Our latest 4CD book set exploring Punk and Post Punk between 1977 and 1981…Optimism/Reject was released last week and Cherry Red’s founder Iain McNay sat down with Director of Catalogue, John Reed to discuss how the new box set came to life…
In the wake of punk, musicians in the UK found themselves suddenly liberated artistically and free to think in new terms commercially. The outcome was the independent label boom, and beyond that a certain Do It Yourself aesthetic. “Optimism/Reject” captures a snapshot of that time and place. One of many possible views on a period of freedom of expression like no other. From scratchy lo-fi guitar pop to ambitious home productions and experimental meanderings, this is the sound of an underworld beneath the underground. A place so far from the mainstream only those with a keen imagination figured out how to get there. It’s out now! Find out more here.
DISC ONE
- MICHAEL’S MONETARY SYSTEM – Eater
- YOU’LL LOSE – The Drones
- LOVE LIES LIMP – Alternative TV
- FREEWAY – The Outsiders
- SUSPENDED SENTENCE – John Cooper Clarke
- O LEVELS – ‘O’ Level
- BLACK VELVET – Swell Maps
- OPTIMISM/REJECT – Patrik Fitzgerald
- HARD TIMES – Attrix
- NOBODY’S SCARED – Subway Sect
- WASHED UP – The Freshies
- CHARLES – Skids
- POLICE OPPRESSION – Angelic Upstarts
- NEUTRON BOMB – The Art Attacks
- MIXED UP WORLD – Victim
- AEROSOL BURNS – Essential Logic
- IT – The Tights
- THE DEMON – Punishment Of Luxury
- BINGO-MASTER – The Fall
- SITUATIONS VACANT – The Cravats
- IS AND OUGHT THE WESTERN WORLD – Scritti Politti
- WOLF – Prag VEC
- COOL – The Jerks
- HE’S FRANK – The Monochrome Set
- INTERNATIONAL – Thomas Leer
- FRUITLESS – Devil’s Dykes
- 01-01-212 – Vice Creems
- TIMES ENCOUNTER – Nigel Simpkins
DISC TWO
- H-EYES – The Ruts
- LORD LUCAN IS MISSING – The Dodgems
- THE COMPETITION – Passage
- GIRL GETS NERVOUS – Nicky & The Dots
- I DON’T WANT TO WORK FOR BRITISH AIRWAYS – Scissor Fits
- COLD CITY – Spizzoil
- (I SAW) BATMAN (IN THE LAUNDERETTE) – The Shapes
- STEREO LOVE – Proles
- COMMUTER MAN – The Molesters
- HEATHEN – The Pack
- IN LOVE – The Raincoats
- SING SONG – The Tea Set
- MOTHER MOON – Artery
- THE ULTIMATE SYSTEM – Murder The Disturbed
- PLAYING GOLF (WITH MY FLESH CRAWLING) – The Family Fodder
- EVERY DAY I DIE – Frantic Elevators
- NAGASAKI’S CHILDREN – They Must Be Russians
- METAL SHEET – Second Layer
- COLD REBELLION – Metrophase
- I DON’T BELIEVE – Disturbed
- SUBCULTURE FASHION SLAVES – The Door And The Window
- GOD’S GOT RELIGION – The Steppes
- CHRISTINE KEELER – Gl*Xo Babies
- BOYS KEEP SWINGING – The Associates
- BEAUTIFUL PICTURES – ‘Fatal’ Microbes
- TOP OF THE POPS – Disco Zombies
- EXHIBITION – Pneumania
DISC THREE
- DOMESTIC DEPARTURE – Au Pairs
- RECONSTRUCTION – English Subtitles
- THEM OR ME (EDIT) – Medium Medium
- CHOREOGRAPHY – Modern Eon
- CHANCE MEETING (Absolute Version) – Josef K
- ON THE AIR – The Lines
- MASOCHISTIC OPPOSITE – Mo-Dettes
- MINSTREL RADIO YOGHURT – Deep Freeze Mice
- YOU GET EVERYWHERE – The Chefs
- BLOODY – The Golinski Brothers
- HEY OPERATOR – The Lillettes
- ART NOUVEAU – The Bodies
- SHANGRI-LA – Nightmares In Wax
- OSCAR AUTOMOBILE – Weird Strings
- SELF EMPLOYED – Again Again
- FASHIONABLE JUNKIES – The Membranes
- AUTOPHAGOUS – Manic Jabs
- MODICHY IN ANERATION – Blancmange
- MYSTERE V’S – No Message
- THE FEELINGS MUTUAL – Eyeless In Gaza
- LEAN ON ME – Distributors
- CHIMNEYS – Tagmemics
- SHORT TIME – Rhythm Clicks
- GET – Blurt
DISC FOUR
- FINAL DAY – Young Marble Giants
- YOU GET WHAT YOU DESERVE – Charge
- THE DAMAGE DONE – Sisters Of Mercy
- POLITICS! – Girls At Our Best
- JUSTICE NOT VENGEANCE – A Popular History Of Signs
- COULD BE HER, COULD BE YOU – Thompson Twins
- EVERYTHING’S ROSES – Fire Engines
- MOTORWAY – Emma Sharpe
- THE RUSSIANS ARE COMING – The Red Squares
- MOTION – The Room
- SHOULD BE MORE IDEAL – The 49 Americans
- I REMEMBER – Cult Figures
- INSECT LOVE – The Higsons
- CHIPS FOR TEA – The Laughing Apple
- DEFEATED – The Legendary Pink Dots
- HOLIDAY SONG – Marine Girls
- THE RETURN – Normil Hawaiians
- ZIGZAGGING – The Reflections
- WHEN I SEE YOU – Sad Lovers And Giants
- DOMINO THEORY – To The Finland Station
- LAUNDERETTE – Vivien Goldman
- ETHICS – 23 Skidoo
- SHADES OF BLACK – Screen 3
- PLAN 9 FROM OUTER SPACE – The Happy Few
- BREAK THE ICE AT PARTIES – The Tesco Bombers
- I WANNA BE AROUND (PAUL) – …And The Native Hipsters
