Graham Parker & The Rumour ‎– "Live In San Francisco 7/11/1976" (Bootleg)

Another Ducks Deluxe members career path was guitarist with Graham Parker, filled by Martin Belmont.
This group seemed to be on the TV all the time when i was a nipper. Couldn't stand it then, and can't stand it now.
Its that Bruce Springsteen's East Street Band vibe, where there are too many muso's all trying to play at the same time. Of course with impeccable taste, nabbing all the best bits of the sixties and chucking 'em into a big over-seasoned casserole.
Then we've got another Americanised Brit, belting out lots of 'baby's and Honeh's to great irritation on my part. very representative of the lost generation who grew up in the swinging sixties, with thinning long hair mullets, trying to resurrect the music of their yoof, Bringing it up to date by wearing skinny trousers and baseball boots to appeal to the new wave fan.
But......he's a key player in the Pub/Punk crossover scene, so I figure he's gotta be featured.
So here's a live recording from his peak, in the country he likes to mimic the accent and bloodvessel busting singing style of.Horrendous....although, he has many fans, and this Radio broadcast recording is very high quality.

Tracklist:

01. White Honey
02. That's What They All Say
03. Fool's Gold
04. Turned Up Too Late
05. Something You're Goin' Through
06. Pour It All Out
07. Back To Schooldays
08. Hotel Chambermaid
09. Heat Treatment
10. Don't Ask Me Questions
11. Not If It Pleases Me
12. Help Me Shake It
13. Soul Shoes
14. Kansas City
15. Hold Back The Night

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Tyla Gang ‎– "Styrofoam" (Stiff Records ‎– BUY 4) 1976

In 1976, the year Punk Rock exploded onto the front page of the tabloid press, there were NO,Zero, records of said hyped genre. Not surprising as there were hardly any 'Punk' bands to make any singles. So we were told who was Punk,and generally they weren't actually.
Stiff provided some 'real punk' with the Damned's 'New Rose' and a licenced Richard Hell single.The Sex Pistols' "Anarchy" was released by EMI, and there were imports of American Glam like The New York Dolls and The Stooges.
There were records by Eddie and the Hot Rods, who were fast enough but looked like a charity shop Bay City rollers. So,in '76 all the kids had to go on were these, some reggae, and Pub Rockers marketed as a bit punky.
One of these would have been the Tyla Gang's first single on Stiff. A typical slice of American flavoured Bluesy Rock, sung in a Faux-american accent. Definitely Not Punk.

This demands a spot of auto-plagiarism (always wanted to use that word).
I wrote the following synopsis, which I will entitle "Punk Never Happened, like." , in the comments section of The Motors first LP post......which no-one reads I guess.
So i'll quote myself, in an exercise of narcissistic glee,and reproduce it below,as it explains the situation in 76/77 very nicely:

"When one looks back at the 'Punk' era, what is remarkable is the actual lack of Punk Bands...so naturally we had to cast our nets wide and bands like The Motors and Motorhead got roped in.With the advent of Punk Revisionism, it is now apparent that there were actually NO Punk bands during the punk years. The Ramones etc were Proto-Punk, Buzzcocks Power Pop, Stranglers Pub Rock, Television retro proto-post punk, the Jam proto Mod revival, 999/Vibrators Bandwagon Punk, Siouxsie and the Banshees Post Punk/proto Goth,Subway Sect proto-indie, Clash/Damned Pub Rock refugees,Patti Smith,Hippie, and even The Sex Pistols were made up of Prog/Glam/Pub rockers molded into an art object by art school svengali Maclaren......who always referred to it all as 'New Wave'. So Punk didn't actually exist outside the minds of the sensationalist media.....discuss." (J.Zchivago, 5/9/2016)

Tracklist:

Styrofoam 2:37
Texas Chainsaw Massacre Boogie 3:39

DOWNLOAD this '76 punk' single HERE!

