Hell, this is may be not the best recording, but I love it! I’ve always been fond of live boots with cheap sound, it beats me why.
The SAINTS captured live in 1977, playing live on TV apparently. Great selection of songs, it’s crazy how much drive the band had in its early days.
“Punk Vault” was one of the first bootleg series in Punk. I don’t know what else these guys put out besides this and a Bad Brains live 7″ (which has songs from the 79 demo; legitimately released with super sound in the meantime, one of the most thrilling recordings I ever heard).
Demolition Girl.mp3
Orstralia.mp3
Erotic Nerotic.mp3
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As much as Radio Birdman is worshipped these days, The Saints were the best Australian band of that era, period. They were just as good as any American or British punk band from the 70′s and their second album is probably the best record of 1978.
Plus, they didn’t even know the Ramones or British punkexisted and they were already doing it.
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I’ll have to disagree that the Saints never heard the Ramones when they released I’m Stranded LP because even before the Ramones released their first record in ’76, there were demo tapes floating around in ’75 of Ramones recordings. Ramones were the first punk band to release a record and they influenced everyone.
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Saints started in ’74, if not earlier, and their dismay when copies of the first Ramones LP finally showed up in Brisbane is well-documnted– sure they liked it, but they thought they were doing something no one else was. And I highly, highly doubt that outsider kids in Brisbane were connected enough to be hearing Ramones demos in 1975.
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Not trying to start an argument here, but the Saints do sound like they have a huge Dolls influence… and while I was on a huge Birdman jag in the 80s (and a New Christs jag, and a Celibate Rifles jag) I do gotta agree that I’d rather listen to those first 2 Saints albums.
Punk Vault, I have a bunch of these. From memory there’s a Crime one with sessions that date from between the 2nd and 3rd Crime singles, Weirdos Neutron bomb, which predated all Weirdos recordings (including that great double 45 of demos,I beleive) a Ramones with the now-common 75 demos, I can’t remember what else and I am too lazy to dig around.
I agree about the greatness of Black Dots! Maybe one of the top ten punk LPs!
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Simon is absolutely right. There’s a demo recorded in early ’74 by the Saints (or Kid Galahad and the Eternals, as they were called then) which has most of the songs of the Stranded LP. The songs are exactly the same, only slower. It was released as a CD called “The most primitive band in the world”.
As for the first punk record, I’d bet for Kurt Schwitters or something like that, haha.
Fernando
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I’ve got the discography cd…great stuff!
Um, I’m still waiting to buy a GAI demo off you Erich!
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GootFromTheBoot –
It’s really not very likely that they had Ramones demos in Australia in 1975. Remember that it’s all pre-DIY as we know it, pre internet, pre tape trading as an international phenomenon, and plus, most demos back then were supposed to showcase bands to the music industry. It wasn’t like most bands did demos with xeroxed covers to sell at shows and through mailorder.
Plus, there are interviews where they say they didn’t know the Ramones yet when they were writing the songs on the first album.
And yes, there are live recordings of the Saints playing those songs in 74/75.
The Saints are at least as authentic in that sense as The Ramones. They had similar influences and created similar music simultaneously, but on the other side of the world.
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thnxs for all this gems, i was jumping in one foot when i discover Tervet Kädeet posted.
:]
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Demolition Girl is one of the top ten Punk Rock songs ever, hands down.
“don’t wanna go to the basement” is another, though.
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Punk Vault also released:
Bad Brains “Cum To Play” 7″EP (stupendously raw and intense early demos, may favorite on the “label”)
Crime “First Blood” 7″EP (so-so ’79 demos, more rockabilly and not as good as their masterful first two 7″s)
Rocket From The Tombs “Ain’t It Fun/Transfusion” 7″ (years before any official reissue)
Weirdos “Ranting In A Rubber Room” double 7″EP (early demos, I believe)
I’d love to know who did these boots in the late 80′s and how they got a hold of all of these rare demos. I didn’t hear most of em until the mid 90′s unfortunately…
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Erich this is an excellent post as always. But there is something that keeps nagging me. I’m trying to think….. Oh yeah! YOU FORGOT TO PUT THE TEDDY!!!
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The Weirdos one on Punk Vault was titled It Means Nothing (1977 demo)and had an early version of Neutron Bomb on the flip. I used to own it. Probably made in 1988 or 1990.
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Been wondering about the Punk Vault series myself lately.
1)Bad Brains
2)Pussy Galore
3)Crime
4)
5)Weirdos
6)Saints
I might have #3 & #5 swapped ’cause I don’t have the records in front of me. I’m lookin’ for #4 & would like to know if they continue beyond #6
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A-ha! Gotta look for the Rocket From The Tombs one…
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Thanks Erich. This really shreds!
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