Five lesser-known punk rock classics (1976-1982)
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Artist:
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Album:
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Track:
Featured here are the following tracks:
1. "Loudmouth" by the Ramones (1976)
2. "EMI" by the Sex Pistols (1977)
3. "Deny" by the Clash (1977)
4. "Lipstick" by Buzzcocks (1978) and
5. "I Want You Dead" by the Undead (1982)
These groups are of course well-known but I'm calling these songs "lesser-known" only because no MOG posts feature them as their main songs, and that includes 69 Ramones posts, 50 Sex Pistol posts, 115 Clash posts, 27 Buzzcocks posts and zero Undead posts. My knowledge of punk rock doesn't extend much beyond these groups and some of their albums.
The Ramones CBGB's 1976
All I can say about "Loudmouth" (1976)(above) is that it has an unusual structure. It leads off side 2 of their first LP, which probably means that they thought it was one of the LP's better songs. The simple blunt lyrics express enough guilt-free contempt and cruelty to seem a calculated gesture that would fill an amorality vacuum in rock, an admirable contribution. In most types of music, both faked sincerity and faked insincerity are valid.
Next, the Sex Pistols.
They're complaining about their earlier record label, that jettisoned them for their poor breeding.
Next, the Clash.
My favorite moment in the "Deny" is when, at the 2:20 mark, the lead guitarist starts playing a solo at the same time as the singer.
Deny you're such a liar
You won't know the truth if it hits you in the eye.
You're selling your no-no all the time.
And you said we were going out to the 100 Club
Then you said, "It ain't my scene,"
But then you turned up alone.
Then you said you'd given it up,
Gone and kicked it in the head.
You said you ain't had none for weeks,
But baby I seen your arms.
Do you think i'm a raving idiot?
Just got off the boat?
Next is Buzzcocks.
Ah, when you kiss me,
Does the lipstick on your lip stick on my face?
Ah, will you miss me?
In your dreams does your lover have my face?
It's the morning
And the mourning, it is dawning on me too.
I'd no warning,
Just a condolence card to tell me that we're through.
And last are the Undead.
Comments (14)
thanks for this, I had completely forgot about the Undead.
Such a miscellany of responses to these songs - whoever said punk was monochromatic.
"Loudmouth" does an uncanny job of making me feel like it's 2:30 a.m. in a club of my youth and I know I should be heading home but can't force myself to leave....
"EMI" reaffirms that the Pistols were a pretty much straight-ahead aggregation of rockers who happened to have a highly theatrical front man. And that that album sounded way better than it ought to have....
"Deny" is a song I can't respond to in a measured, distanced way. It's about having to play that damned first Clash album every day for the month after you bought it. Those songs are all in my bloodstream.
After listening to all five cuts, can there be any doubt that the Buzzcocks were one of the greatest bands of all time? With all due respect to all the songs you've gathered here, Spike, "Lipstick" (which has always been one of their best songs, to my way of thinking) is simply in another class.
The Undead are new to me, but by 1982 the rock and roll idea had lost much if its savor. But this cut is just bratty and clever enough that it might have brought me back...
I'm impressed with the research, never mind the post!
Spike,
YOU ARE DA MAN!
this just made me very happy. thanks spike!
Charles, you {punk} rock! What an awesome concept and research and those songs are utterly enjoyable!
this is a killer post.
to pseudo-eco ivy, I have mused for years over how much the Pistols (sans vocals) sound like early Aerosmith.
nice work Spike!
Precisely, Scot.
cpetersonart3, you're welcome! You're the first person I've met who remembers the Undead. I like it when that happens.
ivylander, what wonderful responses you describe so eloquently. I've adopted them. As for the Undead, better late than never.
inrumford, SO ARE YOU!
ongoingly, your username has lilt, and your endearing avatar looks awfully like our dachshund.
Anna, always a pleasure to have someone with musical antennae in tune with the future weigh in so happily. There's always punk in some form or another.
scotfree, thanks. I guess both groups inhabited that part of rock's primal center.
Spike, "EMI" was and still is MONSTROUS! Love hearing it again, after a long hiatus. And those other cuts ain't bad, man.
Mike, before this post, I didn't know if anybody else in my life's orbit had liked any of these songs, so now MOG provides, among its many uses, the ability to extract such people from the woodwork.
I just loved this post... im surprise! Brasilians like punk, so much!
these bands they are important for the movement!
Thanks man!
jersondread, you're very welcome! I bet there's good punk music in Brazil. Throughout world history, I bet that there have always been teenagers who have played punk-like music for each other.
Hey Spike,
In Brasil have man punk bands, one day I go to postar some bands from here punk! You go to like...
I'm looking forward to it.