GENERATION X
DISCOGRAPHY
SINGLES
(7-inch except where noted)
Chrysalis Records
SEPTEMBER 1977: 'Your 'Generation'/'Day By Day' (CHS 2165)
GENERATION X 'Your Generation'
(Blank white label)
Ho ho ho. Generation X's debut single for Chrysalis has been slightly defused by
the presence of a 1,000 or so bootleg copies of an outtake version. Ho ho ho, "
Your generation don't mean nothin' to me", sings Billy Idol with all the spontaneous
venom of a plastic rattlesnake over a wildly out-of-control scrap-metal back-up
dependent almost entirely on recycled Who and Yardbirds cliches. Our generation
means nothin' except a good source for stealing licks, huh? Well, screw you, kid!
Charles Shaar Murray (New Musical Express 27th August 1977)
DECEMBER 1977: 'Wild Youth' 'Wild Dub' (CHS 2189)
A few copies copies were mispressed with 'No No No' on the B-side have
been discovered. These tracks are alternative recordings. These copies
have the matrix numbers CHS2189A/2 UT +CHS 2189 B/1.
"A great record, also because we did a dub version of the A-side
as the flip, something that was unheard of in the 1970's."
Tony James, 2001
GENERATION X 'Wild Youth'
(Chrysalis)
THE SECOND of Generation's X's magnificent triumvirate of Chinn-Chapman
singles. Wild Youth barely scraped the charts. It also did little to eliminate
suspicions generated by the band's well-scrubbed appearance and 'controversial'
use of pop producers. Yet its simple teen lyrics and euphoric powerchords marked
it as probably the last great single of '77. Generation X were the most non-
conformist of punks, suffused with a cartoon poppiness more reminiscent of the
Glitter Band. Wild Youth derived from a typically naive fan outing, as Tony James
and Billy Idol went in search of the Mayfair phonebox where David Bowie had
posed as Ziggy Stardust; "As we turned the corner we saw someone had sprayed
'youth!' on a wall," says James, "and I said, I've got this great idea for a song! So
we stopped in a nearby cafe and Billy hummed out a tune and I scribbled lyrics on
a paper napkin, a song literally about walking down the street and having people
stare at these two spiky-haired youths... it became an anthem for us."
(MOJO Octiber 2001)
FEBRUARY 1978: 'Ready Steady Go' 'No No No' (CHS 2207)
GENERATION X: 'Ready Steady Go'
(Chrysalis)
The weekend starts here. Leastways, it used to. Go, Billy, go. "I fell in love with
the Beatles...ooh, ooh...I fell in love with Cathy McGowowowowowan." 'RSG'
always was Gen X's best song and now you can crank it up loud in the privacy of
your own room. Starting with one of their famous bass lines (that's what happens
when the bassist writes the words), it dives headlong into another foretaste of
what Gen X are really capable of. If it's not the total classic it could have been,
mostly because of the shaky timbre of Billy's voice, it's still at least the equal of
their first record, 'Your Generation'. And it don't signify nothing that you might not
remember the TV show. A song's a song for all that.
PETE SILVERTON (Sounds February 18th 1978)
JANUARY 1979: 'King Rocker'/ 'Gimme Some Truth' (CHS 2261)
The B-side was taken from a John Peel Radio One session dated 12th July
1977. This single was released in four different coloured vinyl limited
pressings, each in a picture sleeve showing a different member of the
band - red vinyl illustrated Billy Idol, pink Tony James, orange Bob
'Derwood' Andrews, and yellow Mark Laff.
GENERATION X 'King Rocker'
(Chrysalis)
Gen X, the first since 'Ready, Steady, Go', and an anxious treading of the 'Willie
And The Handjive' framework. It threatens to recover its line of thought at
intervals throughout but, sadly, is never more than encore material or a lively
album track. For me Gen X has never given any hope outside of the three singles
(and Peel sessions), but I'll always regard them as a serious outfit because of a
sensation I can't quite fathom (Quite clearly a Seventus Nostalgium case - A.
