Generation X - US CD version

Although Generation X had secured a recording contract with Chrysalis Records in July 1977, their first album wasn’t released until March 1978.  By that time the initial punk movement that had began in small dingy clubs of London two years prior was becoming the very thing it had a reputation for hating.  Established.  Inevitably, punks’ original casts had surpassed their developmental stage and were now left to determine the course of their future careers in the music biz.  Some chose to venture off into realm of dissonant noise while others pretended they were Nosferatu.  For Generation X it was ‘superstar-rock-n-roll-pin-up-boys’ or bust. Billy Idol and bassist, Tony James, had been upfront with their aspirations of pop stardom from the get-go.  They openly praised Elvis Presley, the Who and Mott the Hoople.  Their live set included songs by John Lennon and Gary Glitter.  Hell, they even had t-shirts that boasted “Generation X have sold out to a record company”.  But in September 1977 their proud debut as the first punk band to appear on Top of the Pops conflicted with the narrow ideals that were already plaguing the once “anything goes” mentality of punks and they were quickly disowned (somehow the Buzzcocks were able to pull off Top of the Pops without negative retribution).  However, it’s doubtful that the lack of credibility from a few Mark Perry fans disturbed Billy and co. as concert halls jammed packed with screaming girls was a welcome change after playing to 300 blokes spitting at them. 

Generation X’s self-titled debut, is ripping-roaring UK punk rock at its best. If Generation X hadn’t been slanderously dubbed ‘pretty punks’ by the English press they now would be held in the same regard as esteemed peers the Sex Pistols, The Clash and the Damned.  Their songs are among the fastest of performed by any of the original UK punk groups.  The Billy Idol/Tony James song writing duo produced some of the catchiest melodies of the late 70’s.  There is no anarchy, social politics or stupid profanity here.  Tony James lyrics celebrate Rock & Roll and youth culture.  Drummer Mark Laff takes the prize for best the Keith Moon performance not performed by Keith Moon.  Guitarist Robert ‘Derwood’ Andrews’ does little to hide his flashy Mick Ronson influenced chops at a time when guitar heroes were generally frowned upon.  Arguably, Generation X were the best musicians of the UK punk movement.  Martin Rushent’s production is sharp as always. 

Upon its release, ‘Generation X’ received a cool response.  It was too pop for the punks, too punk for the metal crowd and too heavy for the teenyboppers.  But time has aloud ‘Generation X’ to win its way into the hearts of lovers all things Rock & Roll. 

Now, where it gets interesting is that the USA LP release actually was different from the UK one, and was a compilation of most of the UK vinyl tracks (minus "Listen" "Invisible Man" and "Too Personal") with a cover of "Gimme Some Truth", and a couple of singles ("Your Generation" and "Wild Youth") and one B-side ("Wild Dub") tacked on. This is identical to what transpired with the first The Clash album - and to address it Epic has reissued both versions of The Clash on CD. But The Clash is a well respected band by old punkers and punk historians, (even if they were dissed as sell out by the punk's not dead crowd back in the days) whereas Generation X is still regarded by those now fat, old, bald, toothless idiots as a "poseur" band... 

Case in point : Virgin never ever deemed fit to reissue the alternate US debut album of Generation X on CD. Duh. A big opportunity was missed with the Generation X box set.

Lucky for us, the original US debut was issued once on a now out of print CD by Chrysalis back in the 80's. Apart from it's novelty, it's interest is two-fold. First, the studio version of "Gimme Some Truth" which was the first track on the original vinyl release in the USA. One might note that the 2002 CD reissue of 'Valley of the Dolls' lists "Gimme Some Truth" as a bonus track but this an inferior version recorded live at the BBC. Here you get the original studio version which starts with the thumping bass drum and is way superior.

Second, some of the tracks plays at a slower tempo than on the original UK release. This might be a hint that those tracks were recorded at a slower speed by the band, and sightly varispeeded for the UK master, probably 1/ to make them sound more punk and 2/ save some space on the sides for making the record sound better. The US master having not been compiled under the control of the band, therefore probably offer those songs in the pitch and speed they were originally recorded. Tracks playing at a slower speed / pitch I noticed are marked by an *.

Generation X - US CD version

1. Gimme some truth (diff. version)

2. Wild Youth

3. From the Heart

4. Ready Steady Go * (3:08 instead of 2:57, diff. pitch)

5. Kleenex

6. Promises Promises

7. Day by Day

8. One Hundred Punks

9. Your Generation

10. Kiss me Deadly * (4:42 instead of 4:24, diff. pitch)

11. Wild Dub

12. Youth Youth Youth * (6:28 instead of 6:07, diff. pitch)

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