RAW POWER
No, this is not about Iggy Pop or the Italian band sometimes referred to as "Wop Hour"; it's about Raw Records, one of the English labels that sprung up in 1977 and put out about 2 dozen punk/pub rock/neo 60's-singles. You know, like Chiswick, or Stiff. There's a couple of differences though; whereas the 2 bigger labels licensed their wares to big record companies, Raw stayed Do It Yourself and therefore never had any big sellers. Also, if I dare say so, Stiff/Chiswick put out a clunker for every good record, a Radio Stars for every Damned; in contrast, almost every release on Raw is worthwhile (hell, I even like the Unwanted), a sizable chunk of it is even brilliant!
I don't know much about the Users, but they must have listened to the Saints a lot; "I'm In Love With Today", all chaotic riffs and loud hi-hat wash, could have been a track from (I'm) Stranded! "Sick Of You" is just as great and has a bit of a Ramones influence going.
The Killjoys were of course Kevin (Dexy's Midnight Runners) Rowland's first band. A whole lot of 80's pop stars started out in punk bands (Simple Minds, Pogues, Billy Bragg etc. etc.), making their early recorded output highly sought after by fans. The Killjoys' "Johnny Won't Get To Heaven" is no exception; the difference is that even if Kevin Rowland had disappeared from the face of the earth, this would still stand as one of the all-time greatest punk records. Fast, loud and messy, this little slab of wax defines the word thrash (as in punk, not metal). Kevin Rowland later said he was "trying to be something he wasn't" with the Killjoys. (He's since found out wearing a dress is more his style.)
The great thing about collecting UK punk is that, with a little patience, early classics like these will "only" set you back about $15-$20 a piece; try finding any Dangerhouse 45 for that price! And if that's too expensive, Damaged Goods has recently reissued these nuggets (on vinyl!).
Users - Sick Of You
Users - I'm In Love With Today
Killjoys - Johnny Won't Get To Heaven
Killjoys - Naive (all 1977)
posted by Niels at 12:38
9 Comments:
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as the mp3's seem to be unavailable at the moment. Gotta find out what's the problem.
"Stiff/Chiswick put out a clunker for every good record, a Radio Stars for every Damned; in contrast, almost every release on Raw is worthwhile".
This obviously means you've never heard Paul Gee & the Rockets, Mystery Train, Karl Terry & the Cruisers, Danny Wild & the Wild Cats or any other of those horrid teddyboy outfits that were on the label as well. That said; the good stuff is stellar. Besides the Users and Killjoys they also gave us the first Soft Boys 7", the caterwaulin' Sick Things and excellent re-issues of proto-punk classics by the Creation and Hammersmith Gorillas.
But hey, what's wrong with the Radio Stars?
O.K., I have to admit I'm not familiar with the whole Raw roster... But I thought that teddy boy stuff came a bit later. I've since found out there's a great interview with Raw Records founder Lee Wood at the incomparable http://www.punk77.co.uk, check it out!
I know Radio Stars from their "Dirty Pictures" 45 and the title song of the "Buy Chiswick Records" LP, I've never been too crazy about that... Maybe there's some better stuff? Sure don't sound like John's Children (singer Andy Ellison's 60's band) though...
Anyway, I should've known there was trouble coming from someone whose email address starts with "chiswick", ha ha...
Yeah, I'm a Chiswick nut. Always have and probably always will be. Not as gimmicky as Stiff or as hard-line as Step Forward. But with a true understanding of R&R's roots, I could definitly relate to their output much more, as I was introduced to 50s & 60s stuff in my early teens and just before punk happened.
Anyways, just check what Chiswick has turned into...
As for the Radio Stars: They probably sound a bit dated to many ears, but I still like 'em. No Russians In Russia on the Stop It EP and most of their first LP is pretty cool IMHO. Andy Ellison was also in the Sparks when they recorded Kimono In My House (their best) and if you wanna know more about his pre-punk roots check the excellent Glitterbest comp on RPM.
Keep up the good work!
Best,
J
The Raw Records back catalogue is fantastic. Some of it is now being re-issued by Damaged Goods. Started in Cambridge, of all places.
these 2 singles are, in my opinion, what TRULY define the 1st wave of England's 77 punk scene. better than anything else ive ever heard from that time/place, and they still totally KILL any in their way. KILLJOYS have to be the heaviest punk 45 ever. most collectors i know always pass on this 45 cos of the Kevin Rowland fact & some say the PS looks "new-wavish". fine by me!! their stupidity keeps this 45 from being too expensive to track down!!
Niels, you can take credit for me setting up a new blog: Chiswick Records.
Very pretty site! Keep working. thnx!
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