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Showing posts with label Jon Savage CD Compilations. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Jon Savage CD Compilations. Show all posts

Monday, 1 July 2024

"Jon Savage's The Secret Public: How The LGBTQ+ Aesthetic Shaped Pop Culture 1955-1979" by VARIOUS ARTISTS - Featuring Little Richard, Esquerita, Billy Fury, Frank D'rone, The Dovells, John Leyton, Joey Dee & The Starliters, The Jaynetts, Lesley Gore, The Velvelettes, Bobby Marchan, The Velvet Underground & Nico, The Elgins, Big Brother & The Holding Company (featuring Janis Joplin), Norma Tanega, Al Stewart, The Kinks, Sly & The Family Stone, Abaco Dream, Lou Reed, Polly Perkins, Jobriath, Manu DiBango, The Temptations, The Miracles, Labelle, Grace Jones, Patrick Cowley, Jayne County & The Electric Chairs, Buzzcocks, Space, Tom Robinson Band, Sylvester, Michele and more (May 2024 UK Ace Records 2CD 41-Track Compilation In A Three-Way Fold-Out Card Digipak with Duncan Cowell Remasters – a Companion Audio Set to The Book of the Same Name by Faber & Faber) - A Review by Mark Barry...







https://www.amazon.co.uk/Savages-Secret-Aesthetic-Culture-1955-1979/dp/B000008F2X?crid=4MAQHY6WHJ6C&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.ZcteweekzeTE8MwuNT6QRQ.54o79nxVXnWtJH-bJSurBD8l1vCXnbQAnPmUx08ImGs&dib_tag=se&keywords=029667110723&qid=1719852812&sprefix=029667110723%2Caps%2C84&sr=8-1&linkCode=ll1&tag=mabasreofcdbl-21&linkId=d5ee7712084c6a170226742fe629b453&language=en_GB&ref_=as_li_ss_tl

"...Shaved Her Legs And He Was A She..."

Having annotated and compiled nine 2CD sets for Ace Records in their Year-on-Year Single Series (I have reviewed four or five) – author and music-nut Jon Savage is no stranger to the art of how it plays. But with such a huge subject matter to cover and licencing restrictions shutting out obvious choices and gamechanger artists like Queen, David Bowie and Marc Bolan in T.Rex – both has kind of done for this brave and smart 2CD 41-Song attempt at chronicling secret-lifestyles that up until the mid-Seventies were still real-world taboo and probably even dangerous.

You can understand the song choices (CD1 covers 1955 to 1973, CD2 moves on with 1974 to 1979) and the chunky three-way fold-out Digipak Presentation with a 32-page booklet is both classy and substantial, but the listen only half works because some of the music just isn't up to snuff. CD2 suffers from tedious Extended Disco Mixes least not of all being the near 14-minutes of Michele remixed and involving leading light Patrick Cowley. But Savage would argue that left-of-field adventure is key and bold choices very much part of the ethos the LGBTQ community had to employ to just be - albeit under wigs and makeup and nights at the Club or Disco. Still, there is an awful lot to like here, and his journalistic annotation is quietly free of virtual-signalling but big on respect - which is something of a minor miracle in 2024. To the no-longer secret details...

UK released Friday, 31 May 2024 - "Jon Savage's The Secret Public: How The LGBTQ+ Aesthetic Shaped Pop Culture 1955-1979" by VARIOUS ARTISTS on Ace Records CDTOP2 1647 (Barcode 029667110723) is a 2CD 41-Track Companion Audio Compilation to a book of the same name – and it plays out as follows (most tracks are US/UK 45s unless otherwise stated):

CD1 (78:53 minutes):
1. I Hear A New World – JOE MEEK & THE BLUE MEN (from the cancelled UK 1960 album "I Hear A New World" on Triumph TRX ST 9000 in Stereo – finally UK issued in 1991 on RPM Records RPM 103)
2. Tutti-Frutti – LITTLE RICHARD And His Band (US October 1955, Specialty SP-561, A-side; issued UK as the B-side of "Long Tall Sally" on London HLO 8366 in January 1957, credited as Little Richard and without a hyphen in the song title)
3. Esquerita And The Voola – ESQUERITA (US September 1958, Capitol F4058, B-side of his second US single "Rockin' The Joint")
4. Wondrous Place – BILLY FURY (UK September 1960, Decca F 11267, A-side)
5. Strawberry Blonde (The Band Rocked On) – FRANK D'RONE (US October 1960, Mercury Records 71720, A-side)
6. Foot Stompin' – THE DOVELLS (from the 1961 US Album "Bristol Stomp" on Parkway P 7006)
7. Johnny Remember Me – JOHN LEYTON (UK July 1961, Top Rank JAR 577, A-side)
8. Peppermint Twist - Part 1 – JOEY DEE And THE STARLITERS (October 1961, Roulette R-4401, A)
9. Sally, Go 'Round The Roses  – THE JAYNETTS (from the US 1963 Album "Sally, Go 'Round The Roses" on Tuff TU-5559)
10. You Don't Own Me – LESLEY GORE (from the US 1963 Album "Mixed-Up Hearts" on Mercury Records MG-20849)
11. Needle In A Haystack – THE VELVELETTES (US September 1964, V.I.P. Records V.I.P.-25007, A-side)
12. Get Down With It – BOBBY MARCHAN (US January 1965, Dial Records 45-4002, A-side)
13. I'll Be Your Mirror – THE VELVET UNDERGROUND featuring NICO (US July 1966, Verve Records VK-10472, B-side of "All Tomorrow's Parties")
14. Heaven Must Have Sent You – THE ELGINS (US August 1966, V.I.P. Records V.I.P.-25037, A-side)
15. Stand Up Straight And Tall – JACKIE SHANE (US April 1967, Modern 45xM 1031, B-side of "You Are My Sunshine")
16. Women Is Losers – BIG BROTHER & THE HOLDING COMPANY (US December 1967, Mainstream 675, A-side – featuring JANIS JOPLIN on Lead Vocals)
17. No Stranger Am I – NORMA TANEGA (US March 1967, New Voice 821, B-side of "Run, On The Run" – also on the US Album "Walkin' My Cat Named Dog" on New Voice 2001)
18. Pretty Golden Hair – AL STEWART (from the UK 1967 Album "Bed Sitter Images" on CBS Records S BPG 63087 in Stereo)
19. David Watts – THE KINKS (opening track on Side 1 of the April 1968 UK Extended Play 4-Track EP "The Kinks" on Pye Records NEP 24296)
20. Nothing But A Heartache – THE FLIRTATIONS (UK November 1968, Deram DM 216, A-side)
21. Stand! – SLY & THE FAMILY STONE (US March 1969, Epic 5-10450, A-side – see also Track 22 written by Sly Stone)
22.Life And Death In G & A – ABACO DREAM (US August 1969, A&M Records 1081, A-side, song written by Sylvester Stewart aka Sly Stone, he is not featured in this recoding by a US Rock Group from New York)
23.Nathan Jones – THE SUPREMES (US April 1971, Motown M 1182, A-side – Lead Vocalist Jean Tyrell, Diana Ross had left at this stage)
24. Walk On The Wild Side (Album Version) – LOU REED (from the November 1972 US and UK Album "Transformer" on RCA Victor LSP-4807. The LP version is 4:24 minutes with the verse censored for the US 45 at 3:57 minutes about Candy and giving head. The British UK 45 however had the full version with the naughty verse included and became a hit in April 1973 after it was re-promoted because David Bowie sang with the backing vocalists Thunderthighs as they sing Do De Do before the Ronnie Ross saxophone solo. Herbie Flowers on Double-Bass, Mick Ronson Strings, David Bowie Production)
25. Coochi-Coo – POLLY PERKINS (UK May 1973, Chapter One SCH-R 183, A-side)
26. I'maman – JOBRIATH (US May 1974, Elektra EK-45888, A-side – the title credit is run together as one word) 
27. Soul Makossa – MANU DIBANGO (French 1972 45, African Records 90.571 A, 4:24 minutes, B-side of "Hymne De La 8e Coupe D'Afrique Des Nation")
28. Law Of The Land – THE TEMPTATIONS (UK August 1973, Tamla Motown TMG 866, A-side, 4:45 minutes)
NOTES on CD1: All Tracks MONO 
Except Tracks 1, 7, 10, 15, 16, 18, 20-21 and 23-28 which are in STEREO

