TRAINSPOTTERS (HIGH RISE SINGLE)

The Trainspotters is one of the many projects of Mike Read.There were a number of other bands or names he recorded under dating back to the 60's like Micky Manchester, The Rock-Olas, The Grasshoppers, and he released another good single under The Ghosts. Mike also presented a night time show on Radio One that was on before the John Peel Show. He hosted numerous television shows including Top of the Pops. I found researching Mike Read pretty interesting. It seems as far as the arts are concerned that there's not much he isn't accomplished in. Anyway I read that The Trainspotters recorded a second single titled Unfaithful. There's some info along with a track from that single over at the Little Hits web site. Go check it out.
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REFERENCES - WIKIPEDIA http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mike_Read#External_links LITTLE HITS http://www.littlehits.com/archives/2005_04_17_index.html
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ARISTA RECORDS 1979
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1. HIGH RISE
2. ROCK 'N' ROLL HALL OF FAME
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THE MOTIVES (I'M WAITING SINGLE)

I couldn't find any info on this band. If you know anything please feel free to leave comment's. The track I'm waiting, kind of reminds me of the Prime Movers with swirly guitars. The rest of the record is a bit more on the pop side of things. All three tracks are worth a listen. I've always been a sucker for the sound of a Rickenbacker. I've played and loved mine for many years. This was recorded at Hit And Run Studios. If it's the one in the Maryland area then that might indicate where these guys were from.

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BANNED RECORDS 1986

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1. I'M WAITING

2. WAY OUT ON MY OWN

3. TIME

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TOXIC REASONS (GOD BLESS AMERICA)

I'm surprised its taken me this long to post a record from Toxic Reasons. They are definitely one of my all time favorite bands. This is a great slab of hardcore brilliance from 1984. It's on the U.K. based Treason label and there were 1000 pressed. Two of the songs are from the Bullets for you record, and Destoyer appeared on the Killed by remote control. All three songs are different versions unique to this single. I pulled this info from Wikipedia, I thought it was a decent short summery of their history. However I will put a link at the bottom for a site that has a great story from their manager Terry Hammer, go check it out. Toxic Reasons formed in Dayton, Ohio in 1979. The founding members were Bruce Stuckey (bass guitar & vocals), Joel Agne (guitar & vocals), Ed Pittman (lead vocals), and Mark Patterson (drums). In 1980, Joel Agne left the band and was replaced by Greg Stout on bass, and Bruce Stuckey switched to lead guitar. In 1981, Mark Patterson left the band and was replaced by James J. (J.J.) Pearson on drums. Rob Lucjak ("Snott") also joined on rhythm guitar.
They recorded their first LP, Independence, at Keystone Recording in Indianapolis, Indiana, then went on tour and moved to San Francisco, where their label Risky Records was located. David "Tufty" Clough joined the band on bass guitar.
Ed Pittman left the group following the release of Independence. During this time the band created a logo showing the U.S., Canadian, and British flags joined together. The symbol not only represented their tri-national roots (J.J. from Canada, Tufty and Rob from England, and Bruce from the U.S.), but also came to symbolize the diversity of their sound, which mixed fast U.S. hardcore with melodic Canadian guitar lines and British influences like reggae-punk plus more mid-tempo anthems.
They have made over 40 recordings to date, including eight full-length albums.
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REFERENCES - WIKIPEDIA http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Toxic_Reasons#History TOXIC REASONS BIOGRAPHY http://www.angelfire.com/oh/liveperformances/ToxicReasons.html MYSPACE http://www.myspace.com/toxicreasons02
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TREASON RECORDS 1984
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1. GOD BLESS AMERICA
2. CAN'T GET AWAY
3. DESTROYER
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SWEET FACES (ON TOP OF THAT GIRL SINGLE)

Douchemaster records has put out many must own records in recent years, and this ones no exception. The Sweet Faces are a three piece side project of Brian Hermosillo (guitars/vocals) of the Fevers,the Donnie Denim Band,and Loli and the chones. Along with Michel van der woude (drums)from the 90's pop band The Pooh Sticks, and Leslie Hoffman(bass/vocals) whom I couldn't find any info on.There a great blend of pop punk, and strait ahead guitar heavy rock n roll. Go check them out and pick this up while you can. If you go to their Myspace you have to check out the Punk Kittens site, it's really funny.
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REFERENCES - DOUCHEMASTER RECORDS http://www.douchemasterrecords.blogspot.com/ MYSPACE http://www.myspace.com/sweetfaces GO BUY IT http://www.goner-records.com/cart/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=4&products_id=3952
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DOUCHEMASTER RECORDS 2008
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1. ON TOP OF THAT GIRL
2. HERE COME THE NICE BOYS
3. LESLIE IS A NOISE BAND
4. COOL KIDS(DON'T WANNA LISTEN)
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THE COLD (MESMERIZED SINGLE)

