Signed in Spring 1977 to Decca
the band released just two singles before being dropped. With their
amalgamation of influences from the Small Faces, Rolling Stones, Wishbone Ash, Led Zep and even the Pink Fairies, their harder abrasive sound collided with
Punk rock and was happily subsumed by it.
However Cock Sparrers running
riot wasn't so much Anarchy or Situationism but the more harder street punk
realism of football violence and tribalism. So their first single's cover showed a
pitch invasion of West Ham and Manchester United fans. Another shot from the
same match would also be
used for their 'Running Riot in '84' album.
While none of the singles fared particularly well, they are both
crackers and served to underpin Cocksparrers credentials in the later OI/Streetpunk
movement of the early Eighties.
Runnin'
Riot / Sister Suzie (Decca 31.5.77)
And so it was
welcome to Decca for our lovable hooligans with this little paean
to running amok and, if you were lucky, featuring a very scarce picture
sleeve of a pitch invasion by football fans. Extremely catchy as
is the b-side 'Sister Suzie'. Punk or souped up Slade? Who cares!
Interesting lyrics tho not quite 'Anarchy In The UK.'
I can't
stand the peace and quiet All I want is to be running riot.
Yes indeedy!
We Love You/Chip On
Me Shoulder ( Decca 4.11.77)
Politely
rocking powerchords and a thick cockney brogue on the old Stones
psychedelic turkey by a bunch of skinheads, do not a worthwhile 12
inches make. Nor probably seven inches.
Paul Rambali NME 12.11.77
I gotta admit that
only one other Stones cover I ever heard surpassed Cocksparrer's
evil celebration and that was Iggy doing 'Satisfaction'...
Tony Parsons NME 8.10.77
I've just listened to
it and I think it's crap. It goes nowhere, has no hooks, and had
nothing to do with us. We should have made 'Chip On Your Shoulder'
the A-side. Steve Bruce
'Best Seat In The House' 2010
Rambali was being a bit unfair on the
boys there. Both are sides are rollicking good punky Slade style sing a
long a yob. Why did Decca release this as a 12"? Classic video for
the song below produced by Mike Mansfield who had completed a music
series called 'Supersonic' at the time and which was featured on the
anarchic kids show 'Tiswas.'
In pre MTV times this was a rarity and a luxury but a great snapshot of
the boys.
And so it was
welcome to Decca for our lovable hooligans with this little paean
to running amok and, if you were lucky, featuring a very scarce picture
sleeve of a pitch invasion by football fans. Extremely catchy as
is the b-side 'Sister Suzie'. Punk or souped up Slade? Who cares!
Interesting lyrics tho not quite 'Anarchy In The UK.' 
