And that is another cool compilation – as i said in a previous version of „my loveliest vinyl“ there was little spare money back then and i went for a lot of compilations as they provided more bang for the buck and a chance to experience new and unknown stuff.
I think this was the first US compilation i got, must have been in 1980. A friend did tape me some stuff, included there i think it was U.X.A.’s signature song and that got me (as i do like women singing punk songs). And it is an absolute smasher my dear!
The verdict:
1977 – yes, but US Style (and you can smell a scent of H/C and things to come – do i have to say „The Middle Class“?)!
published by a cool label – Upsetter Records – a complete DIY effort by the Fleash Eaters frontman Chris D. (and named in fame of Lee „Scratch“ Perry i’d recon)!
found in a cool shop – cheapo bin at local Membran (back then a local record store chain) outlet in my northern suburb in 1979!
catching sound – For fucks sake, this can be injected into my veins anytime – it is the perfect blend of punk and to-come hardcore!
the lyrics – Thanks to Chris D. for having a lyrics insert (he dodged that one on a later reissue) and thus allowing me to actually work it out (with a dictionary)!
Just that this one from said „U.X.A.“ – you can wake me up anytime anywhere and i am able to sing this chorus:
How fast three minutes seem to pass these days when all your sacrifices haven't changed a thing how fast your life will seem to disappear away when you finaly wake up from your sleep
No, honestly, this is most likely the greatest moment in US Punk glued to Vinyl. It has the DIY ethos, it has exclusive recordings never featured anywhere else and was driven by an enthusiastic individual – Chris Desjardins from the Flesh Eaters.
He was around in LA forever, starting as a writer for Slash and funding member of endless bands including said Flesh Eaters. He also branched into writing, acting and even directing: „I pass for human“ is a 2004 horror movie that plays on the fact that heroin addicts escape death – heroin leaves its users never quite dead, yet never quite alive. And that is full circle back to Tooth and Nail, as Chris D. in 1989 whilst sporting a nice heroin (and alcohol) addiction was in need for money and did a repress of Tooth and Nail, the only re-release ever done.
You can read more on Chris D. here or here (beware, that one is in German).
He recalls Tooth and Nail in John Doe’s „Under the Big Black Sun“ as follows:
For me this record was the door opener for The Middle Class (and soon after i did buy the „Out of Vogue“ EP at Konneckschen, soon to be presented here) and specifically to the Germs. Little did i know about the band itself but their „What we do is secret“ 12″ and the LP soon also found home in my collection and they became a mainstay!
So whats makes it stand out – listen up and for yerself! Here my 4 loveliest songs from that record, but just by inches!
The Controllers – Jezebel
Aaaahhhaaaahhhaaahhhhaaah If ever the Devil was born without any horns It was you, it was you If ever a pair of eyes promised paradise It was you If ever the Devil's plan was made to torment me girl Deceiving me, grieving me, leavin' me blue Jezebel, it was you If ever the Devil was born without any horns It was you, it was you If ever a pair of eyes promised paradise It was you If ever the Devil's plan was made to torment me girl Deceiving me, grieving me, leavin' me blue Jezebel, it was you If ever the Devil's plan was made to torment me girl Deceiving me, grieving me, leavin' me blue Jezebel, it was you Aaaahhhaaaahhhaaahhhhaaah If ever the Devil was born without any horns It was you If ever a pair of eyes promised paradise It was you, It was you If ever the Devil's plan was made to torment me girl Deceiving me, grieving me, leavin' me blue Jezebel! (Word & Music W. R. Shanklin)
Flesh Eaters – Pony Dress
Stick a mirror between the bars see what'S happening to me you in your pony dress looking up into my face there's a nasty little tear befor the sheets hit the floor there's a sticky gleam of sweat like the firemen get I'm gonna trip my holster, draw the bell spur blur with the ringing in your pony dress She can't escape, she meaning I, from the private world She can't escape, she meaning I, from the menstrual delusion She can't escape, she meaning I, from the private world She can't escape, she meaning I, from the constant derision You're an axe cage screaming from justice roaming in the alleys, crying in the dark you're breaking up breakdown, my big day against the house I'm stringing along the city to upset sex expecting to end but marked to live I'm gonna trip my holster, draw the bell spur blur with the ringing in your pony dress She can't escape, she meaning I, from the private world She can't escape, she meaning I, from the menstrual delusion She can't escape, she meaning I, from the private world She can't escape, she meaning I, from the constant derision You look so pretty in your pony dress you're so pretty in your pony dress You look so pretty in your pony dress you're so pretty to me ... (Words & Music Desjardins)
U.X.A. – U.X.A. (United Experiments of America)
Let's forget this and that again and talk about the nightmares about the nightmares the froozen city of Baltimore those slippery terrors traditions affairs What do you think you're dying for? it's changed you name changed your name youir friends will call you famous doctor or Jim Jimmy impossible crime How fast three minutes seem to pass these days when all your sacrifices haven't changed a thing how fast your life will seem to disappear away when you finaly wake up from your sleep (Repeat verse and chrous) Famous doctor but you're blind you can't see, you just can't see Famous doctor that's all you've got that's all you've got to show, but anyway In the U.X.A. why did you die today? In the U.X.A. why did you die today? In the U.X.A. why did you die today? In the U.X.A. why did you die today? (Words: DeTroit/Kowalski, Music: Piscioneri)
Germs (GI) – Strange Notes
Billy Druids face is marble he keeps every thought in its place he lets the days turn tomorrow someone's always walking on his grave He wears the lines just like Garbo and talks at a saturnine pace listening to the strange notes' marvel only giving what it takes It's a sad man's world and for Billy, it's sure to crown dragging beauty into darkness inflicting a pale white frown And the matter the runs through Billy's head - is too concerned to fall - (Words: Darby Crash Music: The Germs)
In a nutshell? This is for sure the best southern Californian punk compilation ever, if not for all of the US. It is the „link“ between classic rock based punk and faster hardcore. And it is just a hell of a great effort, by one individual and with a load of friends. One of the best scene documents from out there. Lovely. One of my lovliest vinyl records in me collection!