Nobody Gets In On The Guest List! (Throbbing Lobster Records) 1984, Lets Breed! (Throbbing Lobster Records) 1984.

Last Days Reader: So what do we have here Joe? Whats the deal with the Lobsters?

Joe: These Throbbing Lobster compilations used to line the record bins all over the place. It seemed like wherever I went from St Louis to Chicago to Lawrence to Columbus to Boston back in the 1980s, I would be thumbing through the racks of the “Punk/Underground” section at some record store and inevitably, when I got to the compilations, a Lobster would be staring me in the face.

Last Days Reader: Why, were there so many of them?

Joe: Well apparently the first Throbbing Lobster compilation entitled Nobody Gets In On The Guest List was a big seller, at least in the underground 1980′s sense, racking up about 4000 sales nationally. My gut feeling is that about 90% of these purchases, were brought home, listened to once or twice and then thrown into the “sell at the record store next time I need some beer” pile. They were then subsequently sold to the afformentioned record stores that I found myself frequenting.

Last Days Reader: So do these records suck or what? Why were people selling them back in droves? Would you knowingly post something on Last Days that sucks?

Joe: Of course not. That is an insane question. These records do not suck. In fact, they are quite good in spots. However, they highlight a particular issue that was prevalent in underground music in the 1980s that I would like to offer some insight upon.

Last Days Reader: What would that be?

Joe: Well these bands were by and large from Boston and in Boston at this time, as well as the midwest, there were a lot of rock-n-roll type bands that played pseudo garage rock and/or sloppy rock-n-roll. Some of them were quite good regardless of what some people will tell you. Others, were just shitty. Most were in the middle somewhere and the effect, especially in Boston and in the midwest, was that it all became a little generic and bland. Sometimes, it was hard to even tell these types of bands apart. When I would hear a band like say, Scruffy The Cat or The Flies or for that matter, a band like Green on Red or later Dream Syndicate, it wasn’t like they were bad. I just couldn’t get fired up about it because it was all a bit nondescript to me. So I think a lot of kids bought these comps expecting more dynamic, hardcore kicks and just didn’t have the patience to give the music contained on them a chance. Myself included. So we sold them back to the record store and bought Uniform Choice LPs.

Last Days Reader: Ahhhhhh so this is where you reveal that you were wrong and that these albums are unheralded classics, right? I’ve been reading this site long enough to know what you are up to. This is your schtick.

Joe: Ummm yeah. These records are OK. I was going to post them in their entirety but they are already available on the internet for sale. I picked them up recently in Denver in a used record bin. There was a third release as well entitled Claws that most of us have seen at least once that I did not find.

Now as a snapshot of the mid-80s underground scene, these are amazingly accurate. They capture the moment right before bands like Scratch Acid and The Butthole Surfers started making things much more interesting. And really there are some very cool tracks on these two comps. Especially the first one. Baby’s Arm, The Turbines, The Underacheivers are all fun punk rock bands. Noise Pencil is one of those total retardo-obscurities. Worth checking out as well. Christmas is awesome as always. Nuff said.

Nobody Gets In On The Guest List!

The Flies – In The Dark
The Underachievers – I’ll Be There For You
The Hopelessly Obscure – She’s My Best Bette
The Prime Movers – Matter Of Time
Christmas – Our Mutual Friend
Wild Kingdom – The Way To Love
21-645 – Red Red
The Turbines – I Get Excited
Classic Ruins – Let’s Get Dull
Johnny & The Jumper Cables – Not Your Kind
Chain Link Fence – The Happening
Holy Cow – Zucchini Dance
Noise Pencil – Weirton, West Virginia
Baby’s Arm – I’m A Wimp

Lets Breed!

Scruffy the Cat – Oldest Fire in the World
Chain Link Fence – All Except You
Noonday Underground – Simple Man
Christmas – Boy’s Town Work Song
The Odds – Cryin’ Shame
The Outlets – Not Too Late
The Unattached – Close Your Eyes
Blackjacks – (That’s Why I Always) Dress in Black
Busted Statues – Heart Upside Down
The Underachievers – Wasted Youth
Flies – Say You Love Me
The Edge – The Recruiter
Dumptruck – Thanksgiving
Prime Movers (1981) – See That Girl