Nobody Get Hurt
Download Size: 77.7MB (ripped from cheaply pressed vinyl at 320Kbps)

David Bowie - Images 1966-1967

As promised, something to really sink your teeth into...

I thought everything of Bowie's was readily available in various formats. Had I known this ‘Bonus Pak™ 2 Record Set” of David Bowie Images 1966-1967 was out of print, I would have posted it before now. I was a fan of earlier Bowie, probably from Space Oddity (1969) through Low (1977).

I have read various articles stating that Images is for Bowie purists or completists, but I don’t necessarily agree. Although this material precedes Space Oddity by several years & is acoustic, a capella, & highly theatrical in a less Ziggy/Thin White Duke, more traditional vein, there are songs on this album that are superb. Phenomenal Bowie tunes abound: “Love You Till Tuesday”; “When I Live a Dream”; “London Boys”; but there are other gems not so commonly known: “Gospel According to Tony Day”; “We Are Hungry Men”; “She’s Got My Medals” “In the Heat of the Morning”; all are right up there with Bowie’s best.

This was released on cd in Australia under the title Rock Reflections & is no longer in print. Copies of this go for $40 - $200 or more used on the interweb.

If you aren’t familiar with these tunes, give it a go. It’s well worth the download time & hard-drive space. Essential Bowie.

Year of Release: 1973
Label: London BP 628/9
Genre: Acoustic rock

Tracklist:
BP 628
Side One
Rubber Band
Maid of Bond Street
Sell Me a Coat
Love You Till Tuesday
There is a Happy Land

Side Two
The Laughing Gnome
Gospel According to Tony Day
Did You Ever Have a Dream
Uncle Arthur
We Are Hungry Men
When I Live My Dream

BP 629
Side Three
Join the Gang
Little Bombadier
Come & Buy My Toys
Silly Boy Blue
She’s Got My Medals

Side Four
Please Mr. Gravedigger
London Boys
Karma Man
Let Me Sleep Beside You
In the Heat of the Morning

Download: David Bowie - Images 1966-1967
Download Size: 135.246MB (ripped from much loved vinyl at 320Kbps)

Three for Thursday

Just three short ones today. I’ve been busy as hell as of late, but I know Brother Z is in transition, as they say, so I’ll try my best to carry on with some tasty musick. A change of pace from the last post. Will come up with something a bit beefier this weekend. Here are: a 12“ single; a so-called 12“ ep; & a real 12“ ep.

Cabaret Voltaire - James Brown b/w Bad Self(Part One) 12“ single

Cabaret Voltaire began in 1973 in Sheffield, England. They worked mostly with noise manipulation & processing. They were included with bands such as Throbbing Gristle at the time. Originally a three-piece with Richard H. Kirk (guitar & synthesizer), Stephen Mallinder (vocals & bass), & Christopher Watkins (keyboards & sampler). By 1984 when this single was released, Christopher Watkins had left the band to form The Hafler Trio with Andrew M. McKenzie & Cabaret Voltaire was moving toward a more commercial, rhythm-conscious dance oriented sound. The remixes of tracks from CV’s Micro-Phonies on this single are highly recommended.

On this recording, Cabaret Voltaire was: Richard H. Kirk & Stephen Mallinder along with Roger Quail (drums); Mark Tattersall (percussion); & Eric Random (tablas).

Year of Release: 1984
Label: Some Bizarre/Virgin CVS 4 12
Genre: Electro-dance

Tracklist:

Side 1 - James Brown [ We Toil to the Boil in run-out ]
Side 2 - Bad Self (Part One)[ What’s on Your Minds? in run-out ]

Download: Cabaret Voltaire - James Brown 12“ single
Download Size:33.159MB (ripped from vinyl at 320Kbps)

Machinations - Pressure Sway 12“ ep???

Next up is Sydney, Australia band Machinations. Although this is listed as a 12“ ep with three songs, I’ll be damned if this record has three songs. Side Two is listed as containing “Pressure Sway (Instrumental Version)” & “Push Bike”, but there is no bike, push or otherwise. So I guess this is really a 12“ single as well. Oh, well. Machinations was very popular in Australia in the indie-rock scene of the mid-80s. They also began as a three-piece with Fred Loneragan (vocals), Tim Doyle (guitar), & Tony Starr (keyboards & drum machine). They were then joined by Nick ‘Nero’ Swan on bass. After a charting single & a self-titled ep, the band signed with prestigious Mushroom Record's White Label. In 1983 the band again charted both in Australia (#21) & the U.S. (#40) with the song “Pressure Sway”. Fame was not due to follow, however, & they never really became a household name.

