The Ruts - Classic or Dud?

most underrated British punk band?

classic. mentioned in this thread but never one of their own

Classic - and only one album with the original lineup to show for it. Which has been reissued in many different permutations but NEVER with all the non-LP tracks, and I think it could all fit on one disc for crying out loud!

The Ruts Peel Sessions disc was one of the hardest things I ever found, even with the help of the net. But that was before everyone was ripping and selling. So go find it!

I'm surprised they're seen as a fairly minor band these days.

I mean "In A Rut", "Babylon's Burning" and "Staring at the Rude Boys" are all pretty epochal, aren't they?

Yep, classic. John Robb's band Gold Blade sounded a lot like the Ruts when I saw them last time.

This does a pretty good job of rounding up the non-LP songs, including the rare Stepping Bondage single.

Just thinking really how Malcolm Owen must be the least-lionised rock casualty of them all.

I mean he died young in a deeply rock'n'roll way, left a pretty solid (if slim) catalogue, and was by all accounts a very charismatic person.

Did that "Control" fella steal all his limelight?

See The Damned's "Limit Club" for a Malcolm tribute.

I can't believe I haven't posted on here yet. Absolutely fantastic band and I'll take them over the frickin' Clash any day of the week.

listening to the peel sessions LP right now. SUCH A RAD BAND.

yeah

Could do with a proper anthology that collects "The Crack" along with all their singles. I think all that stuff is available but scattered amongst many releases.

Thinking about this again... anyone know what releases contain their entire recorded legacy? I think all you need is "The Crack/Grin And Bear It" 2-on-1 CD and "The Punk Singles Collection".

Yeah, I would say that as well. I often wonder what would have happened to this band if Malcolm Owen hadn't had such a drug problem; my dad saw them live back in the late '70s and he's raved about that gig ever since!

Anyone have opinions on the two Ruts DC albums?

Decent dub, but nothing like the original Ruts. I enjoyed the recent reissue of Animal Now.

New 4CD box set, "The Virgin Years" coming out on 10/9. Contains The Crack, Grin & Bear It, BBC Sessions and a live gig. I can't seem to find a tracklisting yet, though.

I ordered it from Amazon.co.uk and it took a MONTH to get here but it finally did! This is the fourth time I've bought The Crack, but overall worth it, with nice bonus tracks on each disc. Back when I was doing my Fester's Bucket O' Nasties radio show in the late 80s, the only thing on CD was The Peel Sessions, which got heavy rotation on my show until I found a vinyl copy of The Crack. At The BBC adds 9 tracks of a live performance that I don't recall ever hearing before. Very nice. Liner notes by Roland Link, who recently wrote Love In Vain - The Story Of The Ruts & Ruts D.C. I really want to read that, but only available in hardcover in UK for ridiculously high price. I don't know why it's not on Kindle.