My Top 20 Albums in 1978 No 7

Great album made a few albums at back end of 70s
The Only Ones self-titled debut
The Only Ones
Power Pop, Punk, Indie Rock
Year:1978
Tracklist
The Whole Of The Law 2:35
Another Girl, Another Planet 3:00
Breaking Down 4:06
City Of Fun 3:30
The Beast 5:46
Creature Of Doom 2:33
It's The Truth 2:06
Language Problem 2:28
No Peace For The Wicked 2:51
The Immortal Story 3:55
AllMusic Review by Mark Deming
The Only Ones were a band that became identified with the British punk scene largely because leader Peter Perrett had a funny voice and could write a great straightforward rock & roll song at a time when such virtues were possessed almost exclusively by the faster-and-louder brigade. This helps explain why the Only Ones' self-titled debut album is regarded as a classic of the first wave of U.K. punk despite the presence of the midtempo jazz-accented "Breaking Down"; the '50s pop moves of the opening cut, "The Whole of the Law"; "The Beast," which sounds like some sort of lethargic neo-boogie; and the graceful semi-acoustic semi-samba "No Peace for the Wicked." Of course, when the Only Ones felt like rocking out, they did it brilliantly, and along with the instant classic "Another Girl, Another Planet," this album includes the sinister but rollicking "City of Fun" and the feedback-drenched crunch of "The Immoral Story," which points to another factor that made the Only Ones heroes in their day -- their eclecticism was rooted in a genuine talent for embracing different sounds rather than the inability to pick a style and master it. Perrett and his bandmates -- John Perry on guitar, Alan Mair on bass, and Mike Kellie on drums -- sound like a tight and imaginative combo even when they're surrounded by keyboard and horn overdubs, and Perrett's tales of one guy's search for love and coherence in a fractured world are intelligent, witty, and deeply cutting at all times. If the creative ambition of the Only Ones sometimes comes at the price of a tight stylistic focus that would make these songs cohere better, every track is memorable in its own way, and these ten songs always have heart, soul, and honesty to spare -- and if that isn't always the benchmark of punk rock, it's at least in the neighborhood.

Blogcritics
Music Review: The Only Ones - All Three Albums Re-Released

Posted by: Jeff Perkins April 2, 2009
It's a fact of life that you have to wait for most good things. Perhaps it is also true that good things always seem to come in threes. To prove the point, The Only Ones have, at long last, had their three original studio albums re-mastered, re-released, and sent out into the world with sparkly new packaging.
Okay, it may have taken about thirty years to really do them justice but believe me, in this case, it was well worth all that patience. Those in the know, that can still remember, will be aware that the opening statement in the album notes for this re-released self-titled debut album is spot on. It says simply, ‘The Only Ones were the best British rock band of the 1970’s and maybe since’.
As statements go, this one is 'in your face' huge. Everyone has opinions of course and many will disagree. However, many more of us who were actually there and experienced the near frenzy caused by an Only Ones gig might well be knowingly nodding in partial middle aged agreement.
Sadly their sales and subsequent reputation both paled next to many of the other bands that emerged during that time. Having said that, the albums they left us are a different matter and a quick blast through this particular time warp shows that they really could rock. By that I mean timeless rock, and not only that, their albums most definitely stand the test of time.
It was 1976 in south London when The Only Ones began to get together. This was, of course, the year of the punk explosion a movement that literally kicked the pompous overblown butt of many a major band and changed the rock world for just about ever.
Despite this, The Only Ones weren’t really punks. The album notes tell us that, ‘they were too clever, too musically literate to be punks - although that is how they were sold at first.’ They add, ‘they were too acidic to be hippies, and too disillusioned with what rock had become to be the conventional Brit hard rock band’.