Year of Release: 1983
Label: A&M Records SP-12077
Genre: Electro-pop

Tracklist:

Side One: Pressure Sway (Extended Club Version)
Side Two: Pressure Sway (Instrumental Version)

Download: Machinations - Pressure Sway 12inch ep
Download Size:25.5MB (ripped from vinyl at 320Kbps)

Wreck - self-titled 12“ ep

Last is Chicago noise-rock band Wreck. A truly under-appreciated & overlooked band. Started by Dean Schlabowske (guitar & vocals), Keith Brammer (bass), & Bart Flores (drums). Dean later was in the Waco brothers, while Keith left after the first ep (for Die Kreuzen & Boy Dirt Car) & was replaced by Kurt Moore. The band recorded for WaxTrax! on their Play it Again Sam label, releasing two eps, a single, & one full length lp. Wreck was an oddity on Waxtrax!, who featured mostly industrial dance musick. Wreck seemed to have more in common with AmRep bands. Their sound was in a similar vein as Big Black. In fact legendary madman Steve Albini was at the production helm of all their releases.

Year of Release: 1989
Label: Play it Again Sam BIUS 3033
Genre: Noise-rock

Tracklist:

Side A
Song X
Cut Ups
Side B
Lac du Flambeau
We Know Everything

Download: Wreck - Self-titled 12“ ep
Download: 23.27MB (ripped from vinyl at 320Kbps)

Ojorojo - Can You Keep Your Sanity

When I was still doing EAT POOP! ‘zine in San Jose, a lot of my friends were crusters. We would go to great house parties in West Oakland & see Filth, Jack Acid, Primus, Grimple, Ojorojo & many more that went on to fame or down to infamy. Grunt (guitar & vocals) gave me this record at one of Ojorojo’s gigs.

One of the truly great proponents of crust, Ojorojo used a female/male vocal interplay that really gave them their edge. Members of Ojorojo shared duties in or were once members of other East Bay bands like: Grimple; Econochrist; plus more; & Jenean, the incredible female vocalist screamed for a similarly great band called Multi Facet. In the world of crust, Ojorojo are one of the best. The song “Caged” is punk as fuck.

The band only released this one full length (although they appear on several compilations) can you keep your sanity on East Bay Menace, consisting of 14 hardcore crust paeans. It's a scorcher of an album, as brutal as hell. There are some truly catchy guitar riffs with liberal helpings of sonic squelch & swampy doom. It also contains some great sampling from the movieTHX-1138.

I’ve seen this posted before once or twice in the past, I believe, but it was always the cd version which is missing two songs from this, the original vinyl release. Album contains 17“ x 22“ black & white poster & lyric sheet.

Ojorojo is: Jenean - vocals; Grunt - guitar & vocals; Jon - guitar & vocals; Mark - bass; & Ira - drums. Recorded at Canyon Studios in April 1997, engineered by Mark LeMaire, front cover by Pete Inc., poster by Josh Frizzle.

Year of Release: 1997
Label: East Bay Menace EBM008
Genre: Crust punk

Tracklist:
Side Ojorojo:
Broken World
Trapped Inside
Choking on What’s Real
Collapse
The Sheep
Caged
Disease

Side East Bay Menace:
Lifeblood
Gunshotecho
No Hope
Knives
Fuck Me
A Show of Force
To Have Not
(because there are no song breaks between songs 1-4 Side A & between songs 2-3 & 5-6 Side B, I have included both the split & run-together versions, as you wish)

Download: Ojorojo - can you keep your sanity
Download Size: 126MB (ripped at 320Kbps from prisine vinyl)

Jetty Webb - Jetty Webb

Earlier this spring my friend Ib was writing about cosmonauts & posted up the song “Mir” by the band Jetty Webb off their first single on Loverly Records “Mir” b/w “Cornerwalk” LM-9802-7. What a phenomenally great tune. He said, “There appears to be very little information out there on Jetty Webb, which is a real shame, because this song is so good it deserves a second listening in less time than it takes a comet to orbit the earth. The a-side appears to be a McKay, Sikes & Easley composition.”

I remembered hearing this band before, they had a track on the 2004 Summer Break Records compilation Sunny Teriyaki Hamburger Breakfast, probably the best song on the entire comp. I had to hear more.

I decided to do some detective work & after several false starts, was able to contact Brian McKay - vocalist, guitarist, & founding member of Jetty Webb. We conversed by e-mail numerous times & he sent my a FREE copy of their self-titled 2003 release (recorded mid-2000). I was truly impressed by his gracious good nature & the bands fine musickal skills so I asked if we might conduct an interview.

NØ: “How did Jetty Webb get started & tell me about the name?”

TL: "Jetty Webb started back in 1998, when Stuart Sikes (drums) & Brian McKay (guitar/vocals) moved from Dallas to Memphis," says bassist Tripp Lamkins. "Stu worked as an engineer at Easley-McCain Recording Studio, & we had band practice there. We named ourselves after a lady who used to live in their rental house on Manila. They kept getting mail addressed to Jetty Webb, so Jetty Webb it was."

BM: Brian recalls, “Stuart & I started playing at the house we rented on Manila (‘The Manila Palace’). We had a fairly large house, with cheap rent in Midtown & once Stuart bought drums & I finally bought an electric guitar we started banging things out in our attic. Shortly after this, Tripp Lamkins (bass) from the local band The Grifters joined our jam sessions. “Mir” was the first 45 we put out & the second (& last one) was a split 45 with The Satyrs that included our song 'Stays the Same' (included on the full length self-titled release). We played the Memphis Music & Heritage Festival on Beale Street in 1999. After that we started getting gigs around town, & out of town as well, in New Orleans (The Mermaid Lounge) & Dallas, TX. In early 2000 Jerome Brock from Dallas joined the group as second guitarist as well as for his songwriting abilities. We then went into Easley-McCain Studios in South Memphis & recorded most of our self-titled release. Two tracks were recorded in a cabin in Calvert in the Texas hill country. We felt like we had the complete line-up that we’d been working on creating. Then several key members (myself & Stuart) had to move to various places away from Memphis.”

Tripp adds, “Our lives took us to different locales & long distance relationships rarely work. I continued to work on the tracks we had recorded. I decides to start Lamar Records with Shangri-La Records' Jared McStay with the intent of releasing Jetty Webb's album.”

NØ: “What was the late '90s - early '00s Memphis scene like?”

BM: “Tripp is really the one to answer the 'Memphis Music' scene question. Both Stuart & I were transplants from Texas. Tripp had been in bands here in Memphis since the '80s. I can however relay that in the 90s the scene was very much thriving. Favorites for me were bands like Delorean, The Grifters, The Simple Ones, The Satyrs & Lorette Velvet. Jeff Buckley played a weekly show at Barristers, a regular Monday night spot.”

NØ: “As a group, what was one of your most excellent adventures?”

BM: “One of our best times was a Saturday night show at The Mermaid Lounge in New Orleans. We spent Saturday morning nursing Friday night's hangover with a Bloody Mary bar crawl throughout the Quarter. Despite the booze, or perhaps because of it, we had a fantastic set. It's hard not to have a stellar time when visiting New Orleans (pre-Katrina).”

NØ: “Tell me about the ending...I'm listening to Undone & really loving it, but it made me ask this question.”

BM: “It all ending amicably. We had such a great group of people in the band (which when we were in the studio recording consisted of many friends stopping by to lend a vocal track here or a guitar or keyboard track there). Eventually, I left for Connecticut & Stuart moved to Dallas. Due to the distance things became static. I've played with other people but having Tripp on bass is an asset. Tripp is an excellent arranger. You can show him the music you are working on & he can take it places you would not have thought on your own. He was essential to the music Jetty Webb produced.”

I'm always amazed & at the same time depressed by all the great musick that bands have created that has fallen by the wayside because of the commercial business of MUSIC & the unbelievable lameness of popular mainstream drivel. It is always such a rewarding experience to be able to experience a band like Jetty Webb.

I can not thank Brian enough (& the rest of these great musickians).

Now its "Raining"


One last thing from Brian, “I think it's cool you'd like to direct other people to our music. Overall, I think it's the songs that tell it all. A cliche, perhaps...but, the music speaks for itself.”

Year of Release: 2003
Label: Lamar Records initial release LMR001
Genre: Indie

Tracklist:
Caravan Passes
Aug.-Sept.
Stays the Same
Misanthrope
Song in F
Jingle
Undone
Raining
Wasted
Gem
hidden track (Over & Over???)

Download: Jetty Webb - Jetty Webb
Download Size: 94.1Mb (as always with NØ 320Kbps)

Opal - Fell from the Sky EP

So the Story of O-pal nears its climax with the first of two eps released by Opal in the mid-80s. First is the four song Fell from the Sun ep. I have listed the tracks as they are on the ep, but have included the bonus track, “Hear the Wind Blow”.

Year of Release: 1984
Label: Rough Trade
Genre: Alternative / Psychedelic

Tracklist:
Side A -
Grains of Sand
Fell from the Sun
Side B -
All Souls
Lullabye

Download: Opal - Fell from the Sun ep
Download Size: 53.4MB

Opal - Northern Line EP

Possibly the final chapter in the Story of O-pal, unless there is hue & cry for the 1981-82 DreamSyndicate prequel or Kendra Smith, the solo years. Opal’s next release was the Northern Line ep. It contains three tracks, but I have included an additional two songs for your listening pleasure, “My Only Friend” & “Harriet Brown”

Year of Release: 1985
Label: One Big Guitar (Serpent / Enigma)
Genre: Alternative / Psychedelic

Tracklist:
Side A -
Northern Line
Empty Bottles
Side B -
Soul Giver

Download: Opal - Northern Line ep
Download Size: 53.7

Opal - Early Recordings Vol. II

Seems there are quiet a few people enjoying the early Opal tracks. Thought I'd post up some more that are not readily available. These recordings are from the early days of Opal, same time frame as the previous, 1983 - 1987. They were never released on any official Opal project. The sound quality is less than perfect, having been taken from various tape sources, but this set contains some great tracks, songs like "Sailing Boats". Also Kendra's take on the Leonard Cohen song "Sisters of Mercy" is a must-hear. This particular upload has been remastered & recorded at 320Kbps, so it should be a valuable addition to Opal fans. Enjoy.

