LPCDreissues: Looking forward to the past

As a follow up to our critically acclaimed and best-selling Jesse Hector compilation, RPM present to you to the formidable Crushed Butler - featuring Alan Butler and Jesse Hector, on bass and guitar respectively, with 17-year old drummer, actor and teen mag pin-up Darryl Read! Playing prestigious gigs with the likes of Atomic Rooster, Third World War, Mott The Hoople, Osibisa and Kevin Ayers; Crushed Butler routinely blew the headlining act off the stage with their ferocious brand of hooligan rock and were described by one contemporary reviewer as being “three ugly, heavy musicians, making music to match.” Recording their first demo session at Regent Sound Studios in October 1969, the live and rowdy ‘It’s My Life’ is the only song that survives. By the time of their second session in the winter of 1970, at EMI’s Manchester Square studios, Alan Butler had become the band’s roadie and Stan Aldous from Aardvark came in on bass, but despite the efforts of the young in-house producer Roger Ferris, the label showed little interest in such proto-punk classics as ‘Factory Grime’ and ‘Love Is All Around Me’. ‘My Son Is Alive’ was recorded at a third session, at Decca’s West Hampstead Studios in spring 1970 where bass duties were now being handled by Barry Wyles, who’d previously played with a pre-Queen Smile. They also recorded for DJM and were banned from the newly opened De Lane Lea Studios in Wembley after Darryl’s drumsticks became embedded in the studio’s ceiling and Jesse was caught by members of Queen playing guitar while rolling around on top a grand piano. Around this time they also recorded the demo of ‘High School Dropout’ which caught the ear of Dick Leahy at Bell Records and some say gave him the idea for the future glam direction of the label. Still failing to get a record deal the band rapidly lost heart. For a short while they changed their name to Tiger and were managed by Neil Christian of The Crusaders but folded once Darryl decided to leave for America to work with former members of The Doors. Eventually a limited edition 10” Vinyl release did make it to the fans, just 500, gone in an instant in 1991 pressed up by Dig The Fuzz. Presented in a superb gatefold sleeve with original cartoon drawings, full liners and photos it was a wholly deserved release for these pioneers. It earned excellent reviews during its short shelf life and has become hailed as the first British Punk album. Now for the first time we are presenting this release on CD with the addition of an extra version of ‘High School Dropout’. Presented in digipack to replicate the gatefold LP, freshly printed photos, the returning cartoon, plus updated notes.
Track listing: It’s My Life / Factory Grime / Love Is All Around Me / My Son’s Alive / Love Fighter / High School Dropout Bonus High School Dropout (second version)