Doctor). This is strong, yet very normal rock. The reverse is a version of
Lennon's 'Gimme Some Truth' and is completely wrapped in turkey foil.
DB (New Musical Express 6th January 1979)
MARCH 1979: 'Valley Of The Dolls' / 'Shakin' All Over' (CHS 2310)
Issued in a multi colour (predominantly Brown) vinyl these copies all have
paper labels. Some black vinyl copies exist and these are probably rarer
than the colour vinyl issue, these copies all seem to have blue injection
moulded labels.
GENERATION X 'Valley Of The Dolls'
(Chrysalis)
There won't be, and there isn't any left, of a movement for this generation; Punk
Rock was not so much a tidal wave as a chimney sweep, leaving new improved
beat bands and cute, life-enhancing novelties for the rest of your life. Pity the poor
tout; Gen X tart it up and trundle it on! for another try, Pathetic really. Notice how
Gen X stayed quietly up shit creek till the Movement crumbled, whereupon they
felt free to bribe people with Disney-coloured plastic. Top Of The Pups and songs
about '50s pop stars in the grand tradition of Showaddywaddy. They may as well
cough up at this late stage that they're nothing more than this season's Sweet the
teenage rampage rhetoric, the empty ambition, the tunnel vision - except for a large
audience and a pair of successful song-writers. This is a real plodder by Billy and
Tony, about how great Billy and Tony and their two friends are. Well up to your
usual standards, boys.
Julie Birchill (New Musical Express 31st March 1979)
JUNE 1979: 'Friday's Angels'/ 'Trying For Kicks'/'This Heat' (CHS
2330) All copies seem to be in Reddish-Pink vinyl.
'Fridays Angels' was the 3rd single taken from the bands second album
'Valley Of The Dolls' , the others being 'King Rocker', which reached No.
11 in the charts in January 1979, the title track 'Valley Of The Dolls', which
made No. 23 in April of the same year and "Friday's Angels", which only
got to No. 62 in June 1979.
During this period, Bob "Derwood" Andrews announced that he was
quitting the band. He agreed to complete the June '79 tour of Japan and
the following recording sessions for the proposed 3rd LP called 'Sweet
Revenge', but wanted out after those obligations were met. When time
came for him to depart, drummer Mark Laff decided to leave as well.
Recording sessions for the aborted third LP began at Olympic Studios in
south London and took place during July 1979. However the tapes from
theses sessions would not be issued until April 14, 1998, and then later as
part of 'Anthology' on April 8, 2003.
As GEN X
SEPTEMBER 1980: 'Dancing With Myself'/'Ugly Rash' (CHS 2444)
'Dancing With Myself' (alternate mix) / 'Ugly Dub' /
'Loopy Dub' (CHS 12 2444)
(12-inch) .
Limited edition in clear vinyl with paper labels, while the black copies had
the blue injection mould label.
The Generation X lineup which recorded this single had a major reshuffle
with Bob 'Derwood' Andrews vacant spot being James Stevenson (ex-
Chelsea on guitar, along with Terry Chimes (ex-Clash) on drums. The
band's name was subsequently shortened to Gen X.
JANUARY 1981: 'Dancing With Myself' / 'Untouchables' / 'Rock On' /
'King Rocker' (CHS 2488)
'Dancing With Myself' (extended) / 'Untouchables'/
'Rock On' / 'King Rocker' (CHS 12 2488)
(12-inch).
Old Gold Records
FEBRUARY 1987: 'King Rocker' / ' Valley Of The Dolls' (OG 9693)
GENERATION X ALBUMS
There's a wide range of more Generation X recordings and releases that
keep on surfacing as time rolls on. And you can find a good selection of
BBC radio one sessions here http://nemsworld.com/genx/bbc.htm
FOR THE OFFICIAL BILLY IDOL website...
www.billyidol.com/
FOR TONY JAMES and his creations try here...