Year of Release: 2006???
Label: Bootleg
Genre: Indie, Alt-Psychedelic

Tracklist:

My Canyon Memory
Sisters of Mercy
Sailing Boats
Vespers
Lisa's Funeral
This Town
Freight Train
Wintertime
Little Bit of Rain
What You've Done
Cherry Jam
Indian Summer

Download: Opal - Early Recordings Vol, II
Download Size: 119.1MB

Opal - Early Recordings

Let's get on down, get on down the road.

While SST's release Happy Nightmare Baby by Opal is essential, this set of 'Early' (1983-1987) recordings is a great showcase of the song-making skills of Kendra Smith & David Roback. Made up primarily of songs from the Northern Line & Fell from the Sun eps, with additional outtakes & unreleased tracks ("Harriet Brown" being a great haunting melody previously unheard). Opal is an oft overlooked band that always manages to please me, no matter the set or setting. I hope the uninitiated (if there are any) will take a chance on this wistful yet lovely offering.

Year of Release: 1989
Label: Rough Trade
Genre: Indie, Alt-Psychedelic

Track List:
Empty Box Blues
She's a Diamond
My Only Friend
Empty Bottles
Grains of Sand
Brigit on Sunday
Northern Line
Strange Delight
Fell from the Sun
Harriet Brown
Lullabye
All Souls
Hear the Wind Blow

Download: Opal - Early Recordings
Download Size: 114.74MB (at 320Kbps)

Brainticket - Alchemic Universe

Zero posted up those lists of last.fm Monthly Member Recommendations & I thought it would be kool to feature some of the listed artists.

Brainticket is generally classified as Krautrock, but they were actually pioneers of Kosmiche music along with the likes of Tangerine Dream & Klaus Schulze. Though the earlier (70s) Brainticket material are their classic releases, Psychonaut & Celestial Ocean remain available many other places around the Interweb. Fortunately Brainticket main-man & keyboardist Jöel Vandroogenbroeck is still making interesting musick today. I thought you might like to give Alchemic Universe a listen. It was originally released by Hologram Records in 2000. It features primarily Jöel with Carole Muriel providing the vocals & lyrics by Lance Bunda (who also produced).


The CD opens with "Life's Mirror", a great combination of mind-expanding symphonics & killer alien sounds with narration from Carole Muriel (who crops up intermittently throughout the album). "Relics 'N' Roll" seems the most reminiscent of the Prog/Kosmiche days.This album draws on Joël's past from the pioneering 70s, but is not merely a retro rehashing of past glories It's the Brainticket sound that you hope for with new life & fresh ideas.

Year of Release: 2000
Label: Hologram Records HOL 2001
Genre: Prog, Krautrock, Kosmiche

Tracklist:
Life's Mirror
Transformation of a Stream
Within Venus
Alchemic Universe
Relics 'N' Roll
The Sunspace Between
A Dreamer's Reflection
Time

Download: Brainticket - Alchemic Universe
Download Size: 135.37MB at 320Kbps

Phallus Dei - Pornocrates

As I promised several people, more Phallus Dei. If you want more info about the band, go here. Phallus Dei put a lot of time & creative effort into writing their songs. The payoff is an immaculate sounding & composed piece of musick. This is one powerful album.

"Monumental." On Pornocrates the line-up is the same as Cyberflesh.

Phallus Dei is: Oliver St. Lingam - vocals & sequencing; Mk. E - guitar, acoustic guitar, flute, bass, & keyboards; Joris Huijbregts - bass, keyboards, accordion, & sequencing; & Richard van Kruysdijk - drums, percussion, synthesizer, keyboards, guitar, & sequencing. Written, arranged, produced & performed by Phallus Dei.

Year of Release: 1994
Label: Paragoric PA 06
Genre: Electronic Industrial

Tracklist:

Dog (Prologue)
On Aloneness
The Arising (A New Day Version)
Unguided Love
Pornocrates (Bloodlust a Go-Go version)
Insignificance
Ladyshave
The Outer Bone
Circles on Circles (Dreams ov Channel Five version)
Never to Believe (My Release version)
Veiled Statues
Dead Birds Floating
Current Lullabye (Epilogue)

Download: Phallus Dei - Pornocrates
Download Size: 109.9MB

Phallus Dei - Pornocrates Video

Previously I posted Phallus Dei - Pornocrates. Thought some folks might be interested in the video to the title track.

