Generation X: Discography

 

Generation X (later known as Gen X) were an English punk rock band, formed in London in 1976.

They were the musical starting point of the career of their frontman Billy Idol, and issued six singles that made the UK Singles Chart and two albums that reached the UK Albums Chart.
                  

Formed in  November 1976 as Chelsea with Billy Idol (William Broad) on guitar, Tony James on Bass, John Towe on Drums (later Alternative TV, The Adverts & Rage) and Gene October singing. Its hard to

imagine Gene singing 'Ready Steady Go' and it didn't last as the whole band minus him decamped on November 21st 1976 to become Generation X (named after the title of one of Billy's mum's books). Billy was one of the Bromley Contingent with Siouxsie et al, though his punk look of side parting and tweed jacket needed a little tweaking compared to the rest of the gang ! First act to play the Roxy club on December 21st 1976. 

                       

They got mixed initial press and antagonism to their more rock'n'roll image and poppy punk sound.

Drummer problems forced them to have a short layoff resulting in Mark Laff from Subway Sect assuming  the seat after narrowly missing out to Topper Headon for the Clash's drummer position. It didn't affect their gaining a record contact however, as shortly before their first tour in May 1977 A&R men were competing for their signatures.  
                   

They signed with Chrysalis (home of Genesis, Steeleye Span and Jethro Tull) in the summer of 1977.

While missing the initial punk explosion they had built up a solid set of pop punk songs that were more accessible to the general public who were warming commercially to the lighter side of punk.
              

Before pursuing a successful solo career in the 1980s, Billy Idol was the vocalist for the Punk band

Generation X. Another well-known member of the band was bassist Tony James, later of Sigue Sigue Sputnik and Sisters of Mercy. Generation X differed from most other late '70s Punk bands in that their songs were transparently inspired by mid-'60s British pop. Idol explained to the Daily Telegraph July 24, 2008: "We were saying the opposite to the Clash and the Pistols.
                  

They were singing 'No Elvis, Beatles or the Rolling Stones,' but we were honest about what we liked.

The truth was, we were all building our music on the Beatles and the Stones. I didn't want to be in an 'agit-prop' band. I hated all those people in the student union, with their crummy political views, who had votes about squatting. We wrote 'King Rocker' about John Lennon and Paul McCartney having a fight with Elvis about who was the king of rock and roll."
             

GENERATION X - GENERATION X (17 March 1978)

                     

Generation X is the first studio album by English punk rock band Generation X, produced by Martin

Rushent, it was released in the United Kingdom on 17 March 1978. The album was recorded during one week, with many of the songs being completed in one take. Bassist Tony James wrote most of the lyrics, with Idol composing the music. Andrews and drummer Mark Laff finished the songs by adding instrumental parts. On commercial release in the United Kingdom in March 1978 the album reached #29 in the Albums Chart.

Generation X – Generation X
Label: Chrysalis – CCD 1169
Format:    CD, Album, Reissue Jan 1986
Country: UK
Released: 17 March 1978   
Genre: Rock
Style: Punk

TRAXS

                        

01. From The Heart    2:14
02. One Hundred Punks    3:10
03. Listen    3:30
04. Ready Steady Go    3:03
05. Kleenex    2:25
06. Promises Promises    5:30
07. Day By Day    2:04
08. The Invisible Man    3:00
09. Kiss Me Deadly    4:24
10. Too Personal    2:20
11. Youth Youth Youth    6:15

LINE - UP

Vocals, Featuring – Billy Idol
Bass, Vocals – Tony James
Drums, Vocals – Mark Laff
Guitar, Vocals – Bob Andrews

MP3 @ 320 Size: 87.7 MB
Flac  Size: 254 MB

GENERATION X - VALLEY OF THE DOLLS (26 January 1979)

               

Valley of the Dolls is the second studio album by the British post-punk band Generation X, which

was produced by Ian Hunter. Valley of the Dolls was recorded at Wessex Sound Studios in Islington in October 1978. The record's working title was 'Intercourse (Old Meets New)', which was superseded by a name taken from a 1966 novel. Ian Hunter was commissioned as the record's producer at Tony James's request, from having been a fan of his work with Mott the Hoople in the early 1970s.

