Request a record from 1976-1981

Three men, one studio and nine records. Co-hosts Tim Young (Ipswich Town fan) and Steve Green (Colchester United fan) are joined by producer and third man Luke Fitch (Ipswich Town fan) for another loud, affectionate rummage through punk rock's golden years of 1976 to 1981. As ever, football loyalties are left at the door, though not very far.

The show opens at full throttle with Dead Boys' "Sonic Reducer", the sneering, Cleveland-by-way-of-New York classic that sets the tone for the hour. Tim and Steve debate how American punk compares with the British version, and whether anyone sounded quite as dangerous as Stiv Bators fronting a band at their snarling best. That thread pays off later when Bators returns with his solo track "It's Cold Outside", a darker, more melodic side of a man usually remembered for his stage antics.

In between, the playlist swerves into smarter territory. XTC's "Statue of Liberty" prompts a chat about the band's quirky, art-school take on the new wave, while The Records' "Starry Eyes" gets the "how was this not a bigger hit?" treatment, with the panel agreeing that power pop deserves more love than it gets. Elvis Costello's "Mystery Dance" closes the show in breathless style, a reminder that his debut sounded like it was recorded by a man in a hurry with plenty to say.

The Boomtown Rats' "She's So Modern" brings some swagger, and the conversation turns to Bob Geldof's band as the Irish contingent of the punk and new wave class. Devo's "Whip It" provides the episode's biggest left turn, an Akron oddity that somehow became a global novelty smash. Is it punk? Is it even rock? The three of them argue it out, and nobody wins. The Stranglers' "Sometimes" brings the menace back, with Tim making the case for the band's keyboard-heavy sound as the most underrated in the genre.

Stiff Little Fingers feature with "Strummerville", the band's heartfelt tribute to Joe Strummer. It's a later track than the rest of the playlist, but it fits the episode's spirit, and it leads into a reflective moment about what The Clash and their peers meant to a generation of kids picking up guitars in towns like Colchester and Ipswich.

Throughout, the trio swap stories about first gigs, first records and the local scenes that shaped them. Expect the usual good-natured banter across the A12, plenty of music nerdery and a few strong opinions about which tracks aged best.

Whether you're a lifelong punk, a casual new wave fan or just here for the rivalry, this episode delivers nine tracks, three voices and one very loud argument about what counts as punk. Crank it up.

www.alternativecolchester.co.uk

Request a record from 1976-1981

Steve, Tim and Nicky (in Luke’s absence) are joined by Ian Templeton who has just finished writing his latest book, Barbed Wire Love - A People’s History of Stiff Little Fingers which is about the band's early years, covering the beginning through to 1983. Containing more than 500 fan stories, unseen photographs, recollections from friends and associates, and a foreword by SLF singer, songwriter, and guitarist Jake Burns, this is the Stiff Little Fingers story as it’s never been told before.

Compiled and edited by Ian, the book is published by Spenwood Books on March 5, 2027. And can be pre-ordered here: https://burningshed.com/ian-templeton_barbed-wire-love_book @topfans

In this episode Ian chooses his current favourite SLF record and 5 non SLF tracks from 1976-81. He talks about the book, SLF, some great anecdotes from his punk past and even his beloved Bristol Rovers. We have invited him back to tell us more in a few episodes time.

www.alternativecolchester.co.uk

Request a record from 1976-1981

Tim and producer Luke are once again flying the flag for Ipswich Town, while Steve remains firmly in the Colchester United camp — and refuses to accept that the Tractor Boys are any more important than the U’s. Expect plenty of football banter between the three, with the usual good-natured arguments about who really matters in the blue corner of East Anglia.

The music this time starts with The Sports’ Who Listens To The Radio, before taking in Menace, The Members and Plymouth punks Sabotage, whose When The War Is Over provides a reminder that the punk scene wasn’t confined to London.

The Dils bring the Class War, while the obligatory Stiff Little Fingers track arrives with Fly the Flag. Tubeway Army’s That’s Too Bad follows, before The Clash deliver Garageland and Social Distortion bring things to a close with 1945.

The soundtrack, in order:

1. The Sports – Who Listens To The Radio
2. Menace – Last Year’s Youth
3. The Members – Goodbye To The Job
4. Sabotage – When The War Is Over
5. The Dils – Class War
6. Stiff Little Fingers – Fly the Flag
7. Tubeway Army – That’s Too Bad
8. The Clash – Garageland
9. Social Distortion – 1945

Football loyalties, punk records and the continuing question of whether Colchester United deserve to be mentioned in the same breath as Ipswich Town. They do, according to Steve. Tim and Luke may have other ideas.

www.alternativecolchester.co.uk