Live at the Roxy WC2
Encyclopedia
The Roxy London WC2 is a live album
of recordings
taken from various punk
bands that played the Roxy
club in Covent Garden
, London
between January and April 1977.
release in 1977 (cat. no. SHSP 4069) included tracks by Eater
, Johnny Moped
, and the Unwanted that were left off the 1991 Receiver reissue (cat. no. RR 132). Also, The Boys
, The Damned, Sham 69
and The U.K. Subs appear on the reissue but not the original. Finally, even for bands that appear on both discs, some of the tracks have been changed (e.g. Wire
’s "1-2-X-U", X-Ray Spex
’ "Oh Bondage Up Yours!
", etc.). The Receiver album was re-released in 2001 by Sanctuary
as a double CD set.
The original twelve track album reached number 24 in the UK Albums Chart
and spent five weeks in the chart
. The album was described as "seminal" by The Virgin Encyclopedia of Popular Music and others. In 2004, it was recognised as one of the five 'Classic Punk Rock Compilation LPs' of all-time. Over the years, the compilation LP has rightly become the bedrock of any perceived ‘happening’. During the formative months of the development of any given scene, a compilation or two (usually on an obscure independent label) will appear to define the zeitgeist. 1977 was no exception - with pundits & commentators alike keen to establish a few ground rules - & a slew of top quality collections appeared almost overnight to pencil in a few guidelines... Capturing the full force of the first wave head on, The Roxy is an essential historical reminder of the power & the glory of punk rock.' Author and critic Dave Thompson calls it “one of the most important (and poorest sounding) live albums ever made, a document of the Roxy Club from on and off stage”.
Live album
A live album is a recording consisting of material recorded during stage performances using remote recording techniques, commonly contrasted with a studio album...
of recordings
Sound recording and reproduction
Sound recording and reproduction is an electrical or mechanical inscription and re-creation of sound waves, such as spoken voice, singing, instrumental music, or sound effects. The two main classes of sound recording technology are analog recording and digital recording...
taken from various punk
Punk rock
Punk rock is a rock music genre that developed between 1974 and 1976 in the United States, the United Kingdom, and Australia. Rooted in garage rock and other forms of what is now known as protopunk music, punk rock bands eschewed perceived excesses of mainstream 1970s rock...
bands that played the Roxy
The Roxy
The Roxy was a fashionable nightclub on Neal Street in London's Covent Garden, known for hosting the flowering British punk music scene in its infancy.-Brief history:...
club in Covent Garden
Covent Garden
Covent Garden is a district in London on the eastern fringes of the West End, between St. Martin's Lane and Drury Lane. It is associated with the former fruit and vegetable market in the central square, now a popular shopping and tourist site, and the Royal Opera House, which is also known as...
, London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
between January and April 1977.
Overview
The original Harvest RecordsHarvest Records
-References:* Harvest Records collectors guide ISBN 978-5-9622-0021-7...
release in 1977 (cat. no. SHSP 4069) included tracks by Eater
Eater
Eater were an early British punk band from London who took their name from a Marc Bolan lyric. In 2001, the band’s second single, "Thinking of the USA" , was included in a leading British music magazine’s list of the best punk-rock singles of all-time...
, Johnny Moped
Johnny Moped
Johnny Moped were a mid 1970s English punk rock group from south London, who once had Chrissie Hynde and Captain Sensible within their ranks.-Biography:...
, and the Unwanted that were left off the 1991 Receiver reissue (cat. no. RR 132). Also, The Boys
The Boys (UK Band)
The Boys are an English punk rock band formed in London in 1976.Members of the band had previously played in other groups, such as London SS and Hollywood Brats. After recording four studio albums and eight singles, as well as recording Christmas themed music under the name The Yobs, they disbanded...
, The Damned, Sham 69
Sham 69
Sham 69 is an English punk band that formed in Hersham in 1976.Although not as commercially successful as many of their contemporaries, albeit with a greater number of chart entries, Sham 69 has been a huge musical and lyrical influence on the Oi! and streetpunk genres. The band allegedly derived...
and The U.K. Subs appear on the reissue but not the original. Finally, even for bands that appear on both discs, some of the tracks have been changed (e.g. Wire
Wire (band)
Wire are an English rock band, formed in London in October 1976 by Colin Newman , Graham Lewis , Bruce Gilbert , and Robert Gotobed...
’s "1-2-X-U", X-Ray Spex
X-Ray Spex
X-Ray Spex were an English punk band from London that formed in 1976.During their first incarnation , X-Ray Spex were “deliberate underachievers” and only managed to release five singles and one album...
’ "Oh Bondage Up Yours!
Oh Bondage Up Yours!
"Oh Bondage Up Yours!" is the debut single by British punk rock band X-Ray Spex. Released in September 1977, it is regarded by critics as a prototypal example of British punk, though it was not a chart hit. A version taped on 2 April 1977 at one of the band's earliest public performances had...
", etc.). The Receiver album was re-released in 2001 by Sanctuary
Sanctuary Records
Sanctuary Records Group Limited was a record label based in the United Kingdom and a subsidiary of Universal Music Group. Until June 2007, it was the largest independent record label in the UK and the largest independent music management company in the world...
as a double CD set.