I like to think of The Only Ones as a sort of Brit cousin of Television. Yet they were horribly overlooked and sadly almost forgotten. Until 2006, that is. That was the year that the band rose from its grave when one of their best known tracks, “Another Girl, Another Planet” was resurrected by an ageing adman and appeared on a television mobile phone advert.
Suddenly, we all woke up from our slumbers and remembered one of the ‘best British rock bands of the 1970’s’. What followed was a reunion, a brief tour of the UK, a couple of festival appearances, and some substantiated rumours of a new album.
Then came the release of a new DVD recorded during a gig at London’s Shepherds Bush Empire. Finally, Sony BMG gave these three original albums a very welcome work over. It has to be said they have made an excellent job of them. Each ones comes with additional long lost goodies in the form of bonus tracks and informative background notes.

All this good stuff is now topped off with news, on the bands' official website, that they are due back in the studio to record a new album. In the meantime, these superbly produced re-masters will act as the perfect appetizer for those that were there and have scratched their vinyl copies to death, or even those that want to hear some great rock music played by one of the very best.
The Only Ones was their debut eponymous album. It escaped into an unsuspecting world in 1978. Remembering that this was a time that Punk was in full spit, they instead opened with a smooth acoustically driven ballad “The Whole Of The Law”. It even had a saxophone solo and words of love rather than anything obviously anarchic.

Its very unpunkness shows the band's tendency to buck trend and separate it from the pack. Dig a little deeper though and you see that the title comes from a quote from 'the wickedest man in the world’ himself, satanist Aleister Crowley. They even include a track “The Beast” which appeared later on in the album.

The Only Ones had announced their arrival and underlined it with the excellent “Another Girl, Another Planet” the song that was to prove pivotal years later when the advert had people saying ‘who the hell is that?’

The re-mastering adds even more edge and with three bonus tracks, you just can’t go wrong. “Breaking Down”, with its jazzy bass and electric piano solo is yet another standout. Two punkish tracks do appear with “Language Problem” and “City Of Fun”, but they are blended in with say, “It’s The Truth” a track that is almost Americana in contrast.

The following year saw the release of Even Serpents Shine. It featured a guest role from John ‘Rabbit’ Bundrick on keys and even had UK Sounds magazine brilliantly describing it as ‘very superb’.

By now the so called New Wave of British Heavy Metal was giving rise to the likes of Judas Priest, Witchfynde, and Iron Maiden. Once again The Only Ones were, err the only ones seemingly able to produce something altogether more eloquent, more articulate, more meaningful, and even now thirty years on, more memorable. They were really living up to the UK Television tag.

Unfortunately, not everyone agreed with Sounds magazine and with half the world being swept along into such ongoing horrors as disco, and mainstream chart fodder, The Only Ones suffered to get their due recognition. Even Serpents Shine is, I feel, their finest hour. It has aged extremely well especially as they had ditched the occasional punk forays displayed on the first album. By doing so they ensured its timelessness.

Sadly, despite so much to recommend it, sales were disappointing. Listening to it now, it's hard to understand, but I guess the mainstream music world was suffering from some kind of virus in 1979 threatening to leave some of the real quality behind.

Many have drawn their inspiration in part from The Only Ones. Consciously, in the case of Echo And The Bunnymen, or unconsciously, as was often the case, for The Libertines. For one random stab at an example of this, check out “In Betweens”.

Again the album notes sum it up well by saying, ‘they were both ahead of their time and in a way behind it’. Certainly they were cool, clever, and single minded. Three more bonus tracks make this album even richer.

1980 saw the last album Baby’s Got A Gun. This really was a make or break as far as the suits at the record label were concerned. It’s artistic merit was unquestionable but unfortunately money makes the vinyl go round and in this case it didn’t go round far enough. I still love “Me And My Shadow” and it remains as fresh as ever.

Sadly, the band split up in 1981 and it proved the last of a trio of albums that were long overdo a proper makeover. At last this has been put right and to get the real story log on to the bands website to read interviews from the inside.

Sony have done justice to these gems. If the sales were as disappointing as the album notes state then even I can work out that many of you won’t have bought them. Well, it's time to put that right. You won’t be disappointed.

Follow the links above to catch up that new album from The Only Ones.

The Whole of the Law"

I used to have the notion
I could swim the length of the ocean
If I knew you were waiting for me

I used to have the notion
I could swim the length of the ocean
I'd plumb the depths of every sea for you

I'll escape from my chains and I'll reach out for you
Baby, I'm in love with you
You, oh baby, baby I'm in love with you
I had to contact you, found out I was in love with you
I had to contact...