Download: Phallus Dei - Pornocrates video mpg
Download Size: 59.81MB

Levi & the Rockats - Live at The Louisiana Hayride

The Louisiana Hayride was a radio broadcast from the Municipal Auditorium in Shreveport, Louisiana, that during its heyday helped launch the careers of some of the greatest names in American country music, names that included Hank Williams, Jim Reeves, Johnny Cash, Elvis Presley, & Johnny Horton. Elvis first debuted "That's All Right Mama" on October 16, 1954. He stayed with the Hayride for a year before moving on to sign with RCA Records & Colonel Tom Parker. The next big name to hang his star on the Hayride door was Johnny Horton. He remained a member of the Hayride until his death. On November 5, 1960, Horton was killed instantly in a head-on collision with a drunk driver on Highway 79 at Milano, Texas while he was returning home from a performance at the Skyline Club in Austin.

In November 1977, Levi Dexter & his band, The Rockats, made their debut at the Royal College of Art, within the shadow of The Royal Albert Hall. Johnny Thunders jammmed at the end of their set. The headliner band that night was the reggae band Steel Pulse. On December 26, 1977, Levi & the Rockats closed the “Boxing Day Relapse” concert at The Music Machine in London with Siouxie & the Banshees & Adam & the Ants, establishing them as the first neo-Rockabilly band to emerge from the burgeoning London punk scene. In March 1978, Levi records “Evil Minded Mama”, a duet with Jayne County & The Electric Chairs. They toured England, Scotland, & Wales together on the first ever Ted/Punk Tour. By May 1978 Levi had relocated to the U.S. to get an 'American Perspective', moving first to Los Angeles where they were welcomed by bands like X. On November 10th 1978, Levi & the Rockats made their U.S. debut at Max’s Kansas City in New York opening for The Cramps.


On July 14, 1979, Levi & the Roackats, a neo-Rockabilly band from England, newly transplanted to Los Angeles, became the first rock performers to play The Louisiana Hayride since Elvis Presley played there nearly 25 years before. This is the live recording of that historic show.

Levi & the Rockats are: Levi Dexter - vocals; Eddie Dibbles - guitar; Guy Hemmer - rhythm guitar; Smut Smiff - bass; & Dean Thomas - drums. The Rockats were the last act ever introduced by legendary emcee Frank Page, who had emceed the Hayride for over 30 years & who had introduced Presley in 1954. His introduction is the opening track.

Year of Release: 1981
Label: Posh Boy PBS-162
Genre: Rockabilly

Tracklist:

Side A -
Introduction by Mr. Frank Page
Rock-a-Billy Idol
She Ain't No Angel
Tired & Sleepy
Lonesome Saturday Night
Side B -
Room to Rock
Crazy Baby
Love this Kat
Other Side of Midnight
Note from the South.

Download: Levi & the Rockats - Live at The Louisiana Hayride
Download Size: 61.5MB
(Ripped From 28 yr. old PoshBoy Vinyl at 320Kbps)

Phallus Dei - Cyberflesh

Over at Nothin' Sez Somethin' I've been cramming Legendary Pink Dots down my visitors earholes, so I'll spare you all that pleasure, you can go get'em if you want'em. Another band that is also up in the Nothin' aether with LPD is Phallus Dei (the schlong of God). Phallus Dei is a German/Dutch industrial band dealing dark Gothick romanticism on the one hand with a trashy fascination for sex & violence on the other. Gotta love it.

Phallus Dei began as a musickal projeckt of Oliver St. Lingam (another holy prick) in 1988. Taking his projeckt name from the historic 1969 album by krautrock Amon Düül II , St. Lingam released the tapes Pigfuck & Per Crucem Ad Lucem on the Unclean label. PD then signed with Dark Vinyl & released the ground-breaking industrial release Pontifex Maximus in 1991.

Following a successful European tour with Italian industrial musick giants Sigillum S, PhallusDei expanded to a three piece unit with the addition of multi-instrumentalist Mk. E & drummer, multi-instrumentalist Richard van Kruysdijk. With the additional help of Joris Huijbregts (who had previously played with Richard v. K. in the band Lament), the band recorded their follow-up album Cyberflesh. The sound of the group had progressed greatly on Cyberflesh, forming a more matured, guitar-laden sound. Phallus Dei had found a great balance between electronics & guitar, never allowing the abrasive riffs to overshadow their strong beats or experimental vocal styles.

