V.A. Agit-Prop: The Politics of Punk Volume Three

Back in 1997 Cleopatra Records compiled a heavily Anglo-centric history of punk & politics that dealt primarily in the years between 1977 and 1983. While far from perfect it's loaded with great tracks:

Disc three

Anarchy In The UK The Sex Pistols
Class War The Exploited
Protest And Survive The Varukers
Politicians and Ministers Threats
Fuck The Tories Riot Squad
How Sad The Adicts
Borstal Breakout Sham 69
Rowche Rumble The Fall
Babylons Burning Ruts
I Got Nothing/I Got Shit Iggy And The Stooges
America Au Pairs
Fiasco Chron Gen
Cop Cars The Boys
Peasant In The Big Shitty The Stranglers
Fascist Dictator Cortinas
Red's Strike The Blues Redskins
Do You Believe In The Westworld Theatre Of Hate
Stand Strong Stand Proud Vice Squad
Vengeance New Model Army
In A Rut Ruts

While I'm away from my main computer for a spell (hence the link for Agit-Prop Vol. 3 being right HERE) but I'll still get to read all the COMMENTS, so please give us your take on this series.

V.A. Agit-Prop: The Politics of Punk Volume Two

Back in 1997 Cleopatra Records compiled a heavily Anglo-centric history of punk n' politics that dealt primarily in the years between 1977 and 1983. While far from perfect it's loaded with great tracks:

Disc two

Submission The Sex Pistols
Soldier Soldier Spizz(sic)
(I'm In Love With) Margaret Thatcher The Notsensibles
GLC Menace
CND Red London
Kick Out The Jams MC5
Government Stinks Violators
If The Kids Are United Sham 69
Gun Fury Damned
Glad To Be Gay '94 Tom Robinson
Between The Wars Billy Bragg
Fascist Regime UK Subs
Streets Of London Anti-Nowhere League
Alternative Ulster Stiff Little Fingers
Solidarity Angelic Upstarts
Persons Unknown Poison Girls
Fruit Flies The 3 Johns
Living With Unemployment Newtown Neurotics
No Government Anti Pasti
Sensible It Up Captain Sensible


While I'm away from my main computer for a spell (hence the link for Agit-Prop Vol. 2 being right HERE), I'll still get to read all the COMMENTS, so please give us your take on this series.

V.A. Agit-Prop: The Politics of Punk Volume One

Back in 1997 Cleopatra Records compiled a heavily Anglo-centric history of punk and politics that dealt primarily in the years between 1977 and 1983. While far from perfect it's loaded with great tracks:

Disc one

Land of Hope and Glory Ex Pistols
Fight The Cuts The Mekons
Unionize Redskins
It Says Here Billy Bragg
Don't Dictate Penetration
Old Tart Poison Girls
Death of the European The 3 Johns
Spirit of The Falklands New Model Army
Paved With Gold Joolz
Atishoo Morgans
Chemical Warfare Dead Kennedys
The Murder of Liddle Towers Angelic Upstarts
Irrelevant Battles Patrik Fitzgerald
No Respect Newtown Neurotics
Suspect Device Stiff Little Fingers
Right To Work Chelsea
Selfish Few Chaos UK
Fuck Religion, Fuck Politics, Fuck The Lot Of You Chaotic Discord
Hitler's In The Charts Again The Exploited


While I'm away from my main computer for a spell (hence the link for Agit-Prop Vol. 1 being right HERE), I'll still get to read all the COMMENTS, so please give us your take on this series.

Ray Condo & His Hardrock Goners: Hot n' Cold (1988)

(Thanks to regular reader/commenter Doug P. for this guest post)

The recently remastered and expanded reissue of The Blue Shadows 'On The Floor Of Heaven' album got me thinking of other bands that were gigging around Vancouver in those days. Bands like Buddy Selfish and his Saviours, Herald Nix and Ray Condo. Ray Condo and his Hardrock Goners put out 5 great albums.The first two were the out-of-print albums 'Crazy Date'(1986) and 'Hot 'n' Cold'(1988). I particularly liked the addition of a fiddle to the rockabilly sound.



Later Ray Condo formed a band Ray Condo and his Ricochets that was more in a western swing style that even covered jazz standards.Unfortunately Ray passed away in 2004 but has left a fantastic musical legacy.Ray Condo and his bands certainly deserved much more success.

The Hardrock Goners drummer Peter Sandmark(Slim Sandy) has posted info on Ray Condo.

http://sandmark.tripod.com/condo.html

Many of Ray Condo's albums are for sale as CDs and downloads from the regular sources.Crow-Matic Records has two excellent compilations for sale.Both compilations are recommended.

http://sandmark.tripod.com/store.html

A detailed discography can be found here.

http://countrydiscography.blogspot.com/2010/11/ray-condo.html


A1 Blast Off
A2 The Worrying Kind
A3 Lonely Wolf
A4 Crazy Mixed Up World
A5 Burn Your Playhouse Down
A6 Hot'n' Cold
A7 The Sinister Urge
B1 This Is The Night
B2 One Way Ticket
B3 Wild Guitar
B4 All Night Long
B5 You Shake Me Up
B6 Could She Kiss
B7 Don't

Since your friendly neighbourhood Blogger is taking some time away from his computer the link for Hot n' Cold is HERE but since I'm packing my Crackberry like it was a pistol, COMMENTS are still requested.

Hard Rain: A Tribute to Bob Dylan Vol. 2

As I said for Volume one (see HERE), it's interesting that many editions of Jeffs98119's Nobody Sings Dylan Like Dylan (all 36 volumes HERE) compare so favourably to this tasteful, well-compiled (but now out-of-print) set done with the professional backing and major label access of Uncut Magazine. As always, what I dig may or may not be your cup of meat but I'll argue that this volume plays like a nice mix tape and, while still imperfect, it is a much stronger end-to-end listen than its predecessor. On this set fellow Minnesotan Paul Westerberg does a nice loping "Positively 4th Street", the Specials (circa 1980) do their creepy take on "Maggie's Farm", Dr Feelgood punch-up "Highway 61", Robyn Hitchcock does weird things to "Tangled up in Blue" and Buddy and Julie Miller countrify "Wallflower" (which already had some twang to begin with).

1 Hamell On Trial – It's Alright Ma (I'm Only Bleeding)
2 Echo & The Bunnymen – It's All Over Now, Baby Blue
3 Lee Ranaldo – Visions Of Johanna
4 Paul Westerberg – Positively 4th Street
5 Yo La Tengo – I Threw It All Away
6 Specials – Maggie's Farm
7 Charlatans – Tonight I'll Be Staying Here With You
8 Dr Feelgood – Highway 61 Revisited
9 Robyn Hitchcock – Tangled Up In Blue
10 Buddy & Julie Miller – Wallflower
11 Steve Harley – Love Minus Zero / No Limit 6:08
12 Ani DiFranco – Hurricane
13 Cowboy Junkies – If You Gotta Go, Go Now
14 Gallon Drunk – Series Of Dreams
15 Emmylou Harris – Every Grain Of Sand


Let us know what you think of these Dylan covers in the COMMENTS section (which is where you'll find the Hard Rain V. 2 link).