#punk #postpunk #music: 5 OVERLOOKED PUNK/POST-PUNK SINGLES: THE ADVERTS/ MAGAZINE/ BUZZCOCKS/SUBWAY SECT/ SPIZZENERGY

My Place – The Adverts.

As much as I liked The Clash and the Pistols, they were never one of MY bands. The Adverts, however, were very much my band. They were a great live band who released some great punk singles and a great debut LP.  My Place was a change of pace, though. Moody and stripped down, it was pretty much ignored, unfortunately.

Split Up The Money – Vic Godard & Subway Sect.

The impact of the first couple of Subway Sect singles is well documented. The band’s move into swing also. The transition record is the classic ‘Stop That Girl’. But before that was Split Up the Money, a smart and catchy slice of kitchen sink crime fiction that acted as a  taster for the forthcoming What’s The Matter Boy? LP.

Virginia Plain – Spizzenergy.

Spizzoil were a glorious racket- all screeching, discordant guitar and,er,  kazoo- I saw them live twice!- and Spizz’s second musical turn is well known due to the justly celebrated ‘Where’s Captain Kirk?’ but before that was an electro punk version of Roxy Music’s ‘Virginia Plain’. The song is actually the B-side of the infectious  punk disco anthem Soldier, Soldier: ‘What’s Your Price?’

Rhythm Of Cruelty – Magazine.

After Howard Devoto quit Buzzcocks he returned with a barnstorming single in Shot By Both Sides and Magazine’s debut LP is a classic. But Rhythm Of Cruelty – a sinister, sleazy slice of noir – crept out with little impact. Which is a pity, as it’s a belter.

Love You More – Buzzcocks.

Buzzcocks released a bunch of singles in 1978 and seemingly lost among them was this short, sharp slice of punk-pop. One minute and fifty seconds long. Until the razor cuts.

© Paul D. Brazill.