When the musical climate began to shift after 1975, The Damned were one of the few bands out in front of the trend. They released Damned Damned Damned in 1976 on Stiff Records, a growing influential label that also gave stage to Elvis Costello and a host of other popular rising talents. The debut album gave us “New Rose” followed by “Neat Neat Neat”. There was no doubt that a new style was coming and these mentioned singles were a strong forerunner of the genre of punk rock! Stiff Records ran its course after about ten years, ceasing operations in 1986. However, it lit the way for Ian Dury, Lene Lovich, Nick Lowe, The Pogues, Devo, and many others before shutting its doors.
The Damned released five singles (with B-sides) for Stiff Records in the UK before leaving the label. The first was the previously mentioned gem, “New Rose”, flip-sided by a non-album track, “Help”. Their second single, “Neat Neat Neat” helped push the single trend further with a flip side of two cuts, “Stab Your Back”, and “Singalonga Scabies”. If you still have those, then you’re quite the collector. But if you don’t, BMG along with Pledge Music, will release a Boxed set of 7″ vinyl singles with the original Stiff label. The Box is being called The Damned, Stiff Singles 1976-1977. In addition to the vinyl singles, there will be a Damned embroidered patch.
The singles included are as follows:
Single1:
A – New Rose
B – Help
Single2:
A – Neat Neat Neat
B – Stab Your Back
B – SingalongaScabies
Single3:
A – Problem Child
B – You Take My Money
Single4:
A – Don’t Cry Wolf
B – One Way Love
Single5:
A – Stretcher Case Baby
B – Sick Of Being Sick
The Damned, Stiff Singles 1976-1977 Box is scheduled for January 26, 2018.
The Damned are currently recording a brand new album expected o be released in 2018 at some point!