Artist:  Surfin' Dave and the Absent Legends

Title:  In Search of a Decent Haircut

Date:  1985

Label:  Crammed Discs   CRAM041LP

Photography:  Kevin De Niro

Graphics:  John Bronson/Ian McQueen 

Notes:  Subtitled "Twelve Tales of Teen Angst" this import from Holland is a hoot from start to finish. It appears that this lad from Leeds and his mates can name drop with the biggies (the Clash, Billy Bragg) and aspire to be as big as Wreckless Eric. Clever pop with a touch of surf sensibility and a wry sense of the absurd makes for an entertaining record. It was worth the price just for the classic song Snack Bar concerning the unrequited love of our hero for the lass who has the concession down at the beach. Those fateful words never rang more true, "I'm going down to the ocean to drown, strapped to my old surf board". I don't know if this was ever released on CD, I found my vinyl copy at Tower Records when they were dumping all of their old records at pennies for the pound. Spectacular if you can find it.

Here's a note submitted by Rob:

Chris Hackett went on to play with Henry Rollins.
Jez Willis went on to found Utah Saints.

Line Up:

Chris Haskett: assorted guitars, noises and things?
Mick Green: drums, backing vocals and percussive noises
David Coleman: singing, guitaring
Jezz Willis: bass noises, backing vocals

Track Listing

Side 1

Living White Hell
Stateside Centre
Pistols at Dawn
Snack Bar
Percolator
Release Me
New Mexico (A Go-Go)

Side 2

Surfin' Shirt
Exchange and Mart
Do the Bus Stop
Grey Skies
Health Farm
The Bench