Comps have always been the best way to understand what is going on in a certain area and to discover smaller, underground bands. Of course a few of them stand out, while the majority just copied of the models of the time. Anyway, it's worth to take a peek because we could have nice surprises!!
This huge list was made by Katz (Thank you so much!). If you notice that something (important or interesting) is missing please write me!
I don't think that would be useful just to copy the tracklist and cover that you can find on FLEX or KFTH... Anyway there are some records that I couldn't find there and if you own them please send me the tracklist, the format and, if you have a scanner, the cover. I marked those records with an (I)...
The records maked with (T) are, instead, really difficult to find in the stores in Italy and also in MP3 on the Net, so if anybody wants to trade them with me or make copy I'll be very happy! I'd like to listen to them and review them...
American Youth Report
Bomp 1982
Contains mainly already released tracks or alternative versions by the groups
that wrote LA Punk/Early HC history
Barricaded Suspects
(T)
Toxic Shock 1983
A diverse compilation. There's some good hardcore & many bands from California,
but I don't know if they match
Beach Blvd
Posh Boy 1979
Another Classic. Great melodic surf/pop/punk, typical LA sound, but not yet
hardcore.
Buried Alive
(T)
Smoke Seven 1983
A selection of "hits" previously released during the life of this
small label
Can you hear me?
(T)
Optional / Walking Dead 1980
This is a live recording at the Deaf Club, in San Francisco. I know only the
Dead Kennedys, but should be good...
Chunks
New Alliance Records 1981
Compilation with bands that will be on the label SST. Side A is more punk/HC,
Side B more experimental.
City of LA / Power
Flipside 1990
Should contain good melodic hardcore from LA, but I never heard of this groups...
Were they from the late 80's?
Clockwork
Orange County
Mystic 1985
A quite late comp of Orange County bands, here's the list. D.I. was the only
group I'd heard of before...
Composite Drawing
Deco Records 1984
I found no review about this record and I don't know it personally... Tracklist
provided by the usual Katz!
Covers
Mystic 1985
Punk groups of the middle 80's remix famous rock songs. I've not listened
to this, but I don't like this "manouvres"
Cracks in the Sidewalk
New Alliance Records 1980
It's like the elder brother of Chunks. The groups are fewer so it might be
a 7" or a 12"
Cumstains Over My Record
Collection (I)
Label
Year
I don't know if this record is in the series of Bloodstains etc.. (Actually
I hope is not :-P)
Dangerhouse
(I)
Dangerhouse Year?
I know about 2 LPs in these serie, but might be more... Great LA punk, some
groups have a hint of hardcore.
Darker Scratcher
Los Angeles Free Music Society 1980
This should be something like new wave or punk with synths... I don't say
it is bad, but it's not hardcore
Decline of Western
Civilization
Slash 1980
The soundtrack from the movie. Great LA Punk/early HC. Famous cover with Darby!
You know already everything
Destroy
LA
Mystic 1983
There are many famous names of LA punk-rock and hardcore, plus some unknown
bands
Eastern Front
Various 1981/1982/1986
Serie of 3 LPs that contain live and studio stuff, all with a Japan-inspired
cover. No connection besides that.
Flipside Vinyl Fanzine
Gasatanka/Enigma/Flipside 1984-1987
3 vinyl also here. There are unreleased tracks by many bands from all over
the US.
Future Looks Bright
Label Year
Comment
Future Looks Brighter
Label Year
Comment
Hell
Comes to Your House
Bemisbrain Year
Diverse compilation contains both more hardcore bands and more rock influenced.
Always melodic.
LA in
Rhino Records 1979
Another compilation of LA punk and surf music. Only the tracks until I learn
something more.
Let's
die
Mystic 1985
Another comp by Mystic of groups of the mid 80's
Lung Cookies
(T)
Smoke Seven / Your Flesh 1983
Contains about half groups from California and half from other States. There
should be stg good & unreleased.
NardCore
Mystic 1984
The whole taste of Oxnard (I'm still puzzled about what is Oxnard!). Some
good tracks and some boring stuff...
Noise from Nowhere
Label Year
Comment
Not
so quiet on the Western Front
Alternative Tentacles 1982
Fantastic compilation with Northern California and Nevada bands. Diverse music,
but many HC bands are great.
Public
Service
Smoke Seven 1981
Classical Smoke Seven compilation of melodic punk/hardcore like Bad Religion,
RF7, Circle One...
Return to Slimey Valley
(I)
No info yet...
Rodney on the ROQ
Label Year
Comment
Saturday Night Pogo
Rhino Records 1978
This is LA punk, but with a strong rock-blues influence. Doesn't seem so appealing...
Siren
Posh Boy 1980
Similar to other pre-hardcore comps, with Red Cross and a band called 391
that I just heard of. Not bad.
Someone Got Their Head
Kicked in
BYO Year
Comment
Sudden Death
(T)
Smoke Seven 1982
Compared to other comps made by this label, here you find more straight forward
hardcore, w/ both pros & cons.
This Is The Central
Coast
Bopp n' Skin 1984
A comp of that year, but I believe that the bands have a "retro taste".
Or at least I hope...
Tooth & Nail
(T)
Upsetter Records 1979
Contains many groups of early HC like Germs, Negative Trend & tracks by
Middle Class that aren't on their 7"
We're Desperate
Rhino Records Year
Comment
We Got Power
(T)
Mystic 1983
Kind of a minor classic contains 40 bands, some from California, some not,
some play good HC, some not...
Welcome to Venice
(T)
Suicidal Records 1986
Metal-influenced hardcore in the vein of early Suicidal Tendencies. Do all
these groups come from Venice Beach?
What...
(I)
What? Year
This was actually a label that made many releases of LA Punk and early melodic
HC. More precise info next!
Who
Cares?
American
Standard 1981
This collects songs from many bands that I'd
never heard before, but they seem to be good, at least the year is!
Yes LA
(T)
Dangerhouse 1979
With X, Germs, Bags and other. Great collection of typical LA melodic punk.
You Can't Argue with
Sucksess (T)
Mystic 1982
Another compilation of West Coast hardcore. Groups are not so famous, some
should be good and some boring.
Budget Ranch Boxed
Set
Label Year
Comment
From the Valley Within
(T)
Label Year
Comment
Half Skull
(T)
Label Year
Comment
Made in South Bay
Criminal Records 1984
The link is for the tracklist of this comp, but I don't where this Bay is
in California and neither one of the bands.
SF Underground
Label Year
Comment
Shredder
(T)
(I)
Label Year
Serie of 5 7" that depict various scenes in America. 3 of them should
be about California.
BCT Tapes
Growing Pains (I)
Meathouse
Our Blowout (I)
Trasher Tapes