The 49 Americans ‎– "Too Young To Be Ideal!" (Choo Choo Train Records ‎– CHUG 2) 1980

Blimey! In the space of less than a year the next 49 Americans EP cost a whole One Pound and fourteen new pence more than the first one. Now's thats galloping inflation on a Zimbabwean scale!?

And what do you get for your extra expenditure? 

A lousy extra six minutes of The 49 Americans in action!

The cover states that this is a Twelve-Inch Single......so its the extra five inches of plastic that gets the blame for the increase in entry fees is it? And I thought these guys were a bunch of communists?

Can't trust anyone these days,even back in the 1980's it seems?

Well before Facebook and post-truth we had Post-Punk.So if we applied the same criteria as applied to alternative facts, that means that Post-Punk is actually Punk that wasn't Punk......it's all so clear to me now.At the time I thught all Punk was Punk,and that, there being a time when the term Post-Punk had yet to be coined,I thought stuff like Gang Of Four, The Pop Group,and Wire were actually 'Punk'.Then some bright spark Journalist,either Jon Savage or Paul Morely, came up with this pigeon hole around 1980-ish,meaning bands who didn't sound like The Ramones or look like The UK Subs;when before the term used to mean everything after 1976.

The first genuinely Post-Punk bands were stuff like Siouxsie and The Banshees,Wire,and PiL;but bizarrely there were Post-Punk bands before Punk too,like Pere Ubu,and Talking Heads...proto-post-punk anyone?

This is the true spirit of Punk Wok, moving forward,striving to be an individual,and not being a UK Sub doing 'Stranglehold' for the upteenth time in your seventies.

Punk Wok is The 49 Americans,doing it yourself,and not copying the Womones and the Thex Pithtols, that's....Wunk Pock.....as in the last post I used a 'Palindrome'event,now is the chance for me to use a Spoonerism.....and I'll do it again,watch....Wunk Pock. Ta Daaah!

I'm too old to be an Idealist!

Tracklist:

A1 Theme
A2 Woe Ballad
A3 Yucky Nightclub Job
A4 Love At First Sight
A5 Don't Sing The Blues
B1 I'll Make You A Star
B2 Love Has Solved My Problems
B3 Successful Wonder Glory / Success Turns Sour
B4 Big Decision
B5 Should Be More Ideal

DOWNLOAD the lost ideals of youth HERE!

The 49 Americans ‎– "The Hit Album" (NB Records ‎– NB 4) 1980

Radio Free Europe may have asserted that 'All Americans Are The Same', but there were at least 49 of their compatriots who were certainly NOT the same......mainly because 48 of them were made of pasty faced English wimps,the types who'd get sand kicked in their collective faces by those real American boys who all look like Henry Rollins, while berating them as a bunch of Fags. Which of course, in England-land is a packet of Cigarettes,or ciggies. 'Fag' was also a Public School term,used by the sixth form,for their 1st year servant boy,who would invariably end up being abused violently and sexually by their adolescent masters. ...."Come here Blenkensopp,I'm going to give you a damn good bumming,you snivelling little Turd!"

This is what the British Empire was built on,alongside Tea, and a leaky raft of 'Good Intentions';and we all know the road to hell is paved with these good intentions"(C.S.Lewis)...don't we? 

A deadly accurate portrayal of British Public school life can be viewed here,Episode 1 of "Ripping Yarns"...."Tompkinson's School Days"

Using Rape as a weapon is the time honoured way of creating generation after generation of traumatized and suggestable future leaders.Most of the British Govenment have been through it....I mean just look at Boris Johnson!?......its a system that seems to work,keeping everything just fucked up enough to function, yet dangle a distant unattainable carrot of hope to aspire to,dangling on the far side of the pit of dispair. I'd love to know for whom Johnson fagged for at Eton,he does,after all come from 'New Money',so he probably got an extra special bumming in the 'Boot Room' at Eaton.

You Americans don't know how good you've got it....yep, it's that bad!

