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| Australian Edition |
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| Aussie Rear |
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| Italian edition |
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| French Edition |
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| French edition (Rear) |
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| Spanish edition |
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| German Edition |
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| The extremely RARE Canadian 8-Track edition!? |
Members of the Downliners Sect helped finish this album off, and for the follow up record, they took over and became the equally excellent FU2; which I will be posting after this.
In Fact, I was approached last year, to contribute the liner notes to an impending Vinyl reissue of this platter. Which I did, but it was put on ice due to the effects of the financial crisis?
Therfore I see it fit to provide these notes below for your entertainment:
(April 2013):
"Welcome
to this ‘so-called’, Punksploitation masterpiece. Variously entitled,
the very imaginative, "Punk Rock"; or, more appropriately, "Worthless
Trash". It was originally released virtually everywhere, except the
homelands of Punk Rock, the UK and USA, in a myriad of, now very
collectable, different sleeves.
Amongst the dole snooper avoiding pseudonyms of Dan Druff (Bass), Vincent Sharp(vocals),and Tim Nervous (Guitar); you may also notice one Martin Question. The future drumming criminal also know as, Martin Chambers of the Pretenders. He appears very prominently in the group pictures; except on the rear of the French LP cover, where mysteriously he has changed into a woman!?.....this could explain a lot! I'm sick to death of hearing about Chrissie fucking Hynde's dalliances with several punk groups; Mike Hunts’ Dishonorable Discharge(ha!ha!), Flowers of Romance, Johnny Moped etc; when all the time it was her boring drummer who actually was in a classic band like this!
Various adjectives have been applied to this classic record over the years since its rediscovery. The previously mentioned ,“Punksploitation”, and ,the not previously mentioned ,“Fake Punk” ,are prime examples; and it has been accepted into the “Messthetics” genre with welcoming arms. None of these really apply, and are even insulting. The music is excellently raw garage punk of the highest order, with a Joe Strummer style vocal delivery of someone who never went to a public school; unlike Mr Mellor(Diplomat’s son Strummer’s real name). It sounds like very real street punk, and they looked like real punks from the streets of ’77.
It can’t be labelled “Punksploitation” as no-one bought it! Maybe Failed Punksploitation on behalf of the idiots at their clueless record company; but wasn’t all Punk Rock released on vinyl, cd, cassette, or 8-track cartridge (like Worthless Trash/Punk Rock was) with a profit margin exploitative?
It ain’t “Fake Punk” either, as that would rule out the Clash, and we can’t have that could we?(mmmm Dunno though!). In fact rather than being ‘Fake’, the picture on the album cover, reveals four lads who actually looked more like the kind of punter you actually saw at a Sex Pistols concert. No hint of the designer clothes horses of the ClashPistols(sic) and 100% genuine “Fakes”, Generation X, can be detected. One member is even wearing a very punk rock turtle neck sweater under his denim jacket; This is anti-fashion chic at its very zenith!
It isn’t Messthetics, or UK D.I.Y., as that implies that they recorded this at home on mum’s music centre; when it was done in a ‘proper’ studio, paid for with record company cash! Also those terms suggest a certain naive charm , or a willful amateurishness , of which I do not detect. These fellows knew how to make raw primal Rock’n’Roll from the same rich tradition of Jerry Lee Lewis and Gene Vincent; and don’t forget the looming pedigree of Terry Clemson of sixties Punk legends, The Downliner’s Sect (and of later Fake Punkers FU2), drafted in on Guitar for the recording sessions.
Of course, the “Punx” would have scoffed at this record, which is the greatest stamp of authenticity you can get. If any booted and leather suited Travis Bickle coiffured UK Subs follower, labelled anything “Fake Punk”, this is the best indicator to finding the direction in which to find the real thing.