 

Generation X – Valley Of The Dolls
Label: EMI – 7243 5 38935 2 1, EMI – 538 9352
Format: CD, Album, Reissue, Remastered 2002
Country: Europe
Released: 26 January 1979
Genre: Rock
Style: New Wave, Punk

TRAXS

                           

01. Running With The Boss Sound  (Composed By – Andrews)   5:06
02. Night Of The Cadillacs    3:23
03. Paradise West    5:22
04. Friday's Angels    3:18
05. King Rocker    2:18
06. Valley Of The Dolls    3:36
07. English Dream    5:00
08. Love Like Fire    3:06
09a. The Prime Of Kenny Silvers (Part One)    3:44
09b. The Prime Of Kenny Silvers (Part Two)    3:35

BONUS TRAXS       

    
10. Gimme Some Truth    2:24
11. Shakin' All Over    2:45

LINE - UP

Billy Idol − vocals
Tony James − bass, vocals
Bob "Derwood" Andrews − guitar, vocals
Mark Laff − drums, vocals

Additional musician

Clive Bunker - drums

MP3 @ 320 Size: 102 MB
Flac  Size: 279 MB

GENERATION X - KISS ME DEADLY (23 January 1981)

                 

Kiss Me Deadly is the third studio album by the English punk rock and new wave band Gen X.

Produced by Keith Forsey it was issued in the United Kingdom on 23 January 1981. It was the final album to be released before their disbandment, though they would briefly reunite in 1993. Kiss Me Deadly failed on release to enter the UK Albums Chart, and Gen X broke up after the record's commercial failure.

Generation X - Kiss Me Deadly album cover
Label: EMI – 0946 3 11980 2 1, EMI – 911 9802
Format: CD, Album, Reissue 2005
Country: Europe
Released: 23 January 1981
Genre: Rock, Pop
Style: Punk, Pop Rock

TRAXS

                

01. Dancing With Myself    3:45
02. Untouchables    3:36
03. Happy People    4:27
04. Heavens Inside    2:57
05. Triumph    3:22
06. Revenge    4:21
07. Stars Look Down    4:38
08. What Do You Want    4:07
09. Poison    2:58
10. Oh Mother    3:33

BONUS TRAXS       

    
11. Hubble, Bubble, Toil And Dubble    8:28
12. Loopy Dub    5:04
13. Ugly Dub    3:07
14. From The Heart (Live)    2:19
15. Andy Warhol (Live)  (Written-By – David Bowie)   3:28

LINE - UP

Billy Idol − vocals, guitar
Tony James − bass guitar
Terry Chimes − drums
James Stevenson − guitar (credited on sleeve but didn't participate in the recording)

WITH:

Steve Jones − additional guitars (tracks 1, 2)
Danny Kustow − additional guitars (track 1)
John McGeoch − additional guitars (tracks 3-10)
Steve New − additional guitars (tracks 1, 2)

MP3 @ 320 Size: 140 MB
Flac  Size: 400 MB

GENERATION X - K.M.D. SWEET REVENGE (Recorded 1979/Released 14 April 1998)

                    

Sweet Revenge is the fourth and final studio album of the English 1970's post-punk band Generation

X, though it was chronologically their third recorded album. Generation X broke up during the original 1979 studio sessions that the record comprises, which were little more than demo sessions made without a producer. The material first received commercial release in contested circumstances retrospectively in 1998.

Generation X – K.M.D. - Sweet Revenge
Label:Empty Records – MT-421
Format: CD, Album 1998
Country: Germany
Released: 1979
Genre: Rock
Style: New Wave, Punk

TRAXS

               

01. Dancing With Myself    4:56
02. Modern Boys    3:23
03. Stars Look Down    4:33
04. Triumph    5:09
05. Girls Girls Girls    3:03
06. Anna Smiles    2:28
07. Flash As Hell    2:28
08. Psycho Beat    3:35
09. Cathy Come Home    3:49
10. Revenge    5:38
11. Dancing With My Wealth    5:05

LINE - UP

Vocals – Billy Idol
Bass – Tony James
Drums – Mark Laff
Guitar, Vocals – Bob Derwood Andrews (tracks: Bob Andrews)

MP3 @ 320 Size: 100 MB
Flac  Size: 301 MB