RIP Always Searching For Music

ASFM (Always Searching For Music) now exists as an online archive for historic reason only. ALL MP3s were removed some time ago. If you have any questions you can email me (see my profile for details).

Times Up

Nope not the Buzzcocks classic,, but Times Up for ASFM

I've thought long and hard about this and have decided its time to close ASFM.

I started this blog just to get an understanding of how blogs worked and amazingly it took of very quickly. Since then I have met some great people (both bloggers and visitors) and far too many to mention (you know who you are), but very special thanks have to go to Bruce for donating so many great vinyl rips and Longy who initially one of my first visitors who never failed to leave a comment, and now runs his own excellent blog at Punk Friction.

ASFM was always about finding and sharing new music and judging by the downloads and the amount of new music I discovered I think it achieved both,

I'll still be visiting all my favourite blogs, and if anyone wants to stay in touch my emails in my profile.

So once again a big thanks to everyone who has contributed music and left comments.

All the best - Gary

The Drones - Temptations Of A White Collar Worker

Having viewed so many brilliant blogs (see some of the best in my list) it wasn't easy to choose what to post first. My first offering is going to be the Drones - Temptations of a White Collar Worker EP. Three reasons for posting this:

1. I love the Drones and so should everyone (so buy their album Further Temptations - it's still excellent)
2. Two of the tracks - Hard On Me and You'll Lose" are different versions to the album and are not readily available.
3. When I first played this 30 years ago it made me smile and it still does today.

I'm not going to say anymore about the Drones as you can find enough on the excellent Punk77 site: http://www.punk77.co.uk/

Band: The Drones
Title: Temptations Of A White Collar Worker E.P.
Label: O.H.M...S.
Year: 1977
Tracks:
1. Lookalikes
2. Corgi Crap
3. hard On Me
4. You'll Lose

Front Cover

Back Cover

Inside Cover


Ripped from glorious scratched vinyl

Enjoy

The Now - Development Corporation

Development Corporation is one of my all time favourite punk vinyl’s, I have played it, taped it, played it more and now I have digitized it for eternal playing.

With all of the compilations, and collections on the market I cannot understand why this has never been re-released. So imagine my feeling when I discovered that ‘The Now’ had reformed to rerecord their old material including ‘development corporation’ I immediately ordered it, thinking at last more people will hear what made this song and other Now material so good.

When it was delivered I ripped open the box and straight into the car CD player, I was at first a little disappointed that Development Corporation was a different version, but then delighted to find DC77 another version more akin to the original (but still not the same). I am now really pleased I have a load of new material plus I still have my original vinyl.

So for those of you that don’t have this, or even more important for those of you that have never heard of it; download and enjoy, and then order the new album

Fuzztone Fizzadelic

and give the Now the recognition they so richly deserved as being one of the best punk bands of 1977-78.

Band: The Now
Label: Ultimate
Year: 1977
Tracks:
1. Development Corporation
2. Why?

Front Cover

Back Cover

Ripped from glorious scratched vinyl

The Mekons - Where Were You?

The Mekons., there is so much to be said about this brilliant band. I bought their first single “Never Been in a Riot” which is a simple, classic, “123” punk song. The Mekons apparently wrote "Never Been In A Riot" as a sarcastic response to the Clash’s “White Riot”, based upon the premise of how many white middle class people have actually been in a riot (not many I guess).

I still like “Never Been in a Riot”, but there was much better to come, their second single “Where was You?” was a true classic that met the ASFM (Always Searching for Music) criteria, the first time I heard it, it made me smile and every time I played it people would say “who is this? It’s brilliant” (my son’s friend recently said this – and that’s 29 years after its release).

The B-side is also a gem. Again I don’t know why these tracks are not available, there was a FAST compilation album, but this has been unavailable for many years, and if you buy the “Heaven and Hell The Best of the Mekons album”:

Heaven and Hell: the Best of the Mekons

neither of these tracks is on it (in my opinion they should be). Heaven and Hell is still worth buying, as is most of the Mekons back catalogue, however one word of warning, each Mekons album is very different (and the best of gives sample of the different genres that they cover), that’s a good different by the way, but if you are looking for more punk then you will be in for a surprise.

Band: The Mekons
Label: Fast
Year: 1978
Name: Where Was You? / I’ll have to dance then on my own

So ripped from glorious scratched vinyl to inferior mp3 – Where were you?

One final note for vinyl enthusiasts, this record has an etching: "This Signal Is A Product". Don't know what it means, but I always liked finding these.

The Mekons - Work All Week

I was going to move on to another band but it didn’t feel right not including the Mekons third single, "Work all week". Another classic which I have never stopped playing. This is on the best of album, but be prepared it is nothing like the original single. It’s still good, but the original is the best.