The Tyla Gang - "Moonproof" (Beserkley ‎– BSERK 16) 1978

Moonproof, in these confused, over-misinformed times(another way of saying Paranoid), means 'proof',or lack of, that NASA landed on the moon. An event that growing numbers of people seem to think didn't happen. In fact NASA, with the aid of Stanley Kubrik allegedly faked it SIX times; and to this day no-one involved has blabbed.....a record in the history of the human race, who notoriously cannot keep anything secret.
These days, we need proof that many musicians even existed, and one of those forgotten figures is one Sean Tyla, late of Ducks Deluxe.
Unlike NASA, I am willing to forward evidence that The Tyla Gang did indeed exist,a few years after the alleged final moon landing, by presenting the second album from 1978.....called 'Moonproof'.
Tylaproof if you will?
No surprises here.Its the same as the first album.Full of competent FM radio rockers in the tradition of Tom Petty and other American boredom inducers. If you like that kind of stuff, this is as fine an example as there is....but with a Brit singing in an american accent.
Just for the record I now reckon they(NASA not the Tyla Gang) did indeed go to the moon, having finally understood how to survive the van Allen belt; and I'm convinced that The Tyla Gang released at least two LP's (mainly because they are both on this blog! Otherwise I've only got my word for it!?

Tracklist:

Tropical Love 3:23
Oakland Red 3:00
It's Gonna Rain 3:25
Did Your Hear It On The Radio 2:52
Rodeo 2:56
Spanish Street 3:04
No Roses 3:18
American Mother 3:16
Suicide Jockey 3:03
Flashing In The Subway 2:31

DOWNLOAD some tyla conspiracy proof HERE!

Tyla Gang ‎– "Yachtless" (Beserkley ‎– BSERK-11) 1977

In this modern era of the growing underclass,where the rich are out of sight of the super rich elite. The Haves, and the Have Yachts. 
To be Yachtless means you are excluded from the exclusive club of the 1% who own 99% of global wealth. One can't help but feel sorry for those struggling millionaires who can only dream of owning their own private jet....the Jetless.
Of course as the class divide widens, post 'credit crunch', and the underclass are paid less, forced into zero-hour contracts, and to be 'self-employed' as a way around workers rights. These second tier millionaires are almost certain to get their private Jet, and upgrade their sad little 50ft yacht to something nearer the €340 million container ship size boat that Roman Abramovich spent his stolen cash on. Not unlike the 'yacht' as featured on the cover of ean Tyla's post Ducks Deluxe group, The Tyla Gang's, debut album, "Yachtless".
Tyla's new band played a bunch of faultlessly played hard mid tempo rockers, not unlike a UK version of The Heartbreakers(both Johnny T's and Tommy P's), but without the style. This could easily have been by an american group(yuk), and i'm not surprised they got signed up by an American label. Very FM friendly. indeed.

Tracklist:

Hurricane 3:15
Dust On The Needle 4:35
On The Street 2:59
New York Sun 3:12
Speedball Morning 3:01
Don't Shift A Gear 3:00
Lost Angels 3:43
The Young Lords 3:20
Whizz Kids 3:31
Don't Turn Your Radio On 3:44

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The Motors ‎– "Approved By The Motors" (Virgin ‎– V 2101) 1978

Oh how we laughed when we heard 'Airport'. We used to sing 'Airport' in maths class at school to amuse ourselves and also annoy the authorities of course. Dexy's 'Geno' was another favourite a year or so later I remember.
The first album was a forceful singalong classic,packed full of strong tunes.
The follow up was a mash up of lightweight pop tunes, varying in styles from Synth Pop, to some perverted chart orientated version of Neu, to Power poop.In places they seem to have changed from the New-Wave Status Quo into the New Wave Wings.
'You Beat The Hell Outta Me' seems to be a refugee from the debut LP,and is uncomfortably out of place.
As terrible I thought this group and album were back in 1978, I now find myself really enjoying its diluted nu-wave lite formula.
Yes they got one 'hit', but it was also a lesson in how to commit career suicide.

