The Outcasts - Tell Me The Whole Story

I was over the moon to hear that Secret Mission Records was doing an Outcasts singles collection. I'm an old school punk geek to begin with, and I'm especially inclined towards the somewhat overlooked Northern Ireland scene of the late '70s and early '80s. The Outcasts were one of the best bands to come out of that scene. Tell Me The Whole Story essentially repeats the content from the long out of print Anagram Punk Singles Collection disc released in the '90s - collecting all of the band's 7" tracks. But for this release, Secret Mission has gone the extra mile and delivered a package that true fans will love. This is the first ever Outcasts singles compilation on vinyl, and all 26 tracks have been remastered especially for this release. The album comes with a gatefold jacket with lots of photos and press clippings, a poster, and detailed track by track liner notes written by founding member Martin Cowan.

Formed in Belfast in 1977, The Outcasts achieved fast infamy in Northern Ireland as "the band you love to hate". A reputation for unruly behavior and getting banned from various music venues preceded the group. But The Outcasts worked that notoriety in their favor, ultimately grabbing the attention of Terri Hooley and getting signed to his legendary label Good Vibrations. What is interesting about this collection is that it allows you to trace the musical evolution of The Outcasts. The tracks from the band's debut single on IT Records are quintessential 1977 punk rock - pulsating with the raw energy of kids who were just learning how to play. "You're A Disease" and "Frustration" are blistering numbers and truly essential listening for any fan of first wave punk. Moving into the tracks from the bands 7" releases on Good Vibrations, you really get to the "classic" Outcasts sound that is forever associated with this band and Northern Irish punk in general. "Justa Nother Teenage Rebel", "Love Is For Sops", and "Self Conscious Over You" remain some of the most enduring specimens of first wave "pop" punk. This release also features the original version of "The Cops Are Comin'" - the band's most infamous number and the inspiration for the title of this double album. If you've never heard it before...let's just say that it requires an appreciation for a dark sense of humor!

I appreciate that this collection really does tell the whole story of The Outcasts. The band's original run from 1977-85 was marred by great misfortune and tragedy. After getting dumped from Good Vibrations and losing its manager, the band continued releasing music on its own labels throughout the early '80s. In 1982, drummer Colin Cowan was tragically killed in a car accident. Like many surviving '70s punk bands who kept going into the '80s, The Outcasts had to navigate various shifts in musical style. The back half of this collection traces the band's sound from the harder-edged punk of "Gangland Warfare" and "Mania" to the Killing Joke inspired post-punk of "Beating and Screaming Pt. 1" to the Glitter Band cover "Angel Face" to the new wave rock of "Nowhere Left To Run" to the rockabilly influenced "Seven Deadly Sins". Perhaps the second of these two albums is really for fans only, but it's not without its moments.

Now we get to the tricky part with Tell Me The Whole Story: the label has already sold out of all of its copies! Only 500 copies were pressed, and they sure went fast! But if you're an Outcasts fan and are willing to hunt it down, it will be well worth the effort. It's a beautifully packaged collection that fully honors one of the best of the lesser-known '77 punk bands. And getting the story behind each song from Martin Cowan himself is an absolute treat. The other half of the audience for this release is a whole new generation of punk fans who perhaps are just discovering this band for the first time. If you love old school punk that leans pop and are not yet familiar with The Outcasts, $10 for this download will be money well spent!

  
-L.R.

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