Well, never mind the bollocks.
Released 40 years ago today (or tomorrow, depending on which version of the truth you believe), it was a difficult birth.
In October, the unofficial (official?) Spunk was released in small numbers- many suggest that Malcolm McLaren was behind this, and that I can well believe. Especially bearing in mind that McLaren had done a separate deal with Barclay Records who started importing their version around the time of release.
Was it an 11 track or 12 track album?
The first release was 11 tracks, with a one-sided 7″ single.
The second release added “Sub-Mission” to the 12″ platter.
Later releases boasted the inclusion of “Satellite” and/or “Belsen Was A Gas”
“Problems” appears twice on some covers.
No-one seemed to know – it was about the 6th pressing when track listing and content finally settled down.
And add to that a number of retailers refusing to stock the album because of the title, it was not an easy entry to the world.
It still hit Number 1 in the album chart a week after release – and in true 1977 Year Of Punk style, it replaced Cliff Richard’s 20 Golden Greats, and was usurped 2 weeks later by The Sound Of Bread
Is it a punk album?
NMTB took so long to to come out, that most of the competition were already preparing for their second album. And Punk as a “thing” was dying a slow death.
So, it’s probably not a true Punk album. But it is one of the greatest Rock albums released, containing not a duff track.
From marching jack boots (Holidays In The Sun) to John’s raspberry (EMI), this albums remains exciting, thrilling, raucous, loud and still has the capability to make you jump around like an idiot.
Matlocks tunes, Lydons lyrics, Jonesys guitar (which appeared on at least a third of the 24 track desk), and Cookies solid drums all combine to virtual perfection.
(Aided in no small part to a multi-layered, very thick production job by Chris Thomas).
And yes, there is a 40th Anniversary Box Set available.
But I just can’t justify to myself buying it for the 16th time, with no new stuff available on the 4 Discs
Moose the Mooche says
Bodies… he does get frightfully cross at the beginning of the second verse doesn’t he?
The Great Rock ‘n’Roll Swindle album had a similarly – perhaps even more – complicated release history. In all versions it is one of the most utterly bizarre records ever assembled.
Rigid Digit says
Never done it the easy way did they.
Double album (with Whatcha Gonna Do About It), Double Album (without Whatcha Gonna Do About It), Single album with no John tracks. And yet all 3 variants contained the disco-funk magamix of The Black Arabs.
And it was a madly rubbish, yet watchable film – which took even longer in gestation than both the albums (Russ Meyer wrote a script, started filming it, and then gave up when the money started running dry and McLaren decided to be the Director instead).
Punk meets Disco-Funk? Oh yes:
Uncle Wheaty says
Nice mash-up.
Not heard it before and probably never need to again!
Moose the Mooche says
Peter Cook was slated as the director at one point. Peter Cook!
Sewer Robot says
I arrived a bit late, so my introduction to the four unloveable spikytops was the Pistols Pack
https://www.discogs.com/Sex-Pistols-Pistols-Pack/release/2574562
with the consequence that, although I own it, I’ve somehow never really regarded Bollocks as a proper lp – more like a repository for four of the greatest singles ever and a few other favourites (I shredded the PP singles early on – quite unplayable soon after purchase) … I hardly ever play it all the way through.
Rigid Digit says
Bought a copy of Pistols Pack at a Record Fair in the late 80s. Twenty quid.
Today, it’s worth … about 20 quid
Alias says
Not a true punk album!! Are you serious? You are right about how great it is though. I bought it the day it came out, having been to Ace Records in Norwich every day for a week before asking if they had it in yet. John Peel played it on one programme in its entirety with the exception of Bodies. I had loads of Pistols bootlegs and I have only ever heard live recordings of Belsen Was A Gas.
Rigid Digit says
This is one of the three definitive Punk albums.
Damned Damned Damned and The Clay being the other two.
NMTB is more than a “Punk” album, which the other two (great as they are) just don’t necessarily have that transendce
Billybob Dylan says
It always struck me as ironic (is that the right word?) that the Pistols were the consummate punks, yet their output wasn’t punk at all. As RD said, it’s a great rock album, but it ain’t punk.
Alias says
Well I never met anyone who held that opinion in 1977. What about Anarchy, GSTQ, Pretty Vacant or Holidays In The Sun? Weren’t they punk either?
Billybob Dylan says
Punk in attitude, but the music was pure “rawk.” Let’s face it – those multi-layered guitars wouldn’t sound out of place on a Thin Lizzy album (yes, I know.)
NigelT says
Am I the only person here who has never listened to NMTB…? I have two Pistols singles on 7″ – God Save The Queen and Pretty Vacant – but lost interest really quickly and never returned. Should I catch up…finally?
Colin H says
Nope, never heard it either…
Kaisfatdad says
Albums by punk bands are something of a contradiction in terms. Punk was all about the short, sharp shock of the single.
Having said that, Bollocks was a fine set, as was The Clash’s first.