Band: The Mekons
Label: Virgin
Year: 1979
Name: Work All Week / Unknown Wrecks

Anyway enough about the Mekons, time to listen, ripped from glorious scratched vinyl to inferior mp3, Work all Week and Unknown Wrecks

Plain Characters - I Am A

OK the next one is a bit of a weird one, it’s definitely not punk, I don’t know what to call it (any opinions on genre?), and I struggle to say why I like it so much (what do you think?) I don’t know much about the band (found a few hits on Google) and I can’t even remember buying this single.

For completeness I have included the b-side even though I don’t rate it.

This was always a favourite with friends, hence why it is so crackly and scratched.

The sleeve is a gatefold. with lyrics as well, which I have included a higher resolution copy in the download.

Band: The Plain Characters
Label: Rouge
Year: 1977
Name: I Am A / Very Peculiar Julia

So see what you think, ripped from glorious scratched vinyl to inferior mp3, "I Am A":

Scars - Adult/ery

Another great punk classic from the Fast label.

The label states "Play Loud" and so you should.

For me the b-side "Horrorshow" is the best, but both sides are brilliant. If you like this, go and order their excellent album "Author Author"

Author! Author!

This single is not on it, I think apart from the single release it was only available on a FAST various album (if anyone has that can they share it?)




The music is noisy, scratchy, agitated and fast, see what you think.

Band: Scars
Label: FAST
Year: 1979
Tracks: Adult/ery / Horrorshow

Find it here ripped from glorious scratchy vinyl to inferior mp3

Jerks - Get Your Woofing Dog Of Me

What can you say about Jerks "get Your Woofing Dog Off Me"

Just read the lyrics:

Saw your face was screaming
The Man said you were leaving
The cops in the back yard said you
were an upstart

Get Your Woofing Dog off me
Woof Woof Woof Woof Woof Woof
Woof Woof Woof Woof Woof Woof
Woof Woof Woof Woof Woof Woof
Woof Woof Woof Woof Woof Woof
Woof Woof Woof
Woof Woof Woof
Get Your Woofing Dog off me
Get Your Woofing Dog off me
Get Your Woofing Dog off me
Now I Wanna be Your Dog
Now I Wanna be Your Dog
Now I Wanna be Your Dog

It's most probably not the best song ever, but it always made me laugh, and at the classic punk rock sub two minute standard, its difficult to get bored with.


Their album is is a good example of classic punk, try it out and see what you think.

Jerk Off

Although this single is on the album I don't believe too many people have heard of the Jerks. So hear it is, ripped from glorious scratched vinyl to inferior mp3

The Flys - Bunch of Five EP

Oh yes, this one has it all, sub two minute punk song, melodies, power pop punk.

Five songs all different, all brilliant, and yet hardly anyone has ever heard of this EP.

Well if you havn't head of it, heres your chance to donwload it, and then go out and buy their album:

Waikiki Beach Refugees

Only three tracks from this EP are on the album, the brilliant "Me and my buddies" and "Just for your sex" are not.

So see what you think.

Band: The Flys
Label: Zama Records
Year: 1977
Tracks:
1. Can I Crash Here
2. Me and My Buddies
3. Just For Your Sex
4. Saturday Sunrise
5. Love and a Molotov Cocktail

Ripped from glorious scratched vinyl to inferior mp3

Punishment Of Luxury - Puppet Life

Here they come
I'll Never let them take me away
I won't go to room 16.

YOU WILL

The opening lines to "Puppet Life".
From the beginning, this record is weird, and I have always loved it. the B-side is magic as well.

I have classed as New Wave but it could be anything. Who cares.

If you want to get clean digital copies of both of these you will have to buy two excellent compilations:

Small Wonder Punk Singles Collection Vol.1

and

Small Wonder Punk Singles Collection Vol.2

Of which it looks as volume 2 is not available any longer, so if you can't find it drop me a line. Small wonder was always one of my favourite labels, with the Carpettes and Menace to name but a few (sometime I will share a few of their classics).

On the strength of this single, I went to see Punishment of Luxury at Camden's "Music Machine" now some dance place (Shame, it was a good venue) and they didn't let me down.

Their first album "Laughing Academy" is rated but unfortunately I have never got hold of a copy, anyone out there got a copy?

Band: Punishment of Luxury
Year: 1979
Label: Small Wonder
Tracks:
1. Puppet Life
2. The Demon

ripped from glorious scratched vinyl to inferior mp3

Snatch - Stanley, All I Want and Snatch (s/t)

It's time for a Snatch fest, and no this is nothing to do with porn (thats all you find if you ever trying to a search for this band). Snatch were one of my favourite bands of 1977.





Two beautiful women (check out the covers - you need to see the original for "All I Want" sleeves - the scans do not do them justice) Patti Palladin and Judy Nylon from the US making beautiful punk.





Every track is brilliant, and I have never stopped playing there stuff, everyone I have shared this with has also loved it.





The album has different versions of the singles, check out All I Want (in my opinion their best single) both versions are outstanding, and I never tire of them.

I cannot understand why these tracks have never been released on CD. Come on someone out there must be able to do it.

