The Godfathers: 5 Albums 1986 - 1995

 

 

The Godfathers were formed by Peter and Chris Coyne (vocals and bass, respectively) after the demise

of The Sid Presley Experience in 1985, joined by Mike Gibson (guitar), Kris Dollimore (guitar) and George Mazur (drums). Peter Coyne had briefly worked as a music journalist from 1980 to 1982 for ZigZag and Record Mirror. Fellow TSPE member, and later Godfather, Del Bartle, went on to form The Unholy Trinity with drummer Kevin Murphy.
                 

Arriving nearly a decade after the first rise of U.K. punk, London's the Godfathers were a band that shrewdly embraced punk's hard-edged sound and outlook while adding elements of hard rock, R&B,

and pop. As a consequence, they gave their music a level of craft and polish that made them accessible without blunting the rage in their best work. After independent single releases produced by Vic Maile, and collected on their debut album, Hit by Hit, they signed to Epic Records in 1987. Extensive tours of the UK, Europe and the United States followed.
                    

Single and title track of their first album "Birth, School, Work, Death" made the U.S. Billboard Top 40

in 1988 after college radio and MTV airplay but the band were less commercially successful in the UK. Released in 1989, More Songs About Love & Hate produced another hit, "She Gives Me Love," which rose to number eight on the Modern Rock chart. 
                            

Album Unreal World (1991) followed, with Chris Burrows replacing Kris Dollimore on guitar in time

for the latter, after which the Godfathers left Epic and released a live album and two studio albums on German label Intercord in the early to mid-1990s. The band ceased activity in 2000. 
                        

The complete original lineup of the Godfathers returned in 2008 for a reunion tour, but in 2009 Kris

Dollimore left, to be replaced by new guitarist Del Bartle. Drummer George Mazur bowed out not long after, with Grant Nicholas taking his place. The new lineup of the Godfathers cut a live album, Shot Live at the 100 Club, that was released in 2010 to celebrate the group's first 25 years. 
                   

The band returned to the studio for the first time in 18 years to record 2013's Jukebox Fury, and in 2017

the band's latest lineup of lead vocalist Peter Coyne, guitarists Steve Crittal and Mauro Venegas, bassist Darren Birch, and drummer Tim James delivered a studio album of all new material, A Big Bad Beautiful Noise. 

                 

01. THE GODFATHERS - HIT BY HIT 1986

                        

Containing the three songs from each of their first three single and a cover of Lennon's "Cold Turkey," This EP/mini album is as strong and consistent as their first album and sounds even fresher. 
               

                 

The Godfathers – Hit By Hit
Label: Corporate Image – GFTR CD 010
Format: CD, Compilation
Country: UK
Released: 1986
Genre: Rock
Style: Alternative Rock

TRACKS

                    

01. I Want Everything    2:55
02. This Damn Nation    2:46
03. I Want You    3:13
04. Can't Leave Her Alone    2:21
05. Sun Arise    4:20
06. Cold Turkey    4:47
07. John Barry    2:27
08. Sticks & Stones    4:04
09. I'm Unsatisfied    3:25
10. Lonely Man    4:08
11. Angela    3:08
12. Gone To Texas    3:58

LINE - UP

Peter Coyne – vocals
Chris Coyne – bass, vocals
Kris Dollimore – guitar, vocals
Mike Gibson – guitar, vocals
George Mazur – drums, percussion, vocals

ADDITIONAL MUSICIANS

Ron Carthy – trumpet on "Gone to Texas"[7]

Flac Size: 270 MB

02. THE GODFATHERS - BIRTH, SCHOOL, WORK, DEATH 1988

                    

Wearing Mafia suits and skinny ties, the Godfathers had a mean look that matched their name. And

their sound was similarly tough: brass-knuckled punches in the form of menacing, explosive riffs; venom-spewing, nihilistic vocals; body-slamming percussion. Yet the Godfathers never forget the importance of the hook. The bleak title track -- with its gloomy shouted chorus of "Birth, School, Work, Death" -- has head-bobbing basslines and a toe-tapping drum beat.
                     

The Godfathers – Birth, School, Work, Death
Label: Epic – EK 40946, Epic – 40946
Format: CD, Album
Country: US
Released: 1988
Genre: Rock
Style: Alternative Rock

TRACKS

                 

01. Birth, School, Work, Death    4:08
02. If I Only Had Time    2:30
03. Tell Me Why    2:52
04. It's So Hard (Violin – Bobby Valentino)   3:39
05. When Am I Coming Down    4:56
06. Cause I Said So    2:47
07. The Strangest Boy    3:58
08. S.T.B.    2:32
09. Just Like You    3:10
10. Obsession    3:49
11. Love Is Dead    2:42