CD2 (77:36 minutes):
1. Get Dancin' (Single Version) – DISCO TEX AND THE SEX-O-LETTES Featuring SIR MONTI ROCK III (US September 1974, Chelsea CH 3004, A-side, 3:56 minutes)
2. Lady Marmalade (Album Version, 3:57 minutes) – LABELLE (from the November 1974 US LP "Nightbirds" on Epic KE 33075 – Produced and Arranged by Allen Toussaint)
3. Nobody's Gonna Change Me – THE DYNAMIC SUPERIORS (US July 1975, Motown M 1359F, A-side – an Ashford & Simpson song)
4. Ain't Nobody Straight In L.A. – THE MIRACLES (from the September 1975 US LP "City Of Angels" on Tamla T6-339 S1)
5. I Need A Man (12" Disco Mix, 7:30 minutes) – GRACE JONES (US 1977 12" Single, Beam Junction 12-BJ 1004, A-side – Produced/Mixed by Tom Moulton)
6. I Feel Love – PATRICK COWLEY (cover version of the Donna Summer song recorded 1977 in New York and clocking in at 9:48 minutes; first issued October 2020 on the US Patrick Cowley CD Compilation "Some Funkettes" on Dark Entries DE-283CD – see also Tracks 12 and 13 for Patrick Cowley)
7. Orgasm Addict – BUZZCOCKS (UK November 1977, United Artists UP 36316, A-side)
8. F*** Off – ELECTRIC CHAIRS (UK November 1977, Sweet FA WC 1, A-side, featuring Jayne County as Lead Vocalist (credited as Wayne County), Jools Holland on keyboards)
9. Glad To Be Gay – TOM ROBINSON BAND aka TRB (from the UK January 1978 4-Track EP "Rising Free" on EMI Records EMI 2749, Track 2 on Side 1 as "Sing If You're Glad To Be Gay")
10. I Was Born This Way (12" Disco Mix, Vocal, 6:31 minutes) – CARL BEAN (US 1977 12" Single, Motown M 00008D1, A-side (Vocal))
11. Prison (12" Version, 6:25 minutes) – SPACE (Canada 1978 12" Single, Vogue VO-302, A-side)
12. Disco Dance (12" Mega Mix, Vocal, 13:40 minutes) – MICHELE (US 1978 12" Single, West End Records WES 12100, A-side – song written by Patrick Cowley, Remixed by Tom Moulton, Michele was a pseudonym for French Singer Chantal Curtis – for Patrick Cowley see also Tracks 6 and 13)
13. I Need To Love Somebody Tonight (12" Version) – SYLVESTER (US 1979 12" Single, Fantasy 12 XFTC 171, A-side - a co-write between Patrick Cowley and Sylvester James, for Patrick Cowley see also Tracks 6 and 12)
NOTES on CD2: All Tracks are STEREO

The three-flap fold-out Digipak uses every surface (including beneath the see-through CD trays) to show either rare picture sleeves or 45-single label repros and coupled with a chunky 32-page booklet makes for something of a looker. The opening 4-page preamble sets the historical scene – walking a tightrope between declared orientations and the biggest open-secret in Music and the Arts. The text is festooned with images – trade adverts for Little Richard and 'Smash Pop Hit' "Tutti-Frutti", Lesley Gore's '4th Hit In A Row' or a smiling Sly Stone as he and his gang make a "Stand!" with parapet-preaching paragraphs from Epic Records about setting yourself free. Inbetween are sheet music repros for Lou Reed, The Jaynetts and Labelle sided by rare Demo 60ts labels for The Elgins and Joey Dee abutting hard-to-find picture sleeves for The Velvet Underground, Space, The Flirtations and loads more.

Beneath discography info, each paragraph ties in the song, artist or scene the tune featured in – some songs adopted by gay men and women because of lyrics that struck a chord or a perceived secret message. Details come thick and fast – Polly Perkins and her very Suzi Quatro 1973 woman-liberating camp-rocker "Coochi-Coo" entry tells us she was with Dusty Springfield's set and once compared 'Ready Steady Go!' Or the woman who got arrested in Liverpool for the heinous act of wearing a Promo Button on the  lapel of her jacket advertising the Jayne County & The Electric Chairs single. The US burlesque shock-rocker Jayne County from Atlanta had relocated to Blighty for the Punk Revolution and called her song the ever-so-slightly out-of-jointing "(If You Don't Want To Fuck Me) Fuck Off" - her Promo button simply stated, 'FUCK OFF'. But even now, closing in on 45-years after the event, the terribly-spiff British Bobby arresting her seems shockingly reactionary for all the wrong reasons. AUDIO is by long-standing Engineer DUNCAN COWELL and apart from the dreadful Joe Meek opener – songs like the magnificent duo of "Walk On The Wild Side" and "Lady Marmalade" are punching like a mule and sporting equal clarity as they do it. To the tunes and the overall listen…

