December 20, 2024

Skylight Webzine

Online since 2000

Legendary British Punk Band THE VIBRATORS Clear Out Their Archives For A 3CD Box Set Of Vintage Demos!

Punk rock fans know that the best punk recordings are of the raw, rough, “quick! let’s get it on tape before we forget the chords” variety. Those are the recordings that come straight from the heart, capturing the fire of the song’s initial inspiration before it gets piled on and choked out with overdubs and studio gimmickry. Now, what happens when a band like British punk icons The Vibrators, whose fiery passion has kept them going for 6 decades, unearths a treasure trove of early demos from their first years as a band? Well, that’s a discovery that would make any self-respecting punk fan raise their leather-studded fist in the air and salute!

The Demos 1976-1978 is truly a piece of punk rock history. This vibrantly colored 3CD box set includes many of the songs that not only made The Vibrators a household name, but also influenced generations of punk rockers to come. Listen to these raucous versions of “We Vibrate,” and “Judy Says (Knock You In The Head)” that are arguably even better than the versions that ended up on their major label studio albums. Don’t believe us? Just check out the incredible 1977 demo version of “Automatic Lover,” a song they would re-record for their 1978 sophomore album, which is released today to all digital platforms.

Stream/download:https://orcd.co/the_vibrators_automatic_lover_demo_1977

Vocalist and primary songwriter Knox declares “I think demos are very important. You can look at the song and see how much more might need doing to it. The demo often becomes a kind of sign post to the band to show how the song should be developed and finished. It is sometimes almost like another member of the band. It is available for all sorts of changes, but in the end, even if it’s your song, you are in a band and not doing a solo project.”

In addition, The Demos 1976-1978 contains several more songs that never made it on to any Vibrators studio album! That is, not yet – rumor has it that for the group’s final album, set for release next year, Knox, Eddie and the boys took one of these gems and polished it up for a proper release. But until then, you can pre-order the box set, which comes in a clamshell box with a 12-page booklet of liner notes and rare photos plus a button and guitar pick! Available everywhere not-so-fine punk rock is sold December 10.

Pre-order the CD box:https://cleorecs.com/store/shop/the-vibrators-the-demos-1976-1978-3-cd/
Pre-order/pre-save the digital:https://orcd.co/the_vibrators_demos_1976_1978

Track List:
DISC 1: 1976

  1. We Vibrate
  2. Say Mama
  3. Dance To The Music
  4. Young Lust
  5. She’s Bringing You Down
  6. Interstellar Overdrive / Day Tripper
  7. Andy Warhol
  8. Ready Steady Go
  9. I Can See It In Your Eyes
  10. Bad Time
  11. No Heart

DISC 2: 1977

  1. He’s A Psycho
  2. Feel Alright
  3. But I Do
  4. I Loved Her
  5. Flying Duck Theory
  6. Stitch You Up
  7. Dong
  8. Frontline Europe
  9. Sometimes I Want It So Bad
  10. City Of Mirrors
  11. Public Enemy No. 1
  12. 24 Hour People
  13. Automatic Lover
  14. Wake Up
  15. Pure Mania
  16. War Zone
  17. London Girls
  18. Wrecked On You
  19. War Zone (Version 2)
  20. 24 Hour People (Version 2)

DISC 3: 1978

  1. Sulphate
  2. Destroy
  3. Fall In Love
  4. Nazi Baby
  5. Noise Boys
  6. Judy Says (Knock You In The Head)
  7. Fighter Pilot
  8. Splitting Up
  9. Ticket To Paradise
  10. Pushin’ Too Hard
  11. Eye Witness
  12. Goin’ Uptown
  13. She’s A Boy
  14. Rain Rain Rain
  15. One Time
  16. Vipers In The Dark
  17. Stitch You Up