As the High Wall boys got older we got the music bug.
Bowie, Sensational Alex Harvey Band and Cockney Rebel were early influences but it was punk that really set the tone for the rest o' oor lives I guess.
OK Bobrob had his Suzi Quatro phase and who can blame the laddie, but it was the Clash, Buzzocks, Jam, Damned and Pistols that provided the High Wall soundtrack as we entered the murky world o' drinkin' and shaggin'.
But the real fun started wi' the local bands. Man we had oorsels some braw nights watchin' Edinburgh's finest young talent. The Freeze, the Scars, the Valves, the Monos, the Skids, the Prats, the Visitors and many many more. The music scene flourished and many a wee venue sprung up within a short stroll o' the High Wall. Suddenly aw they years o' growin' up in the heart o' Studentville payed off in spades wi' the availability o' free gigs, cheap drink and a guid chance o' yer Nat King.
Arkos and I used tae trail the record shops fir the latest singles. The Record Exchange on Clerk Street had a 10p box full o' singles that didnae chart. I got some right rare early punk stuff oot o' there that I still have tae this day. I used tae also have a rake o' early punk record advertising posters and gig posters that sadly I dinnae still have. A fact that often makes me weep when I look at Ebay. (Dinnae get me started oan ma Marvel Comic collection fae back in the day)
Aye it wiz great tae be a laddie just turned 16 in 1977. The High Wall wiz a happenin' place and every week brought a new sound. Ah went tae sleep every night listenin' tae John Peel on ma clock radio and woke up every morning filled wi' hope and attitute, and wi a new harmony in ma heid.
Being a Hippy back in the summer o' love must be the only thing that comes close.
Here's a wee taste.
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4 comments:
Barry memories. And nivir forget, there aint nae surf in Portabelly.
I tose wir the days! Ma school days wir made up oh goin in fur registration, dumpin ma bag an then aff tae Virgin Records in the high Street or better doon tae Blair street tae listen tae Edinburghs finest geein it thir oh fur nowt! Ah misse oot oan a lot oh the Nat King though, mubbie ah wiz aye too pissed!
Mind Bruce's on Rose Street?
Aye, there were some great wee Edinburgh bands oot there back in the day! You could head oot most nights of the week & catch a local gig. Must admit I was (am) a real big Scars fan. I got a hold o their first single Adultery/Horrorshow from Phoeneix Records on the Royal Mile (mind this reord shop Naldo?)and played the thing to death. In fact I had to buy another copy of the single cause the first one was damn near worn oot!
I also loved Mike Scott's first band, Another Pretty Face. I think Mike'a stuff with APF if much better than the stuff he was to do later with The Waterboys. And the late great Nikki Sudden was also of this opinion.
Yep, there was a great new single, album or gig almost every week. Sometimes wish I had made even more of an effort to see more stuff back in the day. I'm sure there were some nights I thought, "Och, I can't be arsed seeing APF tonite. I'll catch them again later...." Catch them while you can!
Cheers!
Arkos
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