That's it, that's the law, that's the whole of the law
The whole of the law

Another Girl, Another Planet"

[Verse 1]
I always flirt with death
I look ill but I don't care about it
I can face your threats
And stand up straight and tall and shout about it

[Chorus]
I think I'm on another world with you
With you
I'm on another planet with you
With you

[Verse 2]
You get under my skin
I don't find it irritating
You always play to win
But I won't need rehabilitating

[Chorus]
I think I'm on another world with you
With you
I'm on another planet with you
With you

[Bridge]
Another girl, another planet
Another girl, another planet

[Verse 3]
Space travel's in my blood
There ain't nothing I can do about it
Long journeys wear me out
But I know I can't live without it

[Chorus]
I think I'm on another world with you
With you
I'm on another planet with you
With you

[Outro]
Another girl is loving you now
Another planet is holding you down
Another planet

Breaking Down"

People keep away from me
‘Cause there's something wrong with me
My ears don't hear, my brain can't talk
And my eyes don't see

I can't do you no good
I once thought I could
But the heavens opened with the sound of screaming
And the smell of blood

It's called
Breaking down
Breaking down
Breaking down
Breaking down
Breaking down with you

Maybe this is just a crazy phase
And I'll get over it soon
It's the pains inside my head
That worry me

I've got the way you look
Captured in my lens
I've got no room for technique
I'll let the pictures speak

It's called
Breaking down
Breaking down
Breaking down
Breaking down
Breaking down with you
Breaking down with you

I find it hard to concentrate
Distraction comes from within
If I fake it, it doesn't mean
That I don't care

I can feel the hands of fate
They're closing in
And I know it's time for me
To go somewhere

It's called
Breaking down x4
Breaking down with you x2
Breaking down, breaking down with you
Breaking down x4
Breaking, breaking
Breaking down with you x2

City Of Fun"

I see good people drowning
In the sea of life
If you ever come through my town
I got a place for you to lie down

I say
Hey hey, can't you see
What you're doing to me
Hey hey, can't you see
What you're doing to me

I seen poor people dying
In the sea of love, love
If you ever come through my town
I got a place for you to lie down
Lie down

Hey hey, can't you see
What you're doing to me
Hey hey, can't you see
What you're doing to me

You've been living in the city of fun
You know there's only one way out
It's up to you
No, it's up to you

I've got a lot of people living here
They're all friends of mine
They try to steal my clothes and my food and my money and my drugs
They think they've struck gold

Hey hey, can't you see
What you're doing to me
Hey hey, can't you see
What you're doing to me
Hey hey, can't you see
What you're doing to me
Hey hey can't you see
What you're doing to me

The Beast"

Run from the beast
There's danger in his eyes
He's been looking for you
For a long time
You might think this is funny
But I'm not laughing
I know it couldn't happen to me

No one doubts the wisdom of this move
You're getting older and you know you got something to prove

Out in the streets
The modern vampire prowls
He's been spreading disease
All around
There's an epidemic
If you don't believe me
You ought to take a look at the eyes of your friends

When someone tempts you, you can't refuse
It's getting colder and you know you got nothing to lose
You need it
Know you got nothing to lose
You need it

Run from the beast
There's darkness in his mind
He's been looking for you
For a long time
You might think this is funny
But I'm not laughing
I know that it couldn't happen to me

I don't care about it happening to me

I've tried to show you your whole life in print
You can lead a horse to water but you can't make him drink
Think about it
All you gotta do is think
About it

There's no cure

"Creature of Doom"

Someone came up to me
And they said to me
I know something that you don't know
I was captured by this guise
A game of second lies
And said I'll follow where you go

It's our destiny
You and me
We could conquer the world
That's our destiny
We could conquer the world
You and me, ah ha
Is it hungry?
Is it dead?
Is it tired of life?

