ALBUM REVIEW: Various Artists – What’s It Like To Be Fifty? (Pirates Press Records)
Streetpunk legends Cock Sparrer celebrated 50 years as a band in 2022, and to mark the occasion their record label produced a very special tribute album.
Pirates Press asked eight bands from their roster to pick a song of their choice by the East End legends for this one-off release.
It’s fitting that the record begins with Riot Squad, Sparrer’s traditional live opener, performed here by Seattle streetpunks The Drowns, who are fast becoming one of my favourite bands.
Featuring the smoother vocals of bassist Andy Wylie rather than the gruffer tones of guitarist Aaron Rev, it’s a faithful rendition which should slip down nicely with the Sparrer faithful once they get over the lack of a Cockney accent.
The emphasis seems to be on bringing out the bass and drums rather than the wonderful chiming guitar riff which makes the original so memorable, and it’s one of four tracks covered from the classic Shock Troops album.
Next up is a recent signing to the Pirates roster, former Civet guitarist Suzi Moon, who made quite an impact last year with her energetic live shows and debut album Dumb & In Luv (reviewed here).
She goes with Platinum Blonde, a less obvious choice from Sparrer’s original self-titled album, which was a Spain-only release in 1978, and didn’t see the light of day in the UK until 1987 (as True Grit), then again in 2006 as The Decca Years.
It’s a glam stomper dating back to the band’s earliest days, and Suzi certainly leaves her own mark on it, commenting in the outro “that sounded a bit rough”. Which seems quite apt, given the original was a demo recording.
We’re back on more familiar ground for track three as German streetpunks Plizzken, led by Stomper 98’s Sebi, take us on a spirited run through What’s It Like To Be Old, a live favourite which, if I’m not mistaken, was never on a studio album.
Grade 2 are one of the brightest upcoming bands on the streetpunk/oi scene, and they bring side one to a close with another less obvious pick, Roads To Freedom from the 1994 album Guilty As Charged.
It becomes much more energetic in their hands, and although some might disagree, I actually prefer this version to the original.
Side two is where things get really interesting. It would have been very easy to continue in the same vein and get more streetpunk bands to cover their favourite Sparrer song.
Instead, we get The Ratchets, a melodic punk band from Asbury Park, New York, giving us their take on Where Are They Now?, another track from Shock Troops.
They’re a band that many people in the UK might not have heard of, but I love them. They bring a great dirty guitar sound and raw vocals to the table, and I’d thoroughly recommend checking out their original material.
A third Shock Troops track, We’re Coming Back, is next, by rising Californian ska-punks The Interrupters. Singer Aimee has one of the most distinctive voices on the scene, and the band add some great harmonies to their enjoyable take on another classic.
Take ‘Em All, the fourth and final Shock Troops track featured, is next, but I bet you’ve never heard it like this, reinterpreted as a reggae song by Los Angeles band The Aggrolites. And do you know what – it really works, which is the sign of a good song.
Last but by no means least we get a song with a real family connection, as The Bar Stool Preachers present their take on Suicide Girls, from Sparrer’s under-rated 2007 album Here We Stand.
Sparrer frontman Colin McFaull is BSP singer Tom’s old man, and TJ shows he’s a right chip off the old block, with his voice very much to the fore in places, before they throw the kitchen sink at it in others.
Again there’s a more reggae feel to the song, but it never loses its original swagger, and brings down the curtain perfectly on a tribute which everyone involved can be proud of.
The album is a one-time only pressing of 1,500 copies and at the moment can only be ordered from Pirates Press from their website HERE.
The’gold nugget’ vinyl is housed in a special outer envelope sleeve and a gold foil inner sleeve (matching Pirates Press’s special 50th anniversary Cock Sparrer pressings, which you can get HERE).
As tributes go, they don’t get much better than this. It’s just a shame it’s not a bit longer. 9/10.