On Cyberflesh, Phallus Dei are: Oliver St. Lingam - vocals & sequencing; Mk. E - guitar, acoustic guitar, flute, bass, & keyboards; Joris Huijbregts - bass, keyboards, accordion, & sequencing; & Richard van Kruysdijk - drums, percussion, synthesizer, keyboards, guitar, & sequencing. Written, arranged, produced & performed by Phallus Dei.

Year of Release: 1993
Label: Paragoric PA 02
Genre: Electronic Industrial, Electro, Gothick Ambient

Track List:
1. Egg (Prologue)
2. She Suffers (& Makes Suffer)
3. Dieu (voice - Salvador Dalí)
4. Live on Joy (voice - Klaus Kinski)
5. Tortured Heroine (additional lyrics by Adi Newton)
6. Existence
7. Confessio (additional lyrics by Charles Manson)
8. Man's Son
9. Cyberflesh (voice - Salvador Dalí)
10. La Mort (voice - Henry Lee Lucas & Kenneth Bianchi)
11. Clothed in Flesh
12. Live to Tell
13. Taphtatharath (Epilogue)

Download: Phallus Dei - Cyberflesh
Download Size: 103MB (ripped in glorious 320Kbps)

Wayne Kramer - Dangerous Madness

No longer available from Epitaph or on Wayne's website, Dangerous Madness is a fine slab of midwest American rock. Madness is the second solo release from Wayne Kramer. Kramer was a co-founding member & co-guitarist (along with the great Fred 'Sonic' Smith) of the legendary proto-punk band MC5, whose first album, 1969s Kick Out the Jams is one of the most influential records of the era. MC5's raw, visceral sound helped lay the groundwork for punk. Wayne has successfully carried that sound into his solo work. On Dangerous Madness he digs into his own personal past, telling tales of harrowing bouts with drug addiction & jail time to create another blast of authentic, streetwise hard rock. The title track launches Dangerous Madness with a hard-driving, wary observation of society's fringe, attacking talk-show culture & violence-prone extremism. Terence Trent D'arby adds a subtle hint of soul to the otherwise brutal rocker. Kramer's songs are fueled with disdain, but are tempered with his experience.

" Kramer's lyrical phrasing often resembles the dark-side-of-life writing of street-level author Charles Bukowski, and his manic guitar attack paints a similarly gritty mural of shady debauchery. Dangerous Madness is a hair-raising jaunt through dark but realistic subject matter, proving Kramer to be an incendiary poetic force. His self-produced sonic boom effectively recaptures the raw musical intensity of his days in the MC5 without sounding overly nostalgic. The faint of heart may not wish to partake, but those with an appetite for brutally honest, bone-crunching rock will not be disappointed."
AllMusic

All music written by Wayne Kramer, lyrics by Mick Farren except "Back to Detroit", "A Dead Man's Vest", & "The Rats of Illusion" by Wayne Kramer. Most songs feature Wayne on guitar, bass, & vocals & Brock Avery on drums except "Dead Movie Stars" has Chad Smith on drums. Additional vocals by Terence Trent D'arby & Brett Gurewitz. Several track have Scott Thunes on bass while "Dead Movie Stars" has Tad Schumacher on bass.

Year of Release: 1996
Label: Epitaph 86458
Genre: Hard Rock

Track List:
Side One
Dangerous Madness
Back to Detroit
Wild America
Something Broken in the Promised Land
Take Exit 97
God's Worst Nightmare

Side Two
The Boys Got That Look in Their Eyes
A Dead Man's Vest
It's Never Enough
The Rats of Illusion
Dead Movie Star

Download: Wayne Kramer - Dangerous Madness
Download Size: 106MB (ripped from scratchy vinyl at glorious 320Kbps)

Government Issue - Live

I probably don't need to go into too much detail about Government Issue or G.I., as they were often known. They were founding members of the Washington, D.C. hardcore sound, much of their material released on the seminal Dischord Records. Early on their musick was straight forward hardcore. They later progressed into a more melodic song-focused outfit, often with lyrics critical of the short-sighted behavior of the scene they aided in creating. Given the long running nature of the band, many participants in the DC hardcore scene had gone through G.I.'s membership. Government Issue featured Brian Baker of Minor Threat & Bad Religion, as well as Mike Fellows of Rites of Spring along with many others. G.I. became one of the longest-running bands in the DC hardcore scene. After numerous line-up changes, the band broke up in 1989.

Mystic Records Presents: Government Issue Live is a great slab of musick, covering the bands 1982 - 1985 period. Most discographies of Government Issue don't even list this album & I have not found it posted anywhere else. The band at this time consists of: John Stabb - vocals; Tom Lyle - guitar; Marc Alberstadt - drums; & a number of bass players including Lenny Leonard, Rob Moss, Mike Fellows, & Mitch Parker.