Excellent second single from the Cold. Great powerpop, all their records are worth owning. Below I will put a link for their website, which is really well done. They have lots of cool merchandise for you to purchase .The band has a very interesting history, I would also check out some of their individual bios, such as Vance Degeneres.
In 1979, when the music of Olivia Newton-John, Christopher Cross, and The Captain & Tennille dreamily filled the airwaves, a precursor to the Cold was launched by University of New Orleans students Smith and Radecker, who were playing variations on the rabble-rousing, three chord sounds of the Buzzcocks and the Sex Pistols. Soon, these two guitarists joined forces with DeGeneres, brother of comedian Ellen; Menendez, a year out of Mount Carmel High School; and Luckette, who joined after he split with another locally popular group called the Normals.
From 1980 to 1982, the Cold became a live music sensation, filling clubs like Jimmy's and Jed's with fresh, young fans taken by the band's high-energy sound and Menendez's even more high-energy stage antics. These legions of fans helped fuel the Cold's record sales - four singles totalling more than 25,000 copies - and defy the airwave barrier for local music. In a radio market known for ignoring local rock (this was before the days of Deadeye Dick and Better than Ezra), the Cold placed the singles "You" and "Mesmerized" on WTUL, WQUE, WTIX, and B-97.
The band played hundreds of shows throughout the region, from Texas to Florida, before splitting up in 1982. After reuniting in 1984, the Cold released an album and, later in the year, a new single. The LP "16 Songs Off a Dead Band's Chest" anthologized the band's early years and included crowd favories such as "Working Girl" and "Russian Around". The Cold's final album, "Major Minor" (1985), combined newer material like "What Went Wrong Today" with popular standbys such as "That's the Way Boys Are" (originally recorded by Lesley Gore.)
The 1997 studio compilation CD "Three Chord City" features all ten songs from the band's five singles, plus tracks from both albums. It also includes two previously unreleased songs, and two songs previously available as live tracks. The Cold's big beat, 90 mile-an-hour style, featuring clever lyrics and enthusiastic harmonies, is as bracing today as when the original Top Pop vinyl was first released.
- Rich Collins, Gambit Weekly Newspaper
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REFERENCES - THE OFFICIAL COLD WEBSITE http://www.threechordcity.com/ VANCE DEGENERES http://www.vancedegeneres.com/pages/art/
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TOP POP RECORDS 1981
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1. MESMERIZED
2. WAKE UP
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THE A.D.'S LIVING (DOWNTOWN SINGLE)

The A.D.'s were from Albany, NY, comprised of vocalist, Jim Furlong, and Bob Nati on guitars, along with an ever-changing rhythm section. They released three singles and an LP on Blue Lunch Records between 1980-87. The "Living Downtown" 7 inch was released in 1980 with Chris Melick on drums, and Mark Wilken on bass, gaining the band recognition in the local punk scene. This was followed up by the "Alone Again" and "More Than Once" 7 inches, with George Lipscomb taking over on drums, and Eric Van Sleet joining Bob on guitar. After five years and another line-up change, their first (and only) LP, "Know Hard Feelings" was released in 1987, with Jim Roberts on drums, and T. Rice on bass and keys.
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REFERENCES - MYSPACE http://www.myspace.com/cementcat
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BLUE LUNCH RECORDS 1980
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1. LIVING DOWNTOWN
2. TESTING
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THE ZIPS ( TAKE ME DOWN)

