Your humble hosts selects forty choice Afrocentric reggae, heavy beats, jitter frenzied jazz, Nuggets psych revival, viva Krautrock and jerky avant-rock tunes from the Virgin Record label back catalogue.
No criteria other than to choose from the original Virgin blueprint and the subsidiary labels it spawned, including such iconic and concomitant off-shots as Relentless, Charisma, Front Line, and Caroline.
Without further ado here’s the first ten, from The Abyssinians to Henry Cow. Thoughts, disgruntlement, cheers and your choices are welcome.
The Abyssinians ‘Hey You’ from the Arise LP, released 1978.
Black Rebel Motorcycle Club ‘Love Burns’ from their self-titled LP, released 2001.
Captain BeefHeart And The Magic Band ‘Sheriff Of Hong Kong’ from the Doc At The Radar Station LP, released 1980.
The Chemical Brothers ‘Saturate’ from the We Are The Night LP, released 2007.
Devo ‘Peek-A-Boo (Extended)’ alternative version of the original from Oh, No! It’s Devo LP, released 1982.
The Dukes Of The Stratosphear ’25 O’clock’ from the 25 O’clock mini-LP, released 1985.
Edger Froese ‘Nights Of Automatic Women’ from the Ages LP, released 1978.
Faust ‘Just A Second (Starts Like That!)’ from the Faust IV LP, released 1973.
Gong ‘Witch’s Song/I Am Your Pussy’ from the Flying Teapot LP, released 1973.
Henry Cow ‘Half Asleep/Half Awake’ from the Unrest LP, released 1974.
