Newtones 7" EP (1981)

Picked up in late 2008, this New Zealand new wave release somehow made it to a charity shop in Leamington Spa, where I snapped it up just before I saw the Shapes reunion gig (with my girlfriend, who coincidentally is from Christchurch, New Zealand!)

Side One:
Paint The Town Red
Santa Anna

Side Two:

Christchurch Part 2
China

As you can read on http://mysterex.blogspot.com/2008/11/newtones-live-and-on-record-1980-1982.html

"Their debut EP, called simply The Newtones, documented the Christchurch trio’s rise from early punk roots in The Vauxhalls, The Vandals, Aliens, and Street of Flowers with a stinging version of the Flowers’ China; a Tony Peake song echoing the aggression of the punk years and hinting at his love of 1960s psychedelia. The flanged pop/ rock of Mark Brooks’ Paint The Town Red is an effortless Christchurch anthem."

I agree so much that I picked this track as my mp3 upload. It's a great tune.

There's more on the Newtones here:

http://www.failsaferecords.com/history/newtones.htm

Steaming Towards Oslo - Off The Hook 7" (1983)

This was picked up in a Gravesend charity shop. These guys mutated into a band called Fat Brando who are still playing the Kent pub circuit I believe. This was released on the bands own Deptford Discs label.

The A-side is a Rolling Stones cover, but the B-side is quite an interesting original.

Side One:

Off The Hook

Side Two:

Rough Justice

Produced by Tony Corvette. The engineer was David Harris. This usually seems to go for around £5 on Ebay.

The Jumps - I Am Happy 7" (1982)

Nobody seems to know much about this 1982 New Wave/No Wave/DIY monster rarity. It's from 1982 and we think the band were British. This is as minimal and DIY as you can get. I picked this up in an Oxfam shop for a nominal sum and I may be putting this on Ebay soon (anyone interested?)

Once again, if anyone reading this knows anything, or was in the band, please get in touch!

Side One:

I Am Happy

Side Two:

Everybody Needs A Friend

Comments are welcome as always.

Witson Green - Call Me A Dreamer 7" (1982)

I picked up this record in a Camden charity shop in 2008. The fact it's on the infamous SRT Label makes it interesting, and is probably why a Japanese collector saw fit to pay me £10.50 for it. It's a bit MOR for my liking, but I only know of one other copy in the world. The internet hasn't thrown anything up, so again, if anyone knows anything about this record, or if you were in the band, please get in touch.

The composer appears to be A. James

Side One:

Call Me A Dreamer

Side Two:

All Day in Love

I cleaned it up a bit using Audacity. Have a listen and please feel free to comment.

Roxette - S/T 7" EP (1980)

Welcome to my first ever mp3 post.

I picked this up in Rochester, Kent in April 2009.

Not to be confused with the Swedish pop duo of the same name, this band seem to be from Tunbridge Wells in Kent, and this 7" came out on Wag Records in 1980. All songs are written by Waghorn/Fowler and the photgraphy was by "Nobby" Skilton.

The band are:

Paul: Yamaha 12 String Guitar, Vocals
Kevin: Epiphone Electric Guitar, Backing Vocals
Steve: Ibanez Bass Guitar
Barry: Premier Drums

Side One:

Giving Up The Beer (2:21)
Little Girl (2:11)

Side Two:

Love Will Take Its Toll (2:14)
Hold Me Close (2:11)

Hard to describe this - sort of folky pop with an acoustic guitar, but it may appeal to Powerpop collectors. Have a listen and met me know what you think. There's nothing on the web about this, so can anyone supply any further information?