LP Newtown Neurotics – Beggars Can Be Choosers

LP Newtown Neurotics – Beggars Can Be Choosers

label: Radiation Reissues – RRS37

format: vinyl, LP, album, reissue

released: 2020 (originally 1983 Razor Records)

Limited reissue with poster insert.

The first album by seminal political power punk trio Newtown Neurotics, ‚Beggars Can Be Choosers‘, hit no. 6 in the UK independent charts in 1983. Formed in 1979 by vocalist and guitarist Steve Drewett, whose socialist-flavoured lyrics -never overbearing- have been grouped with those of Easterhouse, Billy Bragg or the Housemartins.

The Neurotics sounded like a synthesis of everything cool in the first wave of punk: from The Ramones to The Clash to mid-period Undertones; sharp-edged, but still fun-sounding, with great hooks and melodies and socially aware lyrics. Criminally underrated Ramones-influenced political pop-punk. Titles like ‚Living With Unemployment‘ and ‚Get Up And Fight‘ speak for themselves.