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

Crisis - UK '79

Another classic from Crisis. 'UK '79' is their second single. The b-side 'White Youth' is most probably more well known as it was written as an anti fascist rally song, but some clever people from the press misunderstood, and labeled Crisis a fascist band (they couldn't have been further from the truth)

I can still remember when one of their protest songs nearly got their drummer Luke Rendall (also played with Theatre of Hate) into trouble. One of Crisis onstage favourites was a track called SPG, which for those of you who can remember was the abbreviated name for the Special Patrol Group (a controversial unit of the metropolitan police force of which in 1979 became notorious for the alleged murder of protester Blair Peach. In the inquiry the SPG officers were found to have weaponry such as Baseball bats, sledgehammers and crowbars - No SPG officer was convicted but an out of court payment was made to the Peach Family, the SPG were also cited as a major factor in the 1981 Brixton riots)

The SPG often hassled punks (and I guess anyone young), I can personally remember a number of occasions where they were over the top and over aggressive for no real reasons.So they had a reputation that you didn't muck around with.

Luke was wearing the Crisis SPG badge (see scan) when we were pulled up by the actual SPG. They looked at Luke's badge and said "Whats this then".

Luke replied "I'm in a band and it's a song about the SPG"

The SPG officer said "oh, what's it all about then"

Luke stood their silently thinking "Oh shit, the chorus is "smash, smash, smash the SPG (something like that I'm struggling to remember now)"

then replied "It's an instrumental"

Quick thinking and a lucky escape (for all of us).

Band: Crisis
Label: Ardkor
Year:
Tracks:
1.White Youth
2. UK 79

Ripped from glorious scratched vinyl:

Crisis - Alienation

This was 'Crisis' final single, a double a-side which was released in 1981 after they had split up. Both songs were old favorites which were recorded for a John Peel session in November 1978. The line up for this recording was: Phrazer on vocals, Tony Wakeford on Bass and Vocals, Lester Jones on lead guitar and vocals, Doug Pearce on Rhythm guitar and vocals and the Cleaner on Drums.

Both tracks are classic 'Crisis'. 'Alienation' is the standout track for me, with 'Bruckwood Hospital' a very close second.

The single also included a paper insert (see scans) with details on the bands members both for this recording
and the the next Crisis incarnation with Dexter on lead vocals, who also sang backing vocals for this single.

Some interesting etching on this one, apart from 'A Porky Prime Cut' on both sides, on the a-side 'Now For Death In June' which was the band that Doug Pearce and Tony Wakeford formed after 'Crisis'. On the aa-side 'For The Effects'.

Band: Crisis
Label: Ardkor Records
Year: 1981
Tracks:
1. Alienation
2. Bruckwood Hospital

Ripped from glorious scratched vinyl: