Saturday, June 28, 2014

My Punk Rock Past. And Present.



Arguably a couple of the first, best and most important albums in the history of punk (and popular music in general), both "Never Mind the Bollocks...Here's the Sex Pistols" and "Damned, Damned, Damned" have been reissued countless of times over the years, although I do believe the reissues to end all reissues (perish the thought) were the 35th anniversary issues of both which were released a couple of years back.
The Pistols' one is a bit more lavish of the two containing three CD's of the original album, demos and live shows, a DVD, a massive "1977: The Bollocks Diaries" coffee table book, a replica of the infamous A&M 7" single "God Save the Queen" + reprinted lyrics, a poster and stickers.
The Damned one contains four CD's of the original album, demos, radio sessions, live shows and interviews, a book of reprinted lyrics, poster and badges.
Both - in spite of hefty price tags (70 quid for Pistols; 60 for the Damned) - come highly recommended.  Apart from their obvious and undisputed historic importance the music itself is timeless and sounds as fresh and vital as the day it was committed to tape.  That's something that can not be said about every piece of music recorded more than 35 years ago.  That said, I can hardly wait for the 40th anniversary editions...



Sunday, June 8, 2014

It came from Memphis....


Big Star being inarguably one of the most remarkable acts of the 1970s, it's not all that surprising then that their saga is almost equally riveting.  Musical brilliance, madness, substance abuse, suicide, not to mention a total and undeserved lack of commercial success - it has it all, and is told in fascinating detail in Rob Jovanovic's book "Big Star - The Story of Rock's Forgotten Band".
Also well worth checking out is the recent, award-winning documentary "Nothing Can Hurt Me".
But apart from all that, it is the music that counts.  During their all-too-short early to mid '70s heyday Big Star produced a trio of LP's, from "#1 Record" (1972) and "Radio City" (1973) to the flawed ramshackle of a masterpiece that is "Third/Sister Lovers" (Recorded during 1974/5 - released in 1978) - a "SMiLE" for the '70s - the music is, quite simply put, achingly beautiful and tortured.  Big Star is the ultimate cult band.
It's been four years since founding members Andy Hummel and Alex Chilton left this world.  It's been thirty six since Chris Bell did.  Only drummer Jody Stephens is still around.  Nonetheless, the legend of Big Star just continues to grow, and with a bloody good reason...

 
Big Star, recommended listening:
 
"Keep an Eye on the Sky" (4CD Box) (2009, Ardent/Rhino)
 
Big Star, recommended reading:
 
"Big Star - The Story of Rock's Forgotten Band" by Rob Jovanovic (Revised & updated edition, 2013 Outline Press/Jawbone Press - although the innumerable typo's are a pain in the rear).
 
Big Star, recommended viewing:
 
"Big Star - Nothing Can Hurt Me" (2012, September Films/Ardent)