TS: Mekons vs The Mekons (POO)

And I'm sure I remember that album being called Mekons Rock'n'Roll.

Although my favourite is still The Quality Of Mercy Is Not Strnen.

This Epitonic page seems to confirm that they were simply Mekons.

but there seems to be this other version:
http://images.amazon.com/images/P/B00005ABLF.01._SCMZZZZZZZ_.jpg

All very confusing.

so does the second:
http://discog.lesdisquesducertain.com/fastpop/fastproduct/fast07/fast7front_th.jpg

and the awesome 12" on pure freude (which is by far their best song) bills them as "die mekons"

I have an obscuro question for any serious hardcore Mekons fan out there - on the Do You Ever Think Of Me album by The Waco Brothers, is the song "South Bend" a cover? Been Googling, can't find anything...

Nope, Schlabowske wrote it.

Is the 1980 album which just says The Mekons on it (still my favorite album by them btw) really called Devils Rats and Piggies, as many discographies over the years have claimed, or was that just Langord or somebody's idea of a joke? If that's really the album's name, why doesn't it so say anywhere on the album?

the awesome 12" on pure freude (which is by far their best song) bills them as "die mekons"

Wait, so is "Die" there pronounced the German way? I always pronounced it the American way, and assumed the title of the EP just meant they should die!

Discography linked to above refers to the 1980 Red Rhino (later reissued on Quarterstick) LP as Devil Rats And Piggies A Special Message From Godzilla; as far as I know, that subtitle isn't on any version of the record, either.

xp Though duh, I guess it came out on a German label, right?

I believe the reissue on Quarterstick features some re-recorded stuff. Pretty sure I heard that first hand from the producer. Actually, I may be thinking of "The Mekons Story."

Also: new Mekons album apparently on the way!!!

Mekons Story was a total weirdassed hodgepodge (which i wish I still owned) in the first place; didn't know that was ever even reissued. '97 Quarterstick reissue of The Mekons has two "previously unreleased" cuts that weren't on the 1980 vinyl; pretty sure none of it is re-recorded.

The rerecorded thing is Punk Rock, which has new versions of some songs from The Mekons.

Yeah, I have that. Has rerecorded versions of a few of their early punk singles, too.

Oh, no, I'm thinking of "The Mekons Story." There's definitely uncredited new stuff on the (limited-edition Feel Good All Over?) reissue.

what 12" on Pure Freude are people talking about? Nothing listed on Discogs.

as far as The Mekons Story, the reissue on FGAO has the proper version of "Byron" instead of "an inferior demo version" which was accidentally included on the orig LP. And the liner notes also refer to the 2nd album as Devils Rats & Piggies, for the record.

how can you not love this group?
http://www.chicagoreader.com/imager/the_list_july_30_august_5_2009/b/original/1168966/a104/MekonsMagnum.jpg
anybody going to the schubas?

The Mekons Story,...liner notes also refer to the 2nd album as Devils Rats & Piggies

Yeah, that sounds familiar. What's weird, though, is that the actual 2nd album doesn't call itself by that name anywhere, does it? Unless maybe it was on some inner sleeve I never owned. So it almost seems lithey named it that in retrospect, maybe as a joke.

what 12" on Pure Freude are people talking about? Nothing listed on Discogs.

You can see its cover here:

http://www.mekons.de/singles.htm

This Sporting Life / Frustration, Neddy B. Riot (1981 - 12" on CNT Productions, UK [CNT1]; 1981 - 12" on Pure Fruede, W. Germany [PF12 CK6])
Lineup: Jon Langford, Tom Greenhalgh, Kevin Lycett (???)
(Recorded at Spaceward Cambridge, April 1981, engineered by Mike Kemp. Live track recorded in Wuppertal, September 1980. The lead track is a 6:12 version of the cut on The Mekons Story; "Frustration" is "followed by a mystery live track" (entitled "Neddy B. Riot" on the record label) that is in fact a ragged version of "Never Been In A Riot" (see also the below listing for the "Guardian" flexi). Inner groove reads: "Turtle The Last Mekons Fan" and "Thank Christ". The outer sleeve carries the legend "This is the last Mekons record" written backwards over part of the cover art. It also says "Hijos dos pueblos a las barracudas DISCOS/CNT *Hit* Dusseldorf/Leeds 5.81".
The German issue has a completely different sleeve.
The lead track is an extended version of the cut on The Mekons Story. Studio tracks recorded at Spaceward Studios, Cambridge, April 1981 and produced by the Mekons and Mike Kemp; live track recorded at Die Boerse Wuppertal, West Germany, September 14, 1980. Executive producer, Adrian Collins; edited at Leader Sound, Halifax, UK (thanks to Bill Leader). The inner sleeve also includes lyrics for "Frustration".