For our 5/45s feature, we ask musicians to walk us through some of their favorite singles. Whether they be influential, impossible to find, or just a prized possession, we love discovering the 2-3 minute tunes that inspire some of our favorite music.
In this week’s feature Brandon Welchez shares five of his favorite rippers. Brandon is the frontman of LA rockers CROCODILES as well as an avid record collector and lifelong punk who seriously knows his stuff. Check it out!
The Rude Kids – Stranglers (If It’s Quiet Why Don’t You Play?) b/w Punk Will Never Die!
The main riff on Stranglers has got to be one of the hardest ever committed to tape. I guess this would be considered proto-hardcore? It’s always cool to find records in their country of origin so I was very excited to find this in the wild in Sweden about 10 or 12 years ago. From what I understand, the story behind this diss track (a response to the Stranglers tune “Sweden”) is that the Stranglers, for a while, refused to play Sweden after experiencing violence from raggare (who are a bunch of motherfuckers) at one of their gigs. I thought JJ Burnel was a karate master though – why didn’t he just put those raggare in their place? On the same trip that I bought this, I was harassed by modern raggare in some small Swedish town. It was threatening but I’ve of course continued to return to beautiful Sweden and I’m definitely not a karate master.
7 Seconds – Blasts From The Past EP
I started experimenting with punk in 8th grade but fully committed the following summer and began high school 100% a punk. After I had blown through the superstars of punk (Sex Pistols, Black Flag etc) I desperately began seeking out deeper cuts. I remember getting the Old School singles collection LP at my local record shop. Not sure if a friend turned me on or if I just bought it because the cover is so cool. Anyway, I was blown away by the speed, intensity and positivity while still retaining a strong catchiness. My favorite track on the whole LP was and still is War In The Head, so I was very happy to find the original 7” on Kevin Seconds Positive Force label a few years ago in London. Green vinyl too!
The Cybermen – You’re To Blame b/w It’s You I Want
A great slice of pub-rockin’ UK punk! The a-side is incredibly catchy and always gets me fired up. Pretty sure I discovered this on a stoned YouTube journey – gotta love those recommended videos! Ironically, a few weeks after first hearing this I was in Tokyo and found it in a shop. It’s been reissued now but I paid through the nose for this original copy on the band’s own Rockaway Records because I was that desperate to have it.
The Oppressed – The Noise EP
Three Slade covers on this bad boy. I always bring this one out when I DJ and the Cum On Feel The Noize cover never fails in a crowded room full of drunk people. Even non-punks can’t deny its sheer power. I always thought the “no politics” aspect of skinhead culture was fence-walking lameness and so I will always have the utmost respect for Roddy Moreno and the Oppressed for taking a stand against nazi scum. I know he’s not the only one, but he’s one of the most vocal and uncompromising and for that he is permanently on my cool list.
The Rings – I Wanna Be Free b/w Automobile
Both songs are great on this, but Automobile takes the cake. Recommended for fans of Johnny Moped, the Damned etc. This band was formed by veteran musician Twink. He had played drums with proto-punks the Pretty Things and the Pink Faeries in the 60s but always kept his finger on the pulse of youth culture and what was happening on the streets. He moved from drums to vocals for this band and Chiswick released this great 45 in 1977. I don’t remember where I picked my copy up but it has some sort of signature on the back that I can’t make out. I’m going to just assume it says “Twink”.
