UK Subs – The Albums 1979-1982
Captain Oi!/Cherry Red Records
Release date: 26/04/2024
Running time: 5 CD Boxset
Review by: Alun Jones
9/10
Here we are again, chums, in Platinum Al’s Punk Rock Corner: that little part of Ever Metal where we inject a little crazy and keep things punk rock. And to what do we owe this honour? Why, another fine collection of albums by our old favourites UK Subs, curated once again by the philanthropic professors at Captain Oi!/Cherry Red.
Previously, we’ve enjoyed the last in the Subs’ alphabetical album run, from W to Z. This time, we’re right back to the beginning, with the first five albums by Charlie Harper’s gang covering A to E. Yes, that’s right: the UK Subs really did release an album beginning with each letter of the alphabet. In order. Plus there’s loads of others too…
Anyway, let’s get down to business with the very first record, “Another Kind of Blues”, which originally came out in 1979. Opening with the rowdy anthem ‘CID’, some of the band’s roots in rock’n’roll and R&B can be heard in this early work – check out the harmonica on ‘I Couldn’t Be You’. Other tracks have a frantic Ramones style, like ‘Live in a Car’ and ‘Rocker’, with its “Born a Rocker, Die a Rocker!” pledge. The 14 track album is packed out with 9 bonus tracks, covering single versions and B sides, which creates a solid, all-encompassing version. And of course, there are unforgettable tracks like ‘Tomorrow’s Girls’ and my personal fave, ‘Stranglehold’ (First Subs track I ever heard!).
Released just months later was second album “Brand New Age”, which reached number 18 in the charts, pop fans! The formula is similar but slightly more refined: straight up, no nonsense punk rock, as evidenced by the title track and ‘Emotional Blackmail’. There’s also the great single ‘Teenage’ (a dirty full on rocker) and the chant along ‘Warhead’. This disc is complimented by a load more bonus tracks, including the non-album Zombies cover ‘She’s Not There’ and respective B sides.
Next up for the UK Subs was a live album, ‘Crash Course’, released in September 1980. It became the band’s highest charting LP, reaching number 8. Serving as a handy introduction to their repertoire, this set features key singles and tracks from the first two records. This updated version also includes the 4 track bonus “For Export Only” EP which is packaged as a freebie with early copies. I have that on vinyl, but it’s nice to finally have a digital copy.
Disc 4 is the “Diminished Responsibility” album, and it’s a right corker. It’s here we can really begin to see how the Subs merged into both the UK Street Punk and USA Hardcore scenes, with tracks like ‘So What’ and the brilliant ‘Time and Matter’. Let’s not forget also ‘Party in Paris’ which is a catchy little number and no mistake – if that doesn’t get you running up the Champs Elysee at 4 am, nothing will! Again this CD is chock full of delightful bonus tracks, including four Charlie Harper solo tracks.
Our final disc is the “Endangered Species” album, another beauty of a record. The title track and ‘Living Dead’ are face rippers right from the get-go. This is where listeners will find the song ‘Down on the Farm’ famously covered by overblown cock-rock gimps Guns ’n’ Roses – but don’t let that put you off, it’s still a stellar track. Just two bonus tracks here, but it wraps everything up neatly.
So there we have it: 5 CDs of classic punk rock, covering the start of one of the most extraordinary careers in music. The sound on all discs is super quality, and the booklet is well put together and brimming with easily digestible factoids about each release. This UK Subs collection is as sharp and well researched – put together with a healthy admiration. Anyone interested in punk should delve right in.
TRACKLISTING
| DISC ONE ANOTHER KIND OF BLUES 01 C.I.D. 02 I Couldn’t Be You 03 I Live In A Car 04 Tomorrows Girls 05 Killer 06 World War 07 Rockers 08 I.O.D. 09 T.V. Blues 10 Blues 11 Lady Esquire 12 All I Want To Know 13 Crash Course 14 Young Criminals 15 B.1.C. 16 Disease 17 Stranglehold BONUS TRACKS 18 C.I.D. (Single Version) 19 Live In A Car (Single Version) 20 B.1.C (Single Version) 21 Stranglehold (Single Version) 22 World War (Single Version) 23 Rockers (Single Version) 24 Tomorrows Girls (Single Version) 25 Scum Of The Earth 26 Telephone Numbers | DISC TWO BRAND NEW AGE 01 You Can’t Take It Anymore 02 Brand New Age 03 Public Servant 04 Warhead 05 Barbie’s Dead 06 Organised Crime 07 Rat Race 08 EmoMonal Blackmail 09 Kicks 10 Teenage 11 Dirty Girls 12 500 CC 13 Bomb Factory 14 EmoMonal Blackmail II BONUS TRACKS 15 She’s Not There 16 Kicks (Single Version) 17 VicMm 18 The Same Thing 19 Warhead (Single Version) 20 The Harper 21 I’m WaiMng For The Man 22 Teenage (Single Version) 23 LeZ For Dead 24 New York State Police | DISC THREE CRASH COURSE 01 C.I.D. 02 I Couldn’t Be You 03 I Live In A Car 04 Tomorrows Girls 05 Left For Dead 06 Kicks 07 Rat Race 08 New York State Police 09 Warhead 10 Public Servant 11 Telephone Numbers 12 Organised Crime 13 Rockers 14 Brand New Age 15 Dirty Girls 16 The Same Thing 17 Crash Course 18 Teenage 19 Killer 20 Emotional Blackmail BONUS TRACKS 21 I.O.D. 22 Lady Esquire 23 Blues 24 Young Criminals |
| DISC FOUR DIMINISHED RESPONSIBILITY 01 You Don’t Belong 02 So What 03 Confrontation 04 Fatal 05 Time And Matter 06 Violent City 07 Too Tired 08 Party In Paris 09 Gangster 10 Face The Machine 11 New Order 12 Just Another Jungle 13 Collision Cult BONUS TRACKS 14 Party In Paris (Single Version) 15 Fall Of The Empire 16 Keep On Running (Til You Burn) 17 Perfect Girl 18 Ice Age (Single Version) 19 Party In Paris (French Version) BONUS CHARLIE HARPER TRACKS 20 Barmy London Army 21 Talk Is Cheap 22 Freaked 23 Jo | DISC FIVE ENDANGERED SPECIES 01 Endangered Species 02 Living Dead 03 Countdown 04 Ambition 05 Lie Down And Die 06 Fear Of Girls 07 Down On The Farm 08 Sensitive Boys 09 ÷ 8 x 5 10 Ice Age 11 I Robot 12 Flesh Wound BONUS TRACKS 13 Plan Of Action 14 I Don’t Need Your Love (Charlie vocal) |
LINKS
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