Year of Release: 1985
Label: Mystic Records MLP33144
Genre: Hardcore Punk

Tracklist:

Side One:
1. Interview
2. Familiar¹
3. Time to Escape¹
4. The Next Time²
5. Fun & Games²
6. These Boots are Made for Walkin'³
7. Hall of Fame⁴
8. Reflections⁵
9. Notch to My Crotch⁵

Side Two:
1. Interview
2. Hall of Fame ¹
3. Understand⁶
4. Teenager in a Box⁶
5. G.I.⁷
6. Hour of One⁸
7. Dead Dog⁹
8. Any Final Comments

Interview Side One & final comments Side Two courtesy WCTV, Baltimore, Maryland 1981.
Interview Side Two courtesy WMUC, university of Maryland, Baltimore 1981.

¹ King Kong's, Adelphi, Maryland June 21, 1984
² C.E. Center, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania February 23, 1985
³ Newton Theater, Washington, D.C. June 24, 1984
⁴ Upper Deck, Minneapolis, Minnesota August 3, 1983
⁵ Pierce Hall, Washington, D.C. April 6, 1984
⁶ Glenmont Recreation Center, Wheaton, Maryland February 25, 1984
⁷ Wilson Center, Washington, D.C. February 25, 1983
⁸ Wilson Center, Washington, D.C. October 22, 1982
⁹ CBGBs, New York City July 30, 1983

Download: Government Issue - Live
Download Size: 66.2MB (ripped from 24 yr. old vinyl at glorious 320Kbps)

VA - Born Bad Volumes 1-6

In 1986 the first of a series of compilations entitled "Born Bad" introduced listeners to a number of bands that greatly influenced the rockabilly and psychobilly bands in the decades that followed. Perhaps the most important band to emerge was The Cramps, a band that I have featured here on DM many times in the past. The Cramps helped to usher in a new wave of rockabilly acts across the world, and inadvertently created a new genre in the process. They combined the sound and style of the early country, rockabilly and garage rock acts of the '50s and '60s with the newly emerging punk rock attitude and style of the late '70s. Their unique approach was labeled as "Psychobilly", and thus a genre was born.

The Born Bad series collects together the original music that inspired bands such as The Cramps. The six original volumes contain 84 tracks, with each volume in the series containing 14 tracks. The first volume is often listed as "Volume One: Songs The Cramps Taught Us", not to be confused with the bootleg release of the same name, which can be found here: http://digitalmeltd0wn.blogspot.com/2007/12/various-artists-songs-cramps-taught-us.html A sticker was included on the vinyl release of the first volume that read "Songs The Cramps Taught Us", although it would not be included on any of the volumes that followed. For those of you who are interested in listening to the early rockabilly, country, rock 'n' roll and garage rock acts of the '50s and '60s that inspired The Cramps, it gets no better than this compilation. Those of you who are familiar with The Cramps will recognize these songs, as the band sought to pay tribute to the artists that inspired them by performing their own cover versions to many of the songs contained in the Born Bad series.

The Born Bad series has proven to be one of the most popular posts on the blog. This is actually the third incarnation of the series that I have posted. Each time I have re-posted it I have attempted to improve the download being presented in terms of quality and features. Once again I have replaced the previous version with one consisting of MP3 files of a higher quality bitrate. Perhaps one day I'll get lucky enough to obtain a version of this in either FLAC or 320kbps MP3. I have exhausted all possibilities while searching for higher quality versions, but I have yet to find anything better than 192kbps. I have also included the liner notes for each individual volume, and managed to track down a number of images other than the front album covers.

Decades after the first volume was released someone decided to create two bootleg volumes to expand on the original six, and I will be posting those two volumes (Volumes 7 & 8) next. Due to the fact that they are bootleg releases, and not officially affiliated with the original six volumes, I decided to dedicate a separate post to those volumes. You can find Born Bad Volumes 7 & 8 posted here: http://digitalmeltd0wn.blogspot.com/2010/11/born-bad-volumes-7-8.html

Born Bad Volume 1

Label: Born Bad
Genres: Garage Rock, Rockabilly, Proto-Punk
Bitrate: 192kbps
Format: MP3

Tracklist:
1. The Bostweeds - Faster, Pussycat! Kill! Kill!
2. Ronnie Cook - Goo Goo Muck
3. Link Wray - Fat Back
4. Dwight Pullen - Sunglasses After Dark
5. Glenn Glenn - Everybody's Movin'
6. Roy Orbison - Domino
7. The Sonics - Strychnine
8. The Groupies - Primitive
9. Ronnie Dawson - Rockin' Bones
10. The Third Bardo - I'm Five Years Ahead of My TIme
11. Warren Smith - Uranium Rock
12. Mel Robbins - Save It
13. The Novas - The Crusher
14. Wanda Jackson - Funnel of Love

