Cockney Rejects Greatest Hits Vol 1

Cockney Rejects 'Greatest Hits Vol. 1' (EMI, 1980)

John is the King of Oi, sitting on his throne. He is the biggest Rejects fan I know and is often in contact with guitarist Mick Geggus through various social media and such like. He is so fanatical that he buys tickets for their gigs as soon as they go on sale even though he knows he will be put on the guest list; that's dedication and, as Roy Castle would say, that's what you need.

John has seen the Rejects on many occasions, throughout the country, but I only recently caught them for the first time. 'We're the Cockney Rejects, the godfathers of Oi!, proclaimed Stinky Turner on hitting the Barrowlands' hallowed boards and for the next forty minutes the helium voiced shadow boxer preened his way through a set of Oi and punk classics.

I'd arrived in my finest Hoxton Tom threads (this picture is from Edinburgh!), the dapper gent is pictured hanging out with the Rejects on the back cover, and Stefan of Atomgevitter fame asked me with a straight face whether or not I'd come straight from work.

I surveyed the gig from a distance and really enjoyed it, even when the band fluffed the start to my personal favourite, 'Bad Man', a song which Stinky had been eulogising about before the two false starts. The gig was great if a little sedate, it was certainly a long way from the full scale riots the band used to cause in places like Birmingham when they would offer the entire crowd 'outside' to defend their East End West Ham pride.

It seems unbelievable, but under the guidance of a young Garry Bushell, another Oi face on the back cover along with Sham 69's Jimmy Pursey, the Rejects secured a deal with EMI and raided the top 40 on a number of occasions.

If you want to know more about the highs and lows of being a young punk rock oik in the early 80s, you should read Stinky's autobiography 'Cockney Reject' which boasts an introduction by none other than Morrissey. It's a great read about how people who 'take liberties' should be dealt with, stopping it before it starts and what happens to Oi gods when they want to become AC/DC. Or you could watch the film that has been made about them; yes, really!

This album is a genre classic. It's actually a classic in its own rights. The first three songs alone, 'I'm not a Fool', 'Headbanger' and 'Bad Man' are better than most second rate punk bands achieved in still ongoing careers. It also has a fantastic sense of humour which sets the Rejects apart from the boneheads who still cling to Oi as a right wing form of music; 'Where the hell is Babylon?' indeed.

Probably the most aptly named LP in punk history.

Peace