LINE - UP

Chris Coyne – bass, vocals
Peter Coyne – vocals
Kris Dollimore – guitar, vocals
Michael Gibson – guitar, vocals
George Mazur – drums, percussion, vocals

ADDITIONAL MUSICIANS

Bobby Valentino – violin (track 4)

Flac Size: 256 MB

03. THE GODFATHERS - MORE SONGS ABOUT LOVE AND HATE 1989

                   

The Godfathers' second album for Epic, 1989's More Songs About Love & Hate, lacked an instant classic single like "Birth School Work Death" from their 1987 debut, but otherwise it came close to

matching that album's muscle and fury and confirmed the band had plenty of offer. Producer Vic Maile gave these sessions just a dash more polish than their previous work, but for the most part the small differences in the sound of the two albums seem to come from the band; two years of hard touring made the Godfathers even tighter than they were before, and their tough, meat-and-potatoes sound had picked up a bit more heft and precision along the way. 
                    

The Godfathers – More Songs About Love & Hate
Label: Lemon Recordings – CDLEM 184
Format: CD, Reissue, Remastered
Country: UK
Released: 2011
Genre: Rock
Style: Alternative Rock, Power Pop

TRACKS

                     

01. She Gives Me Love
02. Those Days Are Over
03. How Low Is Low
04. Pretty Girl
05. This Is Your Life
06. I'm Lost And Then I'm Found
07. I Don't Believe In You
08. Life Has Passed Us By
09. Walking Talking Johnny Cash Blues
10. Halfway Paralysed
11. Another You
12. Just Because You're Not...
13. Still Alone
14. Birth School Work Death (Ex Mix)
15. She Gives Me Love (High Octane Mix)
16. She Gives Me Love (Extended Mix)

LINE - UP

Peter Coyne – lead vocals
Chris Coyne – bass, backing vocals
Kris Dollimore – guitar, keyboards, backing vocals
Mike Gibson – guitar, backing vocals
George Mazur – drums, percussion, backing vocals

ADDITIONAL MUSICIANS

Harold Burgon – additional keyboards

Flac Size: 410 MB

04. THE GODFATHERS - UNREAL WORLD 1993

                          

The London-based Godfathers add guitarist Chris Burrows (in place of Kris Dollimore) to their lineup for their fourth studio album, Unreal World. Veteran producer Steve Brown (the Cult, the Pogues,

Manic Street Preachers) takes the helm and the results are never less than satisfying. The Godfathers deliver muscular and meaty rock & roll with the energy of the Ramones and the Stooges, and a nod toward '60s melodicism. The  album, which gets stronger as it progresses, ranges from the sweet, unabashed guitar pop of "Believe in Yourself" and "Drag Me Down Again" to the metallic stomp of the equally hooky "Something Good About You" and "Can't Try Harder." Unreal World is a thunderous slab of rock played with passion and sincerity. 
                             

The Godfathers – Unreal World
Label:Epic – 466952 2
Format:
CD, Album
Country:Europe
Released:1991
Genre:Rock
Style:Indie Rock

TRACKS

                    

01. Unreal World   4:07
Written-By – C. Burrows, C. Coyne, P. Coyne
02. Don't Let Me Down   3:24
Written-By – C. Burrows, C. Coyne, M. Gibson, P. Coyne
03. King Of Misery   3:48
Written-By – C. Burrows, C. Coyne, G. Mazur, M. Gibson, P. Coyne
04. Believe In Yourself   4:20
Written-By – C. Coyne, M. Gibson, P. Coyne
05. I'll Never Forget What's His Name   4:18
Written-By – C. Burrows, C. Coyne, M. Gibson, P. Coyne
06. How Does It Feel To Feel   3:46
Written-By – Garner, Phillips
07. Drag Me Down   4:02
Written-By – C. Burrows, P. Coyne
08. Something Good About You   4:20
Written-By – C. Burrows, C. Coyne, M. Gibson, P. Coyne
09. I Love What's Happening To Me   4:27
Written-By – C. Burrows, C. Coyne, M. Gibson, P. Coyne
10. Can't Try Harder   4:26
Written-By – M. Gibson
11. This Is War   4:37
Written-By – C. Burrows, C. Coyne, P. Coyne

LINE - UP

Peter Coyne – vocals
Chris Coyne – bass, vocals
Chris Burrows – guitar, vocals
Michael Gibson – guitar, vocals
George Mazur – drums, percussion, vocals

Flac Size: 318 MB

05. THE GODFATHERS - AFTERLIFE 1995

                   

Peter Coyne:  I would like The Godfathers to be remembered as a great British rock & roll band who

made some fantastic singles & classic albums – right from the start to the very end. I would also like us to be remembered as a brilliant, kick ass live band who brought a lot of pleasure to punters all round the world. On my gravestone you can chisel “He came, he saw, he’s gone – awopbopalubopalopbamboom!”
                        