This is one of the reasons it was never released in the UK, where ‘Punk’ orthodoxy had a stranglehold; defined by tabloid headlines, and cynical attempts by certain fashion guru’s, to manipulate the younger generation into buying clothes from certain Kings road boutiques. Where the only ‘No Future’ waiting for you, was not getting that well-paid job so you could buy a pair of Vivienne Westwood Bondage trousers. The Vacants had never heard of Seditionaries, or even cared. This is Honest music coming from an uncorrupted place. Capturing the raw intensity of the dark art of Rock’n’Roll magick(sic).If you want to call it Punk Rock or Fake Punk, you’re missing the point. This record, however unwittingly, encapsulates ultimately what Punk Rock was all about at its most basic level; before the confused philosophizing and confusing over analysis. Punk Rock was about the rediscovery of cathartic Rock’n’Roll, championing the Id over intellect, primal scream therapy for the underclass. So stop intellectualizing, listen to some Worthless Trash, and let your inner animal breathe."
Amongst the dole snooper avoiding pseudonyms of Dan Druff (Bass), Vincent Sharp(vocals),and Tim Nervous (Guitar); you may also notice one Martin Question. The future drumming criminal also know as, Martin Chambers of the Pretenders. He appears very prominently in the group pictures; except on the rear of the French LP cover, where mysteriously he has changed into a woman!?.....this could explain a lot! I'm sick to death of hearing about Chrissie fucking Hynde's dalliances with several punk groups; Mike Hunts’ Dishonorable Discharge(ha!ha!), Flowers of Romance, Johnny Moped etc; when all the time it was her boring drummer who actually was in a classic band like this!
Various adjectives have been applied to this classic record over the years since its rediscovery. The previously mentioned ,“Punksploitation”, and ,the not previously mentioned ,“Fake Punk” ,are prime examples; and it has been accepted into the “Messthetics” genre with welcoming arms. None of these really apply, and are even insulting. The music is excellently raw garage punk of the highest order, with a Joe Strummer style vocal delivery of someone who never went to a public school; unlike Mr Mellor(Diplomat’s son Strummer’s real name). It sounds like very real street punk, and they looked like real punks from the streets of ’77.
It can’t be labelled “Punksploitation” as no-one bought it! Maybe Failed Punksploitation on behalf of the idiots at their clueless record company; but wasn’t all Punk Rock released on vinyl, cd, cassette, or 8-track cartridge (like Worthless Trash/Punk Rock was) with a profit margin exploitative?
It ain’t “Fake Punk” either, as that would rule out the Clash, and we can’t have that could we?(mmmm Dunno though!). In fact rather than being ‘Fake’, the picture on the album cover, reveals four lads who actually looked more like the kind of punter you actually saw at a Sex Pistols concert. No hint of the designer clothes horses of the ClashPistols(sic) and 100% genuine “Fakes”, Generation X, can be detected. One member is even wearing a very punk rock turtle neck sweater under his denim jacket; This is anti-fashion chic at its very zenith!
It isn’t Messthetics, or UK D.I.Y., as that implies that they recorded this at home on mum’s music centre; when it was done in a ‘proper’ studio, paid for with record company cash! Also those terms suggest a certain naive charm , or a willful amateurishness , of which I do not detect. These fellows knew how to make raw primal Rock’n’Roll from the same rich tradition of Jerry Lee Lewis and Gene Vincent; and don’t forget the looming pedigree of Terry Clemson of sixties Punk legends, The Downliner’s Sect (and of later Fake Punkers FU2), drafted in on Guitar for the recording sessions.
Of course, the “Punx” would have scoffed at this record, which is the greatest stamp of authenticity you can get. If any booted and leather suited Travis Bickle coiffured UK Subs follower, labelled anything “Fake Punk”, this is the best indicator to finding the direction in which to find the real thing.
This is one of the reasons it was never released in the UK, where ‘Punk’ orthodoxy had a stranglehold; defined by tabloid headlines, and cynical attempts by certain fashion guru’s, to manipulate the younger generation into buying clothes from certain Kings road boutiques. Where the only ‘No Future’ waiting for you, was not getting that well-paid job so you could buy a pair of Vivienne Westwood Bondage trousers. The Vacants had never heard of Seditionaries, or even cared. This is Honest music coming from an uncorrupted place. Capturing the raw intensity of the dark art of Rock’n’Roll magick(sic).If you want to call it Punk Rock or Fake Punk, you’re missing the point. This record, however unwittingly, encapsulates ultimately what Punk Rock was all about at its most basic level; before the confused philosophizing and confusing over analysis. Punk Rock was about the rediscovery of cathartic Rock’n’Roll, championing the Id over intellect, primal scream therapy for the underclass. So stop intellectualizing, listen to some Worthless Trash, and let your inner animal breathe."
