Having dipped into the early 80′s with my last post, today I feature a compilation LP also released by Open Eye Records.
Although released in late 1979 ‘Street to Street – A Liverpool Album’ is not by and large a record that captures what became known as the Liverpool sound of the late 70′s/early 80s. Instead it gives you an idea of the breadth of the post punk Liverpool scene so you get some Clash influenced bands, some reggae and some more recognisable Livepudlian post-punk.
It’s maybe something of a surprise that ‘Street to Street’ didn’t come out on Zoo Records but neither does it feature the Teardop Explodes or Wah! Heat.
The big names on the LP are Echo & The Bunnymen and the Id (although the Id are better known by their eventual name Orchestral Manoeuvres In The Dark – surely the best example of a name change from short to long ever!)
The Bunnymen’s contribution to the record is an early version of ‘Monkeys’ from debut LP ‘Crocodiles’ recorded whilst the band was still a three piece with legendary drum machine Echo, one of the few such recordings.
The Id’s track ‘Julia’s Song’ which was also re-recorded for OMD’s debut LP but it’s fair to say that ir fairly represents the early OMD sound.
The other well known band on the LP are Big In Japan although it’s fair to say that individual members Bill Drummond, Ian Broudie and Budgie are better known for other things. Modern Eon also survived and made themselves something of a name.
To tie this into the last post, according to this ”Television Game’ on the record was written by John Hawkins who was also in Systems.
STS is an interesting historical artefact but given that even John Peel’s sleeve notes comment on the impermanence of many of the bands on the record it’s no surprise that most have long since been swallowed up by history.
Here’s a couple of tracks from the record:
Echo & The Bunnymen – Monkies (sic)
Malchix – Crisis
If you want the record, you’ll need to go hunting for it, since it’s long since been deleted, although the Bunnymen’s track does appear on the ‘Crystal Days’ box set. (Buy that here.)
never ever saw this at anytime in the shops.
Maybe you should flog it on e-bay and buy Rovers a striker….
Can’t remember where I got it, JC, but it would certainly have been Glasgow. Maybe Listen in Byres Road.
I have 100′of classical 12″ LP’s which I am anxious for me to dispose of.
Many have never been used.
I have 100′s of vinyl 12″ records. Mostly never been used. Price?