Grandpa & Grandma

Our faithful contributer Richard says:

GRANDPA

Here is the fourth and last of my series from ‘Cil’s tapes. These are mostly well known bands in their own, right now, but back in the 80s they were hard to find.

I have brought them here coupled with a selection of tunes that weren’t on these tapes. Songs from women I love. A full section on female pleasure and punk.

I will take you rapidly through it.

Big In Japan started the career of some great ones. 

The Now, The Wasps, Magic Michael, Eater, the Partisans, Patrik Fitzgerald, The Flys and The Boys might not be huge names but over the years they proved unmissable pillars on punk compilations as rare gems. (how can they be rare when so often featured)

X-Ray Spex, John Cooper Clarke, Chelsea, The Models, 999, Sham 69 and The Outcasts are also often seen on the various retrospectives.

These songs are all late 70s and form a good view of the d.i.y. attitude.

GRANDMA

Even though there are quite a few women featured on this and the previous GWT’s I also want to present an all female volume of (post)punk from the early years. With the exception of Shop Assistants.

The Sailors (Die Matrosen) by Liliput is one of my favorite whistling tunes and was the starting point for this selection, Icy Wind (Eisiger Wind) is one of my most beloved la-la-la songs.

Essential Logic were formed after Lora Logic left/force to leave X-Ray Spex and after a hiatus made Land of Kali in 2022 here punk goes instrumental

Fatal Microbes only released one single. Within their ranks was Honey Bane who made quite a few solo projects and seems to be working on a new album. She has made a Punk Goes Soul gem, presented here.

Mania D and Malaria are German and best known for the included hit Kaltes Klares Wasser

You cannot get around Siouxsie when presenting Pure punk women.

Shop Assistants were big in 1986 having John Peel Sessions, an album and a few singles and should have been big.

The Slits are among the originators of Punk AND white reggae. 

From The Slits a lot of bands emerged The Raincoats and Dee Sign being only two. Dee Sign (mostly Danish) brings you a French treat.

Another classic band was Penetration with Pauline Murray. Her version of Nostalgia (Pete Shelley) and Holocaust (Alex Chilton) I love very much.

Finally there are 7 (seven) songs by Girls At Our Best. Simply because for me they are the songs that matter. Judy Evans came from The Butterflys and after GaoB made an appearance with Thomas Dolby and disappeared. There is something about these. It’s not easy to define but every time I hear them they lift me. And I guess that is what music can do. After 40 odd years still install joy in me.

The first track by Girls at our Best – Warm Girls has them shouting "Girls At Our Best" and they seemed it fit to use as the band name.