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Post by zeopold on Sept 14, 2020 20:19:18 GMT
They impressed me back in the days cos they could really play, and they had an upbeat, positive feel.
Their finest achievement was their second album, especially Derwood's solo on the bridge here at 3:20... emulating Ronson pretty convincingly to my ear.
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Post by Deleted on Sept 14, 2020 21:59:11 GMT
I like most of it but I gave up after the Gen X single which Jones famously played on.
They never bettered this with its wonderful, twisted guitar solo.
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Post by Lord Emsworth on Sept 15, 2020 6:02:24 GMT
I like most of it but I gave up after the Gen X single which Jones famously played on. Dancing With Myself? They'd all but finished by then I think Just one final album? I'll chck later Wonderful group One of the best |
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Post by Deleted on Sept 15, 2020 6:36:02 GMT
No, I mean I gave up listening to them mostly.
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Post by andyloneshark on Sept 15, 2020 8:21:44 GMT
They recorded one album with the abbreviated name Gen-X with Terry Chimes and James Stevenson called Kiss Me Deadly in 1981.
It's more a mid-tempo Rock album, than a Punk rock. Some of the songs on it date back demos they recorded in the summer of 1979
with the original line up, including Dancing With Myself.
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Post by Lord Emsworth on Sept 15, 2020 8:32:45 GMT
They recorded one album with the abbreviated name Gen-X with Terry Chimes and James Stevenson called Kiss Me Deadly in 1981. It's more a mid-tempo Rock album, than a Punk rock. Some of the songs on it date back demos they recorded in the summer of 1979 with the original line up, including Dancing With Myself. Pretty good it is too. I seem to recall you suggested I give it a go at the old place Andy Untouchables along with others like Happy People, Triumph and Dancing With Myself illustrate how good Generation X (or Gen X as they'd become) were, and how they really should have gone on to be bloody massive in the 1980s. It baffles me that songs of this quality didn't convince thousands to buy their records. Still Billy just got on his bike and did it all over in America, only nowhere near as well (though I do have a soft spot for a few of his solo hits but that's another discussion for another day). I think Generation X's music stands up incredibly well. The main thing some people seem to dislike about them is their overt popiness, and that Billy was a very good looking bloke (and probably a raging egotist - but then who would't be if you had looks like that?) By the way, in May 2014, when we did the Generation X Six of the Best, Explode worked out the combined TalkPunk Generation X top ten Here it is... 1. KISS ME DEADLY 2. Ready Steady Go 3. Your Generation 4. Day By Day 5. One Hundred Punks 6. King Rocker 7. From The Heart 8. Dancing With Myself =9. No No No =9. Promises Promises A pretty good top ten eh? |
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Post by personunknown on Sept 15, 2020 8:33:03 GMT
One of the travesties of our times that Valley of the Dolls is not recognised as one of the great 'rock' albums. In fact it was panned by some reviewers. Why they were down on it is beyond me, all I can surmise is that it was considered a sell out by the parochial puritan music press.
It has everything, soaring anthems, glam stomp, throwaway pop and balls out rock. Lyrics elevated beyond the standard on the street polemics. They build on the debuts Kiss Me Deadly and even surpass that brilliance. Derwood on fire, Idol with passion and all put together with Ian Hunter in the producers chair.
As a rock classic it rubs shoulders with Who's Next.
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Post by andyloneshark on Sept 15, 2020 9:25:33 GMT
...music critics could be pretty brutal back then. Generation X got alot of stick. By 1981, the charts were the domain of Duran Duran and Spandau Ballet
so they were doomed really... hence Billy packing his bags and heading to New York.
This thread made me dig out some later Gen-X - this song shows how creative they could be in the studio...
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Post by zeopold on Sept 15, 2020 20:57:02 GMT
One of the travesties of our times that Valley of the Dolls is not recognised as one of the great 'rock' albums. In fact it was panned by some reviewers. Why they were down on it is beyond me, all I can surmise is that it was considered a sell out by the parochial puritan music press. It has everything, soaring anthems, glam stomp, throwaway pop and balls out rock. Lyrics elevated beyond the standard on the street polemics. They build on the debuts Kiss Me Deadly and even surpass that brilliance. Derwood on fire, Idol with passion and all put together with Ian Hunter in the producers chair. As a rock classic it rubs shoulders with Who's Next. Amen to every word of that. I've never been prone to depression but if I was I would play this one to cheer myself up |
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Post by stu77 on Dec 8, 2020 16:46:44 GMT
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Post by Lord Emsworth on Dec 8, 2020 17:44:28 GMT
Not come across Rockanteurs but looks good - thanks Stu I've heard Guy Pratt interviewed and read his book - he's very entertaining. Guessing Kemp might well be pretty good too I'll try the Billy Idol and Nick Lowe episodes and see how I go |
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Post by AndoII on Dec 9, 2020 3:02:29 GMT
They recorded one album with the abbreviated name Gen-X with Terry Chimes and James Stevenson called Kiss Me Deadly in 1981. It's more a mid-tempo Rock album, than a Punk rock. Some of the songs on it date back demos they recorded in the summer of 1979 with the original line up, including Dancing With Myself. Guitarist Derwood and drummer Mark Laff went on to form the band "Empire" after Generation X split. Released just one album "Expensive Sound" back in 1981. Also a bit of a lost classic, imo. Single "Hot Seat" from this elpee. Empire were cited as influences for early US hardcore (for some reason..?) by Ian McKaye, Minor Threat etc.. Digression aside, Generation X were one of my fave punk bands back in the 70's. The music press gave them loads of shit, mainly because they were good-looking, the songs had hooks, and they indeed could really play. The first elpee is still my favourite. Bounding straight out of the blocks with "From the Heart" and "One Hundred Punks". Still gives me an adrenaline charge 40+ years on. |
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Post by stu77 on Dec 9, 2020 3:46:01 GMT
Not come across Rockanteurs but looks good - thanks Stu I've heard Guy Pratt interviewed and read his book - he's very entertaining. Guessing Kemp might well be pretty good too I'll try the Billy Idol and Nick Lowe episodes and see how I go Guy Pratt is brilliant I heard him say that he went to the Roxy in 1977 and someone asked him what his name was . When he replied the other person said great name like it was his punk name 😀😀 The Stewart Copeland and Dave Stewart episodes are great, not heard the Nick Lowe one yet. |
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Post by Lord Emsworth on Feb 23, 2022 7:49:57 GMT
always loved Wild Dub...
Generation X - Wild Dub
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Post by andyloneshark on Feb 23, 2022 9:40:10 GMT
The 12" of 'Dancing With Myself' has this rather ace DUB track on it too  Jah Idol in the house... |
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