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Back in November 1975, Ted Carroll finally made his dream of starting an independent label a reality when Chiswick released their first single – The Count Bishop’s “Speedball” EP.
Flanked by Roger Armstrong and Trevor Churchill, Chiswick were in the right place at the right time. They were soon releasing singles that dropped anchor in pub rock, punk, metal, pop and rockabilly by the likes of the 101’ers, Motorhead, the Gorillas, the Radio Stars, the Radiators, the Stukas and many more.
There were also big names before they got bigger. Joe Strummer led the 101’ers. Johnny & the Self Abusers later morphed into Simple Minds whereas Riff Raff featured a young Billy Bragg. Solo artist Jakko later became a mainstay of a later incarnation of King Crimson.
Over seven years, Chiswick singles not only sold well but the label even managed to score chart singles with artists as diverse as the Radio Stars, Sniff ‘n’ the Tears, Rocky Sharpe & The Replays and the Damned
Compiled by Roger Armstrong this 3-LP set pulls together some of the finest 45rpm output from Chiswick issued between 1975 and 1982. From the well-known to Minor Classics.
Roger Armstrong and Ted Carroll have also penned the informative liner notes with stories ranging from hiring an aeroplane to take a promoter to see a gig in France in those early days, how a brief piano part was added to the Damned’s ‘Smash It Up’ and Thin Lizzy’s Phil Lynott came to produce Terry Woods ‘Tennessee Stud’.
Tracklist
SIDE ONE
1. TEENAGE LETTER - THE COUNT BISHOPS
2. KEYS TO YOUR HEART - THE 101'ERS
3. TRAIN TRAIN - THE COUNT BISHOPS
4. GATECRASHER - THE GORILLAS
5. DIRTY PICTURES - THE RADIO STARS
6. TELEVISION SCREEN (single version) - THE RADIATORS FROM SPACE
SIDE TWO
1. MOTORHEAD - MOTÖRHEAD
2. DO IT 77 - TWINK AND THE FAIRIES
3. NO ONE - JOHNNY MOPED
4. SAINTS AND SINNERS - JOHNNY AND THE SELF ABUSERS
5. NIGHT OF THE WEREWOLF - LEE KRISTOFFERSON
6. HANG LOOSE (I'VE GOTTA ROCK) – WHIRLWIND
SIDE THREE
1. I WANNA BE FREE - THE RINGS
2. I WANT YOU TO DANCE WITH ME - JEFF HILL
3. COMMON TRUTH - AMAZORBLADES
4. NERVOUS WRECK - THE RADIO STARS
5. ROMFORD GIRLS - RIFF RAFF
6. KLEAN LIVING KIDS - THE STUKAS
SIDE FOUR
1. I WANT CANDY - THE BISHOPS
2. RAMA LAMA DING DONG - ROCKY SHARPE & THE REPLAYS
3. DRIVER'S SEAT - SNIFF 'N' THE TEARS
4. SONG OF THE FAITHFUL DEPARTED - THE RADIATORS
5. HEY BABY - DISGUISE
6. I TAKE WHAT I WANT - THE BISHOPS
SIDE FIVE
1. LOVE SONG - THE DAMNED
2. SMASH IT UP - THE DAMNED
3. RADIOACTIVE KID - THE METEORS
4. TOMAHAWK CRUISE - T V SMITH'S EXPLORERS
5. THAT DRIVING BEAT - RED BEANS AND RICE
6. AUTOMOBILE - THE STICK SHIFTS
SIDE SIX
1. HEART - ROCKY SHARPE & THE REPLAYS
2. SIGN LANGUAGE - MINOR CLASSICS
3. TENNESSEE STUD - TERRY WOODS
4. GO GO GO - ALBANIA
5. KWAGAYO - TWO TWO Chiswick
6. GRAB WHAT YOU CAN (BIEZ CO MOZESZ) - JAKKO