Angelic Upstarts - Discography

Discography

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The Upstarts sound is nothing like what you think its going to be. No ramalama 1234 or Oi crazy attack. Its a mixture of fast and slow tunes, dynamics and all topped off with Mensi's glorious roar of protest. What more could you want? An authentic punk band.

Murder Of Liddle Towers / Police Oppression

The band paid for the recording and pressing of 500 singles which they released themselves and sold at gigs and local record shops. The single was then picked up by Small Wonder Records who released it nationally. While most debut punk singles come charging out of the blocks this one delivers a sucker punch. Starting slowly it works itself up into indignant white hot fury before delivering the killer blow before again going slow and quiet. Great b-side as well.

Click to hear audio clip

I'm An Upstart / Leave Me Alone ( WEA 1979)

To have one great single is good but to have two in a row is some going. Impassioned, screaming vocals with catchy call and reply chorus all built over a raucous punk heavy metal riff. Pursey's production on this is excellent. The song had come some way from its original form on their first John Peel session. Another great B-side as well.

"Go away and leave me , f**k off and leave me ...Go away and leave me alone"

Signed up to WEA however they released a lacklustre album Teenage Warning (1979 WEA). While the I'm An Upstart / Leave Me Alone single sounds great the rest of the album sounds weakly produced. Mensi is on great form with the usual subjects close to his heart - the police, the downtrodden, students, anger and growing up all delivered with that impassioned roar of his set to the Upstarts metal punk riffarama. Picks - We Are The People and Student Power. I don't mean to sound negative - its a good album but it could have been exceptional.

Amazingly the NME review above by Paul Morley above is positive! Click on it to view larger readable image.

Album dedicated to The Pistols, Jimmy Pursey and Northumbria Police!

Teenage Warning/ (1979 WEA) It charted and the boys got a Top Of The Pops television appearance but in my view a weak song that fails to get going.

Never 'Ad Nothin' / Nowhere Left To Hide ( WEA 1979)

Back on familiar territory here with another stomper about the poliss. This time a story about Paul Howe, an 18 year old, who held a man hostage in the Castle pub Essex. He tried to run and was shot dead by the Police.

The band went on to release a number of successful albums and minor hit singles before splitting in 1983.

Also check out this great John Peel Radio 1 session Broadcast 30.10.78

Fantastic session featuring We Are The People / Student Power / Upstart / Upstart / Youth Leader.

Worth buying this cd just for this session before Jimmy Pursey beefed up the guitars a la Sex Pistols.