Although arriving in from another planet (Savage argues that this is how gay men must have felt) – the withdrawn Joe Meek track "I Hear A New World" with its Pinky & Perky backing vocals and acetate production values is an awful start and it is painfully obvious that this compilation should have opened with the explosive Little Richard and his stunning "Tutti-Frutti". Flamboyant and considering himself beautiful – the photo on the front cover of the cool Digipak shows an adoring male fan staring in at Richard Penniman as he fixes his hair in his car with a brush – bare-chested of course. Nicking his style wholesale – Little Richard took liberally from the Esquerita look (Eskew Reeder) whose shrieking vocals and manic piano plinks on the B-side "Rockin' The Joint" is unfortunately another irritation rather than thrill. Far better is the sly world referred to in Billy Fury's Elvis-cool "Wondrous Place" – I want to stay and never go away. Lesbians in the Kings Road of London adopted the Frank D'rone big-band bopper "Strawberry Blond (And The Band Rocked On)" probably because of the lyrics "…waltz across the floor with the chick he adored…" – a very clever choice. 

The Andy Warhol-David Bowie connection to "Foot Stompin'" by The Dovells in 1961 is a longshot but still half a decent tune and I kind of agree with the hostile reaction given by the 1961 Juke Box Jury on John Leyton and his "Johnny Remember Me" – the public thought different though and with its galloping Joe Meek production leapt to No.1. A playlist regular in the Peppermint Lounge, a 45ft Street Gay Bar in New York, we can imagine one of its patrons Andy Warhol giving it some to "Peppermint Twist" by Joey Dee & The Starliters. A big fave for American gay men was the girl-group slink in "Sally, Go 'Round The Roses" where they won't tell your secret and you can let your hair down (and anything else for that matter). British Gay Men longing for love and a deeper connection in the La Duce Mod Club bopped to The Velvelettes connecting to the lyrics about how hard it is to find a good man – a "Needle In A Haystack". But much better for me is New Orleans veteran Bobby Marchan pointing his Jackie Wilson-type vocals at the fingersnappin' dancefloor – his superb dancer "Get Down With It" feeling like joy and not a bottled despair.

The arrival of the kick-the-walls-down changes of the mid 60ts are signalled by the lyrics and subtle subversion of Nico fronting The Velvet Underground. The B-side "I'll Be Your Mirror" is a tender Lou Reed love song that begs a different person to see themselves as beautiful too (Savage writes eloquently on this entry). But even that genius is whomped by the sheer in-yer-face bravery and cool in "Stand Up Straight And Tall" – Jackie Shane described as a Black American woman in a man's body – the song, an organ-grinding nightclub shuffler that is a fabulous choice for CD1. Fronting Big Brother & The Holding Company on Columbia Records and a short-stop from Woodstock fame, Janis Joplin hid her bisexuality but not her anger in "Women Is Losers" – even now it is an uncomfortable listen but Savage wants to show a full emotional-landscape. Although not very well recorded (more's the pity), the Joni Mitchell-influenced acoustic of Norma Tanega feels like the first genuine I'm-In-Love-With-You moment on the 2CD set – one woman blown away by another – it is lovely and almost naked in its intensity (I'll leave the Norma Tanega and Dusty Springfield story unfolded in the liner notes for your enjoyment).

Things take a British turn with Al Stewart celebrating more than hair that is fair in colour, The Kinks waxing lyrical about the boy's own private-school hedonism in "David Watts" (The Jam would of course memorably cover it in 1978 on their fab "All Mod Cons" album on Polydor). The US meets the UK occurs when the girly trio The Flirtations from South Carolina found they had a monster Northern Soul and Gay Anthem in Blighty – sinful loving of bad boys in their lyrics appealing. We then enter US Soul Vs. Hard Funk when Sly Stone turns up twice – first with the Family Stone (admittedly over familiar but mightily relevant to the theme) and the superb inclusion of the Hard-Funkin Abaco Dream and their "Life And Death In G & A". Written by Stone, the Abaco Dream turned out to be a New York Rock act who managed two US 45s and this one is a nugget. CD1 now sails into the sublime - "Nathan Jones" by The Supremes (Jean Tyrell fronting) flanging its way into our hearts and wiggle-butts while "Walk On The Wild Side" is just straight up genius and along with say "Green Onions" by Booker T. & The MGs practically owns the word cool and then some. But Savage goes out with a foursome bang – the Pink-and-Proud of it Polly Perkins and Jobriath songs raised their heads in 1973 above the sanctimonious media pulpits, aided by sexy gyrations from Manu DiBango and a socially-aware Temptations - Soul and Funk dominating but with African Rhythms and Norman Whitfield arrangements ("Law Of The Land" by The Temps has long been a fave-rave of mine and is a total winner). 

If I am truthful, I struggled a little with CD2. As I remember, even back in 1974, I found the Disco Tex track gimmicky and too in yer face for comfort. Far better to have opened with a genuine blast – Patti LaBelle and her band Labelle giving it some "…Voulez-vous coucher aver moi!" in the lyrics (French for I want to crochet, or should that be a word ending in k). Nona Hendryx and Sarah Dash benefit from great Allen Toussaint production in "Lady Marmalade" and the Bob Crewe/Kenny Nolan song is still a huge radio play a full 50 years on, when everyone I know would rather forget the embarrassing Sex-O-Lettes crud. Motown in 1975 were supporting Gay Acts – the defiant lyrics to The Dynamic Superiors song (supplied by Ashford & Simpson) screaming about convictions and feeling strong in the face of another morning facing the detractors. Clever choice comes in the shape of The Miracles engaging in Miami Latino Rhythms with their lyrically unambiguous "Ain't Nobody Straight In L.A." (homosexuality is a part of society). More relentless Disco beats comes in the guise of ex-model Grace Jones hamming it up with "I Need A Man" – jugular-chasing a marketplace that she knows loves her. The next is an outtake of "I Feel Love" – a 10-minute cover of the Donna Summer anthem that again overstays its synth welcome. 

Although, it still packs a kick-in-the-teeth quality, "Orgasm Addict" feels weird following such a 10-minute Disco bopper, but it does line up the truly brilliant Electric Chairs "F*** Off" – a down and dirty piece of Rock & Roll with lyrics that still make me laugh (hot shit and cold turd). Wayne County sounding like he/she means it! I still find the Tom Robinson depressing – a well-meaning effort that somehow alienates its listeners – and of course the prig BBC banned it. The Carn Bean twelve-inch "I Was Born This Way" is joyous stuff – holding his head high to a lush Philly-based arrangement. Madeline Bell lays into the Vocals for Space on their slow burner "Prison" – a tune that soon gets dancefloor-bootalicious as the synths solos and bass plucks build. The near 14-minutes of Michele giving it orgasmic "Disco Dance" would test the patience of a saint - the final CD2 track "I Need Somebody To Love Tonight" by Sylvester as least feeling honest in his personal pride as the backbeats drive on and on. 