I was never lucky enough to find one of these years ago, and by the time I finally gave in and circumed to Ebay, the price tag was a little to steep for me. This is a very well done reissue on sing sing records. I believe this is a very limited quantity, as well as the original was. I guess for now this will have to do. I'm going to include this record here because it's one of my all time favorites, and I'm not sure if I'll ever end up with an original copy.
The Zips were born in Glasgow, 1978. John McNeill(vocals/guitar) and Brian Jackson (lead guitar), veterans (at 20) of the Glasgow pub rock circuit, satisfied a yearning to join the punk/new wave explosion, by splitting from previous outfit, Road Angel, recruiting Joe Jaconelli (drums/backing vocals) and Phil Mullen (bass guitar/vocals), and launched as the Zips.
After 4 weeks of rehearsal, they had enough material (a mixture of originals and choice covers) for their debut gig, in a pub called The Peel. Their reputation as an energetic live act, meant that soon they had moved onto support gigs in the City's Art School and Universities.
In an effort to reach an under-18 audience, they also pioneered Saturday lunchtime gigs at the rarely used Custom House Quay bandstand, beside the River Clyde. Many embryonic bands were given the opportunity to support them, in most cases, using the Zip's equipment.
By the end of '78, they had amassed enough original songs to be performing almost exclusively Zips material, and in November, booked a 4 track recording session in the Burns' Howff, in Glasgow.
4 songs (I'm In Love, Over and Over, Take Me Down, Don't Be Pushed Around) were recorded in almost as many hours, and became the basis of their eponymous EP, which was finally released in April 1979, with funding from local record shop owner, Charlie "Hannibal" Hayes.
The Zips EP soon became a favourite of Radio Clyde, and also won favour with John Peel on Radio One. The 500 copies swiftly sold out, but due to delays in retreiving all the monies owed, a second pressing was abandoned in favour of a new single on their own label, Tenement Toons.
Meanwhile, the band had won the Scottish heats of a competition organised by a company called, Vitavox, and appeared in the finals at the Venue, in London. Undeterred at coming fourth of four bands, they used the trip to visit record companies, and although some, Island in particular, were positive about the band's music, no contracts were offered.
Back in Glasgow, they set about planning for the new single, Radioactivity/I'm Not Impressed. It was recorded at Sirocco Studios in Klimarnock, in an 8 hour session in January 1980, and its 1,000 pressing was released on Tenement Toons, in April. This time, funding was by Brian's granny, as a vote of solidarity with the A-side's anti-nuke message.
Although the single received a fair amount of airplay, and despite support slots with, amongst others, Cockney Rejects, at the Bungalow Bar, Paisley, and exposure at CND/Anti Nuke rallies, the single did not match the success of the EP, in terms of sales.
The band were now caught between two movements, New Wave and Ska, and the cracks began to show. Gigs were becoming fewer and far between, and debts were mounting. But Brian's decision to emigrate to Australia effectively sealed their fate. The Zips last gig was on 11th December 1980, at The Sandrianne Hotel, Kilmarnock.
As well as the singles, two live recordings were made. The Atlantis, Clydebank in 1978, and the Sandrianne Hotel, Kilmarnock, in 1980. The Zips are still around, they have a few new releases for you to pick up and enjoy. They are also playing live, if you have a chance go and check them out.

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REFERENCES - THE ZIPS http://www.thezips.demon.co.uk/history/index.htm MYSPACE http://www.myspace.com/thezips SING SING RECORDS http://www.singsingrecords.com/index.php
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SING SING RECORDS 2009
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1, TAKE ME DOWN
2. DON'T BE PUSHED AROUND
3. I'M IN LOVE
4. OVER AND OVER
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***DOWNLOAD***

THE STINGRAYS (COUNTDOWN SINGLE)

The Stingrays were from Bristol. They Released two singles, had a song on the Avon Calling compilation, and a live album. They supported the likes of U2, The UK Subs, and The Pretenders . Between 1977 & 1980 The band included twenty different members, which, some may say, is a lot for a three piece. Apparently they have Recently reformed and are playing live June 13th at the Thunderbolt in Bristol. This date will coincide with a CD release.
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FRIED EGG RECORDS 1980
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1. COUNTDOWN
2. EXCEPTIONS
3. ACTION
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OTTO'S CHEMICAL LOUNGE (FIRE SINGLE)

The great cover of Jimi Hendrix's fire makes this record(produced by Bob Mould) a must have . Otto's Chemical Lounge were from Minneapolis, formed by Paul Osby and singer Dale Nelson. they split up in 1985, but eventually spawned punk iconoclasts Halo of Flies as well as the Blue Hippos.
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REFLEX RECORDS 1983
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1. FIRE
2. TRIP WITH ME
3. NOODLE MAN
4. I'M OTTO YOUR MIND
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SUSSEX (TREAT ME KIND SINGLE)

I guess it would be easy to make the assumption where these guys were from ? However, I'm not sure if that's the case so I'm not going to make that assumption. All I can tell you is it appears they have this their first single, plus one other, and an album to their credit. With all that material, wouldn't you think that there would be some info on them out there? I searched for about an hour, and came up empty. Anyway, if you haven't heard this yet, it's a great record. Treat me kind is a classic, and for some reason what's the point kind of reminds of the Carpettes. The album has a more accomplished new wave edge to it, but its still a good record. all their stuff is worth owning.
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GENETIC /RADAR RECORDS 1979
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1. TREAT ME KIND
2. WHAT'S THE POINT ?
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VKTMS (100% WHITE GIRL)

