The Bears - Fun, Fun, Fun / On Me / Insane / Insane!!

Time for a ' Bears' fest, a brilliant virtually unknown (for many) punk band. If you haven't heard of them, then you are in for a real treat, the album and singles are a treasure trove of gems.

The first track is the brilliant 'Fun, Fun, Fun' taken from 'The Farewell to the Roxy album. I love this song and it is most probably my favourite 'Bears' track.

The next track is there Debut single 'On Me' released in 1977 another classic. In my opinion 'The Bears' produced superior punk, excellent tunes, nearly poppy, but still staying punk. This is the only gap in this collection, I haven't got this single and therefore do not have the b-side 'Wot's Up mate' (There is a version on the album, but I am not sure if it's the same, anyone got a rip from the single?)

Their second single is even better 'Insane' released in 1978 is slow, moody, brooding, outstanding, play it. The other side of this double a-side single 'Decisions', is....... oh I'm just gonna go on and on looking for words to describe how cool this band is.

Their final release in 1986 is the album Insane!!, made up of demos, all of the singles are here, plus another version of 'Fun, Fun, Fun and loads more brilliant stuff.

The only thing I can't understand is why someone doesn't release all of these tracks on a CD collection, If they do I will be the first in the queue to buy it. So come on, who ever owns this stuff, re-release it.

Band: The Bears:
Album: Farewell To The Roxy
Label: Lightning
Year: 1977
Tracks:
1. Fun, Fun, Fun

Label: Waldo's Records
Year: 1977
Tracks:
1. On Me
2. Wot's Up Mate (Not Included here - anyone got it?)

Label: Good Vibrations
Year: 1978
Tracks:
1. Insane
2. Decisions

Album: Insane!! (Thanks to Longy for this contribution)
Label: Tiger Beat
Year: 1986
Tracks:
01. Motoron
02. Whacky Scout
03. Outasight
04. Frank Nitty
05. On The Beach
06. Beer n' Drugs
07. On Me
08. Fun, Fun, Fun
09. Wot's Up Mate
10. Insane
11. Motoronandon
12. On Me

Ripped from glorious scratched vinyl and other sources that I don't know:

Yeah Yeah Noh - Fun On The Lawn, Lawn, Lawn

I've already posted the Yeah Yeah Noh's debut single 'Prick Up Your Ears' here, and if you liked it you will love this collection of John Peel sessions. Released on vinyl in 1986 it collects all three Peel sessions from 1984 (28/07), 1985 (09/04) and 1986 (19/01).

They definitely had something about Lawns as their debut album which is sadly no longer available (and was available at the original Twilight Zone - if you ask RYP nicely I'm sure he would do a re-up) was called 'Cutting the Heavenly Lawn of Greatness ... Last Rites for the God of Love'.

All their best tracks are here, the final track is not listed on the back cover, so I named it the 'Mystery Track', also a high resolution scan of the back cover is included to allow you to read the sleeve notes. At the end of the last track on side one is 'Jigsaw' if you let the track run till the end you will hear some garbled language, if you play it backwards it says "Of the dawn wind", anyone know what that's about? They were always a little 'off the wall' so most probably nothing.

Band: Yeah Yeah Noh
Label: Red Rhino
Year: 1986
Tracks:
1. Super Imposed Man
2. Beware The Weakling Line
3. (It's) Easier To Suck Than Sing
4. Cottage Industry
5. Another Side Of Mrs Quill
6. Crimplene Seed Lifestyle
7. Temple Of Convenience
8. Jigsaw
9. Blood Soup
10. Prick Up Your Ears
11. Starling Pillow Case
12. See Through Nature
13. Stealing In The Name Of The Lord
14. Mystery Track

Ripped from glorious scratched vinyl
If you like this then your in luck as you can still get a best of album here:

Leicester Square: the Best of Yeah Yeah Noh

and an album collecting all sides of their three singles at the excellent Phoenix Hairpins here.