The Smithereens – Green Thoughts Audio Tape (1988)

I first became aware of The Smithereens in the mid 1980s when they played live on a UK ‘alternative entertainment TV show’. I’m guessing it was probably Saturday Live, but if not, it was certainly a variety format because I remember one of the comedians cracking a rather cheap, desperate and poorly-executed joke about the lead singer’s comb-over.

Aswad – Live and Direct Audio Cassette (1983)

That music dealing with the issues felt by disillusioned and disenfranchised youth had such a presence in the early 1980s, says as much about today’s environment as it does about that of three decades ago. The issues are still there, but it feels today almost as if the music business has tried to fence off the disaffected as some kind of ‘worthless market’, unable to provide a sufficient return on a record company’s investment.

The Jam – Dig The New Breed Audio Cassette

Whether it was a happy accident or a brilliantly executed plan, The Jam (fronted by Paul Weller) managed to span a number of the many pockets of youth subculture as the ‘70s morphed into the ‘80s. The number of different music-driven fashion sectors to which kids and youths in the UK could belong around that time was almost mind-boggling. Punk, Skinhead, Mod, Rude Boy/Girl, Ted/Rockabilly, etc… Each fashion had its associated music, and a raft of commercial bands vying for premiership in the genre.