The Black 45 e.p. 7" EP 1979 Fresh Records*
This may well be one of the earliest punk records to romanticize the darkside (aside from the Damned whose darkside was always somewhat latent), the "gothic" side by singing of witch craft (The Black Cat) and using haunting gothic imagery. For the most part though all of the songs deal with social and political issues, such as media manipulation (Message Distortion) and brainless disco/yuppies. This is the bulk of UK Decay's earliest material on one EP. Personaly I think that the tracks on the previous split 7" were much more precise and energetic, but this is a gem.

*re-issued on UK Decay records after the band split.

For My Country / Unwind 7" EP 1979 Fresh Records*
"For My Country" is an upbeat, anthemic song that probably gave them a lot of popularity in the punk scene do to its straightforward anti-political/nationalism. It got them their only US tour with the Dead Kennedys. It is musically reminiscent of the reggae part of punk rocks roots and the Clash. This song was featured on the "Punk and Disorderly #I" compilation.

*re-issued on UK Decay records after the band split.

Unexpected Guest / Dresden single 1981
"Unexpected Guest", a single from "For Madmen Only", though a different version. This is a brooding song that signals UK Decay's transmogrification into a literally gothic oriented sound and lyrical style. But the theatrics of UK Decay had been moving them in this direction for some time.

"Dresden", about war criminals not being brought to justice, is a strict B-side and does not appear on "For Madmen Only".

'Dresden' is about war crimes but not in the way you mean - The [BRITISH] Royal Air Force dropped tons of incendiary bombs on the German city of Dresden during WWII, which had no military or strategic importance creating a fire storm which incinerated practically the whole population.

-Nick

Bassist Segovia played for both tracks but is thanked in the credits "RIP" - Not actually dead, he left to get married.

Sexual/Twist in the Tale single 1981 Fresh Records
Featuring "Sexual" from thier LP (next), and B-side "Twist in the Tale", a non-LP track. New bassist Eddie Branch, "Twiggy". The cover of Sexual is a detail from 'Diana of Ephesus' by Aristide Sartorio.

Tracks
•Duel
•Battle of the Elements
•Shattered
•Stage Struck
•Last in the House of Flames

•Unexpected Guest
•Sexual
•Dorian
•Decadence
•Mayday Malady
•For Madmen Only

For Madmen Only LP 1981 Fresh Records
Their only full album. Bassist Segovia left the band halfway through the recording process for a joband a wife, replaced for gigs by Lol from another Luton band, the Statics, then Creeton (from the USA tour) who played on half of this album, and then Eddie Branch (Twiggy) on the other half. Eddie would be their permanent bassist from here on in. He also played breifly with Kommunity FK years later, and more steadily, Peter Murphy. The music is both atmospheric and high energy and complex, an obvious graduation from typical punk music. This is one of the best albums to get for a punk/goth crossover. Songs "Duel" and "Dorian" while complete opposites of each other are two standout tracks, not to mention "Sexual" and "For Madmen Only".

The cover painting is 'The Disintegration of Faith' by Dutch artist Jan Toorop.

Tracks
•Werewolf

•Jerusalem Over
(The White Cliffs of Dover)
•Rising from the Dead
•Testament

Tracks
Side A:
 •Unwind
 •Werewolf
 •Dresden
 •Barbarian
 •Barbarians
 •Sexual
 •Stage Struck
 •Rising From The Dead
 •Twist In The Tale
Side B:
 •Unexpected Guest
 •Testament
 •Black Cat
 •UK Decay
 •For My Country
 •Unwind

Gothic Rock #1
(click to buy on CDNOW) Cleopatra's legendary compilation. UK Decay appears with a single track, "Testament" from their EP entitled "Rising from the Dread". Click Here for more info on the Gothic Rock compilations.

Punk and Disorderly #1
A collection of both British and American punk bands, including among others Channel 3, The Dead Kennedys, and the Addicts. "For My Country" appears on this comp. There were several more volumes of Punk and Disorderly compilations, though predominantly British, all rather good, but no more UK Decay.

The Whip
"Slavedrive" appeared on the "Whip" compilation, a project of Dave Roberts (of Sex Gang Children), designed for bands to do something unusual. Was repressed by Jungle/Cleopatra.
Click Here for more info on The Whip

•Slavedrive