"Jon Savage's The Secret Public: How The LGBTQ+ Aesthetic Shaped Pop Culture 1955-1979" will delight some (great choices) but bore others (too many long-winded Disco workouts on CD2). 

But whatever way you take your sugar in a tee-pee, Savage has done enough to open our eyes and ears and maybe even on occasion, our hearts, and minds. I liked this compilation a whole bunch. And for that I salute him and his Tutti-Frutti on a Rooty…

Friday, 4 February 2022

"Jon Savage's 1977-1979: Symbols Clashing Everywhere" by VARIOUS ARTISTS – Featuring Primarily 45-Single Sides and Occasional Album-Tracks by The Damned, The Adverts, Prince Far I, Pere Ubu, Brian Eno, 999, The Undertones, John Cooper Clarke, The Cramps, Devo, Telex, Tubeway Army, Scritti Politti, Talking Heads, Human League, Joe Gibbs, Siouxsie & The Banshees, A Certain Ratio, The Monochrome Set, Cabaret Voltaire and many more (January 2022 UK Ace Records 2CD Theme Compilation – Nick Robbins Remasters) - A Review by Mark Barry...





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"...Prophesy Reveal..."
 
Almost as much as the 60ts, the Punk and New-Wave heyday of 1976 to 1979 (especially UK-based releases) has been done to death compilation-wise over the last three decades of CD reissue. And fans will be wary of yet another splurge, no matter how tastily presented it may be.
 
But compiler and Uber enthusiast Jon Savage is smart enough to know this, and so has spread the purview of his latest twofer of 46-cuts out to all manner of unlikely but relevant corners of the genre spectrum (all but one are 45-single versions). Electronica sits alongside Euro Disco and US Funk while Jamaican Reggae and Dub follows Northern English Industrial and Siouxsie Sue Psych B-sides. American Garage and Rockabilly are bedfellows with Mancunian Synth siblings nibbling at the warm leatherette of Canadian Garage Dropouts. Whilst Brian Eno soundscapes and homemade Punkettes heading towards Woolworths on the London Underground with a safety pin on their knee and a heart full of hope. Sheila B. Devotion and The Undertones on the same playlist – yum baby yum.
 
"Jon Savage's 1977-1979: Symbols Clashing Everywhere" is rather expensive for sure (upwards of £18 in places), but after living with it a tad, I'm thinking precisely because of the aforementioned cleverly-thought-out genre-spread, "Symbols..." is actually a brill compilation in a marketplace crowded with too many of these sets - most sporting obvious choices. And that's all right mama (as the boy once said). Much to discuss and lots to pogo to my peeps; so here are the wide-eyed and legless details...
 
UK released, 28 January 2022 - "Jon Savage's 1977-1979: Symbols Clashing Everywhere" by VARIOUS ARTISTS on Ace Records CDTOP2 1610 (Barcode 029667104623) is a 46-Track 2CD Compilation in a Year-by-Year Series (see full list below). It plays out as follows:
 
CD1 (78:18 minutes):
1. Prophesy Reveal - BO JANGLES [DJ Marvin Pitterson, Joe Gibbs Song & Production] (1977 Jamaican 45-single on Errol T Records, A-side)
2. Neat Neat Neat - THE DAMNED (February 1977 UK 45-single on Stiff BUY 10, A-side)
3. Heavy Manners - PRINCE FAR I (February 1977 UK 45-single on Lightning TRO 9000, A-side)
4. Soda Pressing - THE BOYS (April 1977 UK 45-single on NEMS Records NES 102, B-side of "I Don't Care")
5. Quick Step - THE ADVERTS (April 1977 UK 45-single on Stiff BUY 13, B-side of "One Chord Wonders")
6. Young Savage - ULTRAVOX! (May 1977 UK 45-single on Island WIP 6392, A-side)
7. Magic Fly - SPACE (June 1977 France on Vogue-45 V 140196, July 1977 UK 45-single on Pyne International 7N 25746, A-side)
8. The Modern Dance - PERE UBU (August 1977 US 45-single on Hearthan HR 104, A-side)
9. Day By Day - GENERATION X (September 1977 UK 45-single on Chrysalis CHS 2165, B-side of "Your Generation")
10. Utopia - Me Giorgio - GIORGIO (September 1977 German 45-single on Moroder/Oasis 11 538 AT, A-side)
11. The Passenger - IGGY POP (September 1977 UK 45-single on RCA Victor PB 9160, A-side)
12. Suspended Sentence - JOHN COOPER CLARKE (November 1977 UK 45-single 3-Track "Innocents" EP on Rabid TOSH 103, Track 1, A-side)
13. Bamba In Dub - REVOLUTIONARIES (1977 UK 45-single on Sky Note SKY 1002, B-side of "El Bamba")
14. No Bones For The Dogs - JOE GIBBS & THE PROFESSIONALS (1977 Jamaican 45-single on Errol T. Town & Country Records, A-side)
15. Emergency - 999 (January 1978 UK 45-single on United Artists UP 36399, A-side)
16. King's Lead Hat - BRIAN ENO (January 1978 UK 45-single on Polydor 2001 762, A-side)
17. Dontsplitit - SUBWAY SECT (March 1978 UK 45-single on Braik BRS 01, A-side)
18. 52 Girls - THE B-52's (July 1979 UK 45-singkle on Island PSR 438, B-side of "Rock Lobster")
19. Moving Away From The Pulsebeat - BUZZCOCKS (April 1978 UK Album Track on their debut LP "Another Music In A Different Kitchen" on United Artists UALP 15)
20. Neverr - PENETRATION (May 1978 UK 45-single on Virgin VS 213, B-side of "Firing Squad")
21. Warm Leatherette - GRACE JONES (May 1978 UK 45-single on Mute 001, A-side)
22. I Remember - SUICIDE (May 1978 UK 45-single on Red Star/Bronze BRO 57, B-side of "Cheree")
23. True Confessions - THE UNDERTONES (September 1978 UK "Teenage Kicks" EP on Good Vibrations GOT 4, original version)
 
