What's All This Then

Why should I care what this guy has to say?

The correct answer is that you shouldn’t. We’re all entitled to our opinions. Develop your own. I try to be sane and rational, but that may change with the level of caffeine intake. I’m just telling my stories in the hopes they may amuse and/or inform others. And... I Confess... I'm showing off my bitchen collection a bit.


Wednesday, June 13, 2018

Sex Pistols Singles

One aspect of the punk upsurgence in the mid 70's was the return to punchy short songs.  Musically, punk was a reaction against the bloat in current rock music.  Epic suites by prog bands and endless guitar solos by flannel bands we frowned upon by the punks.  The movement marked a return to the short loud blast of rock and roll that makes you go 'whee!'

There is no better way of showcasing the short blast of rock and roll than the 45!

The Sex Pistols released four of them prior to their first and only album.

#1 Anarchy in the UK b/w I Wanna Be Me (Glitterbest 1977)

The notorious debut 45.   Released and withdrawn by EMI.  Released and withdrawn by A&M.   The only on that continued to be available was this import from France on Malcolm McLaren's label.


#2 God Save the Queen b/w Did You No Wrong (Virgin 1977)

Now comfortably signed to Virgin, the Sex Pistols release a commemorative single for the Queen's jubilee.   Around this time there was some sort of late night news show on CBS that had a segment on how disgusting the new music in the UK was.  It looked exciting as hell.  This single was sought out shortly thereafter.   There are three (count 'em three) guitar breaks in this song that is shorter than three minutes.   What a stunner.  Banned by the BBC for some reason




#3 Pretty Vacant/No Fun (Virgin 1977)

Another one.  The B-Side is a cover of a Stooges Song.  It clocks in at 6 minutes.  An epic by punk standards.


#4 Holidays in the Sun b/w Satellite  (Virgin 1977)

The final single.  The cover is somewhat of a rarity as the travel company who produced the original ad took exception for some reason.   Shortly after initial release it came in a plain white sleeve.




Bonus  - Pretty Vacant b/w Sub-Mission

When the debut (and only) album was released towards the end of 1977 there were 11 tracks.  When Warner Brothers finally got it together to release it a few weeks later, there was an additional track.  Since the faithful bought the record from the import bins, there was not a huge desire to shell out for a whole new album.  Enter the US single.  The additional track  - Sub-Misson - was placed on the B-Side for the US release of Pretty Vacant.



These singles were recently re released in a box set on Record Store Day.  For the record, these pictured above from my collection are all originals.

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