Tracklist:

A1 Airport 4:36
A2 Mamma Rock'n Roller 4:03
A3 Forget About You 2:51
A4 Do You Mind 3:22
A5 You Beat The Hell Outta Me 3:24
B1 Breathless 4:30
B2 Soul Redeemer 2:40
B3 Dreaming Your Life Away 4:48
B4 Sensation 3:22
B5 Today 3:59

DOWNLOAD disapproved of by my peers HERE!

The Motors - "Peel Sessions 1977"

Here's The Motors, churning out the hits for the John Peel Show in 1977.
I like Peel Sessions that have less than 4 tracks on 'em, like the first Motors sessions. Mainly because their tunes around 1977 were always around 5 or 6 minutes in length. Like a Meat Loaf track, just when you think they've ended, they start again,and again; but i'd rather listen to The Motors than one of  Jim Steinman's (I think thats what he was called,either that or Bastard) toe curlingly bad, mini rock opera atrocities.
I also like bands that play the same songs in different sessions.The Motors do this too....so it can't be all bad?

Tracks:

1st Session - rec 22/03/1977 transmission 22/04/1977

1- Emergency
2- Bringing in the Morning Light
3- Dancing the Night Away

2nd Session - rec 12/09/1977 transmission 21/09/1977

4- Phoney Heaven
5- Freeze
6- You Beat The Hell Outta Me
7- Dancing The Night Away

DOWNLOAD some motors to your head HERE!

The Motors - "1" (Virgin ‎– V 2089) 1977

Two former members of Ducks deluxe formed New wave cash-in band, The Motors.
One of those bands who's records you had to hide from your mates in 1977....alongside The Drones, Stranglers, and secret Prog records you liked.
Mainly because Nick Garvey looked like someones Dad desperately clinging on to his yoof; and they sounded like a new wave Status Quo.
Despite that, "Dancing The Night Away" topped John Peel's Festive Fifty that year, narrowly beating Althea and Donna's "Uptown top Ranking" into second place. I think the Pistols scrapped in at number 11 with Holidays In The Sun"????. In fact The Motors had four entries compared to the Pistols pitiful three.
Like prime period Quo, this album is packed with powerful euphoric anthems topped by terrace chant vocals, that beg to be sang along to with yer hands in the air......too much fun for 1977.
How "Dancing the Night Away" wasn't a hit, i'll never know.This is most likely the reason they watered down their sound for the second album,which worked,and produced the 'hit'.

Tracklist:

1 Dancing The Night Away 6:33
2 Freeze 4:27
3 Cold Love 4:49
4 Phoney Heaven 4:06
5 Bring In The Morning Light 3:30
6 Emergency 6:13
7 Whiskey And Wine 3:03
8 Summertime (Is Calling) 5:05
9 Be What You Gotta Be 3:54
Bonus Tracks:
10 Dancing The Night Away (Single Version)
11 You Beat The Hell Outta Me (Single Version)
12 Cold Love (Remix)

DOWNLOAD the night away HERE!

Ducks Deluxe ‎– "Last Night Of A Pub Rock Band" (Blue Moon ‎– BMLP 001) 1979

The Ducks called it a day in 1975, and what better way to sign off than a ,posthumously released, double album of themselves in a live environment terribly recorded on a cassette recorder from the audience?
Standard covers,that seemed to be played by every pub band, make another tiresome appearance, 'Knocking On Heavens Door' and 'Route 66'; all sitting comfortably in a set that includes the 'hits'.
Guest appearances from Nick Lowe and Lee Brilleaux, add to the party, and the band members all went on to moderately successful post-pub careers.
Recorded live at the 100 Club, Oxford Street, London July 1st 1975.
Tracklist:

A1 Fireball
A2 Proud Mary
A3 Evil
A4 Midnight Moon
A5 The Mighty Quinn
A6 Here Comes The Night
B1 Knocking On Heaven's Door
B2 Have You Ever Seen The Rain
B3 Amsterdam Dog
B4 Jumpin In The Fire
C1 Run Rudolph Run
C2 Teenage Head
C3 Coast To Coast
C4 (Get Your Kicks On) Route 66
D1 Little Queenie
D2 Brown Sugar
D3 Midnight Rambler
D4 Going Down The Road

DOWNLOAD the latest rar file of a pub rock band HERE!

