The Albums 1978 – 1980

This 8CD 144 track box set contains the four studio albums issued by Sham 69 between 1978-80, each one paired with a bonus live disc from the era.

Debut album Tell Us The Truth is Disc 1. This album hit No.25 during an eight week chart run in 1978. The bonus tracks include debut single “I Don’t Wanna” which was produced by Velvet Underground’s John Cale as well as a five song session recorded for the BBC Radio John Peel show. The bonus disc is the 15 track In Concert” from the legendary London Roundhouse in February 1978.

The band’s second album That’s Life reached No. 27 during an 11 week chart run and is Disc 3. This includes the hit singles “Angels With Dirty Faces” (No.19) and “Hurry Up Harry” (No.10) whilst the bonus tracks feature band anthem and Top 10 hit “If The Kids Are United”. The bonus disc is a much sought after show Sham did for the BBC In Concert programme in February 1979.

Sham’s biggest selling album was The Adventures Of Hersham Boys which reached No.8 in the summer of 1979. It includes the hit single “You’re A Better Man Than I” (No.49) whilst the bonus tracks include the No.8 hit single “Hersham Boys” and the No.18 “Questions and Answers”. The bonus tracks also include the extended mixes of “Borstal Breakout” and “If The Kids Are United” that were originally featured on a 12” given away with initial vinyl copies of the LP. The bonus disc is a 24 song set from the Glasgow Apollo on which Sex Pistols Paul Cook and Steve Jones guest on four songs that at the time were set to announce a new ‘supergroup’ the Sham Pistols.

Disc 7 is Sham’s final original era album The Game which includes the hit single “Tell The Children” (No.45). Amongst the many bonus tracks are three studio demos that were originally intended for the “Quadrophenia” film that was being made at the time. The bonus disc was recorded at London’s sadly missed Rainbow Theatre, a ‘farewell’ gig billed as “Sham’s Last Stand”.

The detailed booklet includes a new interview with guitarist and song-writer Dave Parsons in conversation with Vive La Rock journalist Phil Singleton. Reproductions of all picture sleeves are a feature of the artwork which also includes clippings and memorabilia from the time when Sham 69 ruled the charts!