This is a classic San Fransisco punk record. I took this info from their Myspace. There's quite a bit more to their story, and they have a cd that you can purchase for $12.00. It contains all of their recorded material, I recommend you go check it out, the link is below. VKTMS got together in 1978 when Mohammed Obead introduced Louis Gwerder (drums) to Jay Davis (guitar). After rehearsing for a while with various people and using a different name they ended up with George Ritter (bass) and began searching for a singer. Nyna Crawford answered a bulletin board ad placed at Aquarius Records. Her intense energy (she cracked a solid concrete floor) and already developed lyric skills impressed them immediately.
The band began gigging and shortly after put out what has become to be called the "Midget" EP , a fairly collectible 4 song record with My Babys a Midget which has been often covered and unfortunately bootlegged.
Not long after that friction arose with George and Steve Ricablanca (another friend of the gregarious Palestinian Mohammed) was brought over. His more developed skills brought a higher level of musicianship and songcraft to the VKTMS. His introduction to recording with the band also occurred within a short time span on the legendary SF Underground EP (on Subterranean Records) with other bands Flipper, Tools, and No Alternative.
Jay Davis left the band and after some auditions Steve remembered a guitarist, John Binkov, that he had also met in a roundabout way through a bulletin board note. Using John's background in various styles, as well as his tough attitude, the finishing touch was added to the project.This line-up has remained intact since 1980. John fit right in and soon the band found itself playing more often than most of the other bands in town.
Few bands played the Mabuhay Gardens more times and VKTMS played every single other club in town and in the Bay Area. Playing gigs with the Dead Kennedys, DOA, Flipper, Mutants, and so forth at the legendary Mab, around the San Francisco Bay area, and up and down the coast helped establish the VKTMS sound and style. Shows with the Ramones, Johnny Thunders and other godfathers toughened the music even more. VKTMS also became the ritual sacrificial offering for many touring acts (Stranglers, Roky Erikson, 999, Killing Joke, Wall of Voodoo, Bush Tetras, Fear, Psychedelic Furs, Delta 5, and many others) when they came through town. Of course, there were many, many shows with friends and peers such as the Dead Kennedys, DOA, Crime, SVT, Romeo Void, Agent Orange, TSOL and so many others.
When given a chance to record for Howie Kleins 415 Records VKTMS put out the infamous White Girl/No Long Goodbyes single with cover art by the underground cartoonist Jim Osbourne, who also designed a series of highly outlandish posters.
In the winter of 1981-1982 VKTMS began recording an album at Parvin Studios. There was no label support and the band was hoping to shop the album. Based on their strong local support the thought was that this was possible. What happened instead was that the recordings sat in the can for twelve years (until 1994).
Nyna left in 1982 and played in Murder (w/ Bob Clic of the Lewd) and in Smashed Weekend (with Ben Cohen of Sister Double Happiness). Sadly Nyna passed away from cancer in 2000 after a very brave five year battle.
Steve and John played in Vauxhall for about a year until Steve went off to culinary school. John tried to keep playing for a while but like the others got the feeling it was time to try something new. Needing to learn more about other music styles and wanting more input from diverse sources, on a wild impulse he applied to UC Berkeley and actually got in. John got a BA in Music (1992) there and then an MA (1995) from UC Davis (Composition).
Louis is still in the floor refinishing business. He is also expressionist painter using non-traditional materials and canvases. He has had multiple showings of his art.
Steve also learned graphic art and design, as well as digital video skills.
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REFRENCES - MYSPACE http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendid=8947048
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415 RECORDS 1980
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1. 100% WHITE GIRL
2. NO LONG GOOD BYES
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***DOWNLOAD***

MAPLE LEAF (BRITISH POP)

I couldn't find any real meaningful info on this band,(what a shocker!!). All I can tell you is, there Dutch, and the records from around 1981.
The A side is kind of like those lame stars on 45 records that were around in the early 80's, really doesn't do much for me.
But the B side is a great little powerpop gem. I have also seen this with a color sleeve.
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MADA PRODUCTIONS 1981
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1. BRITISH POP
2. ALL THE TIME
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THE TABLE (DO THE STANDING STILL SINGLE)