Ducks Deluxe ‎– "The John Peel Sessions" (1973-75)

Yes, there was some interesting stuff between 1973 and 1975, contrary to popular opinion; but there was certainly a lack of dirty Rock'n'Roll. A veritable Dark Age in the R'n'R era. In a world populated by Cock Rock, Prog , and Singer-Songwriters; all us kids had was Glam and a few pub rock groups to garner a modicum of excitement from. 
Here we have one of the better groups from that dismal period, captured out of their natural environment in the sterile and acoustically dry atmosphere of the BBC's Maida Vale studios for the John Peel Show. Sandwiched between the Led Zeppelin, Hatfield and the North, and Loudon Wainwright III records. The Ducks were replaced in the schedule the following year after their last session by The Ramones, and the rest is now history.As for modern popular music, we are now in a new dark age.

TRACK LISTING
JOHN PEEL SESSION, recorded 12.6.73
[1] Fireball
[2] Coast To Coast
[3] Pensecola Blues
[4] Bring Back My Packard Car
JOHN PEEL SESSION, recorded 23.4.74
[5] Fireball
[6] Dancing Beat
[7] The Cannons Of The Boogie Night
[8] It's All Over Now
JOHN PEEL SESSION, recorded 20.3.75
[9] Paris 9
[10] Jumping In The Fire
[11] Amsterdam Dog
[12] Something's Going On

DOWNLOAD some ducks from the dark ages of rock'n'roll HERE!

Ducks Deluxe ‎– "Taxi To The Terminal Zone" (RCA ‎– SF8402) 1975

I'm a big fan of second albums. You know, the ones the critics,or the band, hate and consequently most fans hate 'em too. The classic follow ups by The Adverts,Television,Pink Floyd and The Damned stand out in my mind. I think this final Ducks Deluxe album fits nicely in that category. Obviously lacking the killer tunes,but has an understated and detached quality about it that only a group in the throes of disintegration can capture. There's a raw exuberant sadness that gives the music a special magic that the listener can only understand after leaving it unplayed for a couple of decades. It all makes sense now.

Tracklist:

A1 Cherry Pie
A2 It Don't Matter Tonite
A3 I'm Crying
A4 Love's Melody
A5 Teenage Head
B1 Rio Grande
B2 My My Music
B3 Rainy Night In Kilburn
B4 Woman Of The Man
B5 Paris 9

DOWNLOAD to the computer terminal zone HERE!

Ducks Deluxe ‎– "Ducks Deluxe" (RCA Victor ‎– LPLI 5008) 1974

While most of the other Pub Rock bands farted around with insipid anglicised versions of Country and Western; Ducks Deluxe and Dr. Feelgood livened it all up somewhat with some down and dirty blues flovoured R'n'R..An obvious indicator towards the fast approaching Punk phenomenon.Although, done with a fairly obvious dose of American mimicry,especially in the vocals.I think the only Pub Rock band to use an English accent were the Kilburns? This is one element of Pub Rock that was resoundingly dropped by the Punks....thank christ.  
Like most of this scene, it was best sampled in a live environment, which, as always never really transferred itself onto tape.
Given that, there are some exciting moments on this debut LP, notably high tempo proto-punk classic "Coast to Coast", among others. Interestingly written by future 'Motor', Nick Garvey.
They had a down at heel imageless image that suited the stale beer and sweat stink of the music they made. Authentic examples of people who had to make the music they loved themselves, because no fucker else was gonna do it in 1974.....except Dr. Feelgood of course.

Tracklist:
Coast To Coast
Nervous Breakdown
Daddy Put The Bomp
I Got You
Please, Please, Please
Fireball
Don't Mind Rockin' Tonite
Hearts On My Sleeve
Falling For That Woman
West Texas Trucking Board
Too Hot To Handle
It's All Over Now

DOWNLOAD from coast to coast HERE!