The legendary Rough Trade Shops in London have also put out some amazing compilations over the last few years. In 2003, this was one of them. The album was a mixture of acts from the ‘first’ wave of ‘Post-Punk’, such as Public Image Limited, Essential Logic and Magazine, as well as acts from more recent times, whose sound owes a lot to post-punk, such as Chicks On Speed, The Futureheads and The Rapture.

It’s disc #1 I’d like to present some choice cuts from today.

First up, Ari Up from The Slits features on the New Age Steppers version of the Junior Byles reggae classic.

New Age Steppers-‘Fade Away (Junior Byles cover).’ mp3

Kleenex hailed from Switzerland, but legal action from the tissue makers forced them to change their name to Liliput. This trak shows just how cool whistling is.

Liliput -‘Die Matrosen.’ mp3

Chicks On Speed later covered this number from Leeds’ Delta 5. a song that makes you sit up straight, apologise for mumbling and stutter apologetically (wonder of I can find a way to teach some of my students to do this?)

Delta 5-‘Mind Your Own Business.’ mp3

I don’t know how many other songs have been written about the police harassment of prostitutes (there is a comments box if you know about them, and no, ‘She Works Hard For The Money’ does not count). The Au Pairs are one of mnay of the first wave of post-punk bands I wish I had seen (mind you, given that I was only four when this came out. Ah well…)

The Au Pairs -‘You.’ mp3

if you like what you hear, please buy the album and investigate what you hear.