www.sputnikworld.com/
DISCOGRAPHY
SINGLES
(7-inch except where noted)
Chrysalis Records
SEPTEMBER 1977: 'Your 'Generation'/'Day By Day' (CHS 2165)
GENERATION X 'Your Generation'
(Blank white label)
Ho ho ho. Generation X's debut single for Chrysalis has been slightly defused by
the presence of a 1,000 or so bootleg copies of an outtake version. Ho ho ho, "
Your generation don't mean nothin' to me", sings Billy Idol with all the spontaneous
venom of a plastic rattlesnake over a wildly out-of-control scrap-metal back-up
dependent almost entirely on recycled Who and Yardbirds cliches. Our generation
means nothin' except a good source for stealing licks, huh? Well, screw you, kid!
Charles Shaar Murray (New Musical Express 27th August 1977)
DECEMBER 1977: 'Wild Youth' 'Wild Dub' (CHS 2189)
A few copies copies were mispressed with 'No No No' on the B-side have
been discovered. These tracks are alternative recordings. These copies
have the matrix numbers CHS2189A/2 UT +CHS 2189 B/1.
"A great record, also because we did a dub version of the A-side
as the flip, something that was unheard of in the 1970's."
Tony James, 2001
GENERATION X 'Wild Youth'
(Chrysalis)
THE SECOND of Generation's X's magnificent triumvirate of Chinn-Chapman
singles. Wild Youth barely scraped the charts. It also did little to eliminate
suspicions generated by the band's well-scrubbed appearance and 'controversial'
use of pop producers. Yet its simple teen lyrics and euphoric powerchords marked
it as probably the last great single of '77. Generation X were the most non-
conformist of punks, suffused with a cartoon poppiness more reminiscent of the
Glitter Band. Wild Youth derived from a typically naive fan outing, as Tony James
and Billy Idol went in search of the Mayfair phonebox where David Bowie had
posed as Ziggy Stardust; "As we turned the corner we saw someone had sprayed
'youth!' on a wall," says James, "and I said, I've got this great idea for a song! So
we stopped in a nearby cafe and Billy hummed out a tune and I scribbled lyrics on
a paper napkin, a song literally about walking down the street and having people
stare at these two spiky-haired youths... it became an anthem for us."
(MOJO Octiber 2001)
FEBRUARY 1978: 'Ready Steady Go' 'No No No' (CHS 2207)
GENERATION X: 'Ready Steady Go'
(Chrysalis)
The weekend starts here. Leastways, it used to. Go, Billy, go. "I fell in love with
the Beatles...ooh, ooh...I fell in love with Cathy McGowowowowowan." 'RSG'
always was Gen X's best song and now you can crank it up loud in the privacy of
your own room. Starting with one of their famous bass lines (that's what happens
when the bassist writes the words), it dives headlong into another foretaste of
what Gen X are really capable of. If it's not the total classic it could have been,
mostly because of the shaky timbre of Billy's voice, it's still at least the equal of
their first record, 'Your Generation'. And it don't signify nothing that you might not
remember the TV show. A song's a song for all that.
PETE SILVERTON (Sounds February 18th 1978)
JANUARY 1979: 'King Rocker'/ 'Gimme Some Truth' (CHS 2261)
The B-side was taken from a John Peel Radio One session dated 12th July
1977. This single was released in four different coloured vinyl limited
pressings, each in a picture sleeve showing a different member of the
band - red vinyl illustrated Billy Idol, pink Tony James, orange Bob
'Derwood' Andrews, and yellow Mark Laff.
GENERATION X 'King Rocker'
(Chrysalis)
Gen X, the first since 'Ready, Steady, Go', and an anxious treading of the 'Willie
And The Handjive' framework. It threatens to recover its line of thought at
intervals throughout but, sadly, is never more than encore material or a lively
album track. For me Gen X has never given any hope outside of the three singles
(and Peel sessions), but I'll always regard them as a serious outfit because of a
sensation I can't quite fathom (Quite clearly a Seventus Nostalgium case - A.
Doctor). This is strong, yet very normal rock. The reverse is a version of
Lennon's 'Gimme Some Truth' and is completely wrapped in turkey foil.
