punk.cat: PETER AND THE TEST TUBE BABIES

Monday 28 April 2014

PETER AND THE TEST TUBE BABIES

"Demo"
Year: 1979
Label: none
Format: cassette
Tracks: 18
Time: 45 min.
Genre: rock
Style: Punk

All the songs on this album were recorded in 1979 and constituted two days of studio work, then only on cassette demo tape until 1985, when the band decided to release it on LP format under its own record label "Hairy Pie Records". Quality sound is quite bad, and all of songs here were never included nor official albums neither live concerts. Later, several record labels decided to make the same concept with different artwork, cover and back, such as: Dojo Records, We Bite Records, Dr. Strange Reords, Captain Oi!, Let Them Eat Vinyl, etc.

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"pissed and proud"
Year: 1982
Label: No Future
Format: CD, LP
Tracks: 13
Time: 35 min.
Genre: rock
Style: Punk

Peter and the Test Tube Babies are a punk rock band that was formed in the small town of Peacehaven, UK in 1978 by Del Strangefish and Peter Bywaters. Due to their humorous tongue-in-cheek lyrics, they have been considered part of the Punk Pathetique subgenre. Peter and the Test Tube Babies were first featured in "Sounds" magazine in July 1980, and after a John Peel Radio One session, made their vinyl debut on the Brighton compilation album "Vaultage 78". They played at festivals including the 11th Antifest in 2005. They also had two songs on the Oi! compilation Oi! the Album in that same year. They favoured absurd lyrics and strange titles, such as "The Queen Gives Good Blow Jobs". In 1982, they covered the chart-topping Gary Glitter hit "I'm the Leader of the Gang (I Am)" on their album "Pissed and Proud" recorded during a live concert in 1980. When the band is not touring, Peter Bywaters offers personal English as a second language tuition on a live-in basis at his home in Brighton. Del Strangefish currently hosts a Punk Rock Radio Show every Wednesday between 4 - 5pm GMT on Brighton and Hove Community Radio. The band continues to perform to the current day (2017). Their polished, professional live show is in contrast to the non-serious nature of their lyrics. This album was recorded live in Hammersmith, Wood Green & Blackpool-August Bank Holiday 1980.

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"the mating sounds of
south american frogs"
Year: 1983
Label: Trapper
Format: CD, LP
Tracks: 12
Time: 40 min.
Genre: rock
Style: Punk

Excellent and Brilliant. In my personal opinion this is no doubt the best P&TTB album ever. In all aspects is excellent: creativity, originality, quality sound, melody and the classic intro and outro of the disk, which has been used for another bands. Is a pitty many young people of nowadays doesn´t knoe this album because I think is one of the best punk rock albums ever. And about 80, I can say one of the 5 best punk albums of 80s decade. The album was made and distribute by five different labels, but I think nowadays is "Captain Oi Records" which do this task, so, If anyone want to buy this pearl in physical format write to the label here below. Excellent

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"soberphobia"
Year: 1986
Label: Music Box
Tracks: 10
Time: 40 min.
Format: CD, LP
Genre: electronic
Style: New Wave

This is perhaps the most understood album of the band and the most rejected for its public. Recorded in 1986, in my country (Spain) was in the shops in 1987, and almost nobody was agree with the new P&TTB musical style, a mix with punk, synth pop, new wave and a little touches of goth. Maybe styles in vogue for the mainstream public, but not for the punks, skins or hardcore from the late 80s. Anyway, If you make an "effort" and forget this band is P&TTB, the album is not bad at all. The sound is totally mainstream with even an electronic drums and keybords, but the songs are good, very good. Firstly I hated this work but nowadays I sincerely like very much

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"Covers - the $hit factory"
Year: 1990
Label: SPV
Format: CD, LP
Tracks: 12
Time: 40 min.
Genre: rock
Style: Punk

After a bit of a lay-off we all got back together to make another album, unlike shit-loads of other bands we'd never actually split-up (though quite a few people thought we had), we'd just had a break from each other. Anyway in 1990 we signed a new deal with Rebel Records (part of SPV) from Germany. You may remember that around the end of the Eighties/early 90's that pop music was completely dominated by Stock, Aitken & Waterman, you just could not escape hearing Rick Astley, Jason Donovan, Kylie Minogue, Bananarama , etc., god it was awful, just soul destroying meaningless crap. Bearing this in mind, we thought doing our own Stock, Aitken & Waterman covers would bre a right laugh. Simply jokes, sense of humor and fun covers of Stock, Aitken & Waterman tunes become in punk rock sound.

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"cringe"
Year: 1991
Label: SPV
Format: CD, LP
Tracks: 14
Time: 40 min.
Genre: rock
Style: Punk

What a pitty most of people doesn´t know this album entitled "Cringe" even myself until few time ago, because I am affraid we are in front of one very good P&TTB albums next to the essential (of course) "The matting sounds of south american frogs". The quality sound and the production work is brilliant, and the are some little touches of "alternative rock" on the guitars, even hard-rock sometimes. A very symphaty work which is high recommended to listen to unles you don´t like punk rock and derivates. One of the best things of P&TTB is the fact they recorded always its albums with the best quality sound possible, because these people think why punk must sound bad and weird? why? not always of course. Life and world is full of injustices, and this album fall in the forgot and was underrated... there was justice at all, so this album is truly great and well done.

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"supermodels"
Year: 1995
Label: We Bite
Format: CD, LP
Tracks: 14
Time: 40 min.
Genre: rock
Style: Punk

Excellent album issue in 1995, just in the middle of the american melodic punk pop explosion (Green Day, Offspring, etc.) a very few people listened to this then. I discovered it few years after, I believe in 97 or 98 and I realized our P&TTB friends had done another excellent and brilliant album of pure brittish punk rock 1977 style. As always nothing to do with hardcore but just 77 sound, 14 tracks and almost 42 of music. Highly recommended for those who love this style in its version more brittish or european. Excellent

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"alien pubdiction"
Year: 1998
Label: We Bite
Format: CD, LP
Tracks: 16
Time: 40 min.
Genre: rock
Style: Punk

I buy this release in 1998 or 1999, I don´t remember exactly, and then and now, I have the same opinion. Is not a bad album at all, but during the 90s decade P&TTB made its best album entitled "supermodel", and perhaps this one was also underrated, but If you listen to it several times, you can to discover a good album in several aspects: sound, composition, lyrics, etc. Recommended.