The Table were a Cardiff band, that formed in 1976. Orig. started as a duo Do You Want This Table (named after an overheard random comment by a stranger), who played only one gig, The Windsor Free Festival in 1974, supplemented by Alan Hughes (bass). Relocated to London, shortened name and signed to Virgin in 1976, releasing 7" Do The Standing Still {Classics Illustrated} (1977), a critically acclaimed, innovative, guitar-heavy, rather crazy single with surreal lyrics which were basically a list of Marvel Comic titles. Although fitting in with and somewhat defining the rising ‘punk’ sound of the time, this song was actually first recorded as a demo in 1975. Intending to be a studio band, record company pressure saw them reluctantly become a popular, exciting and warmly received live act, accompanying and often upstaging bands such as XTC, Siouxsie & The Banshees, Wire, Radio Stars and The Police, while getting rave reviews in the music press. An uncompromising stance and arty stroppiness saw them split with Virgin over promotional disagreements and sign to Chiswick in 1978, releasing a 7" Sex Cells (1978) about the sexual appeal of schoolgirls only appearing when you’re no longer in school yourself. Another musical leap forward, this single acquired the ‘best bass guitar performance of 1978’ award from punk fanzine Black Steam! Policy of playing increasingly bizarre, undanceable, uncommercial and, it has to be said, unpleasant material led to frequent and frustrating line-up changes and the band finally ‘avant-garded itself out of existence’ in 1982 after Young and Regan recorded a single, Yes, which was shelved after the split. The line-up of Young, Lowe and Regan also recorded a single Abstract Art under the name of Flying Colours, released on No Records in 1981 as a favour to record company boss Andrzej Sojka, the dance producer who discovered Level 42. Do The Standing Still (Classics Illustrated) currently available on the 4CD compilation 1! 2! 3! 4!, which features the definitive 100 punk/new wave singles from the UK and US recorded between 1976 and 1979.
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REFERENCES - http://www.link2wales.co.uk/South/table.htm
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VIRGIN RECORDS 1977
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1. DO THE STANDING STILL
2. THE MAGICAL MELON OF THE TROPICS
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LAST RIGHTS (CHUNKS SINGLE)

This is a real Boston hardcore classic. I took this info from the insert of the No Guts, No Glory 12" that you can purchase from Reflex Records on Interpunk.com. It was written by Jonas Kimvall. There's links at the bottom for this story and others at the bottom of the post. Last Rights formed in 1983 after Negative FX split up and were, along with DYS and SS Decontrol, at the core of the so-called Boston Crew. They were a group of about 20-30 people who used to follow SS Decontrol everywhere they went [and would crew for each other if not all bands were not playing]. There are numerous stories about what they did. One is how they used to roll into New York shows in SS Decontrol's black windowless van with X's painted on their heads. And if they saw a kid in the pit without an X on his head, they'd punch him as he was from New York. Yes, there was a lot of tension between the Boston and the New York scene. Boston had, along with the Washington DC scene, a Straight Edge mentality and a suburban upbringing. The New York scene was based around the Lower East Side and seemed very street and violent compared to Boston. It also had beggars, Krishnas and other oddities. Last Rights only played one show, on February 5 1983, at The Guiding Star Grange Hall in Greenfield, Massachusetts with DYS, Deep Wound, BIU, Grey Matter, All White Jury and the Outpatients [this was the Outpatients' first show ever also]. They only recorded six tracks, two of which ["Chunks" and "So Ends Our Night"] made it on to this single issued by Taang! Records in 1984 [this was Taang! Records' second release ever]. There was also a limited edition of the 7" single [100 copies] and on that cover there was a photo of Adolph Hitler and some of his associates but according to Mark McKay Jack Kelly put it there because he wanted to piss people of [and it's my guess that he succeeded]. Backing vocals on the track "So Ends Our Night" were done by Jamie Sciarappa [SS Decontrol], Pat Ratferty [Negative FX] and Dicky Barrett [The Cheapskates and Impact Unit]. All the six tracks Last Rights ever recorded were reissued in 1996 by Taang! Records on a CD [along with the Negative FX album. Where are they now?? Jack Kelly founded slapshot in 1985, and the drummer, James Powers, is now currently working on a project called Defcon Four, with ex members of World War, Arise, and Coleman.
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REFERENCES-http://www.oldtimehardcore.com/ INTERPUNK https://www.interpunk.com/item.cfm?Item=123257&
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TAANG! RECORDS 1984
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1. CHUNKS
2. SO ENDS OUR NIGHT
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THE MANIKINS (SPEND THE NIGHT ALONE SINGLE)

These guy's were supposed to play at a place called the Wildflower Cafe by my house but they cancelled. I was really disappointed. I was looking forward to seeing them and to getting out for a change. Oh well, maybe next time. If you would like some info on them you can check out my previous post of their first 2 lp's. As always, thanks for your comments!!!!
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