D.I.Y.: We're Desperate - The L.A. Scene (1976-79)

one vote for zeros just to have some brown representation :D

There's some overlap between these comps and the "No Thanks!" Rhino comp, which is where I heard many of these for the first time, but the "No Thanks!" comp has a few memorable tracks that are missing here: "Cherry Bomb" by the Runaways, and "Wasted" by Black Flag, to name two. I listened through all the songs here that I wasn't familiar with and not too many caught my ear. I think it's fair to say that the DIY punk movement in LA was a few years behind the UK and NYC. I would vote for "We're Desperate" if it was the re-recorded version from Wild Gift, but I guess this is probably the original B-side version from '78, so I would have to go with "Los Angeles", with honorable mentions to "Lexicon Devil" and "We Got the Neutron Bomb".

The X and Germs tracks on this are the original 45 single recordings.

damn that furys song is a very blatant bruce rip off

Los Angeles

xp Yeah... the liner notes describe them as "a stripped-down street version of, say, Bruce Springsteen, crossed with mid-period Rolling Stones and The Who."

("say" doing a bit of work there, ha ha)

iirc the Last song is also the single version, not the one on L.A. Explosion.

Much prefer the single version of We're Desperate anyway

"Forming" and "Lexicon Devil" are the two Germs songs I love, so tough choice, but "Forming."

The Eyes song is listed as TAQN, but Rhino mistakenly put the b-side Topographical Lies on the CD instead.

Are you sure about that? I checked my copy and it's the correct track.

first thought was Neutron Bomb but Lexicon Devil is such catchy chaos.

Are you sure about that?

Maybe they corrected it on a 2nd pressing? (Would there even have been a 2nd pressing?)

Anyway, I remember hearing about it back then, and it's mentioned on Discogs.

Much prefer the single version of We're Desperate anyway

It’s hard for me to be objective. I love the sound of Wild Gift.

I just checked my copy of this comp, and I've got "Topographical Lies," not "TAQN"

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want to push this song, think if you like stuff like Dream Syndicate it's sort of in that realm

this is the single version which is on this comp https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QNKk-Itin64

I think I picked the wrong psych band to compare it to lol but it's kind of psych rock but punk energy and I love it. sorry drunk etc

Yeah it’s a good song

I had a Dangerhouse singles compilation which was quite great and the Germs expanded lp on cd.
Read the Ugly Things Weirdos history and then bought their compilation Weird World. Plus also knew Life of Crime from the Laughing Hyenas cover.
Recently read Kid Congo's memoir which talks about LA Punk scene and listened to No Dogs In Space podcast history of The Screamers that talks about it too to give background.

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Love "Life of Crime."

Damn! "Split this, mofos!"

I went with "Los Angeles."

Voted "I Hate The Rich" but probably would have voted for the Screamers had they managed to get a song out then.

D.I.Y.: Come Out and Play - American Power Pop I (1975-78)