Shine On Me: The Singles Collection 1979-1980 Emergency Red

Description

This pioneering English punk band from London – active in its original formation from 1977 to 1980 – was known for an explosive mix of punk and reggae influences, a virulent anti-racist stance, energetic live performances... and a series of classics including "Babylon's Burning," "Staring At The Rude Boys," and "Something That I Said." Following the premature death of their charismatic lead singer Malcolm Owen, who was only 23 years old, in the summer of 1980, they released what is considered their masterpiece single, from which this collection takes its name – the heroic "West One (Shine On Me)." "Shine On Me" celebrates the visceral legacy of the band through a chronological journey across all the singles released with Malcolm Owen – from their self-produced debut album in 1979, "In A Rut," to the posthumous title "West One." This is the first complete album of Ruts classics on vinyl, and it also includes the impactful B-sides from the original releases, many of which could have been full A-sides in their own right. The original Ruts may not have existed for long (even though the surviving members continued under the name Ruts DC), but they shone brightly – at the time, their music defined the era in the same way as, for example, The Jam, The Undertones, the Skids, or the Buzzcocks.