Chiswick Story

Full title: The Chiswick Story--Adventures Of An Independent Record Label 1975-1982.
This is a compilation of singles released by the British independent punk label Chiswick. Formed in 1975 by Ted Carroll, owner of the famous Rock On record stall in London, and Roger Armstrong, an employee at Rock On, Chiswick Records was instrumental in igniting the punk revolution that shook the U.K. in 1976-77.
Personnel: Carla Olson (vocals, guitar, 12-string guitar); Jakko M. Jakszyk (vocals, guitar, balalaika, keyboards); Gus Campbell, Dominique Guillon, Johnny Guitar, Alan Lee Shaw, Peter Holidai, Dan Kelleher, Jesse Hector, Art Noveau, Bill Glancy, Jeff Hill, Nigel Dixon, Joe Strummer, Kathy Valentine, P. Paul Fenech, Peter Scott, Philip Chevron, Rob Keyloch, Roddy Radiation, Zenon de Fleur, Billy Bragg, Clive Timperley, Captain Sensible (vocals, guitar); Paul Roberts (vocals, acoustic guitar); Mike Spenser (vocals, harp); Johnny Stud (vocals, saxophone); Pete Wingfield (vocals, piano); S.D.R. Gol'fish, Martin Gordon (vocals, keyboards); R. Handley, Dominique "Mino" Quertier (vocals, drums); Slik, Dave Anian, Dave Vanian, Griff Fender, Rocky Sharpe, Scott Sterling, K.Y. McKay, Bob Piazza, Nigel Lewis , Steve Rapid, Mandy Doubt, Lavern Brown, Dave Tice, Jim Kerr, Johnny Moped, Lemmy, Andy Ellison, Shane MacGowan, TV Smith , Terry Woods, Twink (vocals); Big Den (bass voice, saxophone); Bob Strain (guitar, drums); Chris Rae, Guy Gremy, Mark Byers, "Fast" Eddie Clarke , Gavin Douglas, Slimy Toad, Charlie Burchill, Ian MacLeod, Jeff Coleman, Erik Russell, Mick Dyche, Nico Ramsden, Larry "Rhino" Rheinhart, John Milarky, Loz Netto, Graham Foster, Michael Lewis, Rhino 39, Wiggy (guitar); Nick Parker, Ben Mandelson (violin); Paddy Maloney, Paddy Moloney (Uilleann pipe); Mike Paice (harmonica, saxophone); Ruan O'Lochlainn, Andy Hamilton, Andy Hamilton, Steve Gregory , Howie Casey (saxophone); Ted Emmett (trumpet); Annie Whitehead (trombone); Ben Barson, David Provost (piano); Alan Feldman (electric piano); Nick Ash, Mel Wesson, Robert Ash, Slim (keyboards); Keith Miller (synthesizer); Flasher (bass guitar); Markus Cuff (drums, percussion); Stuart Elliot, Paul Balbi, Ron Griffin, Mark Robertson , Bubbles, Steve Harris , Dave Berk, Tommy Riley, Alan Scully, Rod Latter, Gary Anderson, Nigel Wilkinson, Brian McGee , Jimmy Crashe, Johnnie Kilometer, Phil Hardy, Pete Davies, Luigi Salvoni, Grinny, Paul Simon, Phil "Philthy Animal" Taylor, Rat Scabies, Roger Williams , Steve Parry, Clem Cattini, Pete Davis, Dave Sinclair , Richard Dudanski (drums); Jim Nellis, Mark Megaray, Noel McCalla, Barbara Gaskin (background vocals).
Audio Remixers: Jeremy Green; Bill Price .
Liner Note Author: Roger Armstrong.
Unknown Contributor Roles: Jakko M. Jakszyk; Johnny Moped; Little Bob Story; Amazorblades; Motörhead; Paddy Moloney; Radio Stars; Rocky Sharpe & the Replays; Sniff 'n' the Tears; TV Smith's Explorers; Terry Woods; Gorillas; The Nips; Rings; The Textones; Two Two; Jon Clarke; The 101'ers.
Arranger: Jakko M. Jakszyk.
You could call Chiswick Stiff's poorer brother and, to an extent, you'd be right, but it gets the time line slightly wrong. Chiswick actually beat Stiff to the starting gate, releasing the Count Bishops' rip-roaring "Route 66"/"Teenage Letter" in November of 1975. Seven months later, they had the first single from Joe Strummer's 101ers -- the infectious "Keys to Your Heart" -- then followed it up with the updated glam scuzz of Gorillas' "She's My Gal," neatly establishing an old-time rock & roll aesthetic the label never shook. Caught at the crossroads between pub rock and punk rock, Chiswick initially seemed like trailblazers, but they were soon overshadowed by Stiff, who joyfully played fast and loose with the rules, leading to arguably the first British punk single in the Damned's "New Rose." The Damned later signed to Chiswick but by the time the group's "Smash It Up" turned into a Top 40 hit in 1979, Chiswick had long since established itself as an oddity yo-yoing between odes to oldies, and stilted reconciliations with new wave. All this is chronicled on Ace's 2013 update of the 1992 compilation The Chiswick Story, which tells the tale from that first Count Bishops 7" to Jakko's "Grab What You Can" from 1982. Chiswick shuttered not long after that Jakko single, by which point it had been a long, long time since they were a driving force in British rock but, as this generous 51-track collection proves, they built up a nice catalog. True, there's a sneaking nostalgia for the years before the Beatles -- most prominent in Rocky Sharpe & the Replays, a persistent presence throughout Chiswick's story, and a band that toward the end of their run started to sound like a British Sha-Na-Na -- and the label's attempts at synthesized pop were gangly, but that's part of the Chiswick charm: after two years of blazing glory, they settled into a British eccentricity that remains endearing, if slightly bewildering, all these years later. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine