Gang Of Four – Solid Gold (LP)

The first album from Gang of Four was a revelation. The revolution continues on Solid Gold. You get both tracks from their last single—Outside the Trains Don’t Run on Time, He’d Send in the Army—plus a new volley of incendiary songs to lead the charge against our patriarchal, profit-driven masters. It feels like a throbbing headache half the time, an incestuous marriage of punk and funk the rest of the time, but at no time does it ever feel safe. There were very few bands that sounded like Gang of Four; maybe Killing Joke and, to a less violent extent, Talking Heads (when the Gang replaced Dave Allen with Sara Lee, the Heads connection became clearer).

Their sloganeering once again produces some memorable bits: “I need someone to bill my time” (What We All Want), “Why work a love if it shows no profit” (Hole in the Wallet), “Show me a ditch and I’ll dive in it” (In the Ditch), “Paradise, if you can earn it” (Paralysed). Just random thoughts to fill the spaces between the succession of meaningless tasks that mark our lives. The first two Gang of Four albums represent some of the smartest and most principled “punk” music to come out of the 80s.

As their name would suggest, they were a politically astute group who understood that oppression takes many forms. That’s the difference between a riot and a revolution. But a revolution needs constant fuel to keep it burning; otherwise, it becomes a torch and, finally, a flame. I’ve been holding a torch for Gang of Four ever since their first two albums were released, though I’m still waiting for that revolution…

Label: EMI Electrola – 6-502 608

Country: Netherlands

Media Condition: Very Good Plus (VG+)
Sleeve Condition: Very Good Plus (VG+)

Plays great with only a few superficial marks. On the label 1978 is printed as release date which is obviously wrong, also a different catalog number is shown: 6-502 608. This release features "To hell with poverty" which is not included on the regular version.