Punknews is mega-mega-mega excited for today's stream. Today, we're doing something that we've never done before. Today, we are streaming an unreleased, unissued, unknown album recorded by the Flames in 1980. This is literally the first time the public has ever heard this long lost gem. (And really, this is a long lost gem!)
This record blends jumpy power-pop with the snappiness of early new wave with the edgy lyrics of first wave punk. Just look at some of these titles: "Stabbed to Death," "Contaminated," "Menage a Trois."
If you've been following the Punknews podcast, you'll know that the reason we came across this record was that editor John G found a copy in the bargain bin in a used record store. There was absolutely no record of this album anywhere on the internet. If you are a punk connoisseur, you know how rare that is in this age of mass documentation.
BUT, on the back of the record was a phone number (no area code) written in magic marker. Above it was the name "Michael J. Richards," the guy credited as vocalist and guitarist on the album. The result was a literal one-in-a-million shot in tracking down Richards. The story of this record's re-discovery is nearly as fascinating as the record itself. (And it's a fascinating record, mind you!)
So, for the first time in the existence of man, you, the public can hear the entirety of 1980's The Flames right here. Meanwhile, you can click read more for an extensive history of how this record came (not) to be by John Gentile.
