Moskow 7'' (1978)

Roberto's Rarities:
An irregular MRML series powered by the wild generosity of our reader, Roberto: Enjoy and don't forget to leave our benefactor a thank-you comment.

This early version of goth-poppers The Bolshoi - David Ashmore (Vocals), David Cole (Guitar), Trevor Flynn/Tanner (Bass), Michael Matthews (Keyboards), Jan Kalicki (Drums) - released the same catchy post-punk song., "The Man from UNCLE" (different versions?) with two seperate B-sides in 1n 1978 and 1979. For great background info, check out this dead-linked blog post (and the comments).

Reactions to this rarity are strongly encouraged and can be left in the COMMENTS section (where the Moskow 7" link can be found).

The Friendly Hopeful's: Tribute to the Punks of 1976 (1981)

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Two commenters and almost 70 downloads? I think readers here can do better.



Roberto's Rarities:
An irregular MRML series powered by the wild generosity of our reader, Roberto: Enjoy and don't forget to leave our benefactor a thank-you COMMENT.

We already talked about the solo work of Eater singer Andy Blade  (HERE) and Sex Pistol producer Dave Goodman's (HERE), so let's see what happened when these two guys got together back in 1981 to make a novelty record that pillaged punk's past.




So, the result, which was supposed to be a Stars on 45 style disco medley, instead sounds like a buncha punk songs smeared together and  played at the same tempo. Inconsequential possibly but an amusing listen nonetheless.

Reactions -  love, hate or confusion - to this Eater/Sex Pistols-related novelty item are strongly encouraged and can be left in the COMMENTS section (where the Tribute to the Punks of 1976 link can be found).

Ex Pistols: Land of Hope & Glory (1984) FIXED

Roberto's Rarities:
An irregular MRML series powered by the wild generosity of our reader, Roberto: Enjoy and don't forget to leave our benefactor a thank-you comment.

Dave Goodman's legacy is inextricably linked to The Sex Pistols, a fact John Lydon always resented and Goodman exploited relentlessly for the remainder of his days. Those attitudes may explain why Lydon tried have this record, on which Goodman did everything possible to resemble a Sex Pistols release (even including Glen Matlock somewhere along the line) banned.

Still a pretty fun single and almost as authentic as anything on the Great Rock n' Roll Swindle. (For even more on that curiously fraudulent era of the Sex Pistols see this site).




Reactions to Goodman's Swindle are strongly encouraged and can be left in the COMMENTS section (where the link for Land of Hope & Glory can be found).

Update: The full single is now available - please see the fourth comment for link.

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REM: Rare Frequencies (Fanclub)

To see my list of great R.E.M. videos (1982-1984) please come visit The Big Takeover.


While I never worshiped at the altar of REM (more HERE), the band kept a strong hold of me till 1994's Monster. While the first single, "What's the Frequency, Kenneth" lived up to album's idea of a louder, rawer rock n' roll sound, much of the rest album ("Crush With Eyeliner" might also get a pass here) just fell flat*. And from then on my interest in REM never really returned. I've heard albums the band's released since '94 that sounded just fine but that sense of vitality, that sense that this is music people will remember for generations just evaporated for me.

* Of the albums legacy, Wikipedia dryly notes, "Despite generally positive critical reception, used CD stores received a large number of copies of "Monster" from sellers seeking to unload the album. A large pile of "Monster" copies was often the only used option for buyers looking for an REM album. Some used CD stores stopped buying the album due to a growing overstock and little demand from buyers."

So to bring us back to the vital era, let's offer a bootleg CD that collects up the  band's fanclub-only Christmas singles from 1988 to 1996. While there are definitely a few holiday-tunes here,  the lion's share of the tracks are intriguing cover choices by influences like Television, Mission of Burma, The Vibrators, CCR, Spizzenergi, Suicide, Johnny Cash, Flipper, Roky Erickson and Richard Thompson.

Did your interest in REM drop off at some point? Let us know in the COMMENTS section (which is where you'll find the Rare Frequencies link).

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The Breakdowns: The Kids Don't Wanna Bop No More (2011)

Stealing from The Beatles and the Ramones with equally gleeful abandon England's The Breakdowns are poised for a break-through. Watch them:



or just listen:

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