V/A - 4 Old 7"s On A 12"

To round out the month we have this classic Dischord comp. Four early releases on one album. All classics. All must-haves.

We're Too Young To Rock

Subhumans - E.P.L.P.

Let's end August with a bang. First post, the Subhumans. This LP was released in 1985 and contains the Subs' first 4 7"s.

What's Your Reason For Existence

Void - Condensed Flesh 7"

Behold the brutal beauty that was Void. They had only one official release, the classic Faith/Void Split in 1982, and of course a couple tracks on Flex Your Head. However, over the years more releases have popped up, including this 7" which is comprised of early recordings, but was released in 1992.

I Want To Die In A War!

The Fix - Jan's Rooms 7"

So, of course I had the Process Of Elimination 7" back in the day and I loved it. One of the bands on the comp was The Fix, out of Lansing, MI. That was the only song I ever heard from them because, for some bizarre reason, whenever I heard or saw the band named it immediately brought to mind another band with a similar name. So I ignored them completely. Luckily, while perusing the great Bearded Menace blog I read the description of their discography CD and realized I'd made an error. And what an absolutely foolish error it was. These guys bring the brutal hardcore better than most. This is their second and final 7", released in 1981.

I Wanna Hear The Truth Right Now

Lip Cream - Night Rider More Than Fight 7"

Here's another great hardcore release from Japan's Lip Cream. This one's from 1984. Great stuff!

Good Choice

Cancerous Growth - Today's Society 7"

Cancerous Growth was yet another great hardcore band out of Boston. I've always loved this 7" as well as the several compilation tracks I've heard. They also released a couple full lengths but for some reason I never looked for them. Perhaps I'll do that this week. One note: I ripped this from an old cassette so the sound quality is iffy at best. What can I say, sometimes you get what you pay for.

Get Your Hair Cut Kid

Psycho - 8-Song E.P. 7"

Here's the 1983 debut from Boston's Psycho. In my opinion it's not as good as the heavier 6 Song E.P. which was released in '85. There's a different lead singer and a totally different sound. This one has more of an English punk feel I think. Give it a listen. By the way, anyone have their 1986 full length 'Hosebags From Hell'?

Dark Side Of The Human Mind

Angry Samoans - The Queer Pills 7"

Not sure of the full story behind this one. I believe it was originally released in 1981 under the band name 'The Queer Pills' in order to get Rodney to play it on the ROQ, since he and the Samoans didn't play nice. Whatever the case, this is classic Angry Samoans.

Time To Run Your Fucking Head In The Wall

D.R.I. - Violent Pacification 7"

Looking at my blog stats I see that D.R.I.'s Dealing With It L.P. is surprisingly popular. That means this post is probably way overdue. Here's their second release, from 1984, which features the first time they came dangerously close to a three minute song.

Kill You Before You Kill Each Other

Malefice - Overboard 7"

Here's a D.C. band you've probably never heard of. Malefice played it dark and heavy. This 7" was originally released in 1984 with three tracks, plus the beginning of a fourth track fading out at the end. Here, I've included the 1989 re-release which has the full fourth track.

This World Is Full Of Little Lost Sheep

Black Randy & The Metrosquad - Trouble At The Cup 7"

What can I say about Black Randy? Well, thanks to the internet all I have to say is FOLLOW THIS LINK. I will say Black Randy was a true original. Here's the 1st 7" he released in 1977. And here's a small write up from another member of the Metrosquad:

DB: I can say anything I want to about Black Randy because he's dead. He was a tragic mixture of genius and self-abuse, writing lyrics in PCP/alcohol/diabetic stupors which mirrored the despair of the human condition in a way that deserved immortality. The Metrosquad, which I had the pleasure to direct musically, revelled in grotesque parody mixed with sophisticated musical texture.

So Black Randy had written some powerful lyrics and we set about putting those to music. "Trouble At The Cup" was recorded at what used to be a motel but got turned into sort of a recording studio — but you had to bring your own equipment. It was very different. John Doe, Exene and those guys all showed up really drunk. I don't think anyone could really later believe what came out of those sessions, and while the army of teenage hustlers never materialised to fight the LAPD, "Trouble At The Cup" still makes for a spunky number.

Give it a shot. It's crazy, but entertaining as hell.

