The Russell Brothers - The Party Scene

The Russell Brothers: "The Party Scene 12" Single"
Portrait, 1983 (Hip Hop)

The Party Scene (SV) (9.5 MB)

This 12" single is the only release by The Russell Brothers, and as far as I know, it was merely a demo that wasn't officially released. That is a huge shame, as this record is simply outstanding considering the date of it's release, 1983. The production is years ahead of its time, and no other early hip hop producers came near making a sound like this. The lyrics come off as nearly cliché, but I'm sure that at the time of the single's release they were more original. Even by now, 23 years later, this single has not gained the recognition it deserves, or even reached many fans of early hip hop who would greatly enjoy it.

The Screamers - In A Better World / Vertigo

The Screamers: "Demos, 1977-78"
N/A, 1996 (Synth Punk)

In A Better World (5.28 MB)
Vertigo (4.89 MB)

Although the Screamers never released an album, they were one of the biggest bands of the late 70's LA punk scene. All of the tracks on this demo were recorded "live" in one session during the Summer of 1978, and recorded on a 4 track. This demo is a good introduction to the band, seeing that it is the closest thing to a studio album they made. The absence of guitar and bass, which seem to almost be standard in punk music, and the presence of keyboards gives this band an amazing sound that has more intensity than any other punk group of the era. In my opinion, both of these tracks are the two most energetic on the demo, but don't let that fool you. The Screamers possesed an original sound that integrated complex musicianship and had much more to offer than your average punk band.