Godfathers – Afterlife
Label: Intercord Tonträger GmbH – INT 845.255
Format: CD, Album, Limited Edition
Country: Europe
Released: 1995
Genre: Rock
Style: Alternative, Indie

TRACKS

                  

01. Love Is Real    3:04
02. Hear What I Say    5:25
03. That Special Feeling    3:47
04. I Can't Hear You    3:04
05. You're My Friend    4:54
06. Close To Jesus    4:05
07. I'm Not Well    4:11
08. Mother Nicotine    3:45
09. Time's Not On Your Side    4:21
10. Give Me Something    3:56
11. Afterlife    5:33

LINE - UP

Vocals – Peter Coyne
Bass, Vocals, Accordion – Chris Coyne 
Drums, Percussion, Vocals – Grant Nicholas 
Guitar, Harmonica, Vocals – Paul Ronney
Guitar, Vocals – Ricky Newson (Ronnie Rocka)

Flac Size: 344 MB

 THE GODFATHERS "40th ANNIVERSARY" (UK) LIVE IN ATHENS! Τετάρτη 24 Σεπτεμβρίου 2025 | Piraeus Academy | Αθήνα

 - Προπώληση: 22 ευρώ - Ταμείο: 25 ευρώ

Lords Of The New Church: Lords Of The New Church 1982 + Is Nothing Sacred? 1983

 

Lords of the New Church were a British-American rock band. A supergroup, the line-up originally consisted of four musicians from 1970s punk bands. This line-up comprised vocalist Stiv Bators (ex-the Dead Boys), guitarist Brian James (ex-the Damned), bassist Dave Tregunna

(ex-Sham 69) and drummer Nick Turner (ex-the Barracudas). Launched in 1981, the band released three studio albums prior to their dissolution in 1989. During this time, they underwent several line-up changes. the Lords' music had elements of punk, it was more melodic, better-produced, and played with a higher degree of professionalism. This alienated some of the hardcore punk audience, but brought the Lords a much wider and more diverse fan base. 
                

By the time the Lords' self-titled debut album appeared in 1982, Turner had replaced Scabies to

form the lineup that would remain fixed throughout the band's most productive years.Though the album was well-received, the Lords became more notorious for their live shows, or more specifically for Bators's crazed abandon as a performer. A devotee of Iggy Pop, Bators had in his Dead Boys days developed a reputation for being unafraid to risk his life in pursuit of rock & roll glory. 
              

He suffered innumerable on-stage injuries during his career, the most famous being the time he

reportedly nearly hung himself during a Lords show. As the story goes, a favorite stunt of Bators' where he looped the mic cord around his neck went awry, resulting in his being clinically dead for several minutes. 
              

Is Nothing Sacred?, their second album released in September 1983, saw the band diversifying

musically, incorporating new wave, classic rock and ska, along with synths, horns and a greater emphasis on the bass. Like their first album, Is Nothing Sacred? was produced by the band themselves, except for its first single - a cover version of "Live for Today" (No. 91 UK) - which was produced by Todd Rundgren. Their third album, 1984's The Method to Our Madness, peaked at No. 158 on the US Billboard 200, while the single "M Style" reached No. 97 on the UK Single Chart. 
                    

Bators died after being struck by a car in Paris in 1990. James said in 2007: "The only other person

I've really been able to write with was Stiv Bators ... Me and Stiv were fantastic. I've never really had that with anybody else. ... it was like the riff master and the lyric master working together."
                     

LORDS OF THE NEW CHURCH - LORDS OF THE NEW CHURCH 1982 (SPECIAL EDITION) 2018

                     

Although their roots were in punk rock, their debut album announced to the world that the Lords of the New Church were not your average punk band. They had ambitions: they would be the last beacon of truth in a world nearing its end. And while you can't call The Lords of the New Church entirely successful -- for every high point like "Open Your Eyes" or "Russian Roulette" there's a clunker like "Portobello" or "Eat Your Heart Out" -- you can't fault their effort. Guitarist Brian James and the Tregunna/Turner rhythm section provide a wide-screen setting, with guest musicians adding synths and horns to the guitar bass, and drums foundation.
                         