I'm A Loner With A Boner And I'm Gonna Telephone Her

The Freeze - Guilty Face 7"

Here's a great 4 song 7" from Boston's The Freeze, released in 1983.

Is This The Future Or Is It A Dream

D.I. - Surfin' Anarchy 7"

Casey and the boys crank out two great tunes on this 1989 single. It's a must-have, I tell ya!

He's Got An Uncontrollable Urge

Sloppy Seconds - The First Seven Inches 7"

Behold the birth of Junk Rock! Sloppy Seconds released this great debut on their own 'Alternative Testicles' label in 1987.

Drink Drank Drunk

The Authorities - Soundtrack For Trouble 7"

Good California hardcore from this short-lived Stockton band.

Let's Drop The Bomb, Let's Die

The Subhumans - Death To The Sickoids 7"

Canada must have been a crazy place to live back in the late 70's. What with all the 'Ignoroids' and 'Sickoids' running around. Here's the 1978 debut from the Subhumans.

Now What You Gonna Do

D.O.A. - Triumph Of The Ignoroids 7"

Here's a classic bootleg (?) from 1979. Live and great.

The Public Loves You

7Seconds - Skins, Brains & Guts 7"

While I respect Kevin Seconds and his lifelong dedication to positive hardcore/punk, I honestly find most of the 7Seconds catalog to be a bit on the boring side. Not so with their early releases. Here's their 1982 debut.

Get Off My Fuckin' Back

Bad Brains - Pay To Cum! 7"

The mighty Bad Brains released this debut in 1980. The title track is a classic, the B side is a slow, funky rocker that doesn't quite stick.

A Peace Together, A Piece Apart

Gang Green - Skate To Hell 7"

Boston Skate Punk Heroes Gang Green chose a different path than their straight edge Boston brethren. That doesn't mean their early stuff didn't kick serious ass! Here's a single released in 1985. While Skate To Hell is a fantastic song it's the B side, Alcohol, that has to rank among the top songs of all time.

I'd Rather Drink Than Fuck

M.D.C. - Millions Of Dead Children 7"

Another of my all time favorite bands was M.D.C. This 7" was originally released in 1984, and included the song 'Death Of A Nun'. That song was re-recorded on the 1988 'More Dead Cops' collection, changing lyrics to become 'Pecking Order'. This was also the case on the 2003 re-release of the 7".

Hey Asshole, What You Looking At?

Poison Idea - Pick Your King 7"

In 1983 Poison Idea released 'Pick Your King', their debut 7". Some time that year I bought it off of a friend because I thought then (and still think now) that it was one of the best covers ever. Once I listened to the record I thought then (and still think now) that they are one of the best bands ever. From the non-stop, lightning fast delivery found on this release, to the slower, heavier sound on their late 80's releases, to their early 90's releases in which they became the heavyweight champions of hardcore. For me Poison Idea have always been the Kings Of Punk. And this 7" is where it all began.

This Thing Called Progress Makes Me Sick

Many moons ago I posted my favorite release, Feel The Darkness. If you haven't heard it, or just haven't heard it lately, do yourself a favor.

The Exploited - Computers Don't Blunder 7"

The Exploited...nuff said.

Shaking And Twitching

E-13 - Quest For Gilligan 7"

Here's two more obnoxious tunes from Portlands E-13, released in 1985.

Tick Tock Goes The Clock

Agnostic Front - United Blood 7"

Speaking Of classic 7"s, Agnostic Front released this powerful debut in 1983.

Are You Friend Or Foe?

Dr. Know - Burn 7"

Dr. Know released this classic 7" in 1985.

I Won't Let You Patronize Me

Beastie Boys - Polli Wog Stew 7"

Ever hear of a band called the Beastie Boys? They were a young hardcore band from NYC. They released this snotty debut 7" in 1982. I wonder if they did anything after that. Hmmm.....

You Gotta Fight For Your Right To Party

The Abused - Loud And Clear 7"

Released in 1983, here's some angry, fast straight edge from NYC.

We're Here To Stay

Iron Cross - Hated And Proud 7"

D.C.'s Iron Cross released precious little in their initial run. That's a shame because these guys are great. Here's their second 7", from 1983.

You're A Rebel, But Not A Winner

Die Kreuzen - Cows And Beer 7"

In 1982 Die Kreuzen released this brilliant 7". Although all the songs can be found on their legendary L.P. these are different recordings and therefore, a must have.