The 49 Americans were recruited from the J-Arthur ranks of the London Musicians Collective by the sole American in the group, ex-pat Andrew "Giblet" Brenner.This included such improv luminaries as David Toop, Steve Beresford, Max Eastley, Lol Coxhill and Peter Cusack, as well as Nag and Bendle of The Door And The Window ,Vivien Goldman and 'Slit' Viv Albertine (I somehow doubt that her time with 49 Americans will make it into the proposed cinema biopic of her life).

This amateurish, no-fi, non-pop...er...pop(?), is about as far as one can get from a standard rollicking,rocking,or Rawking, American Group as you can get.All that for 85 new-pence,with each mini-symphony lasting 58 seconds, which is a numerical palindrome of 85.Those krazzee kidz!

Tracklist:

U.S.A. Side:
A1 American Wonder Song 0:58
A2 Newton's Law's 0:58
A3 What We Want 0:58
A4 Gail Was A Victim 0:58
A5 Move Around All Day 0:58
A6 Is This Rock And Roll? 0:58
A7 Julie Andrews (A Tribute) 0:58
U.S.B Side:
B1 One Germ 0:58
B2 Intelectuals On Parade 0:58
B3 Pigs 0:58
B4 The Uncertainty Principle 0:58
B5 Architecture Stops 0:58
B6 Missionairies 0:58
B7 Stupid Boy 0:58

DOWNLOAD all the hits HERE!

Bendle / Dustdevil and Crow - "Discography" (2008-2013)

1. 
   jesus
2. 
   accidental music
   dustdevil & crow
3. 
   ...and chuang tzu dreamed that he was me
   dustdevil & crow
4. 
   while speaking softly you can hear the insects sing
   dustdevil & crow
5. 
   while walking slowly you can see the grasses grow
   dustdevil & crow
6. 
   tattered tongues 
   
   
7. Well,as we have been posting all thing Bendle related for the last week or so,its only fitting to remind y'all that the great man is still at it today,mainly with the Experimental ambient metal Neo-folk psych digital doo wop drone hybrid combo, Dustdevil and Crow.
8. So, pop along ,via the approved links above to the relevant Bandcamp page and download his complete oeuvre,for any price you care to volunteer,including nought pounds. I'm sure he's worth donating few quid to after all these years of hovering under the radar of the counter culture?
9. BENDLES BANDCAMP LINK  where you'll find even more stuff.

The 49 Americans ‎– "We Know Nonsense" (Choo Choo Train Records ‎– CHUG 4) 1982

The one legacy the 49 Americans are saddled with is laying the foundations for the mid-eighties mudslide of those horrendous Twee indie groups like Trixies Big Red Motorbike (or was it motorcycle?).In 1982 this was an essential position to take so we could forget that the UK Subs and The Exploited existed And there are plenty twee tunes on this follow up to "E Pluribus Unum". Somehow everyone seems to be able to hold a tune on this collection of happy catchy tunes,which is tantamount to a sell-out. If you like faux-naive,simple and innocent tunes, then this is a classic; but the stink of ambition permeates the Happy pop onslaught. You just know that everyone involved,including arch-avant gardists such as David Toop,Lol Coxhill,and Steve Beresford, are annoyingly intelligent,and don't they want us to know it? Should have been some type of 'Hit'....and probably was.

Tracklist :

A1	Doo-Bee-Doo-Bee
A2	It Is And It Is
A3	Edible
A4	Verbal Culture
A5	Liberty
A6	We Know Nonsense
A7	Tendency To Lie
A8	Glimpse Go By
A9	It's Time
B1	Mon Nuisance
B2	Taste
B3	Imagination
B4	Do
B5	I Be Later
B6	Move Around All Day
B7	Free Trade
B8	Mummy Was A Record Player

DOWNLOAD this nonsense HERE!

The 49 Americans ‎– "E Pluribus Unum" (Choo Choo Train Records ‎– CHUG 1) 1980

DIY, Avant garde underground,post punk sooper groop, the 49 Americans consisted of 1 american and at least 48 collaborators of UK origin(some of whom apparently never met each other!). A 'Pop' version of Gavin Bryars Portsmouth Symphonia,where largely every member plays an instrument he/she isn't too comfortable with,frequently swapping around after each twee tune. At least one member ,David Toop, was in both collectives.

