Chiswick Records 1975-1982, Seven Years at 45 RPM (Limited Vinyl 3LP)

Ace Records is turning back the clock for their 50th anniversary with a dive into the wild early days of Chiswick Records. As the launchpad for legends-in-the-making like Motörhead, the 101’ers (hello, Joe Strummer!) and The Damned, these singles from ’75 to ’82  are considered buried treasures of rock ‘n’ roll history. A 36-track collection that serves up punk and pub rock standouts in equal parts on a limited edition 3LP. - Flying Out

To celebrate our 50th Anniversary Ace Records are delighted to offer a three-LP limited edition compilation of where it all started – Chiswick Records.

Back in November 1975, Ted Carroll finally made his dream of starting an independent label a reality when Chiswick released their first single – The Count Bishop’s Speedball EP.

Flanked by Roger Armstrong and Trevor Churchill, Chiswick were in the right place at the right time. They were soon releasing singles that dropped anchor in pub rock, punk, metal, pop and rockabilly by the likes of the 101’ers, Motorhead, the Gorillas, the Radio Stars, the Radiators, the Stukas and many more.

There were also big names before they got bigger. Joe Strummer led the 101’ers. Johnny & the Self Abusers later morphed into Simple Minds whereas Riff Raff featured a young Billy Bragg. Solo artist Jakko later became a mainstay of a later incarnation of King Crimson.

Over seven years, Chiswick singles not only sold well but the label even managed to score chart singles with artists as diverse as the Radio Stars, Sniff ‘n’ the Tears, Rocky Sharpe & The Replays and the Damned.

Compiled by Roger Armstrong this 3-LP set pulls together some of the finest 45rpm output from Chiswick issued between 1975 and 1982. From the well-known to Minor Classics.

Roger Armstrong and Ted Carroll have also penned the informative liner notes with stories ranging from hiring an aeroplane to take a promoter to see a gig in France in those early days, how a brief piano part was added to the Damned’s Smash It Up and Thin Lizzy’s Phil Lynott came to produce Terry Woods Tennessee Stud.

Limited to 500 copies this is sure to become a collector’s item.

Tracklist:

1. Teenage Letter - The Count Bishops 
2. Keys to Your Heart - the 101'ers 
3. Train Train - The Count Bishops 
4. Gatecrasher - The Gorillas 
5. Dirty Pictures - The Radio Stars 
6. Television Screen (Single Version) - The Radiators From Space
7. Motorhead - Motörhead
8. Do It 77 - Twink and the Fairies
9. No One - Johnny Moped
10. Saints and Sinners - Johnny and the Self Abusers
11. Night of the Werewolf - Lee Kristofferson 
12. Hang Loose (I've Gotta Rock) – Whirlwind
13. I Wanna Be Free - The Rings 
14. I Want You to Dance With Me - Jeff Hill 
15. Common Truth - Amazorblades 
16. Nervous Wreck - The Radio Stars 
17. Romford Girls - Riff Raff 
18. Klean Living Kids - The Stukas Chiswick 
19. I Want Candy - The Bishops
20. Rama Lama Ding Dong - Rocky Sharpe & the Replays
21. Driver's Seat - Sniff 'n' the Tears 
22. Song of the Faithful Departed - The Radiators
23. Hey Baby - Disguise
24. I Take What I Want - The Bishops 
25. Love Song - The Damned
26. Smash It Up - The Damned 
27. Radioactive Kid - the Meteors 
28. Tomahawk Cruise - T V Smith's Explorers 
29. That Driving Beat - Red Beans and Rice
30. Automobile - The Stick Shifts
31. Heart - Rocky Sharpe & the Replays
32. Sign Language - Minor Classics
33. Tennessee Stud - Terry Woods 
34. Go Go Go - Albania
35. Kwagayo - Two Two Chiswick
36. Grab What You Can (Biez Co Mozesz) - Jakko