I Don't Think For You. You Don't Think For Me

Battalion Of Saints/S.V.D.B. - Split 7"

Mystic Records delivers a great hardcore split single here. Battalion Of Saints is of course legendary, while the Saint Vitus Dance Band released a small handful of compilation tracks, all good. But I know nothing about them.

She's A Sweaty Girl

A.O.D./Bedlam - Caught In The Act Split 7"

From 1985, here's a good live 7" from two New Jersey bands. Fun and entertaining stuff.

Wandering Minstrels

Artificial Peace/Exiled - Split 7"

No sense in leaving D.C. just yet. Here's a classic split 7" put out on Fountain Of Youth Records in 1982. Great stuff. And for shits and giggles I'll include a review I found on KFTH. I think he likes Exiled:

The Exiled! Wow, this is the one the world's been waiting for! As the name of the record label states, this music is totaly youthful. Derek Hsu, the lead singer, is known to most people (inside and outside of D.C.) as the walking fountain of youth which is why he decided to name his label this. The Exiled have the amazing line-up of Derek Shoe-vocals, Alan Spears-bass, Steve Webster-guitar, and John Sowalsky-drums. Included in the EP package is a sheet that has lyrics and pictures of the Exiled; you can put it on your wall if you like. This record is so great, a fresh and invigorating outlook on life is given to us all in the lyrics which are about subjects that no one has ever written about and are also very important. For example, "Day by Day" says, "Living on the streets, day to day, barely get buy, no job, no pay." Amazing! Sure I could go on about the intellectual significance and complex rhythmic schemes of these lines but that would take a year. Then in "Epilogue" Derek gets super political and philosophical when he declares furiously, "I want to live my life, I don't want it to end all of a sudden, when some stupid Russian pushes a stupid button and makes us all dead." What an intelligent statement. My mind is trying to cope with all these lyrics but they are just too incredible. The music is quite the same - incredible, amazing, great, and significant within all our lives. Artificial Peace is no match to the Exiled. I'm sure they must have paid tons of money to be on the same record as them. Get this one while it lasts!
-Colin Sears (from If This Goes On #3, June 1983)

Think For Yourself, Don't Think For Me

V/A - Odd Man Odd 7"

Staying in our nations capitol but fast forwarding 3 years finds this 5 band, 5 song 7". By 1988, clearly (to paraphrase Ian MacKaye) the core had gotten soft. That's not to say this is a bad record by any means. Just more mature. Or at least, less immature.

Forever

V/A - Alive & Kicking 7"

Many believed the D.C. scene died after Minor Threat broke up. This 7" from 1985 says different. Six D.C. area bands belt out some good, albeit slower tunes and make a pretty entertaining record.

Try To Finish What You Began

V/A - Why Are We Here? 7"

Here's 4 hardcore bands from North Carolina. C.O.C. is of course the most recognizable here, but the other 3 hold their own.

Why Should We Pay The Consequences?

V/A - We Can't Help It If We're From Florida 7"

Down the Eastern Seaboard we go. The state of Florida produced some great hardcore bands. Here's five of them on this 1983 comp.

My Dog's Into Anarchy

V/A - Welcome To Ax/ction Island 7"

Next up is is the Northeastern United States. Ax/ction Records was located in Cambridge, Mass. and primarily focused on regional bands. Here's a sampler they released in 1986 featuring 6 of those bands (plus one from Ipswitch, England). Good hardcore.

Incite To Violence

V/A - From The Valley Within 7"

Next we head all the way down the coast to San Jose, CA. Here's a 1984 comp featuring 4 bands with 2 songs each. Good classic hardcore.

Why Did It Happen?

V/A - Drinking Is Great 7"

We're going to start with the 1985 compilation out of the Pacific Northwest called Drinking Is Great because, well, Drinking IS Great! Four heavy bands including the mighty Poison Idea make this an excellent 7"

Stop Laughing

Home Sweet Home

It's great to travel the world but it's always nice getting home, isn't it?

With our feet once again firmly planted in the good ol' U.S. of A. we now kick off Seven Inches of Summer.

One thing I really liked back in the day were the regional compilations that were released. I thought it a great way to hear new bands and what other 'scenes' sounded like. Some examples already posted are the Big City comps from the Northeast, Nuke Your Dink from Nevada, and Process Of Elimination from the Northern Midwest.

So without further ado, enjoy...