There is a bizarre 'prog' influence ,with a UK DIY version of a Rick Wakeman prog opera on side two, complete with Knights of old,and jesters. DIY's only concept album,and one of thee definitive records of DIY culture.

(apparently this has been reissued with bonus tracks)

Tracklist:

A1	Beat Up Russians
A2	That Man
A3	Involved In Local Chaos
A4	Doubt
A5	Edible
A6	Should Be More Ideal
A7	All The Fun
A8	Sounds Like Ska
A9	Architecture Stops
A10	Don't Sing The Blues
A11	Heritage
A12	Pledge Of Allegiance
	The Musical
B1	Overture
B2	Song Of The Peasants (Chief Peasant)
B3	Tralala (Eldest Prince)
B4	Dragon Eating Peasants Instr.
B5	I Don't Want (Royal Children)
B6	Let Yourself Go (Impulsive Knight)
B7	Digestion Instr.
B8	Fairy Tale (King)
B9	What You Need (Equipped Knight)
B10	Digestion Instr.
B11	Intellectual Yodel (Theoretical Knight)
B12	Pain In The Belly (Friendly Knight)
B13	Digestion Instr.
B14	Ha Ha Ha (Jester)
B15	Aye, There's The Battle (Dreamy Knight)
B16	Digestion Instr.
B17	Yodel Again (Theoretical Knight)
B18	Digestion Instr.
B19	Fairy Tale (Reprise) (King)
B20	Contradictions - The Finale (Jester)

DOWNLOAD to become the fiftieth american HERE!

The Casual Labourers - "The Metamorphosis of Eana (Live at Camberwell College of Arts and Crafts 9/10/82)" 1982

I suppose this qualifies as a Casual Labourer's cassingle? A live workout of Cas Labs standard "Eana",seamlessly edited together by Bendle. As it says on the insert,probably tongue firmly in cheek,"Most exciting stuff". Can't argue against that?

Tracks:

1."The Metamorphosis of Eana" (6:01)

DOWNLOAD this monophonic eana HERE!

The Casual Labourers - " at The Africa Centre" (1981?)

The Casual Labourers in the raw at the Africa Centre WC2,despite opening track "Empty-Nanana Radio" being a type of squatland ethnic;there ain't much of Africa on show at this gig......especially taking into account the other two acts on the bill,are even more 'white' than the CL's.
A point of interest for all budding Thespians out there is the Tim listed on the insert is none other than Tim "Made in Britain and Pulp Fiction" Roth. A Hollywood star played with The Casual Labourers?
Bendle helpfully,fills us in on Roth Anecdotal info:

"Tim Roth was a friend of my girlfriend at the time, Susi. I went with her to see him in an amateur production of Othello​, and we got on well. In his brief role in the CasLabs lineup he played trumpet, and perhaps as a preview of future roles, cast himself as the baddie thug in my song Rugby - so that's him shouting "we will hang you naked in the snow". (This is what some real life rugby players intended to do to me for being "weird")." 

Tracks:
01 - Empty-Nanana Radio
02 - Narziss And Goldmund
03 - Mister Vladimerski
04 - Rugby
05 - In The Pool Again
06 - Talking
07 - Take It
08 - Eanna
09 - End Improv

DOWNLOAD from the center of africa HERE!

Hent Petty Glock ‎– "Pent Hetty Gloch" ( E.T.C. ‎– E.T.C. 003) 1984

By any other name this is The Casual Labourers (redux),as it opens with The Casual Labourers' recording of "A Lapse is Due",and a few other tunes credited to them,and Bendle;there's even a Door and the Window tune. A Bendle supergroup? Classic anti-commercial name change made sure this wasn't gonna earn a gold record from E.T.C. records,in fact one isn't too sure which spelling on the insert is the band and which is the title of the album. Sound wise,its a fairly expected mixture of The Door and the Window,Casual Labourers, and the 49 Americans......and a whole lot of Bendle. Do not file under Rock!

Tracklist

A1	A Lapse Is Due
A2	Waiting For A Certain Set Of Rules
A3	Stepping Out Of Worry Town
A4	Narziss + Goldmund
A5	Jack Bishop Imitators
A6a	Skips
A6b	Feeding The Cat
A6c	More Glock (Wedding)
B1	Badger + Squirrel
B2	What Will They Do To The Isle Of Dogs?
B3	Several Painted Pages From My Analytical Journal

DOWNLOAD some digitized glock HERE!