CD2 (79:03 minutes):
1. Being Boiled - THE HUMAN LEAGUE (June 1978 UK 45-single Fast Product FAST 4, A-side)
2. White Night - THE LINES (June 1978 UK 45-single on Linear SJP 782, A-side)
3. Come Back Jonee - DEVO (August 1978 UK 45-single on Virgin VS 223, A-side)
4. Tired Of Waking Up Tired - THE DIODES (August 1978 UK 45-single on Epic 6531, A-side)
5. Voices - SIOUXSIE & THE BANSHEES (August 1978 UK 45-single on Polydor 2059 052, B-side of "Hong Kong Garden")
6. 28/8/78 - SCRITTI POLITTI (October 1978 UK 45-single EP on St. Pancras Records SCRIT 1, Instrumental Last Track on Side B of a 3-Track EP)
7. The Set Up - CABARET VOLTAIRE (October 1978 UK 45-single "Extended Play" on Rough Trade RT 003, Last Track on Side 2 of a 4-Track EP)
8. Human Fly - THE CRAMPS (November 1978 US 45-single on Vengeance 668, A-side)
9. Found A Job - TALKING HEADS (October 1978 UK 45-single on Sire SIR 4004, B-side of "Take Me To The River")
10. Situations - THE MIDDLE CLASS (Autumn 1978 US "Out Of Vogue" EP on Joke 09831 - December 1978 UK on "Earcom 3" EP on Fast Product FAST 9c)
11. Times Encounter - NIGEL SIMPKINS (November 1978 UK "X. Enc." EP on Waldo's Swing Series 002)
12. Handling The Big Jets - THE MEMBERS (January 1979 UK 45-single on Virgin VS 242, Instrumental B-side to "The Sound Of The Suburbs")
13. Hippie - SUZANNES (March 1979 Dutch "New Disease Sells 2000 Copies In Europe!" EP on De 1000 Idioten IDI 333)
14. 3.38 - THE POP GROUP (March 1979 UK 45-single on Radar ADA 29, B-side of "She Is Beyond Good And Evil")
15. Warrior In Woolworths - X-RAY SPEX (April 1979 UK 45-single on EMI International INT 583, B-side of "Highly Inflammable")
16. Are 'Friends' Electric? - TUBEWAY ARMY (May 1979 UK 45-single on Beggars Banquet BEG 18, A-side)
17. All Night Party - A CERTAIN RATIO (May 1979 UK 45-single Factory FAC 5, A-side)
18. Pakmoväst - TELEX (July 1979 French Vogue 45 X 1172, B-side of "Moscow Diskow")
19. Eine Symphonie Des Grauens - THE MONOCHROME SET (June 1979 UK 45-single on Rough Trade RT 019, A-side)
20. A Question Of Degree - WIRE (June 1979 UK 45-single on Harvest HAR 5187, A-side)
21. I Heard It Through The Grapevine - THE SLITS (September 1979 UK 45-single on Island WIP 6505, B-side of "Typical Girls")
22. Hindu Gods (Of Love) - LIPSTICK KILLERS (Autumn 1979 Australian 45-single on Lost In Space PRS-2661, A-side)
23. Spacer - SHEILA & B. DEVOTION (November 1979 UK 45-single on Carrere CAR 128, A-side - written and produced by Bernard Edwards & Nile Rodgers of Chic)
 
The 28-page booklet is a beast allowing to Savage to pour out facts and highly personal opinions on every entry - many of which you will notice are the lesser-tread B-sides of big hitters. He also explains his leaning away from 'one chord wonders' into deeper stuff, and all of it sided with posters, trade adverts, and period 45 picture-sleeves collectors worship daily on. Can't say I've ever seen The Middle Class' American Joker Records original P/S for their "Out Of Vogue" Extended Play or the "New Disease..." EP by the obscure band Suzannes from the Netherlands either - very cool. Long-standing Audio Engineer to Ace Records NICK ROBBINS has handled the Mastering and done his usual daring-do with the tapes - great punch and that feeling you're boogieing through a digital jukebox with audio muscle. To the contents...
 
It opens with the echoed preaching of DJ Marvin Pitterson telling us about Marcus Garvey's prophesies for 1977 - pretty good sound for a Babylon-The-Wicked warning. Things go stellar though with the fantastic "Neat Neat Neat" by The Damned, a warp speed opener for Punk that sends me doolally still. Back to Dub Rhythms with Natty Dread worrin' 'bout War in the East and War in the West - tremendous stuff from Prince Far I commenting on Prime Minister Michael Manley's declared 'State Of Emergency' for Jamaica (you can so hear why The Clash took on these ideas and rhythms in their hybrids). Time to Rock 'n' Roll New York Dolls stylee with "Soda Pressing" by The Boys, a fab 'come on baby give me a smile' rocker that would have Joe Strummer sit up and wink. Amateur yet so full of vinegar, "Quick Step" ploughs the same grungy furrow that The Damned did in February 1977. I'd genuinely forgotten how great the rocking version of Ultravox! is - "Young Savage" benefiting from Steve Lilywhite's in-yer-face Production.
 
In come the Synths and Euro Electronic Disco beats with the shockingly hip "Space" by Magic Fly, a Star Wars vs. The Dancefloor seven-inch single we were regularly asked for when I worked in Reckless Records in Berwick Street. Smartly following that is the warbling-vocal jerky-neck beat of Pere Ubu; their "Modern Dance" sounding like the lovechild of Talking Heads and Devo. Back to full-speed-ahead British Punk with Billy Idol in suitable sneering mode for "Day By Day" – Generation X produced by the man who twiddled knobs for glam queens The Sweet.
 
Italian Disco icon Giorgio Moroder gives it some pulsing trouser-trust with his so-camp "Utopia: Me Giorgio" perfectly followed by another stunning show off in top (no top) form – Iggy Pop riding "The Passenger" – arguably one of the great unsung hero 45s of the year. Page 3 Big Bum lyrics liven up the anarchic "Suspended Sentence" where John Cooper Clarke writes to the Sun to argue the return of hanging (for everyone) – what a nice chap! Genius follow-on comes in the shape of a Jackie Mittoo cover done in a bass-kicking Dub style by The Revolutionaries – and again I get the feeling that The Clash are listening and Sandinista appreciating. Joe Gibbs gives it some flute-and—reggae-rhythm echo for his sought-after barky-starky "No Bones For The Dog".
 
Savage starts 1978 with the strident "Emergency" – Nick Cash of 999 snarling out those make-em-pay lyrics with genuine Punk attitude. So very "Low" period Bowie gone Punk – Brian Eno gets metallic sounding with his frantic "King’s Lead Hat" – a tune and vocal that could easily have been on the Talking Heads: 77 debut album. Other goodies on CD1 include The Normal's decidedly -in-the-now smarts displayed in "Warm Leatherette" and the mighty Undertones "Teenage Kicks" EP on Terry Hooley's Belfast-based Good Vibrations - their cut of "True Confessions" differing on that homemade EP than the re-cut LP version that came later.
 
