Various Artists - Roots Rock Rebel: When Punk Met Reggae 1975-1982 (Cherry Red Records) 3 CD Box Set (2024)

 I was excited when I heard about this box set. The interaction of reggae and punk in the UK was a real thing. Given my age, I actually lived through this era and I am familiar with a lot of the music on this 3CD collection from the good folks at Cherry Red Records. All (most) of the punk bands you would expect to be represented are included. For example The Clash and Stiff Little Fingers are represented, as are the 2-tone roster bands (e.g., Specials, English Beat, Madness, Selector, Madness). 

Unfortunately, the end result is a little underwhelming. While I applaud the effort, some of the songs included in here seem a bit forced. What I mean is that some of the songs included in the box set fit the bill of being reggae influenced but are not at all interesting or noteworthy (e.g., The Pop Group's contribution or Public Image Limited's contribution).  Maybe this should have been a killer 2 CD set(?) Anyway, collectors will want to pick this this but you may not get play it that often. May be best to find a used copy.

Highpoint? This box set includes Aswad's Warrior Charge.

Various Artists - 1978 The Year The UK Turned Day-Glo (Cherry Red) 3 CD Box Set (2020)

 

1976 saw the Sex Pistols emerge in the UK. Those same Sex Pistols did their last concert in San Francisco in January of 1978. So what happened to the UK punk scene after the Sex Pistols imploded? Well, according to this solid 3 CD box set from Cherry Records - punk rock fragmented into different pieces. Those different pieces turned into the beginnings of new wave, power-pop, the mod revival, ska-punk, industrial music, synth-oriented electronica, and post-punk. Yet, even as these new sounds were born, there were still some bands flying the flag of the scorched earth, one chord punk rock that had emerged back in 1976. 

The beauty of this box set is that they have managed to capture some of the bands and sounds that emerged in 1978. While some of the bands will be familiar to many of you (take a look at the cover), there are always songs and bands that are new to me. Take a listen to some of those bands and sounds below. 

Menace - I'm Civilized

999 - Emergency

This is a fun box set. Aside from being a good historical record, some of the music on here still rocks today. Worth the purchase and all three CDs make it to the ipod!

Various Artists: New Guitars In Town - Power Pop 1978-82 (3 CD Box Set) Cherry Red Records

 Another power pop box set. There are a few of these out now. My interest in power pop is starting to cool given the amount of releases out now. All of them sort of mining the same era and bands. I bought this because Cherry Red puts out excellent box sets.  

This is a strictly UK affair so don't look for any U.S. bands here. The definition of 'power pop' here is a bit broad as there are songs from The Buzzcocks, Stiff Little Fingers, The Undertones, and even The Jam. All the bands just named were originally thought of us being part of the late 70s U.K punk movement. However, that is not bad because it better to think of this box set as capturing good to great guitar pop rock. In other words, don't fret whether or not these are really 'power pop' bands. Rather, just enjoy this is 3 CD set of good music from guitar-oriented bands from the U.K. - from 1978-82. 

I did discover a few bands and songs that I had not heard before. A couple of stand outs include The Motors - Forget About You and The Jags - Party Games 

A few may enjoy The Upstarts- Beggin 

Or Straight Eight - Tonite or  The Covers - Too Hot To Handle

The Undertones - West Bank Songs 1978-1983 (A Best Of) (LP, 2020)

From Derry in Northern Ireland, The Undertones is one of those treasures that came out of that initial punk rock wave of the late 1970s. Today, if this band was around, they would be considered a power pop or pop punk band. However, back then, it was all just 'punk'. Melodic as hello. Musically, they are more similar to The Buzzcocks than The Clash. Go on YouTube and check out the songs, Teenage Kicks or My Perfect Cousin. If you like that you will love this compilation.