Kids With Feelings

Sham 69 : If The Kids Are United

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You won't find better cockney punk than Sham 69 guv'nor. The band released their quintessential teen anthem, "If The Kids Are United", on July 14 1978. This might have been the song that made Sham 69 working class heroes in America, but singer Jimmy Pursey's role in a big fight that went down on the roof of the Vortex a year earlier led U.S. authorities to deny him entrance.

Intellectuals at the time called Sham 69 the Slade of punk. Today that would be a complement.

Who's Got a Dirty Face Then?

Sham 69 : Angels with Dirty Faces

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On May 9 Sham 69 was celebrating a its first single to enter the U.K. charts, "Angels With Dirty Faces". Inspired by a James Cagney movie poster, the U.K. #19 hit would be the first of six punk rock singles to grace the U.K. Top 20. See Jimmy Pursey give it everything he's got in the Top of the Pops appearance below. 

Sitting In This Cell

Sham 69 :  Borstal Breakout

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On February 12, 1978 the English punk band Sham 69 played London's Roundhouse, a week before releasing their debut album, the U.K #25 half studio/half live hit Tell Us The Truth. Sham 69 may not have seemed as smart as The Jam or The Sex Pistols but that was kind of the point. They played punk tunes that often ended in football stadium style chants because that's what the kids wanted. Sham 69 would release two albums in 1978. And for anyone who doubted the band's intellect, the second one, That's Life, would be a concept album about a day in the life of a punk rocker.

In case you're wondering how a singer makes sure he's heard over a punk rock band, Jimmy Pursey is singing into two mics. The video is also notable because there is no sign of the violence that would marr most of their live shows.