CD2 opens in June 1978 with the 'ok, ready, let's do it' of The Human League sounding so DIY Electro-Pop on "Being Boiled" - it hurts. The flashing-lights of suburbia obsess The Lines and their excellent New-Wave guitar throwback "White Night" - a brilliant inclusion. Smart choices also goes to restlessness of "Tired Of Waking Up Tired" by Canada's The Diodes suffering from too much time to kill and I gotta say, I felt like a full-on pogo to the fabulous Siouxsie B-side "Voices" - a very cool piece of treated guitar warbling menacing its weird way across your speakers.
 
The shadow of Talking Heads and their edgy US Funky New Wave sound starts to dominate much of the scene and I loved that. Feels like 1976 for the very Ramones "Hippie" from Euro-types Suzannes and there isn't surely anyone who dug the period that wouldn't smile at X-Ray Specs giving us their rebel on the underground making his way into a "Warrior In Woolworths" (great choice). And on it goes the Lipstick Killers grungy kick-ass "Hindu Gods (Of Love)" sounding fantastic only to be followed by something that shouldn't work - a Chic-sounding "Spacer" - indicating the more Pop-Soul future to come.
 
I'm not sure that everything on this latest Jon Savage 2CD tome will hit the mark with everyone everywhere, but I love a good comp me and this is one compiled from roads less traveled that deserve a second--go-round. Nice one broheem...
 
  Titles in Jon Savage's Year Series are (2CD Compilations)

CDs:
1. Jon Savage's 1965: The Year The Sixties Ignited (26 January 2018 2CD set on Ace CDTOP2 1513 - Barcode 029667086028)
 
2. Jon Savage's 1966: The Year The Decade Exploded (30 October 2015 2CD set on Ace CDTOP2 1452 - Barcode 029667074223)
 
3. Jon Savage's 1967: The Year Pop Divided (31 March 2017 2CD set on Ace CDTOP2 1495 - Barcode 029667079525)
 
4. Jon Savage's 1968: The Year The World Burned (30 November 2018 2CD set on Ace CDTOP2 1536 - Barcode 029667092821)
 
5. Jon Savage's 1969-1971: Rock Dreams on 45 (25 October 2019 UK 2CD set on Ace CDTOP2 1559 - Barcode 029667096621)
 
6. Jon Savage's 1972-1976: All Our Times Have Come (26 March 2021 UK 2CD set on Ace CDTOP2 1594 - Barcode 029667101523)

7. Jon Savage's 1977-1979: Symbols Clashing Everywhere (28 January 2022 UK 2CD set on Ace CDTOP2 1610 - Barcode 029667104623)

8. Jon Savage's 1980-1982: The Art Of Things To Come (24 February 2023 UK Ace Records CDTOP2 1625 - Barcode 029667107921)

9. Jon Savage's 1983-1985: Welcome To Techno City (26 January 2024 UK Ace Records CDTOP2 1639 – Barcode 029667110020)

VINYL:
1. Jon Savage's 1965-1968: The High Sixties On 45 (June 2019 UK on Ace Records XXQLP2 060, 35-Track 2LP Set on Orange Vinyl in Stereo and Mono, Barcode 029667009515)

Wednesday, 14 April 2021

"Jon Savage's 1972-1976: All Our Times Have Come" by VARIOUS ARTISTS – Featuring UK, US, GERMAN, DUTCH and FRENCH 45-Singles by Little Feat, The Move, Grin, Faust, Mott The Hoople, Big Star, Free, Sparks, Lou Reed, David Bowie (4 Tracks have connections), Andy Pratt, New York Dolls, Dana Gillespie, John Lennon, Sparks, Neu, Dr. Feelgood, Hawkwind, Kraftwerk, Murray Head, Roxy Music, Yoko Ono, The Runaways, The Hammersmith Gorillas, Blondie, Nick Lowe, Blue Oyster Cult, The Count Bishops and more (March 2021 UK Ace Records 2CD 44-Track Compilation with Nick Robbins Remasters) - A Review by Mark Barry...





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1976

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"...School's Been Blown To Pieces..."

I love a CD compilation me and this rather angry little brute has more than its fair share of fabulous snarling moments. 

Part of Jon Savage's ongoing year-by-year exploration of Rock's 60ts beginnings through to its 70ts multi-genre developments as issued on seven-inch singles (see series list below) - his latest for March 2021 is this - a 44-Track 2CD growl through what he loosely describes as 'punk' covering five years in the Seventies - 1972 to 1976. 

Wot! Punk Rock between 1972 and 1976 you say! Didn't it start during 1976 and explode thereafter? Well, it's more the ethos that Savage is getting at – the subterranean screams that lie in say Alice Cooper's "School's Out" (that symbol of control and establishment blown to pieces) or the edgy Art-School neck-jerk that's inherent in Roxy Music's brilliant "Editions Of You" (a rare Euro-only single) or Patti Smith's stunning snot-nose rendition of "Hey Joe" - the Billy Roberts song done by The Leaves in 1966 and made famous by Hendrix's Experience that same year. 

But like so many compilations dragged down by the omission of big names that can't be licensed and (let's be mean mister mustard here) a few of his own dubious choices - "All Our Times Have Come" also falls in places despite some genuinely brilliant inclusions on those roads less travelled. 

That aside - I like "All Our Times Have Come" a lot – an alternative listen worth a tremble in the trouser area. "1972-1976" is also stuffed to the gunnels - check out the near 80-minute playing times for both CDs listed below. And the annotation Savage puts in is second-to-none - a rammed 28-page booklet that's even more fact-windy than this review. Time to get teenage and wasted...