                 

Lords Of The New Church – Lords Of The New Church Special Edition
Label: Blixa Sounds – ETA 806
Format: CD, Album, Reissue, Remastered Jul 20, 2018
Country: US
Released: 1982    
Genre: Rock
Style: Rock & Roll, Punk

CD1. LORDS OF THE NEW CHURCH LP originally released by Illegal / I.R.S. records in 1982    

                  

01. New Church   3:31
Written-By – James, Bator
02. Russian Roulette   3:48
Written-By – Chimes, T. James
03. Question Of Temperature   2:56
Written-By – Henny, Schnug, Appel
04. Eat Your Heart Out   2:35
Written-By – James, Bator
05. Portobello   2:59
Written-By – James, Bator
06. Open Your Eyes   3:30
Written-By – James, Bator
07. Livin' On Livin'   3:25
Written-By – James, Bator
08. Li'l Boys Plays With Dolls   3:42
Written-By – James, Bator
09. Apocalypso   3:11
Written-By – James, Bator
10. Holy War   4:25
Written-By – James, Bator

BONUS TRAXS        

    
11. Girls Girls Girls   3:03
Written-By – James, Bator
12. Young Don't Cry   3:44
Written-By – James, Bator
13. Open Your Eyes (Single Version)   3:16
Written-By – James, Bator

Flac Size: 365 MB
            
CD2. LIVE FROM MY FATHER's PLACE OCTOBER, 1982    

                    

01. New Church   4:04
Written-By – James, Bator
02. Question Of Temperature   3:03
Written-By – Henny, Schnug, Appel
03. Girls Girls Girls   3:02
Written-By – James, Bator
04. Livin' On Livin'   3:16
Written-By – James, Bator
05. Eat Your Heart Out   3:02
Written-By – James, Bator
06. Russian Roulette   3:33
Written-By – Chimes, T. James
07. Fortune Teller   2:57
Written-By – Toussaint
08. Open Your Eyes   3:37
Written-By – James, Bator
09. Li'l Boys Plays With Dolls   3:26
Written-By – James, Bator
10. Holy War   6:08
Written-By – James, Bator
11. Portobello   2:32
Written-By – James, Bator
12. Apocalypso   3:02
Written-By – James, Bator
13. New Church   4:40 
Written-By – James, Bator

Flac Size: 297 MB

OPEN YOUR EYES LYRICS

                 

Video games train the kids for war
Army chic in high-fashion stores
Law and order's done their job
Prisons filled while the rich still rob

                           

      

Assassination politics
Violence rules within' our nation's midst
Well ignorance is their power tool
You'll only know what they want you to know

                  

The television cannot lie
Controlling media with smokescreen eyes
Nuclear politicians picture show
The acting's lousy but the blind don't know

                

Open your eyes
See the lies right in front of ya
Open your eyes

                 

They scare us all with threats of war
So we forget just how bad things are
You taste the fear when you're all alone
They gonna git'cha when you're on your own

                

The silence of conspiracy
Slaughtered on the altar of apathy
You gotta wake up from your sleep
'Cause meek inherits earth six feet deep

                      

Open your eyes see the lies right in front of ya
Open your eyes

LINE - UP

Vocals – Stiv Bators
Bass Guitar, Backing Vocals – Dave Tregunna
Drums, Backing Vocals – Nicky Turner
Guitar, Backing Vocals – Brian James

LORDS OF THE NEW CHURCH - IS NOTHING SACRED? 1983

          

"Dance with Me" -- funky, slinky, and goth-tinged with lyrics that invoke voodoo and bondage -- is one of the Lords' best songs and, coincidentally, one of their biggest hits. "Live for Today," a surprisingly straight cover of the Grass Roots classic with slick production and keyboards by Todd Rundgren, closes the album on an uplifting though incongruous note. 
             

The Lords Of The New Church – Is Nothing Sacred?
Label: Track Record – TRK 1022CD
Format:    CD, Album, Reissue, Remastered 2003
Country: UK
Released: 1983    
Genre: Rock
Style: Rock & Roll, Punk

TRAXS

              

01. Dance With Me    3:24
02. Bad Timing    3:40
03. Johnny Too Bad    3:58
04. Don't Worry Children    3:43
05. The Night Is Calling    4:56
06. Black Girl White Girl    3:40
07. Goin' Downtown    3:50
08. Tale Of Two Cities    4:21
09. World Without End    5:26
10. Partners In Crime    2:41
11. Live For Today   3:42
Engineer [Additional] – Chris Anderson
Producer, Engineer, Synthesizer – Todd Rundgren
12. Opening Nightmares    3:41
13. Sorry For The Man    5:51
14. Lord's Prayer    5:36

LINE - UP

Lead Vocals – Stiv Bator
Alto Saxophone, Trumpet – Simon Lloyd
Bass Guitar, Backing Vocals – Dave Tregunna
Drums, Backing Vocals – Nicky Turner
Synthesizer, Keyboards – Matt Black
Tenor Saxophone, Trumpet – Rudi Thomson
Guitar, Backing Vocals – Brian James

NOTES

Track 11 recorded at Utopia Sound Studio, Lake Hill, N.Y. and mastered at Sterling Sound, N.Y.C.
Inner spine reads: "Truth is the sword of us all".
Tracks 12 to 14 are bonus for this reissue but aren't listed as such on the rear.

Flac Size: 442 MB