Oh boy, this takes me back so many years. I got hooked onto punk via school and older mates at school in 1979 and soon got glued onto UK Punk with Sham 69, Angelic Upstarts and Cockney Rejects being prime, Stiff Little Fingers and Buzzcocks being 2nd and other stuff for quite some while – until US Hardcore hit us. Today i still love the early Sham 69 stuff – the 2nd and 3rd Album are just class (and i almost got the fold-out inner sleve tattoed on my back, almost i’d say!).
“Angels with dirty faces” is a mighty sing-a-long hit, short, neat and back then with little knowledge of the english language easy to understand. And, back then, singles where cheaper than albums and we where always short of money (pocket money that was, topped with some own earnings from distributing supermarket leaflets by bike).
The verdict:
1977 – comes from the core of the ignition!
published by a cool lable – back then, Polydor was at the forefront!
found in a cool shop – Membran, back then a valued vinyl source!
catching sound – has it all, chorus, hockline and repeat repeat repeat – football chants applied!
The lyrics – teenage angst, reflected back on THEM!
I did not see Sham’s last stand in London (like some other from Hamburg did) and Sham never made it to Hamburg in their prime incarnation, the first time i saw them was i think 1987 in London for their first “reunion” show (which was loudmouth Pursey rather then anybody else). I’d prefer to skip them nowadays, just keep their first 4 Albums and – i think – about 4-6 singles i own.
Who's got a dirty face then
Angels with dirty faces
Angels from nowhere places
Kids like me and you
Running fighting down the street
Ain't got no money but I don't cry
We're the people you don't wanna know
We come from places you don't wanna go
Angels with dirty faces
Angels from nowhere places
Kids like me and you
I'm never sad but sometimes lonely
Doing things someone told me
We're the people you don't wanna know
We come from places you don't wanna go
Angels with dirty faces
Angels from nowhere places
Kids like me and you
Angels with dirty faces
Angels from nowhere places
Kids like me and you
I'm a rebel stuck with a label
Trying to be someone in life
We're the people you don't wanna know
We come from places you don't wanna go
Angels with dirty faces
Angels from nowhere places
Kid's like me and you
(c) 1978 Singatune Publishing / Polydor
And this is spot on, live at Top Of the Pops in 1978 and with a snotty intro from Mr. Pursey:
Can you think having such a TV format nowadays? Nope, never. These times are long gone, really a miss!
Punk Trivia: Sham 69 is a reference to Walton & Hersham FC and their league title 1969!