Download: Born Bad Vol. 1
Download Size: 49MB

Born Bad Volume 2

Label: Born Bad
Genres: Garage Rock, Rockabilly, Proto-Punk
Bitrate: 192kbps
Format: MP3

Tracklist:
1. The Phantom - Love Me
2. Jimmy Loyd - Rocket In My Pocket
3. Tommy James & The Shondells - Hanky Panky
4. Paul Revere & the Raiders - Hungry
5. Kasenetz-Katz Super Circus - Quick Joey Small
6. Charlie Feathers - I Can't Hardly Stand It
7. Jimmy Stewart - Rock On The Moon
8. Hasil Adkins - She Said
9. Dale Hawkins - Tornado
10. Little Willie John - Fever
11. Jackie Lee Cochran - Sweet Georgia Lee Brown
12. Dave 'diddle' Day - Blue Moon Baby
13. Jody Reynolds - Fire of Love
14. Ricky Nelson - Lonesome Town

Download: Born Bad Vol. 2
Download Size: 50MB

Born Bad Volume 3

Label: Born Bad
Genres: Garage Rock, Rockabilly, Proto-Punk
Bitrate: 192kbps
Format: MP3

Tracklist:
1. Kip Tyler & His Flips - Jungle Hop
2. The Busters - Bust Out
3. Jett Powers - Go, Girl, Go
4. The Riptides - Machine Gun
5. The Rivingtons - Mama-Oom-Mow-Mow
6. The Rivingtons - The Bird's The Word
7. The Trashmen - Surfin' Bird
8. Andre Williams & His New Group - Bacon Fat
9. Andre Williams - Jail Bait
10. The Frantics - Werewolf
11. Del Raney's Umbrella's - Can Your Hossie Do The Dog
12. Jack Scott - The Way I Walk
13. Andy Starr - Give Me A Woman
14. Herbie Duncan - Hot Lips Baby

Download: Born Bad Vol. 3
Download Size: 49MB

Born Bad Volume 4

Label: Born Bad
Genres: Garage Rock, Rockabilly, Proto-Punk
Bitrate: 192kbps

Tracklist:
1. Buddy Love - Heartbreak Hotel
2. The Shades - Strollin' After Dark
3. Spark Plugs - Chicken
4. Nat Couty and the Braves - Woodpecker Rock
5. Ward Darby & the Raves - Safari
6. Shortly Long - Devil With The Blue Dress On
7. The Red Crayola - Hurricane Fighter Blues
8. The Standells - Barracuda
9. Richard Berry and the Pharoahs - Louie Louie
10. The Tune Rockers - Green Mosquito
11. Duane Eddy & the Rebels - Girl on Death Row
12. The Rumblers - Boss
13. Bill Allen & the Backbeats - Please Give Me Something
14. Alfred E. Neuman - It's A Gas

Download: Born Bad Vol. 4
Download Size: 51MB

Born Bad Volume 5

Label: Born Bad
Genres: Garage Rock, Rockabilly, Proto-Punk
Bitrate: 192kbps
Format: MP3

Tracklist:
1. Kai Ray - I Want Some of That
2. The Instrumentals - Chop Suey Rock
3. The Raindrops - Hanky Panky
4. Jerry Warren & the Tremblers - Rompin'
5. Carl Perkins - Her Love Rubbed Off
6. The Readymen - Shortnin' Bread
7. The Joker - What Is A Fisterris
8. The Fendermen - Mule Skinner Blues
9. Three Aces & A Joker - Booze Party
10. Lonnie Allen - You'll Never Change Me
11. Macy Skipper - Bop Pills
12. Mac Rebennack - Storm Warning
13. Freddy & the Hitchhikers - Sinners
14. Charlie Feathers - It's Just That Song

Download: Born Bad Vol. 5
Download Size: 50MB

Born Bad Volume 6

Label: Born Bad
Genres: Garage Rock, Rockabilly, Proto-Punk
Bitrate: 192kbps
Format: MP3

Tracklist:
1. Dean Carter - Jailhouse Rock
2. Lee Dresser & The Krazy Kats - Beat Out My Love
3. The Ventures - The Fourth Dimension
4. J.J. Jackson & the Jackaels - Oo-Ma-Liddi
5. The Sonics - He's Waitin'
6. The Wailers - Dirty Robber
7. Carol Connors & The Cycles - Yum Yum Yamaha
8. The Flower Children - Mini-Skirt Blues
9. The Sparkles - Hipsville 29 B.C. (I Need Your Help)
10. Jim Lowe - Green Door
11. Mel Smith & The Night Riders - Pretty Plaid Skirt (and Long Black Sox)
12. The Runabouts - When I Get The Blues (The Strangeness In Me)
13. Tommy Jim Beam & the Four Fifths - Golden Boy
14. Ric Cartey - Oo Eee

Download: Born Bad Vol. 6
Download Size: 50MB