Streets

A handy compilation perfectly encapsulating the spirit of punk; it really didn't matter if you had no more than one song in you (and barely that), the important thing was to have a go, heedless of such hopelessly misguided middle class notions as taste and sensitivity. This was a snapshot of Beggars Banquet before Gary Numan turned them into a major proposition. The only remotely household names here are The Lurkers, John Cooper Clarke and The Members, who managed one top 30 hit between them. Each of their tracks included here is hard to find and really good. Even the less engaging moments here are carried through by their sheer energy and determination. Classic punk themes abound, not least an internal discussion about music itself and the genre's hostility to virtuosity (The Nosebleeds' "Ain't Bin to No Music School" and Tractor's "No More Rock n' Roll"). Almost inevitably the track here that really carries the day is "Innocents" by John Cooper Clarke, one of few here who built himself some kind of career with this stuff. But the most interesting inclusion is 'Talk Talk Talk Talk' by The Reaction. This was Mark Hollis' first band before he formed Talk Talk, and this track is a rough n ready version of their signature tune.

A great 'lost' compilation with some brilliant, if obscure inclusions.

Ripped from the slightly worn vinyl to MP3 @ 320kbps

Various Artists; Streets

A1.  The Doll – Trash

A2.  The Members – Fear On The Streets

A3.  Lurkers – Be My Prisoner

A4.  Arther Commix – Isgodaman

A5.  The Art Attacks – Arabs In ‘Arrads

A6.  The Dogs – 19

A7.  The Reaction – Talk Talk Talk Talk

A8.  Cane – College Girls

B1.  Slaughter And The Dogs – Cranked Up Really High

B2.  The Nosebleeds – Ain’t Been To No Music School

B3.  The Drones – Lookalikes

B4.  The Zeros – Hungry

B5.  Pork Dukes – Bend And Flush

B6.  The Exile – Disastermovie

B7.  Drive – Jerkin’

B8.  John Cooper Clarke – Innocents

B9.  Tractor – No More Rock’n’Roll