The original twelve track album reached number 24 in the UK Albums Chart
UK Albums Chart
The UK Albums Chart is a list of albums ranked by physical and digital sales in the United Kingdom. It is compiled every week by The Official Charts Company and broadcast on a Sunday on BBC Radio 1 , and published in Music Week magazine and on the OCC website .To qualify for the UK albums chart...
and spent five weeks in the chart
Record chart
A record chart is a ranking of recorded music according to popularity during a given period of time. Examples of music charts are the Hit parade, Hot 100 or Top 40....
. The album was described as "seminal" by The Virgin Encyclopedia of Popular Music and others. In 2004, it was recognised as one of the five 'Classic Punk Rock Compilation LPs' of all-time. Over the years, the compilation LP has rightly become the bedrock of any perceived ‘happening’. During the formative months of the development of any given scene, a compilation or two (usually on an obscure independent label) will appear to define the zeitgeist. 1977 was no exception - with pundits & commentators alike keen to establish a few ground rules - & a slew of top quality collections appeared almost overnight to pencil in a few guidelines... Capturing the full force of the first wave head on, The Roxy is an essential historical reminder of the power & the glory of punk rock.' Author and critic Dave Thompson calls it “one of the most important (and poorest sounding) live albums ever made, a document of the Roxy Club from on and off stage”.
Side one
- "Runaway" (Rossi/Barrett) by Slaughter & The DogsSlaughter & The DogsSlaughter & The Dogs is an English punk rock band that formed in the late 1970s in Manchester, England. They were one of the first UK punk bands to sign for a major label, Decca Records.-Career:...
- "Boston Babies" (Rossi/Barrett) by Slaughter & The Dogs
- "Freedom" (Wisdom/Nelson/Destroy/Grotesque) by The Unwanted
- "Lowdown" (Gilbert/Lewis/Newman/Gotobed) by WireWire (band)Wire are an English rock band, formed in London in October 1976 by Colin Newman , Graham Lewis , Bruce Gilbert , and Robert Gotobed...
- "1 2 X U" (Gilbert/Lewis/Newman/Gotobed) by Wire
- "Bored Teenagers" (TV Smith) by The AdvertsThe AdvertsThe Adverts were an English punk band who formed in 1976 and broke up in late 1979. They were one of the first punk bands to enjoy chart success in the UK, and their line-up included Gaye Advert, whom The Virgin Encyclopedia of 70s Music called the "first female punk star".-Career:The band was...
Side two
- "Hard Loving Man" (Halford) by Johnny MopedJohnny MopedJohnny Moped were a mid 1970s English punk rock group from south London, who once had Chrissie Hynde and Captain Sensible within their ranks.-Biography:...
- "Don't Need It" (Blade/Woodcock/Chevette/Generate) by EaterEaterEater were an early British punk band from London who took their name from a Marc Bolan lyric. In 2001, the band’s second single, "Thinking of the USA" , was included in a leading British music magazine’s list of the best punk-rock singles of all-time...
- "15" (Bruce/Cooper/Dunaway/Smith/Buxton) by Eater
- "Oh Bondage Up Yours!Oh Bondage Up Yours!"Oh Bondage Up Yours!" is the debut single by British punk rock band X-Ray Spex. Released in September 1977, it is regarded by critics as a prototypal example of British punk, though it was not a chart hit. A version taped on 2 April 1977 at one of the band's earliest public performances had...
" (StyrenePoly StyrenePoly Styrene was the stage name of Marianne Joan Elliott-Said , a British musician, songwriter and singer, most notably in the pioneering punk rock band X-Ray Spex.-Early life:...
) by X-Ray SpexX-Ray SpexX-Ray Spex were an English punk band from London that formed in 1976.During their first incarnation , X-Ray Spex were “deliberate underachievers” and only managed to release five singles and one album... - "Breakdown" (Shelley/Devoto) by BuzzcocksBuzzcocksBuzzcocks are an English punk rock band formed in Bolton in 1976, led by singer–songwriter–guitarist Pete Shelley.They are regarded as an important influence on the Manchester music scene, the independent record label movement, punk rock, power pop, pop punk and indie rock. They achieved commercial...
- "Love Battery" (Shelley/Devoto) by Buzzcocks
Track listing (from the 1991 reissue)
- "Runaway" by Slaughter & The Dogs
- "Boston Babies" by Slaughter & The Dogs
- "Rip Off" by Sham 69Sham 69Sham 69 is an English punk band that formed in Hersham in 1976.Although not as commercially successful as many of their contemporaries, albeit with a greater number of chart entries, Sham 69 has been a huge musical and lyrical influence on the Oi! and streetpunk genres. The band allegedly derived...
- "Borstal Breakout" by Sham 69
- "Just Don’t Care" by Wire
- "TV" by Wire
- "Bored Teenagers" by The Adverts
- "Gary Gilmore’s Eyes" by The Adverts
- "Living In The City" by The BoysThe Boys (UK Band)The Boys are an English punk rock band formed in London in 1976.Members of the band had previously played in other groups, such as London SS and Hollywood Brats. After recording four studio albums and eight singles, as well as recording Christmas themed music under the name The Yobs, they disbanded...
- "Sabre Dancing" by The Boys
- "Sick On You" by The Boys
- "Oh Bondage, Up Yours!" by X-Ray Spex
- "I Am A Cliche" by X-Ray Spex
- "Orgasm Addict" by Buzzcocks
- "Breakdown" by Buzzcocks
- "Love Battery" by Buzzcocks
- "World War" by the U.K. Subs
- "I Couldn’t Be With You" by the U.K. Subs
- "Smash It Up" by The Damned
- "Neat Neat Neat" by The Damned