Various Artists – "Belfast Rock" (Rip Off Records – ROLP1) 1978

Despite the fact that the  Rip Off Records cover insist that this rocking Irish Pub Rock album is actually called "Belfast Rock" when the labels clearly suggest its called "Belfast Rocks".

The pun is,for the benefit of our dear american chums, that 'Rock' is in fact a candy-striped seaside sweet treat sold in every UK seaside town...think Coney Island.It normally has the local holiday town's name running throughout the entire length of the 'Stick of Rock'.As the cover art clearly demonstrates.

Belfast's tourism hot spots are not really sandy beaches, or even Bobby Sands graffiti,or H-Block ice cream vendors ,but none other than the Harland and Wolff shipyards,notoriously the place that the unsinkable Titanic was built.If there were Ice cream Vendors hanging around the Falls Road,around this time,would chocolate flavor be called a Dirty Protest with a flake?

This compilation, and most all of bands from Ulster, usually sank without a trace,even though all these bands would undoubtedly have played on as the ship slipped below the waves in a desperate bid to get a record contract,preferably with Stiff records,as judged by the evidence presented here.

Top notch Pub Rock from Belfast, no politics mentioned,just honest sweaty Rock'n'Roll,and not a single Kneecapping in sight.
Tracklist:

A1 Pretty Boy Floyd & The Gems– Spread The Word Around
A2 Blue Steam– Cortina Cowboys
A3 Cobra – Looking For A Lady
A4 Jumpers – Jimmy Jump
A5 No Sweat – You Should Be So Lucky
A6 Detonators– Cruisin'

B1 Blue Steam– Lizard King
B2 No Sweat – Start All Over Again
B3 Cobra – Graveyard Boogie
B4 Pretty Boy Floyd & The Gems– Rough Tough Pretty Too
B5 Jumpers – Baby C'mon
B6 Detonators– Light At Your Window

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Various Artists – "Belfast" (Shock Rock – SLR 007) 1980

 

Put down yer Molotov Cocktails,stop throwing those Bricks,as the "Troubles" seem to have fueled one of the very best Local Band compilations in the united kingdom here.
Up there with Bristol's "Avon Calling", "Sent from Coventry",and that one by the Hackney Musicians Collective,and/or "East Of Croydon", to name some obvious candidates.
Such was life dodging ricocheting rubber bullets,and icy blasts from the water cannon,being creative during an insurgency was not,easy.

In fact just leaving home to walk to the subsidized recording facilities was literally risking your life,never mind finding somewhere secure,and free of religious bigotry, to play live.
Not many bands from other parts of the UK took the risk, except The Clash,and Crass,
So the only other option was....here we go again....Do It Yourself.
The crystal clear sound production,and great rock'n'roll guitar sounds,seem to suggest there may have been some local,or maybe even national, financial assistance going down here.
There are a couple of naff ones,but overall,this compilation ROCKS,by bands never to be heard of again.

Indeed,from certain areas of the stinkernet, these bands are Crisis Actors, and Northern Ireland never existed.....which most of us in the UK wished to be true at the time, until those kindly Americans came and sorted it all out for everyone.....and they are still doing it today.It would never have happened under the the Orange man,and he/it would have fixed it in 24 hours. this is why the Orange Men of the Orange order march in tribute to King Donald every year,causing a shitload of trouble(s).

Beam me the fuck UP Scottie!!!!

Tracklist:

A1 Stage B– Recall To Life
A2 Strike – Radio Songs
A3 Ex-Producers– The System Is Here
A4 Ezy Meat– Sexy Lady
A5 Reflex Action– Spies
B1 Strike – Running Past
B2 Reflex Action– Recession
B3 Stage B– Light On The Hillside
B4 Ezy Meat– Soho Escapade
B5 Ex-Producers– Behind The Door

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