The Ruts - Grin And Bear It

"Grin And Bear It" is a crucial compilation album by the English punk-reggae band The Ruts, originally released by Virgin Records in late 1980. The album was compiled as a tribute following the tragic drug overdose of lead vocalist Malcolm Owen earlier that year, serving to bridge the gap between their iconic debut album The Crack and the band's subsequent evolution into Ruts D.C. It famously collects the band's essential non-album singles, such as the blistering "Staring At The Rude Boys" and their final poignant single "West One (Shine On Me)", alongside rare John Peel session recordings, early B-sides like "H-Eyes", and high-energy live tracks recorded in Paris.

The Expanded Edition single CD re-release significantly enhances this historical document by appending several highly sought-after bonus tracks. This definitive digital version features the band's raw, earliest studio work from a 1977 demo session—including tracks like "Stepping Bondage", "Lobotomy", and "Rich Bitch"—which showcase their unpolished, straight-ahead punk roots before they fully integrated heavy reggae and dub influences. (This version doesn't have the '77 demo tracks...but they're coming next). While out-of-print as a standalone single disc, this expanded tracklist remains a definitive text for punk historians, perfectly capturing the brief, fiery trajectory of one of the UK's most musically accomplished first-wave punk bands.

The Kid Jensen session expanded edition of "Grin And Bear It" is an absolute masterpiece for punk purists, elevating an already legendary compilation into a holy grail archival release. Originally rushed out by Virgin Records in late 1980 as a posthumous tribute following the tragic death of lead singer Malcolm Owen, the base album seamlessly binds together the band's stellar non-LP singles, early B-sides, and blistering live sets from Paris. However, it is the integration of the previously unreleased, rare BBC Radio 1 David "Kid" Jensen studio sessions that transforms this particular edition into an essential, definitive piece of alternative music history.

Musically, the inclusion of the Kid Jensen tracks provides a stunning, alternative lens through which to view a band operating at the absolute peak of their creative and technical powers. While the famous John Peel sessions on the original record display the band's raw, unvarnished live energy, the Jensen radio recordings highlight a pristine, broadcast-ready clarity that pushes the band's staggering musicianship to the absolute forefront. Segs Jennings’ cavernous, driving basslines and Dave Ruffy’s incredibly precise, ska-and-reggae-infused drumming lock into tight, punishing grooves that sound impeccably sharp, proving why they were one of the most musically accomplished rhythm sections of the first-wave punk explosion.

What makes these specific bonus tracks so vital to the record's narrative is how clearly they capture the rapid, sophisticated sonic evolution of the band just before tragedy struck. Nestled alongside iconic anthems like "Staring At The Rude Boys" and the hauntingly prophetic "West One (Shine On Me)", the Jensen session tracks showcase a brilliant cross-pollination of genres. Paul Fox’s fiery, texture-heavy guitar work is beautifully pushed to the front of the mix, illustrating how seamlessly the band could pivot from straight-ahead, three-chord garage punk fury to complex, globally conscious dub rhythms without ever losing their trademark street-level grit.

Ultimately, this edition serves as an emotionally charged, five-star monument to a brilliant career that was cut far too short. By pairing the core album's essential hits with these elusive, long-sought-after radio tapes, the release successfully bridges the gap between the frantic energy of their debut album The Crack and the early experimental instrumentation that would eventually define Ruts D.C.. For collectors, punk historians, and casual fans alike, this specific pressing stands as the most complete, sonically brilliant testament to a band that completely altered the trajectory of post-punk and ska-punk music.

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1.      West One (Shine On Me)

2.      Staring At The Rude Boys

3.      Demolition Dancing

4.      Secret Soldiers

5.      H-Eyes

6.      In A Rut

7.      Love In Vain

8.      S.U.S. (Live)

9.      Babylon’s Burning (Live)

10.   Society (Live)

11.   West One (Shine On Me) [7” Version]

12.   The Crack [Bonus Track]

13.   In A Rut [Kid Jensen Session 1979]

14.   Babylon’s Burning [Kid Jensen Session 1979]

15.   Something That I Said [Kid Jensen Session 1979]