Various Artists - The Bristol Punk Explosion 1977-1979 (Transparent Flourescent Yellow Vinyl)

Originally released in May 2010 on CD only and entitled The Bristol Punk Explosion 1977-1983, Bristol Archive Records have decided to revisit their roots, Bristol Punk, but only focus on the original first generation of bands - a twelve-track compilation entitled The Bristol Punk Explosion 1977-1979.

The sleeve notes are written by Shane Baldwin (Vice Squad drummer) who would have been motivated and influenced to form his own band by watching these Bristol punks across various venues and locations across the city. There are six previously unreleased tracks never before available on vinyl.

The Cortinas were the first. They played the Roxy Club, released two singles on Mark Perry and Miles Copeland's Step Forward label, graced the front cover of Sniffin' Glue and recorded a Peel Session. Taking their cue, bands like Social Security (the first band on Heartbeat Records), The Pigs (whose Youthanasia single was released by Miles Copeland's New Bristol Records), The Primates, The Media, The Posers, 48 Hours and The Verdict gave Bristol one of the strongest provincial early punk scenes, mainly centred around the Clifton area and Barton Hill Youth Club.

The area of Barton Hill also gave us The X-Certs, who by 1978 could already pull audiences of five hundred into Trinity Hall, without the aid of a safety net or record contract. Though we did not realise it at the time, they effectively bridged the gap between the late 70s Bristol scene and what our American cousins like to term the UK82 bands. As the years moved forward from 1977 bands from the suburbs of Bristol started to appear on the scene Vitus Dance, The Numbers from Yate and Apartment from Downend, a leafy suburb of North Bristol.

This compilation is designed to give all fans of Punk a snapshot of what Bristol Punk was all about from the period 1977-1979. We celebrate our heroes of the time, let them be remembered for ever!

1. The Cortinas: Defiant Pose

2. The Pigs: Youthanasia

3. Social Security: I Don't Want My Heart To Rule My Head

4. The Posers: Nice Homes

5. 48 Hours: A Soldier (Demo)

6. The Primates: Generation Warfare (Live)

7. The Media: New Blood

8. The X-Certs: Fight Back

9. The Verdict: IRA Man

10. Vitus Dance: Down At The Park

11. The Numbers: Alternative Suicide (Version)

12. Apartment: The Alternative