now/UK/legend
The Damned must have been through approximately a million line-ups, but the Vanian/Sensible/Scabies/Gray line-up has always been my favourite, and this EP as an example of just how good they were in the early 80s.
When I had just discovered The Damned, “Disco Man” was my favourite song, and after dusting off the EP and giving it another listen, I was happy to discover that it’s still as irresistable as ever. In spite of the silly lyrics, (“Take my hand, disco man/Are you just a one night stand?”) it’s so fun and infectious that it can get away with it.
“Billy Bad Breaks” is equally catchy, a brilliant (if disposable) piece of pop, and “Citadel” is an excellent cover of the Stones song.
But the reason I went through a phase of listening to Friday the 13th on repeat a couple of years ago was “The Limit Club” – possibly one of the best songs The Damned ever did, and sadly underrated.
I had a dream or was it true
I saw the sun set low on you
In a blood red sun’s final rays
We laughed at that subtle shadow play…
“The Limit Club” is proof that The Damned really were at their peak after the punk and before the goth-pop. Melancholy, swooning, psychedelic-tinged heaven.
As another reviewer has already commented, the EP had the potential to be another good Damned album, but at least it was a hint of what was to come – 1982’sStrawberries.
1.Billy Bad Breaks
2.Disco Man
3.Limit Club
4.Citadel
THE DAMNED – Friday 13th EP 2013
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