Stiff Discography

 History | Discography | Wreckless Eric | Damned | Adverts | Ian Dury | Plasmatics | Chiswick | Small Labels | Pub Rock

Well underneath is a selection from Stiffs first 10 releases and some further punk/new wave essential highlights. Stiff played all sorts of shenanigans around releases and in Jan 77 deleted from their back catalogue the first 8 singles!! Other japes were Dury's 'Do It' album in 12 different wallpaper sleeves, Wreckless Erics album in 10 and 12" and shit coloured, deliberately miss pressing the Damned first LP with the Hot Rods picture on the back!

Buy 1 So It Goes/ Heart Of The City -Nick Lowe

"Stiff release No1. Issued 14 August 1976, this was originally made as a publishers demo and cost £45.00 for both sides. It made single of the week in Sounds and NME."

Apart from drums Nick played everything. He would go on to produce the Damned's first singles and Album and Elvis Costello.

"Its a sound that's happening now. Clever words over a simple rhythm. Basically I'll do anything. I can write in any style, but all my friends have turned into punks overnight and I'm a great bandwagon climber."  Melody Maker Aug 1976
 

Buy 2 Between The Lines/Spoiling For A Fight
 Pink Fairies

 

An ill fated attempt to keep the psychedelic pixies together. Guitarist Larry Wallis would later release the fabulous 'Police Car' on Stiff and produce the Adverts and Wreckless Eric. The link doesn't stop there though as Deviant/Pink Fairy Mick Farren would also record for the label.

Buy 5 Boogie On The Street/Caravan Man
 Lew Lewis

"A one take masterpiece recorded on a Revox at no financial expense."

The B side 'Caravan Man' is so elemental and so basic but just so compelling you can't help but move your feet to this stonker of a toon. Lew certainly had an interesting career. First with the Hot Rods, then solo then appeared on the Stranglers 'Old Codger' and last seen languishing in stir following an attempted armed robbery.

Buy 6 New Rose/Help - The Damned

If Stiff had only released this one single then their legend would have been assured. 'New Rose' was released on 22 October 1976 beating the Pistols 'Anarchy' by several weeks and effectively the first UK Punk single released.

An absolute 24 carat punk classic enhanced by its sonic destruction and indeed bettering of the Beatless's 'Help'

Buy 7 You Gotta Lose/ Blank Generation/In Another World  
Richard Hell

For the man who found it easier to write a song than pick up the phone. All the UK punks knew about the American scene and it don't get more seminal than 'Blank Generation' and its influences on the Sex Pistol's 'Pretty Vacant' and the look of punk too!

Buy 9 White Line Fever/Leavin' Here - Motorhead

Its amazing to think of the tribulations that best early Motorhead. This single was never released by Stiff. Having previously recorded an album for United Artists with Larry Wallis on guitar that remained shelved too. Luckily Chiswick stepped in and the boys got going before finding success with Bronze. Two years later the boys would issue a live version of Leaving Here on their 'Golden Days 'ep recorded at brain melting volume.

Can you guess what 'White Line Fever' is about?

Buy 11 Less Than Zero/Radio Sweetheart
 Elvis Costello

While Motorhead couldn't seem to get released Elvis couldn't get a hit despite platitudes being heaped so high they threatened to drown him.Of course we all know that success for the miserable bastard was just round the corner starting with the superlative 'Watching The Detectives'

This single touches on Fascist Mosley, Kennedy's assassination and a whole heap of venom to a nifty little toon.

Neat Neat Neat
The Damned

Once Chord Wonders
The Adverts

Sex & Drugs & Rock'n'Roll
Ian Dury

Whole Wide World
Wreckless Eric

Problem Child
The Damned

Police Car
Larry Wallis

Watching The Detectives
Elvis Costello

Screwed Up
Mick Farren

Solitary Confinement
The Members

Rhythm Stick
Ian Dury&Blockheads

Gimme Your Heart
The Subs

Monkey Suit
The Plasmatics

For more details on full Stiff Discography and extensive cover sleeves info visit these sites
Official Stiff Records Website | Be Stiff Website (brilliant!!) | Stiff in the Wikipaedia

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