Various - Perfect Unpop - Peel Show Hits & Long Lost Lo-Fi Favourites Vol.1 1976-1980 (CD)

PERFECT UNPOP is based on a dangerous assumption: that if you were ever touched by John Peel’s enthusiasm for spiky ‘70s pop, then by now you’ve probably found yourself a copy of the Undertones’ ‘Teenage Kicks’. The same applies to raw, beautiful singles by the Buzzcocks, Joy Division, the Clash and the first five Fall albums – none of which are included here. 

Instead, here’s a collection of Peel favourites a little less likely to be anthologised, eulogised, or to crop up on your iPod. 

Anyone who ever cuddled up alone at night with Peel will recognise the glee with which he pounced on these devil-may-care, slightly broken pop songs. Indie also-rans these bands may have been in the Sting ‘n’ Bono scheme of things, but add up all these flashes of underdog genius, and here’s a CD to rival any other from the era of the questionable stringy tie.

Although we’re missing the voice that always seemed to be speaking to us alone, the unearthing of these Nuggets from the playlists will recreate something of the atmosphere of the Peel Show for his under-cover legions, and hopefully some young Johnny-cum-Latelies as well. 

Make no mistake, we’re talking all-time highlights here – where six seconds of dead air would be followed by a sheepish, slightly breathless admission that Peel had been off ‘bopping’ around the studio!
Tracklisting:
1. TOURS - Language School 
2. VIBRATORS - Whips and Furs 
3. SUBWAY SECT - Ambition 
4. YOUNG MARBLE GIANTS - Final Day 
5. KLEENEX - Hedi’s Head 
6. THE BEARS - On Me 
7. WRECKLESS ERIC - Whole Wide World 
8. SWELL MAPS - Real Shocks 
9. THE OUT - Who Is Innocent 
10. EATER - Thinking Of The USA
11. DISCO ZOMBIES - Mary Millington 
12. MO-DETTES - White Mice 
13. THE OUTCASTS - Self-Conscious Over You 
14. THE WASPS - Teenage Treats 
15. THE 45s - Couldn't Believe A Word 
16. GLAXO BABIES - This Is Your Life 
17. THE PREFECTS - Going Through The Motions 
18. CARPETTES - Radio Wunderbar 
19. THE TIGHTS - Bad Hearts 
20. THE MONOCHROME SET - He’s Frank (Slight Return) 
21. AU PAIRS - It's Obvious
22. SINATRAS - Happy Feeling 
23. THE BOYS - Brickfield Nights
24. BLUE ORCHIDS - The Flood

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