October 14, 2022

Strawberries

Ok, so in the spirit of this blog and for the name of Independent Record Label music, this post is about the Bronze Record Label and (for a change a non-obscure 'indie label' band), Bronze Records was founded in 1971 by Gerry Bron and was home to many well known acts such as Motörhead, Hawkwind and Manfred Mann's Earth Band to name a few.

Traversing Styles & Labels

For this post I am blogging specifically on a band I love and an album I brought way back when, a band that traversed from Punk (releasing the first Punk record in the UK by Stiff Records), their first releases used the Stiff Label, but they chopped and changed to other Independent Record legends such as Chiswick Records and also the Big Beat Record Label, sound-wise they moved toward an experimental phase and then more into a Goth vein.

I am of course talking about The Damned. Loud, snotty, raucous as a live act, they have graced the music scene since that first release produced by none other than Pub Rock Legend Nick Lowe in 1976. Catch the 'cut of their jib' on the track 'New Rose' below, 'Is she really going out with him?'

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And Then The Strawberries Came Out!

Their album 'Strawberries', released in 1982 on the Bronze Record Label was a break away from their earlier punk material. The name of the album apparently given by Dave Vanian after attempting to play tracks from the album and the crowd demanding they play their older stuff, the words used were something to the effect of 'It's like feeding strawberries to pigs'.

As mentioned the album was somewhat different to their early stuff. There are always exceptions on the album e.g. 'Ignite' is a track that rattles along with aggression at breakneck Motorhead style speed, great if you feel angry in helping to get that all that 'pent up aggression out'.

Generals allows for a more dramatic style. Whilst the odd starting discordant brass section, synth work to start up and the tap tapping on the drums blowing up into a nice bass line on the track 'Stranger On The Town' is one of my favourites both musically and lyrically, quite literally about a 'new-comer' to a town that is not welcome.

discogs image — Picture Source: Discogs.com

The Track List

Ignite
Generals
Stranger On The Town
Dozen Girls
The Dog
Gun Fury
Pleasure And The Pain
Life Goes On
Bad Time For Bonzo
Under The Floor Again
Don't Bother Me

Band At Time Of Release

Paul Gray - Bass
Rat Scabies - Drums
Dave Vanian - Vocals
Captain Sensible - Guitar/Keyboards
Roman Jugg - Keyboards

He's Alright And He Don't Care...

I still love the thrashy riff laden tracks like 'Dozen Girls' which seems to look at one persons disbelief and jealously that perhaps a friend can seem to attract the opposite sex with such ease and they can't, lyrics such 'He's alright and he don't care, he's got thermal/purple underwear' just always amuses me (quite childish I know).😏 Interestingly I was leafing through the YouTube comments on this video, especially by [email protected] and noticed his comment that described the intro to the song as being very similar to proto-punk/garage rock band Flamin' Groovies with their track 'Slow Death' and I completely agree, see if you do at the link 'Slow Death'.

Pretty much all the tracks offer a more 'synth' based approach which, for The Damned was a touch different, but for me at least it works and I liked it.

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And the best guitar solo award 🎸, goes to.... Captain Sensible on the track 'Under The Floor Again' the solo kicks in at about 3 mins 40 and what an awesome sound, it's sends chills up my spine every time I listen to it. I honestly thought the guy was more of a guitar 'trasher' type than this wonderful piece of guitar genius that could, imho have been performed by someone like Dave Gilmour from Pink Floyd.