UK released 26 March 2021 - "Jon Savage's 1972-1976: All Out Times Have Come" by VARIOUS ARTISTS on Ace Records CDTOP2 1594 (Barcode 029667101523) is a 44-Track 2CD compilation of 45-Single Remasters that plays out as follows:

CD1 (79:39 minutes, All Tracks are 45-Single Versions):
1. Easy To Slip - LITTLE FEAT (January 1972 US on Warner Brothers WB 7553, A-side)
2. Do Ya - THE MOVE (April 1972 UK on Harvest HAR 5050, One B-side of "California Man")
3. End Unkind - GRIN (April 1972 US on Spindizzy ZS7 4006, A-side Edit, featuring Nils Lofgren)
4. School's Out - ALICE COOPER (June 1972 UK on Warner Brothers K 16188, A-side)
5. I Hardly Know Her Name - THE WACKERS (May 1972 UK on Warner Brothers K 12054, A-side)
6. So Far - FAUST (May 1972 GERMAN on Polydor 2001 299, A-side edit)
7. Slow Death - FLAMIN' GROOVIES (July 1972 UK on United Artists UP 35392, A-side, Produced by Dave Edmunds)
8. One Of The Boys - MOTT THE HOOPLE (July 1972 UK on CBS Records S 8271, B-side of "All The Young Dudes", Written by Mick Ralphs (later with Bad Co) and Ian Hunter, Produced and Arranged by David Bowie)
9. When My Baby's Beside Me - BIG STAR (August 1972 US on Ardent ADA 2902, A-side)
10. She Means A Lot To Me - SMYLE (October 1972 NETHERLANDS on Polydor 2050 215, B-side of "It's Gonna Be Alright")
11. Wishing Well - FREE (December 1972 UK on Island WIP 6146, A-side)
12. Full Circle - THE BYRDS (June 1973 UK on Asylum AYM 517, A-side - Written by Gene Clark, Produced by David Crosby)
13. Blockbuster! - THE SWEET (January 1973 UK on RCA Victor RCA 2305, A-side - written by Mike Chapman and Nicky Chinn)
14. Vicious - LOU REED (March 1973 UK on RCA Victor RCA 2318, A-side - Produced by David Bowie and Mick Ronson)
15. Avenging Annie - ANDY PRATT (June 1973 UK on Epic S EPC 1538, A-side)
16. Yang Yang - YOKO ONO/PLASTIC ONO BAND (April 1973 UK Apple APPLE 47, B-side of "Death Of Samantha")
17. Editions Of You - ROXY MUSIC (June 1973 GERMANY on Island 12 713, B-side of "Do The Strand")
18. Search And Destroy - IGGY & THE STOOGES (June 1973 US on Columbia 4-45877, A-side)
19. 48 Crash - SUZI QUATRO (July 1973 UK on RAK Records RAK 158, A-side - written by Mike Chapman and Nicky Chinn)
20. Trash - NEW YORK DOLLS (August 1973 US on Mercury 73414, A-side- Produced by Todd Rundgren)
21. Andy Warhol - DANA GILLESPIE (August 1974 UK on RCA Victor RCA 2446, A-side - written and produced by David Bowie)
22. No. 9 Dream - JOHN LENNON (January 1975 UK on Apple R 6003, A-side)
 
CD2 (77:23 minutes):
1. Girl From Germany - SPARKS (June 1974 UK on Bearsville K 15516, A-side - from 1973's LP "A Woofer In Tweeter's Clothing")
2. You Really Got Me - THE HAMMERSMITH GORILLAS (September 1974 UK on Penny Farthing PEN 849, A-side - cover of The Kinks 60ts hit, Produced by Larry Page)
3. The Man Who Couldn't Afford To Orgy - JOHN CALE (July 1974 UK on Island WIP 6202, A-side - Produced by John Cale, Brian Eno and Phil Manzanera) 
4. Hey Joe (Version) - PATTI SMITH (November 1974 US Mer Records 601, A-side - cover of The Leaves and Jimi Hendrix 1966 hit)
5. Third Uncle - ENO (1974 FRENCH on Island 6837 233, A-side)
6. Kings Of Speed - HAWKWIND (May 1976 UK on United Artists UP 35808, A-side - Dave Brock and Michael Moorcock song)
7. I Don't Mind - DR. FEELGOOD (March 1975 UK on United Artists UP 38515, B-side of "She Does It Right" - Mono Single from the Mono LP "Down By The Jetty")
8. After Eight - NEU (June 1975 UK on United Artists UP 35874, B-side of "Isi")
9. Red Temple Prayer (Two Headed Dog) - R. ERICSON & BLEIBALIEN (1975 US on Mars Records No. 1000, A-side - Roky Ericson of The 13th Floor Elevators, Produced by Doug Sham)
10. Roadrunner - JONATHAN RICHMAN (August 1975 UK on United Artists UP 36006, A-side)
11. Say It Isn't So Joe - MURRAY HEAD (October 1975 UK on Island WIP 6252, A-side)
12. Radioactivity - KRAFTWERK (February 1976 UK on Capitol CL 15853, A-side)
13. Final Solution - PERE UBU (March 1976 US on Hearthan 102, A-side)
14. Blitzkrieg Bop - RAMONES (July 1976 UK on Sire 6078 601, A-side)
15. Max's Kansas City '76 Pt. 1 - WAYNE COUNTY & THE BACKSTREET BOYS (1976 US on Max 1213, A-side)
16. Cherry Bomb - THE RUNAWAYS (September 1976 UK on Mercury 6167 392, A-side - written by Kim Fowley and Joan Jett)
17. X Offender - BLONDIE (March 1977 UK Private Stock PVT 90, A-side - written by Debbie Harry and Gary Valentine)
18. Horseplay (Weary Of The Schmaltz) - EDDIE & THE HOT RODS (June 1976 UK on Island WIP 6306, B-side of "Wooly Bully" - Lew Lewis on Harmonica)
19. Keys To Your Heart - THE 101'ERS (June 1976 UK on Chiswick S 3, A-side - written by and featuring Joe Strummer before he formed The Clash)
20. (Don't Fear) The Reaper - BLUE OYSTER CULT (July 1976 UK on CBS Records S CBS 4483, A-side)
21. Heart Of The City - NICK LOWE (August 1976 UK on Stiff BUY 1, B-side of "So It Goes")
22. Train, Train - THE COUNT BISHOPS (August 1976 UK on Chiswick S 5, A-side)

