Just for a change we'll take a look at this 1980 release from Stiff Little Fingers from the flipside first. An alternative approach but the flipside is so often ignored. Sometimes that song can be a lost classic, sometimes a throwaway and sometimes a curiosity. In this case, it is safe to say that the two live tracks (both recorded in Scotland, by the way) can be regarded as curiosities especially given that Stiff Little Fingers were stalwarts of the punk movement. First off there is a relatively straight, even respectful, cover of Johnny Preston's hit "Running Bear" and then a full power to the North Pole take on "White Christmas". Songs that were favourites of your granny would not have been exactly their fans would have expected but no doubt strong drink had been consumed…
The nihilistic outlook of punk was more adequately represented by the A side "At The Edge". Despite being their fifth single and on a major record label (remember when major record labels took chances rather than glitzing up mediocrity and releasing album by bloody priests!), the sing is delivered with a rawness that is practically unthinkable these days and it gets its downbeat message of disenchantment across well ending with "… Here's somewhere I don't believe in, Wish someone would take it all away"
Nice sleeve as well. Needless to say, anything by Stiff Little Fingers is best enjoyed loud.