DB (New Musical Express 6th January 1979)
MARCH 1979: 'Valley Of The Dolls' / 'Shakin' All Over' (CHS 2310)
Issued in a multi colour (predominantly Brown) vinyl these copies all have
paper labels. Some black vinyl copies exist and these are probably rarer
than the colour vinyl issue, these copies all seem to have blue injection
moulded labels.
GENERATION X 'Valley Of The Dolls'
(Chrysalis)
There won't be, and there isn't any left, of a movement for this generation; Punk
Rock was not so much a tidal wave as a chimney sweep, leaving new improved
beat bands and cute, life-enhancing novelties for the rest of your life. Pity the poor
tout; Gen X tart it up and trundle it on! for another try, Pathetic really. Notice how
Gen X stayed quietly up shit creek till the Movement crumbled, whereupon they
felt free to bribe people with Disney-coloured plastic. Top Of The Pups and songs
about '50s pop stars in the grand tradition of Showaddywaddy. They may as well
cough up at this late stage that they're nothing more than this season's Sweet the
teenage rampage rhetoric, the empty ambition, the tunnel vision - except for a large
audience and a pair of successful song-writers. This is a real plodder by Billy and
Tony, about how great Billy and Tony and their two friends are. Well up to your
usual standards, boys.
Julie Birchill (New Musical Express 31st March 1979)
JUNE 1979: 'Friday's Angels'/ 'Trying For Kicks'/'This Heat' (CHS
2330) All copies seem to be in Reddish-Pink vinyl.
'Fridays Angels' was the 3rd single taken from the bands second album
'Valley Of The Dolls' , the others being 'King Rocker', which reached No.
11 in the charts in January 1979, the title track 'Valley Of The Dolls', which
made No. 23 in April of the same year and "Friday's Angels", which only
got to No. 62 in June 1979.
During this period, Bob "Derwood" Andrews announced that he was
quitting the band. He agreed to complete the June '79 tour of Japan and
the following recording sessions for the proposed 3rd LP called 'Sweet
Revenge', but wanted out after those obligations were met. When time
came for him to depart, drummer Mark Laff decided to leave as well.
Recording sessions for the aborted third LP began at Olympic Studios in
south London and took place during July 1979. However the tapes from
theses sessions would not be issued until April 14, 1998, and then later as
part of 'Anthology' on April 8, 2003.
As GEN X
SEPTEMBER 1980: 'Dancing With Myself'/'Ugly Rash' (CHS 2444)
'Dancing With Myself' (alternate mix) / 'Ugly Dub' /
'Loopy Dub' (CHS 12 2444)
(12-inch) .
Limited edition in clear vinyl with paper labels, while the black copies had
the blue injection mould label.
The Generation X lineup which recorded this single had a major reshuffle
with Bob 'Derwood' Andrews vacant spot being James Stevenson (ex-
Chelsea on guitar, along with Terry Chimes (ex-Clash) on drums. The
band's name was subsequently shortened to Gen X.
JANUARY 1981: 'Dancing With Myself' / 'Untouchables' / 'Rock On' /
'King Rocker' (CHS 2488)
'Dancing With Myself' (extended) / 'Untouchables'/
'Rock On' / 'King Rocker' (CHS 12 2488)
(12-inch).
Old Gold Records
FEBRUARY 1987: 'King Rocker' / ' Valley Of The Dolls' (OG 9693)
GENERATION X ALBUMS
There's a wide range of more Generation X recordings and releases that
keep on surfacing as time rolls on. And you can find a good selection of
BBC radio one sessions here http://nemsworld.com/genx/bbc.htm
FOR THE OFFICIAL BILLY IDOL website...
www.billyidol.com/
FOR TONY JAMES and his creations try here...
www.sputnikworld.com/
PUNK ROCKER
LOOKS BACK ON THE
RECORDED LEGACY
OF GENERATION X.
SINGLES
LOOKS BACK ON THE
RECORDED LEGACY
OF GENERATION X.
SINGLES
