The Vancouver Complication album
Scott Beadle and Les Wiseman | April 22, 2010 in Vancouver Complication
The Vancouver punk/new wave/indie scene’s signature artifact is the Complication LP, released in August 1979 by Pinned Records. The idea of a full-length album grew from (Quintessence Records and SnotRag staffer) Grant McDonagh’s idea to include a sampler flexi-disc EP with an upcoming issue of SnotRag. SnotRag and Public Enemy contributor Steve Macklam suggested creating a full-length album, inspired by other cities’ scene compilations being released at the time. Fellow writer Phil Smith, and coordinator Nancy Smith (no relation) rounded out the project crew. Multi-band showcase concerts were organized to raise money for recording, printing and pressing. Macklam found Chris Cuttress, a CBC sound engineer who had a studio in his basement and was willing to record the bands. (Pinned Records was Cuttress's label.) Engineer Jay Leslie assisted Cuttress on all the tracks, except for a couple of contributions recorded by bands at other studios. The album’s booklet insert was printed by Rebel Crime Press (Dave Gregg’s after-hours operation secretly based in his employer's print shop).
The album included tracks by DOA, the Pointed Sticks, Subhumans, K-Tels (later renamed Young Canadians), Active Dog, Wasted Lives, UJ3RK5, No Fun, Private School, Dishrags, B.I.Z. (for “Brad, Ian & Zippy”), Exxotone, the Shades, Tim Ray, and [e?]. The LP’s detractors complained about the dizzying mix of styles on the album, sequencing hardcore punk next to new wave pop and quirky art-rock experimentalism. However, it was the compilers’ intent to create a true snapshot of the variety styles found in the halls and nightclub stages of the Vancouver scene. It was that stylistic heterogeneity that appealed to some of the LP’s out-of-town fans, such as Jello Biafra (who strove to keep his own label Alternative Tentacles similarly weird and challenging), and Jack Rabid, founder and editor of NYC’s Big Takeover.
In 2004 Sudden Death Records reissued the Vancouver Complication on CD; adding extra out-of-print tracks from the Dishrags, Tim Ray, and Rude Norton.
Les sez: Although, production-wise, it sounds thin as piss on a plate now, there were a few tunes that augured to the more full-bodied sounds that were to come from Vancouver punk. Highlights include K-Tels' I Hate Music, Rude Norton’s Gilligan’s Island and Sea Cruise, Subhumans’ Death to the Sickoids, and the Dishrags’ I Don’t Love You.
No Exit
My brother was the bass player for No Exit. "Chunk". You can see him in Bev's calendar from 2 years ago in the February No Exit picture. Anyways I sent you guys an email - he's still around Vancouver - I think you should interview him for some great stories.
He was around 16 when he was playing - and I'm 8 years younger - but the stories he'd tell me back then after their shows at the Smiling Bhuda etc were crazy. And awesome.
Good times....
And
I just also wanted to mention I have a vinyl, perfect condition copy of their record. My brother was out of the band by the time they recorded - but still it's cool.
I remember that record shop down on Seymour Street. Man - I forget the name. But when I saw that they had that record in I freaked. They wanted $100 for it!!! I didn't even know my brother wasn't in the band at the time. That's why I bought it. The picture on the sleeve was so grainy - it was a copy of another punk bands cover - and they just cut out their heads and posted it over the other bands heads. Anyways so I thought my brother was still in it. I was pumped.
Then when I showed him he said he wasn't in the band anymore.
So - I explained how I'm pretty intimate - as far as knowledge of the band goes - so they dropped the price to... Man... Was it $40? something like that....
Vancouver Complication highlights
Hi
I used to host shows on the CJSR radio in Edmonton at the time. I was desperate for decent can-con to play, and picked up as much Vancouver music as I could on each visit.
The Complication was a fantastic source of alternatives to the dreck pumped out by the commercial labels.
The songs I remember liking and playing most were The Shades' "New Clientèle" (I was very disappointed when I bought a 45 by another band called The Shades, also from Vancouver...), "I Hate Music" by the k-tels, "Naum Gabo" by U-J3RK5; in fact all of side two, minus The Subhumans and DOA. Catchy stuff I can still hear in my head to this day!
On side one, the "hits" were "Kill, Kill, This Is Pop," "Death To The Sickoids" (although we also had the 45), "I Don't Love You" and "U-J3RK5 Work For Police."
What a great album! I remember bringing a copy over to France for my brother as an example of what Canada was capable of.
It went through three pressings (you should mention the different variants...) so I can't have been the only one to think so.
Wonderful site, btw, so keep up the good work!
Cheers,
Marc
Marc
Great comments Marc. I remember a 45 by another band called the Shades, but I don't think they were from Vancouver. Re: the pressings, the original was black & white with number-stamped on back cover (and booklet inside!). Then another B&W pressing with no number, and then a blue & white version. Others may know more details. NOTE to everyone: check out the songs on our AUDIO PLAYER!
Uh,Les?Those Rude Norton
Uh,Les?Those Rude Norton songs were NOT on the original record.....and they REALLY aren't the highlights...How about the Shades?No Fun?Exxotone?
Rude Norton
In defense of Les (who doesn't need defending), Those Rude Norton tunes are on the CD reissue, the only version currently available... unless someone tracks down the rare, original vinyl!
Well,in defense of the
Well,in defense of the original album,adding bonus tracks to it was like tagging on a few out takes from the Dave Clark 5 onto Sgt Peppers.It was an ill advised move,and definitely detracted from the power of the original.And Les was there,he should know that the Rude Norton stuff wasn't on the 1979 release.That being said,the original record itself was fraught with controversy.Where were the Rabid?Modernettes? Even Bludgeon Pigs and No Exit had a case.The politics were intense.When the Pointed Sticks decided to use a track not recorded at Sabre,because the band had changed personnel,there was outrage.Who did these rock stars think they were?And the cover and title....there was a movement afoot to call the album Vancouver Au-Go-Go,and use a great arial photo taken of the west end in the fifties.The back was going to be a Jeff Wall portrait of Chris and Jay in the studio that made them look like something from Dr Tongues 3-D house of horrors,it was classic.Backroom skullduggery put and end to that....but alls well that ends well,and the album has achieved world wide recognition as perhaps the best punk scene compilation ever...
And speaking of records,we need an article on the record stores from the day,in particular Quintessnce,which was really the heart and soul of the whole scene....
Vancouver Au-Go-Go
Some good points. The album was actually reviewed in the pages of SnotRag as "Vancouver Au Go-Go." About the omissions, I don't think the Modernettes, Bludgeoned Pigs or No Exit were "on the radar", yet, for inclusion on the LP. Rabid really wanted to be on there, but, they couldn't get their personnel together and they were axed.
YVR Complication
Joey Shithead (DOA's Joe Kiethly) says the CD reissue of the Vancouver Complication's royalties go to the food bank. Let's see the receipts, Shithead.
Fair comment....how bout it
Fair comment....how bout it Joe???