Bendle And The Casual Labourers ‎– "Optimism/Squirrel/Absurd" (self-released cassette) 1981

 Bendle's (the door and the window) more tuneful project,with shades of proto-indie to the fore, otherwise known as the Casual Labourers. Casual it certainly is,and the Labour probably refers to the extra effort put in to the songs. A hint of musical competence is prevalent throughout,but doesn't detract from the,still present, child like stream of consciousness-ness of Bendles better works.Lovingly produced by Kif Kif at the legendary Street Level studios.Another UK DIY milestone.
Check out Bendles Bandcamp page here!

Tracklist:

A1	Empty
A2	Pokerville
A3	The Ways And The Walls
A4	Masks
A5	The Next Step
A6	Movement In M
A7	Red Squirrel
B1	Moment
B2	Faces
B3	Untitled
B4	Eana's Returning
B5	Grey Squirrel

DOWNLOAD casually HERE!

The Door And The Window ‎–"Dr. Egg - Live Recordings Of The Door And The Window 1983-1987"(self released cd-r) 2003

Of course you've probably already got this,but if not, these live tracks include better quality versions of some of the tracks from "Squeakybop Jugband", plus other unheard live appearences from as late as 1987!
Apparently you can get this for nowt at Bendles Bandcamp site,hidden amongst his more recent works, but you can download it here if you can't be arsed to go there. Naturally its a jolly wheeze,and well worth taking into yer ol' shell-likes.

Tracklist

1	Valerian	2:21
2	World / Wall / Wineglass	3:11
3	Green Blob	6:22
4	We Are The People	3:39
5	Shark	1:59
6	We Are The Other People	1:57
7	Besancon	4:07
8	Redjumper	2:56
9	Rain	4:25
10	Rainbow Coloured Dreams	3:14
11	Bedlam	5:24
12	Red Sash	9:24
13	Ship	1:55
14	We're Better Than	5:35
15	One Time In Rome	3:37

DOWNLOAD some dr. eggs for your dr. bacon HERE!

The Door and the Window - "Squeakybop Jugband" (Conventional Tapes) 1983

Well, it has to be The Door and the Window time again,surely? One of the godparents of UK DIY,who's name is synonymous with everything DIY in the UK from the end of punk rock into the 1980's.
You've got it all here, improvisation, faux-naivety, actual naivety, child like musical ability, shit-fi recording, almost total lack of ambition, a sense of humour,and that essential Picasso angle on pop music. Featuring the core members Bendle and Nag, with appearences from Protag (RIP) in various guises, and several other affiliate members. This is as far away from Meat Loaf as you can imagine......but then of course you are familiar with the works of TDATW?.......if not why the fuck not?......Change this immeadiately.....they're "better than Jesus" (quote from "We're Better Than...." just,in case you wanna start burning something).

PS..thanks be to Nigel Bendle for donating this tape.(Yes he's a close relative of the other Bendle.)Check out his website: steelcitystatic.wordpress.com

Track Listing:

1 We are the people
2 Lionel the tramp
3 Riff
4 Lionel the metaphor
5 Red sash
6 Cars bang
7 4/4 Car
8 Everything is falling apart
9 Green Blob
10 Boys/Girls/Wineglass
11 The architect
12 We're better than......
13 Hope Resides
14 we are the people too

DOWNLOAD the squeakybop 320k  mp3 files HERE!

The Door and The Window - "Detailed Twang" (NB Records 1980)

Apparently this sold 10,000 copies in the year of release!! And quite right too. Another musical up-yours to first album ATV fans from the Pope Of Outsider Punk, Mark Perry.
There are very few first wave punk stars who actually practiced what they preached, Mark P was one of these. He took the Rock out of Punk Rock,and this record demonstrates that nicely. Frequent performers at the London Music Collective, Nag and Bendle took the disillusioned Mark under their wing and the rest is history. This LP doesn't Rock!
Check out TDATW's myspace site , Bendle has one too, here.

DOWNLOAD some twang HERE!