ARTIST INDEX (Alphabetical)
Big Star – CD1, Track 9
Blondie - CD2, Track 17
Blue Oyster Cult - CD2, Track 20
The Byrds – CD1, Track 12
John Cale - CD2, Track 3
Alice Cooper – CD1, Track 4
The Count Bishops - CD2, Track 22
Wayne County & The Backstreet Boys - CD2, Track 15
Dr. Feelgood - CD2, Track 7
Eddie & The Hot Rods - CD2, Track 18
(Brian) Eno - CD2, Track 5
Roky Erickson and Bleibalien - CD2, Track 9
Faust – CD1, Track 6
Flamin' Groovies – CD1, Track 7
Free – CD1, Track 11
Dana Gillespie – CD1, Track 21 (David Bowie connection) 
Grin – CD1, Track 3
The Hammersmith Gorillas - CD2, Track 1
Hawkwind - CD2, Track 6
John Lennon – CD1, Track 22
Little Feat – CD1, Track 1
Murray Head - CD2, Track 11
Iggy & The Stooges – CD1, Track 18 (David Bowie connection)
Kraftwerk - CD2, Track 12
Nick Lowe - CD2, Track 21
Mott The Hoople – CD1, Track 8 (David Bowie connection)
The Move – CD1, Track 2
Neu - CD2, Track 8
New York Dolls – CD1, Track 20
The 101'ers (featuring Joe Strummer) - CD2, Track 19
Yoko Ono/Plastic Ono Band – CD1, Track 16
Pere Ubu - CD2, Track 13
Andy Pratt – CD1, Track 15
Suzi Quatro – CD1, Track 19
Ramones - CD2, Track 14
Lou Reed – CD1, Track 14 (David Bowie connection)
Jonathan Richman - CD2, Track 10
Roxy Music – CD1, Track 17
The Runaways - CD2, Track 16
Patti Smith - CD2, Track 4
Smyle – CD1, Track 10
Sparks - CD2, Track 1
The Sweet – CD1, Track 13
The Wackers – CD1, Track 5

The 28-page booklet is more than impressive, Savage going the extra mile with 'both' US and UK seven-inch single catalogue numbers and release dates and a lengthy seriously knowledgeable paragraph on every song. There's clever stuff like Sparks, The Hammersmith Gorillas and Dr. Feelgood all benefitting from Euro Picture Sleeves because their British equivalents only came in label bags, while other pages contain collages of magazines, trade adverts, demos of 45-single labels, and wads of rare picture sleeves like Faust's "So Far", the New York Dolls' "Trash" and the titled demo sleeve for Murray Head's aching "Say It Ain't So Joe" on Island. 

I also found that long-standing Audio Engineer for Ace NICK ROBBINS - who has probably been round more 45 master tapes than many human beings on the planet would ever want - has achieved a remarkable clarity and even-handedness to the sound. For instance although I adore Little Feat and The Move, I thought Savage's pairing of the slick Rock-Funk of "Easy To Slip" with the Raw-Rock riffage of "Do Ya" in the first two opening tracks on CD1 would be a disaster - it isn't. Zipping right over to both Nick Lowe and The Count Bishops on the tailend of CD2 - I have these tunes on other remastered CDs, but somehow the Robster has squeezed more oomph out of them. Very cool. To the music...

You have to love a compilation that digs down to find the US-only 45s for "End Unkind" and "When My Baby's Beside Me" by Grin (with Nils Lofgren) and Big Star – both great examples of post-Beatles Pop Songs that impress and jangle. But I have to say that both The Wackers and The Byrds entries leave me stone cold even if Gene Clark and David Crosby are present on the second. But then genius choices kick in – The Dutch group Smyle is a superb new one on me and the relentlessness of the Faust and Flamin’ Groovies tracks work so well. Mike Chapman and Nicky Chinn feature large in my youth and frankly anything on RAK Records – so its chipper to see Suzi and The Sweet bask in all their Glam Rock sun and pomp (we don’t know just what to do!). Bowie androgynous punk-riffing shadow looms over four entries – Mott The Hoople, Lou Reed, Iggy & The Stooges and Dana Gillespie (looking buxom on Page 16 never mind 3). And I had forgotten the brilliance in both "Editions Of You" and "♯ 9 Dream" – Ferry and his gang of Glam marauders shining snotty alongside a sensual-sounding Lennon dreaming of "Walls and Bridges" and elaborate album artwork. 

Tunesmith slick-willies of British and US Punk and New Wave pepper CD2 - Blondie, The Count Bishops, Dr. Feelgood, The Runaways, Nick Lowe, The Ramones, Pere Ubu and more – while The Sweet, Suzi Quatro, Lou Reed, Iggy Pop, New York Dolls, Big Star and Dana Gillespie all Glam/Alternative/Space Rock/Bowie-esque up CD1. But Savage then throws in the desperate but gorgeous melody of Murray Head, the can't get out of my head space of John Lennon, the longing Feminism of Yoko Ono or the ahead-of-its-time Stooges-like guitar-wild of Neu and the Euro-Electronic angst of Kraftwerk and even Sparks. Just out of hospital and some five years after the 13th Floor Elevators' Roky Erickson gets angry while the Velvet's John Cale worries about men who can't afford to orgy. There's straight up Seventies Rock, Glam Rock, Kraut Rock, Art Rock, Post Rock 'n' Roll, Early Punk, British & US New Wave, Space Rock, Comedy - it's a cool and varied ride. Hit me with a flower. 

"...They're all revved up and ready to go..." screamed The Ramones in their impossibly cool reinvention of 60ts Garage - one foot in the past but the other ready to race towards the future. "1972-1976: All Our Times Have Come" embodies that girls, boys and all-points in-between world of excitement and restlessness with a bullet. CDTOP2 is right...  

Titles in Jon Savage's Year Series are (2CD Compilations)

1. Jon Savage's 1965: The Year The Sixties Ignited (26 January 2018 2CD set on Ace CDTOP2 1513 - Barcode 029667086028)
 
2. Jon Savage's 1966: The Year The Decade Exploded (30 October 2015 2CD set on Ace CDTOP2 1452 - Barcode 029667074223)
 
3. Jon Savage's 1967: The Year Pop Divided (31 March 2017 2CD set on Ace CDTOP2 1495 - Barcode 029667079525)
 
4. Jon Savage's 1968: The Year The World Burned (30 November 2018 2CD set on Ace CDTOP2 1536 - Barcode 029667092821)
 
5. Jon Savage's 1969-1971: Rock Dreams on 45 (25 October 2019 UK 2CD set on Ace CDTOP2 1559 - Barcode 029667096621)
 
6. Jon Savage's 1972-1976: All Our Times Have Come (26 March 2021 UK 2CD set on Ace CDTOP2 1594 - Barcode 029667101523)

7. Jon Savage's 1977-1979: Symbols Clashing Everywhere (28 January 2022 UK 2CD set on Ace CDTOP2 1610 - Barcode 029667104623)

8. Jon Savage's 1980-1982: The Art Of Things To Come (24 February 2023 UK Ace Records CDTOP2 1625 - Barcode 029667107921)

9. Jon Savage's 1983-1985: Welcome To Techno City (26 January 2024 UK Ace Records CDTOP2 1639 – Barcode 029667110020)

VINYL:
1. Jon Savage's 1965-1968: The High Sixties On 45 (June 2019 UK on Ace Records XXQLP2 060, 35-Track 2LP Set on Orange Vinyl in Stereo and Mono, Barcode 029667009515)

INDEX - Entries and Artist Posts in Alphabetical Order