Artist: Skrewdriver
Album: Streetfight 7"
Release: N/A (scheduled for 1977)
Label: N/A (scheduled for Chiswick)
Tracklist:
1. Streetight [1977 Version]
2. Unbeliever
Before you get all huffy-puffy from just looking at the title of this post, let it be noted that this is the original, street punk incarnation of the U.K.'s Skrewdriver, not Ian Stuart's I-Could-Be-Racist-Tomorrow, musically-inferior, white power vehicle of the National Front. That's not to say the latter doesn't have moments of quality, nor does it mean that the original members of the band didn't actually back Ian Stuart's (openly) racist version of the band (I've read stories saying both), but that it should all be ignored in the name of three-and-a-half minutes of perfection collected on this single.
The unreleased Streetfight 7" is my favorite Skrewdriver single, mostly because the B-side of the Antisocial 7" consists of a wonky cover of the Rolling Stones' "19th Nervous Breakdown." Why this was unreleased is unknown to me and I've even read it may have been included in some German pressings of their classic '77 album All Skrewed Up, but I can't be sure.
The A-side of this 7" is the original recording of the song, not the 1990 version which was actually released. Whether or not you can agree with their later-era politics, we can all agree that the band was absolutely terrible by 1990 and that this is the superior version. Anyway, the version of the song that appears here is absolutely rollickin' and is one of their finest moments. The B-side of "Unbeliever" is probably the highlight, though. With lines like "I don't believe in Jesus/No matter what the Vicars say," and "I believe violence/That's just the only way," the song is a classic punk rant against Christianity/organized religion. The band certainly never played as fast, tight, or just plain energetic as they did on their early recordings.
I know it might be awkward and uncomfortable for you to check this stuff out (just turn off your last.fm, ya turkey!), but it should be treated like any other classic punk and this place is as good as any to start with them. Well, and their first LP, which is one of the best punk albums ever made. Duh.
Download Here
-Adam
Album: Streetfight 7"
Release: N/A (scheduled for 1977)
Label: N/A (scheduled for Chiswick)
Tracklist:
1. Streetight [1977 Version]
2. Unbeliever
Before you get all huffy-puffy from just looking at the title of this post, let it be noted that this is the original, street punk incarnation of the U.K.'s Skrewdriver, not Ian Stuart's I-Could-Be-Racist-Tomorrow, musically-inferior, white power vehicle of the National Front. That's not to say the latter doesn't have moments of quality, nor does it mean that the original members of the band didn't actually back Ian Stuart's (openly) racist version of the band (I've read stories saying both), but that it should all be ignored in the name of three-and-a-half minutes of perfection collected on this single.
The unreleased Streetfight 7" is my favorite Skrewdriver single, mostly because the B-side of the Antisocial 7" consists of a wonky cover of the Rolling Stones' "19th Nervous Breakdown." Why this was unreleased is unknown to me and I've even read it may have been included in some German pressings of their classic '77 album All Skrewed Up, but I can't be sure.
The A-side of this 7" is the original recording of the song, not the 1990 version which was actually released. Whether or not you can agree with their later-era politics, we can all agree that the band was absolutely terrible by 1990 and that this is the superior version. Anyway, the version of the song that appears here is absolutely rollickin' and is one of their finest moments. The B-side of "Unbeliever" is probably the highlight, though. With lines like "I don't believe in Jesus/No matter what the Vicars say," and "I believe violence/That's just the only way," the song is a classic punk rant against Christianity/organized religion. The band certainly never played as fast, tight, or just plain energetic as they did on their early recordings.
I know it might be awkward and uncomfortable for you to check this stuff out (just turn off your last.fm, ya turkey!), but it should be treated like any other classic punk and this place is as good as any to start with them. Well, and their first LP, which is one of the best punk albums ever made. Duh.
Download Here
-Adam
14 comments:
I imagine that even before Skrewdriver adopted a racist agenda they were probably assholes.
Adam is a nazi!
-Evander Holywar
edgy!!
The best.
If I had a last.fm the quantity of my Skrewdriver plays (let alone any NSBM) would certainly lead to some scrutiny from the punk police. That certainly wouldn't sit well alongside my fetishization of most things German and my admittedly crypto-fascist attire/looks... now that's a recipe for a true Tutonic warrior!
I still want Nomos to cover Skrewdriver. Fuck da punx.
I would love to sing "Shove the Dove" for you guys
Fiesta Grande, chris dodge talking about Ian dying is blinding. fuck this band.
shitty dudes, great music.
-Adam
I cant get the link to work, could you reupload it?
Try again in thirty minutes. Mediafire is wonky sometimes.
-Adam
I've been trying it for days—it just says "Processing download request" and never gives the download link. I've tried both at home and from work—no luck :(
fuuuuuck. fixed.
Nice to see sensible discussion on early skrewdriver for a change... Good work
Early (ie sketchy but not racist) Skrewdriver is some of the best punk rock ever written. I'd tell you all to check out Hail the New Dawn as well but well, you'd probably be bummed.
Thanx for this. I always thought they were a great band with the true punk spirit of the time,and wrote great songs.
Such a great shame they've more or less been ignored because of the later incarnation of the band. I still have the album,and two of the original singles bought at the time,I've never heard this one though.
Here is a link to a great interview with Grinny,and his recollections of his time with the band. Thanx again.
http://www.punk77.co.uk/groups/skrewdriver.htm
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