by

Rob Jones
HARMONY IN MY HEAD is another of Cherry Red Records celebrations of a bygone era – this time, the boom in power pop, new wave, 70’s mod and the follow on second-wave of punk which followed the original explosion in 1976.
This triple-CD box set spins off the success of the 4-CD compilation Action Time Vision (2016), which documented Punk on independent labels.

New Wave was a term coined in 1977 to describe a clutch of new artists whose music shared much of the energy of punk but boasted a heavier reliance on traditional pop melodies. The term had a wide definition in the States but it was more strictly applied in the UK with the radio-friendly skills of acts such as Elvis Costello and Squeeze scoring numerous hits and influencing younger bands.

‘New Wave’ did not cover all bases and Nick Lowe coined the phrase “pure pop for now people” to describe his approach, The Pleasers described their sound as Thamesbeat (a literal update of Merseybeat), while a handful of bands (including The Monos! and The Monochrome Set) played at a London club that marketed itself as ‘Newbeat’ – “a reaction to punk”.

Although there was a significant difference between the UK and US models, the Power Pop tag caught on and in Britain that slowly mutated into the Mod Revival. Many Mod bands drew upon melodic 60’s records (and The Who’s Pete Townshend had coined the term ‘Power Pop’ in 1967) – although by late 1981 that scene had in turn morphed (in London, at least) into the short-lived New Psychedelia movement.

HARMONY IN MY HEAD includes many pumped up big hitters from 1977-1981 alongside the more melodic Punk bands. Name acts include Elvis Costello, Squeeze, Eddie & The Hot Rods, Nick Lowe, The Jags and Wreckless Eric, who are joined by other less successful but key players (The Records, The Freshies, The Flys etc) as well as a host of rare 45s on tiny labels which are new to CD.

To add to it all this album came out in advance of the sad death of Buzzcocks icon Pete Shelley and the title track honours them – although this is a Steve Diggle composition.

The deluxe clamshell package includes a weighty booklet full of illustrations, with a 12,000-word sleeve-note incorporating band-by-band biographies by compiler David Wells.

I have had a chance to catch up with this excellent box set as 2019 opens and in an era that meant so much on a personal level as a teenager lusting after new sounds. Here, I am reminded of many top tunes while also being freshly introduced to some sterling songs that by-passed me first time around. Overall this is a must have 5 out of 5 release! Well done Cherry Red and my head is now full of some hot harmonies!

DISC ONE:
1. HARMONY IN MY HEAD – The Buzzcocks
2. YOU BELONG TO ME – Elvis Costello & The Attractions
3. TIME GOES BY SO SLOW – The Distractions
4. TAKE ME I’M YOURS – Squeeze
5. TROUBLE WITH LOVE – Any Trouble
6. RICH KIDS – Rich Kids
7. TEENARAMA – The Records
8. BORN A WOMAN – Nick Lowe
9. SUFFICE TO SAY – Yachts
10. FIRST TIME – The Boys
11. HE’S FRANK (SLIGHT RETURN) – The Monochrome Set
12. SARAH SMILES – Bram Tchaikovsky
13. YOU KNOW WHAT I’M THINKING GIRL – The Pleasers
14. DOES STEPHANIE KNOW – Squire
15. HOWARD HUGHES – The Tights
16. SHE’S GONNA BREAK YOUR HEART – Salford Jets
17. TEENAGE CRUSH – The Trend
18. STRIKE TALKS – The Donkeys
19. COULDN’T BELIEVE A WORD – The 45’s
20. THIS IS THE WAY … OK – Bleeding Hearts
21. (YOU’RE GONNA) LOSE THAT GIRL – The Name
22. CAN’T SEE – The Drones
23. TURN THE LIGHTS OUT – Venigmas
24. CRAZY TODAY – UXB
25. (I WISH IT COULD BE) 1965 AGAIN – The Barracudas
DISC TWO:
1. DO ANYTHING YOU WANNA DO – Eddie & The Hot Rods
2. I’VE GOT A HEART – The Realists
3. THE REAL ME – Radio Stars
4. IRENE – The Photos
5. I’M SORRY – Straight Eight
6. WEST ONE (SHINE ON ME) – Ruts
7. BILLY – The Circles
8. BROKEN DOLL – Wreckless Eric
9. I NEVER WAS A BEACH BOY – The Jags
10. BIFF! BANG! POW! – The Times
11. LET’S TALK ABOUT THE WEATHER – The Radiators
12. JILLY – The Piranhas
13. EVERYDAY, EVERYWAY – Really 3rds
14. HOW ABOUT ME AND YOU – The Carpettes
15. UFO – The Monos!
16. 9 O’CLOCK – Snips
17. SHATTERED BY IT ALL – TV21
18. HEY BABY – Disguise
19. SOME BOYS – Going Red
20. DON’T WANT YOU BACK – The Letters
21. RUBY TOOT – The Vandells
22. WHILE I’M STILL YOUNG – The Autographs
23. WASTING TIME – Strangeways
24. CURT AINS FOR YOU – The Accidents
25. DOWN AT THE ZOO – Those Naughty Lumps
26. 24 HOURS – The Chefs
DISC THREE:
1. LOOK AT THE OUTSIDE – Chelsea
2. PLAIN JANE – New Hearts
3. CRAZY WEEKEND -Staa Marx
4. STRAIGHT LINES – New Musik
5. COMMON TRUTH – Amazorblades
6. YOU’RE SO FUNNY – Fast Cars
7. SHE’S SO GOOD LOOKING – Knox
8. ANGRY WITH MYSELF – The Smirks
9. MY BUSINESS – Eater
10. NOW THAT IT’S OVER – The Users
11. SCIENCE FICTION (BABY YOU’RE SO) – The Dodgems
12. LADY OF THE AFTERNOON – Shooter
13. NO MONEY – The Freshies
14. NAME DROPPING – The Flys
15. OUT OF PLACE – The Outsiders
16. MAGIC ROUNDABOUT – The Stiffs
17. SOMETHING TO TELL YOU – The Wasps
18. (I CAN’T) PUT MY FINGER ON YOU – The Amber Squad
19. MR. SAD – The Thought Police
20. SONS OF SURVIVAL – Doctors Of Madness
21. HAPPY SONG – The Nips
22. WAIT A MINUTE – The Cherry Boys
23. HIGH RISE – The Trainspotters
24. DRUMMER MAN – Tonight
25. HEARTS IN HER EYES – The Searchers