Band: Snatch
Label: Lightning
Year: 1977
Tracks:
1. Stanley
2. I.R.T.
&
1. All I want
2. When I'm Bored
&
Same title album - Snatch


So ripped from glorious scratched vinyl to inferior mp3

Celia And The Mutations - Mony Mony

This single is one of interest based upon the fact that the Mutations who are the men in the shadows on the back cover are also the Stranglers. They play and add backing vocals to both sides.

The B-side is also a cover of the Stranglers "Mean to me".

If you visit punk77 at http://www.punk77.co.uk/wip/celia.htm you can find a little more about Celia.



Celia sounds like a very posh, English girl, which always makes me smile listening to her sing "Mean to Me".


Band: Celia and the Mutations
Label: United Artists
Year: 1977
Tracks:
1. Mony Mony
2. Mean To Me


Ripped from glorious scratched vinyl

The Rings - I Wanna Be free

The Rings only release, what a shame, this is an excellent example of classic punk.

Simple guitar riffs
Simple lyrics
Simple shouting

I Love it.


The back covers tell you to "play it loud" and if you really want to appreciate, then it's good advice.

Side 1 is the best, the B-side "Automobile" is OK.

You can get "I Wanna Be Free" on a couple of various albums. One not bad sampler of the Chiswick label is:
The Chiswick Story

Band: The Rings
Label: Chiswick
Year: 1977
Tracks:
1. I Wanna Be Free
2. Automobile


So ripped from glorious scratched vinyl

The Valves - Linda Vindaloo

Strictly speaking the title of today's blog should be "The Valves - it Don't Mean Nothing At All" which is the a-side of this single. But clearly Albion (the record label - it couldn't have been the Valves choice) made a mistake by not selecting Linda Vindaloo as the a-side.

This is the Valves third single, many believe their first single Adolf Only/Robot Love was their best, but in my opinion, Linda Vindaloo is their best.



See what you think

Band: The Valves
Label: Albion
Year: 1979
Tracks:
1. It Don't Mean Nothing At All
2. Linda Vindaloo




Ripped from glorious scratched vinyl

The Wasps - Teenage Treats

Back to 1977 again for the brilliant Wasps first and only single. From the drum beat start to the excellent riff, classic punk. I started this blog to share songs like this one, so try it out, as it should be with scratches and pops but in mp3 format for you to share.

Apart from a couple of tracks on the Vortex various album and a couple of John Peel sessions (which I haven't got but would like a copy - anyone out there?) that was it from the Wasps.




But then in 2003 a Wasps album was released, and if you like this then you should buy it. I preordered it on the strength of this single and it's brilliant. See link at the bottom for details.

Band: The Wasps
Label: 4 Play
Year: 1977
Tracks:
1. Teenage Treats
2. She Made Magic


Ripped from glorious scratched vinyl

Link to buy the Wasps album:

Punkryonics by Wasps

Crisis - No Town Hall (Southwark)

Crisis were one of my favourite punk bands for a number of reasons:

1. Their songs were brilliant
2. They were a local band (surrey)
3. I knew half of them
4. We used to get on the guest list

Its funny listening to these songs now, to think we were teenagers protesting the building of a town hall, today I don't think many people could care less.

My favourite tracks on this single is P.C. One Nine Eight Four (note the play on 1984) , because it is a classic punk song and secondly the lyrics were very true for the late seventies. I can think of a number of times the police waded in for no reason (well we may have been humming the theme of z-cars - but still a little excessive reaction).

See what you think, I will put some other Crisis stuff up later (plus a few more stories). I also have attached a high resolution copy of the front cover so you can sing along to the lyrics. Enjoy.

They did release an album with all of their singles on, which is sadly no longer available. If people want it then leave a comment and I will post it later on.

So ripped from glorious scratched vinyl onto substandard mp3

Rikki And The Last Days Of Earth - Loaded

Definitely not punk, and a bit of an oddity that would full under the category of New Wave. I put this up as a curiosity rather than one of my favorites, although it did not go unplayed over the years.

A punk version of "Street Fighting Man" on the b-side is not bad.

This was Rikki's third single, not sure what the others are like as I have never heard them. If anyone has got them I wouldn't mind a sample.

See what you think

Band: Rikki And The Last Days Of Earth
Label: DJM
Year: 1978
Tracks:
1. Loaded
2. Street Fighting Man





So ripped from glorious scratched vinyl

Johnny And The Self Abusers - Saints And Sinners

Another classic from Chiswick, they knew how to pick some excellent bands. This was never rated by the critics but has always been one of my favorites. Sub two minute (1:54) a good riff, nice and fast. Just what I like.

This was their only single as Johnny and the Self Abusers, but what did make this track more well known than it probably would have, is that the lead singer is Jim Kerr from Simple Minds. Its hard to see how they went from this to the early electronic and dance incarnations of simple minds.



The b-side is average, and I think I have only played it a couple of times.

Band: Johnny and the Self Abusers
Label: Chiswick
Year: 1977
Tracks:
1. Saints and Sinners
2. Dead Vandals





So ripped from glorious scratched vinyl