KILLJOYS- Johnny won’t go to Heaven, b/w Naive (Raw Records, UK, 1977)
Straight from 1977 and with so much drive, it leaves you breathless! KILLJOYS formed in the UK in the exploding Punk movement and released this most splendid single in the end of the year, on the classic “Raw Records” label. Just like most of us second generation kids now in their 40s, I first heard the KILLJOYS in the 80s (now that sounds pretty kabbalistic, don’t it). I always had a very soft spot for the DEXY’S MIDNIGHT RUNNERS fantastic first LP, so when I got to learn that the KILLJOYS was in fact singers Kevin first band, I was enormously excited to hear it. Well, what can I say: I didn’t and still doesn’t disappoint me. “Johnny” has got both a ‘ Pistols and a Crass feeling, especially in the vocal style, but “Naive” is different - it blows the top of me head off whenever I hear it. Very close to the glory of NEON HEARTS, with the sax missing though.
This has been on some blogs before, I think, but all the rips sounded like ploppydooda compared to the forceful, dirty, raw sound of the vinyl, so here we go with some kind of sonic improvement.
roger that roger wrote:
Another classic record!! Great quality soooooo powerfull!!!!!!!!!!!
Posted on 05-Apr-08 at 11:58 am | Permalink
chris captured wrote:
i love you mr keller. had a tape trader pal in the 80’s who taped it for me. i love this record! thanks.
Posted on 05-Apr-08 at 8:32 pm | Permalink
Peter - KBD Records wrote:
Can’t be posted enough. Excuse my french but this is so fucking good it hurts.
Posted on 07-Apr-08 at 10:32 am | Permalink
hdvns wrote:
Probably my favorite Raw Record, as it really is raw. Couldn’t agree with Peter more!
Posted on 09-Apr-08 at 2:00 pm | Permalink
Fernando wrote:
A raw one indeed! I have the Damaged Goods reissue which has a different cover, thanks for the scans from the original!
Apart from the Dexys connection (Oh, Geno!) it should be mentioned that bassist Gem appeared in some line-up of the mighty GIRLSCHOOL (ca 1982); that line-up was the one I saw opening for Motörhead (methinks), I remember that was the first time I saw a band (I mean Girlschool) much better live than on record! Impressing. The guy from punk.co.uk wrote some memorable lines about Gem from Killjoys.
Oh, this gem (the single) was released in July 77, not “in the end of the year”
Posted on 15-Apr-08 at 7:33 pm | Permalink
Doc wrote:
ORIGINAL `77. DIRTY PUNK @ ITS WORST! TOP!!!
Posted on 27-Apr-08 at 2:19 pm | Permalink