For those who are not accustomed to geman – this is Thees Uhlmann, a well known Singer/Songwriter (i guess called “Indie” too), doing a retrospective “i love you” to Drugstore Records, Martin Stehr’s short-living but excellent record store. He got all the stuff from the US you ever wanted! In case you wondered what happend to the owner i will not spread the news but wife, kid, suburb and working for a large oil co (actualy the same that pays for this)…Lets see if this kicks off a new series (“my loveliest vinyl dealer”).
I found this snip from a local newspaper when searching for old newspaper stuff in the archive vault, was looking for stuff from May 1980, the month the Hamburg Punks went to trash rivaling hippsters in their posh Pöseldorf and made news big time. Someone needed a pic from a newspaper for a re-release of a Napalm EP – looking forward to that and a reminder that i need to feature the 2nd Napam EP here soonest! The pic he was looking for is this one:
Toy Dolls – Alfie from the bronx 7″ (Volume Records VOL8, 1983)
Now this brings back memories! Toy Dolls show in Bremen with lot’s of stress between punks from Bremen and Hamburg (as always, remember Bad Brains at the Schlachthof?) and a nice chat with a hungover Olga in their tour van. The famous Toy Dolls riot show in Hamburg at the Markthalle a couple of years later with a big fight between “the left” and “the right”. The arrival of the first Toy Dolls LP and everybody being stunned about the fun, wisdom and energy of the songs…i could go on forever. It is quite strange how Olga (aka the Toy Dolls main man) has kept his little something afloat for so many years and basicaly recording the same set of songs over and over again. But if it is sing-a-long then it ain’t bad!
Toy Dolls Promo Picture ( (c) Volume Records / Agal – from the Holy War Archive Vault)
Nowadys the Toy Dolls still put out records, the latest in 2012 and with Duncan from Snuff on the drums – not a surprise. When not around with the Toy Dolls Olga also served for The Dickies as their bass player. And he turned 50 in 2012, like so many others! Wow, thanks indeed and thanks for some great tunes!
The verdict:
1977 – too speedy, too hectic but nevermind, it’s punk! published by a cool lable – local Volume Records from Newcastle up on Tyne -. both a local record shop and independent lable. found in a cool shop – … Konneckschen, sure thing! catching sound – guitar, guitar, guitar and great sing-a-long! The lyrics – simple might be an overstatement but they go hand-in-hand with the catchy tunes!
Alfie, can see
Johnny and Freddie outside of the Bronx
And he, will be
Happy with this memory
And it's all echoes, where Alfie goes
The Bronx is in his head
Alfie's home is through, the life he knew
Has all gone down... with the Bronx
Alfie, sadly
Misses the only true friends that he had
Now he, can't see
Himself ever being happy
And it's all echoes, where Alfie goes
The Bronx is in his head
Alfie's home is through, the life he knew
Has all gone down... with the Bronx
Alfie's home
in the Bronx
He belongs
in the Bronx
Alfie, now he
Johnny and Freddie remember the Bronx
And the family
Alfie once had in the Bronx
And it's all echoes, where Alfie goes
The Bronx is in his head
Alfie's home is through, the life he knew
Has all gone down... with the Bronx
(c) 1983 Michael "Olga" Algar
Now listen up (and do listen up to the vinyl cracks!):
And see them live in 1984:
And even better – Brasilian TV 1988, that is a real stunner:
And i do like cover versions and i do like classical covers of punk songs, so listen up here:
The Briggs – Come all you Madmen (SideOneDummy Records SD1357-1, 2008)
There is one memory i connect with The Briggs: Many years ago (memory is faint here, must have been early 2000’s) The Briggs did a support stint for Flogging Molly, graceing the old “Grünspan” in Hamburg. Standing upstairs on the small balcony at back of the club i thought it was raining through the roof – only to realise that The Briggs got the masses sweating so much that the vaporing sweat condensed on the not too high ceiling above me … outsch!
The show was great and my lovely wife at the end of the Briggs stagetime pushed a Briggs T-Shirt into my hands :”This is for – you got carried away totaly by The Briggs i noted“. Lovely, i still wear that shirt!
But this is not about memories, this about great records that mean a thing to me.
The verdict:
1977 – sure thing and quite a different sound to the rest of LA! published by a cool lable – yes – independent and cool bands on it! found in a cool shop – … Burnout, Hamburg! catching sound – best when slower, best when a wee bit “dramatic”. And produced by a BossTone so must sound great! The lyrics – clever and well written, dare i say “intelectual street credibility”? Mhhhh?
Read loud!
Can peace keep this from happening?
Waging fear we can’t forget
A disease, his words are spreading it
There is no need to argue
Now just do what he says
You must learn to trust no one
Smile as we charge into the sun
And when it’s over we can say
I saw it on TV
The need, no there’s no stopping it
And you won’t believe your eyes this time
The last message we tried to send
Fell into the wrong hands again
Remember they can make up anything
You must learn to trust no one
Smile as we charge into the sun
And when it’s over we can say
I saw it on TV
Let the truth unfold
We’re waiting for an answer
This silence is our hymn
Our fists are raised and it’s time
To take back what is mine
You must learn to trust no one
Smile as we charge into the sun
And when it’s over we can say
I saw it on TV, yeah
You must learn to trust no one
Smile as we charge into the sun
And when it’s over we can say
I saw it on TV, yeah
(c) 2008 SideOneDummy / The Briggs
Now listen up, this is the song i realy like most – outstanding hymn!
And there is one more reason to love The Briggs – a St. Pauli scarf in their video!