I know something that you don't know
I know something that you don't know
I know something that you don't know
Know, know

I've heard your evil laugh
I wrote your epitaph
In words you'll never understand
Looks like the final straw
Can't take any more
But I know that I won't die by the same hand

You'll be the death of me
I will meet the creature of the night
It'll be the death of me
This creature of the night
You'll see it soon
This creature of doom
Coming out, coming out of the gloom

And he says
I know something that you don't know x3
Know, know, know

Something that you don't know x4

It’s the Truth"

Something's been going wrong
I'm all mixed up
And I don't know what's going on
Gotta talk to you
I gotta talk to you

Something's been going wrong
I'm all fixed up
And I don't know what's going on
Gotta talk to you
I gotta talk to you
It's the last time
That I'm ever going to

Some people they're gonna say
I told you so
But I never really appreciated you
But if those fools could only know
What it means to me
What this thing means to me
What this whole stupid thing means to me

My memory is fading away
I don't remember what I came here to say
Gotta talk to you
'Cause all I know
I gotta talk to you

And if I don't say a word
You'll know that it's the truth

Language Problem"

My parents told me that love don't exist just for pleasure
So I guess I'll throw in some pain for good measure
Good measure

Ah ha, ah ha
You'll be possessed and I can't be the possessor
I love my mother but I wouldn't want to have sex with her

Ah ha, ah ha
I've been outside this world and
I've seen all kind of girls but
I wish that I could talk to you

Ba ba ba bbbciffpvbyayzuaoo
Ever since I heard the way ya talk, I wanted you
You know I'm worth fooling

Taking drugs is one thing we got in common
It helps to overcome the language problem
The problem

Ah ha, ah ha
Feels the same in any language
And we both know how it can itch
And we really enjoy the damage

Ah ha, ah ha gjgjqwljroew
Ever since I heard the way ya talk, I wanted you
You know I'm worth fooling

"No Peace for the Wicked"

Why do I go through these deep emotional traumas?
Why can't I be like I always wanted to be, carefree?
Why can't I be happy like everybody else?

There's no peace for the wicked
They say no peace for the wicked
Loud and clear, no peace for the wicked
The angels tell me
No peace for the wicked

Sitting at home, trying to forget the world outside
You're on the phone telling me there's no love inside me
What have I done to deserve this hostility?

There's no peace for the wicked
They say no peace for the wicked
Loud and clear, no peace for the wicked
The angels tell me
No peace for the wicked

I'm in love with extreme mental torture
I'm in love with the way you hold your head and cry
I'm in love with all these affairs of the heart

There's no peace for the wicked
They say no peace for the wicked
Loud and clear, no peace for the wicked
The angels tell me
No peace for the wicked

The Immortal Story"

I used to dream of this
I lay awake at night imagining this
It was the only purpose in my life
But right now I'm terrified

Suddenly it's so close
Suddenly it's in reach
Suddenly it's really scaring me

Ah, it's so close
And I'm in its reach
It's telling me how I gotta be

They want you, they'll get you
I wish I didn't have to let you go

Even the best laid plans
Sometimes get out of hand
When dreams become reality
That's living death can't you see?

When you got the power
It gets abused
When you got the power it gets used

Travelling down the road
That leads to fame and glory
This really is the immortal story

They want you, they'll get you
I wish I didn't have to let you go

Lovers of Today"

I want you to be around ‘til the summer comes along
And I don't mind you hanging around ‘til the summer comes along
Then you make the first mistake of trying to walk before you can even run

I want you to be around ‘til the summer comes along
And I don't mind having you around ‘til the summer comes along
Then you go and make that first mistake of trying to walk before you can even run

I wanna be by your side
I, it's so cold on this side
I wanna tell ya about love
Love that's around today
We're lovers of today

We ain't got feelings
We've got no love
We ain't got nothing to say
We're lovers of today

If we ever touched it would disturb the calm
Physical effort often causes mental harm
I don't have the energy
You could say things get pretty tranquil with me

Maybe you can't see
But I love you baby
Much more than me

When you know that's all to know
Maybe you'll just come and see the show

We ain't got feelings
We've got no love
We ain't got nothing to say
We're lovers of today
Lovers of today
Lovers of today