Press Darlings - Adam and the Ants

Who was the first band that the Sex Pistols supported? The Damned? The Ramones? The Clash? Nah, Adam and the Ants. 

For a brief period Adam and the Ants were MASSIVE, I'm fairly sure they occupied three of the top 5 slots in the singles chart at one point and this was at a time when such things took some doing. Despite having his roots in punk Adam embraced the whole pop/celebrity thing and...well...sadly the press took against him and his music and it's been unfairly sidelined as a bit of an 80's novelty ever since. Listen to tracks like Press Darlings though and it's not a huge stretch to imagine Johnny Rotten snarling it out. Elsewhere there's a touch of Berlin era Bowie in tracks like Physical...

  ...see what I mean? 

PS: This post was prompted by picking up the rather fine Dandy Highwayman 2CD which was languishing in the rain in a box outside a local charity shop. I should report them to the RSPCCD (Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to CDs). Thankfully after carefully removing and drying the soggy insert it's no worse for wear. Try treating an LP like that eh? CDs rule. 

Fish In The Jailhouse - Tom Waits

Heavy, heavy blues from the gravel voiced bawler Tom Waits, taken from the appropriately named 3CD compilation Orphans: Brawlers, Bawlers and Bastards which I picked up from a local charity shop recently. There's still some decent stuff out there if you hunt for it but prices are rising. At this rate they'll be back to where they were when I first started buying 'em back in the late 80s. 

PS: Taking inflation into account new CDs should be roughly £40 these days. Bonkers eh? 

Don't Do This Alone - Walt Disco

As a long-term fan of The Associates this track's been floating my boat recently. Walt Disco have been around for quite a while now but perhaps this track will see 'em pull a Future Islands and hit the mainstream...if such a thing still exists. 

Fire - Beth Ditto

Picked up a copy of Beth's debut solo album during my Bristol trip and gave it a spin last night. Here's my pick of the pops, partially 'cos it's a banger and partially 'cos I like setting fire to shit (NB: in my log burner that is...). 

Pictures Of You - Wadi Vision

Picked up a really ace compilation on my last visit to Bristol on the ever reliable Bristol Archive Records label. It's a collection of tracks from Bristol and Bath bands from the early 80's with some fine synth pop from bands like Wadi Vision and more soulful stuff (think Matt Bianco/Swing Out Sister) from, amongst others, Big Outdoor Type. All new names to me and yet another reminder of how much great stuff never gets the audience it deserves. I believe only 500 copies of this CD (it's on vinyl too, of course) have been pressed so if you want a copy get in now Bristol Archive Records » Vinyls

PS: If you're as old as I am how lucky were we to grow up in the 80s eh? I know every generation looks back with rise tinted varifocals but from a music, movie, fashion and telly perspective it was pretty top notch. And, most importantly of all, there was no bloody internet, antisocial media or AI. 

PPS: Yes, I'm aware of the irony of posting this on the bloody internet but you know what I mean.  

October Song - Incredible String Band

Here's a gentle way to ease you into the new week, with a track that none other than Sir Bob of Dylanshire rated when it came out almost 60 years ago. 

Sunlight Bathed The Golden Glow - Felt

Listened to this track again for the first time in ages on a 'free' Mojo magazine CD compilation entitled There is A Light That Never Goes Out. You see it in the odd charity shop from time to time and it's well worth picking up. 

Here's another indie classic from the same comp...the mighty Nightingales' Crafty Fag!