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Screen13 · 06-12-2013, 03:21 PM

BUBBLING UNDER IN '81 - QUICK LOOKS AT SOME ALBUMS, THE IRS RECORDS CHAPTER

Back again for another round of albums that ALMOST made the Top 200, but sadly never found the break they deserved.

DEAD KENNEDYS - Fresh Fruit for Rotting Vegetables - US Peak #208
"Wait! Did I read this right, or is last night's refreshment creeping up on me?" You actually read it right, this actually was mentioned in Billboard's Bubbling Under section! Two weeks, yes, but still showing that somebody somewhere actually bought this Hardcore classic at stores that sent sales details to the mighty BB, and I don't think they were faked either, but I'm sure most of those reports were from California, where I'm sure their home state fans bought this like crazy when it was released.

Here's the Biz for you...

Interestingly, the band got linked up with IRS Records and had some help with their debut album, but it was not as simple as that. Originally, it was released as SP 70014 on the US Division of the Faulty Products imprint, a division of the legendary label formed after IRS' main Distributor A&M stated out loud that they were not going to have another Punk controversy in their history, this time generating from home ground...although the label did state A&Ms address. After Faulty went out of business, REM's album Murmur took up that number. The sub-label was help to some of the Kennedys' recordings released through Alternative Tentacles, but also had a very small roster that included Circle Jerks (Wild In the Streets), Steve Diggle (Ex-Buzzcocks), The Fall, The Anti-Nowhere League and even The Bangles' first EP.

With performances like this, you could see the wild reaction that they inspired in their fans when it came to collecting their recordings. From the legendary Public Access show New Wave Theater, including performances that were collected by the early days of Rhino Home Video...

You may be familiar with this, but maybe not where it came from. Possibly still the #1 in Bat Country!

For more on Faulty...
Mr Bill's I.R.S. Corner: Faulty Products Discography

TOM ROBINSON - Sector 27 - US Peak #209
Another IRS album, this time on the main label in it's Pre-Go Gos era, here's the Punk Era legend in another band, entering The 80's. With Robinson are Jo Burt (B/V), Stevie B. (G/V), and Derek Quinton (D). Actually charted the same week as The Kennedys!

IRS' GREATEST HITS PARTS 2 and 3 - US Peak #201
URGH!!! Screamed IRS Records as it clawed it's way up the US charts, slowly but sure! Before The Go Gos showed the label to Pop, there was a lot of interesting activity going on including a show that was going to be on MTV later that year called The Cutting Edge. This was a preview of things to come!

Say hello to The Fleshtones! Hear The Damned, who's Black Album was already making some waves. Check out Brian James, Alternative TV, The Cramps, The Stranglers, John Cale, Jools Holland, The Fall, and many more. In this set there's also some band called The Police with the a side to their first record, maybe you heard of them too, possibly... (ha ha).

Aah, the early days of IRS. Once they crossed over, it was never to be the same again. True they still had some great music, but you know what I mean.

Here's The Police's track on that double vinyl compilation which should be of interest to some....more is to come very shortly, with a couple of more selections from that album.

06-12-2013, 03:21 PM	#19 (permalink)
Screen13 Music Addict Join Date: Jan 2010 Posts: 1,388	BUBBLING UNDER IN '81 - QUICK LOOKS AT SOME ALBUMS, THE IRS RECORDS CHAPTER Back again for another round of albums that ALMOST made the Top 200, but sadly never found the break they deserved. DEAD KENNEDYS - Fresh Fruit for Rotting Vegetables - US Peak #208 "Wait! Did I read this right, or is last night's refreshment creeping up on me?" You actually read it right, this actually was mentioned in Billboard's Bubbling Under section! Two weeks, yes, but still showing that somebody somewhere actually bought this Hardcore classic at stores that sent sales details to the mighty BB, and I don't think they were faked either, but I'm sure most of those reports were from California, where I'm sure their home state fans bought this like crazy when it was released. Here's the Biz for you... Interestingly, the band got linked up with IRS Records and had some help with their debut album, but it was not as simple as that. Originally, it was released as SP 70014 on the US Division of the Faulty Products imprint, a division of the legendary label formed after IRS' main Distributor A&M stated out loud that they were not going to have another Punk controversy in their history, this time generating from home ground...although the label did state A&Ms address. After Faulty went out of business, REM's album Murmur took up that number. The sub-label was help to some of the Kennedys' recordings released through Alternative Tentacles, but also had a very small roster that included Circle Jerks (Wild In the Streets), Steve Diggle (Ex-Buzzcocks), The Fall, The Anti-Nowhere League and even The Bangles' first EP. With performances like this, you could see the wild reaction that they inspired in their fans when it came to collecting their recordings. From the legendary Public Access show New Wave Theater, including performances that were collected by the early days of Rhino Home Video... You may be familiar with this, but maybe not where it came from. Possibly still the #1 in Bat Country! For more on Faulty... Mr Bill's I.R.S. Corner: Faulty Products Discography TOM ROBINSON - Sector 27 - US Peak #209 Another IRS album, this time on the main label in it's Pre-Go Gos era, here's the Punk Era legend in another band, entering The 80's. With Robinson are Jo Burt (B/V), Stevie B. (G/V), and Derek Quinton (D). Actually charted the same week as The Kennedys! IRS' GREATEST HITS PARTS 2 and 3 - US Peak #201 URGH!!! Screamed IRS Records as it clawed it's way up the US charts, slowly but sure! Before The Go Gos showed the label to Pop, there was a lot of interesting activity going on including a show that was going to be on MTV later that year called The Cutting Edge. This was a preview of things to come! Say hello to The Fleshtones! Hear The Damned, who's Black Album was already making some waves. Check out Brian James, Alternative TV, The Cramps, The Stranglers, John Cale, Jools Holland, The Fall, and many more. In this set there's also some band called The Police with the a side to their first record, maybe you heard of them too, possibly... (ha ha). Aah, the early days of IRS. Once they crossed over, it was never to be the same again. True they still had some great music, but you know what I mean. Here's The Police's track on that double vinyl compilation which should be of interest to some....more is to come very shortly, with a couple of more selections from that album.