Where did it go? Why isn't this in print anymore? Why did they change the version of Down At The Rock and Roll Club on the CD? Why the revised album cover? I don't have any answers, but I do have this on vinyl and it's just as important as Television's Marquee Moon, albeit from a completely different world.
The story goes that Hell, as a member of Television, left after every one of his contributions was removed from their set list, except for Blank Generation, and when that went there was no reason to stay. With that said, it's easy to understand the familial lineage between these songs and Television's, although it seems less likely that Hell's ousting was due to a rivalry and more because his songs were far poppier than what Verlaine and company were creating. Live and learn, for better or worse. In Hell's favor, he got Bob Quine and the future Marky Ramone, as well as the song that made him famous.
This is punk when it wasn't a catch-all buzzword, this is when it was rock and roll with an edge. Tom Petty said punk was rock without the sex, though I'd imagine he might not have been paying that close of attention, or maybe he simply didn't listen to Richard Hell.
This is a rip of an original US Sire Records pressing of Blank Generation. It's been declicked but I'm picky about my settings so I'm sure you'll be satisfied. Enjoy!
Richard Hell & The Voidoids - Blank Generation
01 Love Comes In Spurts
02 Liars Beware
03 New Pleasure
04 Betrayal Takes Two
05 Down At The Rock and Roll Club
06 Who Says?
07 Blank Generation
08 Walking On The Water
09 The Plan
10 Another World
Anyone else think Betrayal Takes Two sounds like it could have been a Television song?
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