I will never forget hearing those first Pistols’ singles for the first time. A chainsaw slashing its way through all the crap. Yeeeeees!
bricameron says
Christ!!! How intelligent is this? It’s fucking massive!!!
Gary says
A good interview with Steve Jones in Rolling Stone earlier this year:
http://www.rollingstone.com/music/features/sex-pistols-steve-jones-looks-back-it-just-seemed-doomed-w456503
and in NME last week:
http://www.nme.com/news/music/sex-pistols-steve-jones-interview-2151773
Alias says
Steve Jones is my favorite Sex Pistol. A very down to earth bloke who has sort of grown old gracefully. He was there, he lived it and has moved on and is perfectly comfortable with that.
Rotten used to be my hero, but today I just find him a complete arse. It must be getting close to the 40th anniversary of the last time he said anything remotely interesting or funny.
Moose the Mooche says
And he was right – Grundy was a fucking rotter.
Gary says
I am agree 100%. Jonesy’s Jukebox is often great, Lonely Boy is an excellent read and his Instagram account has some hilarious photos and videos. While Lydon has gone from once being the coolest guy on the planet to being a boring twat.
ruff-diamond says
A Farage-praising, Trump-supporting, full-on weapons grade TWAT.
SixDog says
Ah Bodies.
One of the few tracks I still have to skip if the mother in law or kids are in the car (Eminem’s ‘Without Me’ is another)
Opening the first reunion show with Bodies at Finsbury Park was a master stroke. Very messy
It’s a punk album of course but an album rooted in the old pop school of surrounding solid gold singles with some filler.
The Clash was better (except Deny 😉)
Sewer Robot says
If we accept the thesis that NMTB was a tidy in-bosh-bosh-out smash ‘n’ grab of loud, energetic “rawk”, as posited… does this mean that – even if failed to slay the broad-winged dragon of prog – it was an important contributor to the more down-to-earth and chartfriendly NWOBHM that was about to come..?
Tahir W says
Could I just mention something that younger AWorders may not be aware of. If the Pistols’ recordings of 1976 were not (yet) punk, as such, then it suggests a progenitor for punk coming some time after that. But, here’s my point, NME writers were using the term ‘punk rock’ at least as early as 1974. I remember this very distinctly. What they were referring to was mostly American garage band rock, including sometimes the VU and sometimes the Stooges. The epithet was also applied quite casually to Patti Smith soon after, all of which predated the Pistols.
I thought I should just mention that for your consideration..
Rigid Digit says
Younger readers?
We have younger readers?
The first time the P word was mentioned on Top Of The Pops – August 1976.
Uttered by a Mr M Ure, lead singer of Glaswegian teenyboppers Slik
A man who was (apparently) offered the lead singer role in Sex Pistols in 1975, and would later stand on stage with ex-Pistol Glen Matlocak as lead singer of The Rich Kids.
Tahir W says
I meant younger than me, silly. Being able to remember 1974 and the use of the term punk rock in that year more specifically. Obviously TV would catch up later.
But wait! There’s more. Isn’t it an implication of what I am pointing out that perhaps the NME invented punk?
Rigid Digit says
That’s what they want you to think.
In truth, NME were Johnny Come-Latelys to Punk – Sounds and Melody Maker were shouting about it some months before
Alias says
Wasn’t it Caroline Coon in Sounds who applied the term to the class of’76? In 1976 although the NME had the first review of the Pistols, Sounds coverage of the scene was much better than NME’s.
Moose the Mooche says
Punk as a music term was deffo used as the title of a New York ‘zine in 1975. That summer the NME did a big splash on the CBGBs mob – whether they mentioned the word, I don’t know.
DogFacedBoy says
Wasn’t that CSM’s ‘Are You Alive To The Jive Of ’75?’
Moose the Mooche says
That’s the one.
Tahir W says
1974 I tell you.
Moose the Mooche says
I think it’s commonly accepted that NWOBHM was a response to (British) punk in general and the (recorded) sound of the Pistols in particular.
Sewer Robot says
Ah! Belatedly realising something that everyone else already knows is a bit of a speciality of mine..
Junglejim says
If there is one LP that I literally wore out, it’s this one ( plus the single it came with).
Even at the time of its release, it felt like a greatest hits & there was sense even to us 4th Years that the game was probably up & this was essentially, it. In retrospect, they were really over as a ‘thing’ once Sid was in place & it just got eggier & eggier until the inevitable implosion.
The album was huge & trangressive for loads of kids – I knew several lads who genuinely had to hide it from their folks (in different LP sleeves) such was the fear of discovery.
I have a remastered CD of it these days but it doesn’t get played. I think with the perspective of time they were a phenomenon that produced phenomenal singles (& B sides). If I need a blast these days, God Save The Queen, I Did You No Wrong, Pretty Vacant & I Wanna Be Me is pretty much it.
Oddly enough, I do still play The Clash fairly regularly.
Lydon’s lyrics though, are embedded in me like Dylan’s are for other folks. Fantastic, searing yet articulate anger.