(Jonny Zchivago, Die or DIY?)
www.dieordiy.blogspot.com
Track Listing:
A1 Pushin' Too Hard
A2 Beat On The Brat
A3 Louie Louie
A4 Dead Girl
A5 Half Man Woman
A6 Television Viewer
B1 Misuse Of Love
B2 B.A.D.
B3 Good Guy's Don't Wear
B4 Worthless Trash
B5 I'm Allrite
B6 What Happened To You
DOWNLOAD this worthless trash HERE!
14 comments:
I've seen a vinyl reissue of this for sale - does it feature your liner notes?!
I'm not aware that it went ahead! The american company pulled out due to lack of funds! If it does feature my liner notes,(can you check it out?)...i'll have questions to ask! And where's my free copy?
OK - bear with me (might take a while though!)
What's the betting it turns out to be the undated European reissue listed here:
http://www.discogs.com/Vacants-Wothless-Trah/release/2273941
Just wanted to say thank you for all the great music you share with us here. And it's not the music alone, I especially admire your way of writing. I'm sure you know more about art and life than most people do. Especially your remarks about losing friends by playing favourite records/tapes on occasions like christmas, birthdays etc (and having no friends at all if continuing doing so) mirrors my experiences over the last 30 years pretty well. Just a few days ago I tried to be nice to my family and play some davie allen christmas surf songs......And about The Vacants: This is definitively supposed to be real. And it is! It's as real as The Shaggs were.....
CheersY. Ginger,keep on losing friends.
I love this album....for me its up there with the best of the genre.
Have a good new year mate.
Hi Jonny,
Just found this gem in a dusty corner of the blog :-)
There's a track missing from the zip, looks like track 2 Pushin' Too Hard, is there any way I could beg you too re-up the zip?
Many Thanks for the best music blog on the internet,
Doug
hi Doug, yes no problem.
I'll re-up it today.
i enjoyed re-reading my blurb.....forgot all about it!
I've got a different cd version now so i'll update it in higher quality.
Thanks for voting me the best blog internet!
cheers.
Now re-upped as of 09/07/2018 in 320k
Many Thanks!
Mouth To Mouth, who also featured Vacants vocalist Guy, are playing Bow in London on December 21st 2018. We'll be playing 3 or 4 songs from Worthless Trash.
I like how each issue had a different cover, different running order, different name...even different members. As if some marketing exec at RCA was trying to fine-tune it. "Alleyways and urban decay are so March '77 - let's try the cartoon of the safety pin gypsy hippy woman, the kids'll lap it up!"
Thanks for posting. I bought a (Beat) copy 2nd hand for $5 in 1985 or 6 when I was about 13. I just pulled it out of my collection this morning as I finally got my record player working properly. I'm not sure what prompted me to buy it: I had never heard of them. Maybe cos it's got Pushin' Too Hard and Beat On The Brat on it and I liked and still do like 60s Garage and Punk. I never thought of the music I listened to as a teenager in the 80s as punk: I just thought of it as rock music but when I read about bands like The Celibate Rifles on the internet these days they often described as punk. I just thought it was honest no bullshit rock unlike a lot of the crap in the top 40 like hair metal and soap stars turned pop stars.
Anyway, thanks again for posting: it can be hard to find info on bands like this even with the internet.
@ Pheelheaps.....your handle sounds australian? One of the few places that this was released in....for me, as a 13 year old in 1977,what came after ,that we now call post-punk or new wave, was all Punk. Punk rock is,like Celibate Rifles,no nonsense rock'n'roll, Punk Rock. Even the experimental stuff was all part of it for me...pop group etc.....then came the categories....i suppose they are necessary,as pop music is soooo diverse these days......but i think the reems of Heavy Metal genres are slightly silly.I suppose it means something to metalheads but for me,they only need maybe half a dozen,like classic, doom, death...etc.....don't ask me.
Glad you appreciate my work,spread the word.
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