A compilation to celebrate the release of the brand-new book – To Ease My Troubled Mind: The Authorised Unauthorised History of Billy Childish written by Ted Kessler. When the idea for the book was mooted Billy wanted to put a succinct double album compilation together to summarise his 47 years of making music. This is the result.

My name is William Ivy Loveday, aka Steve Hamper, aka Guy Hamper, aka Jack Ketch, aka Billy Childish. I was born on the Medway, Kent, where I still live. I left school in 1976 when I was 16. Because I have no qualifications I was turned down by art school so went to work in Chatham dockyard as an apprentice stonemason. I later managed to get onto a painting course at St. Martin’s School of Art on the basis of my paintings. Me, Bruce, big Russ, and little Russ formed The Pop Rivets in 1977 and made our first recordings. Our inspiration was punk rock, TV21 and The Swinging Blue Jeans. I learned to play guitar then in 1979 I worked for four weeks at Oakwood Mental Hospital as a ward porter, then me, Mick and Bertie formed The Milkshakes. Our inspiration was Link Wray, the Beatles Live at the Star Club LP, the track ‘Gotta Get the First Plane Home’ by The Kinks and our hatred of new romanticism. Then I was expelled from St. Martin’s School of Art for writing what was described as “the worst type of toilet wall humour.” I beat my father up on his release from prison for drug smuggling. We never paid ourselves in The Milkshakes and put all the money back into making our own records. I kept the money in a bank account under the name of Kurt Schwitters. I lived on the dole for 12 years. In 1985 we formed Thee Mighty Caesars. Our inspiration was Bo Diddley and The Troggs. I became a member of Greenpeace. In 1989 me and Bruce formed Thee Headcoats. Our inspiration being Son House and Downliners Sect. In 1999 me, Wolf and Johnny Barker formed The Buff Medways. Our inspiration was Jimi Hendrix in Beatle boots and The Who before Roger Daltry started wearing his nan’s curtains. Around 2008 me and Julie formed The Musicians of the British Empire. That morphed into CTMF. That blurred into The Chatham Singers. Our inspiration was based on us. Next up it was time for me and Neil to form The Spartan Dreggs, inspired by Homer and A. E. Housman. Other groups arose and fell - making sure no one knew who we were or why. In 2019 The William Loveday Intention emerged - the inspiration being Hollis Brown and the Mississippi Sheiks. Guy Hamper showed up once again, joined by Jamie on Hammond. Some of these group remain; many have departed for distant shores with sharp hidden rocks.Mainly I paint and write poetry and novels. Along with the music I play nothing I do has ever been particularly fashionable but that is rather the point. Even in 1977 we enjoyed saying no. Then, when punk turned into new romanticism, we descended backwards into early rock ‘n’ roll and the blues. In The Milkshakes we were told that we released too many LPs and were committing commercial suicide, so we released four different LPs on one day.Every now and then someone famous comes along and a small crumb rolls across the table and splashes into our tepid soup. Other times nobodies emulate us and prove to be only better. I love pop, but not pop stars. I am only interested in sound and colour and being small scale. I don’t hide behind volume and off stage mixing. I don’t need to play a show because I prefer to sit and have a cup of tea. My work belongs low, close to the ground, to instinct and the elemental. I believe in homemade music, homemade art and homemade cooking. I want to bring back the tram and the horse. Music has been a rewarding hobby over the years. I have met and worked with many good friends, and God saved me from fame.

TRACK LISTING

Thee Mighty Caesars – You Make Me Die
The Buff Medways – Archive From 1959
The Milkshakes – For She
The William Loveday Intention – You Gotta Move
Thee Headcoats – Fingers In The Sun
The Spartan Dreggs – Headlong Fly The Achaens
Thee Headcoats – Punk Rock Ist Nicht Tot
CTMF – Last Punk Standing
CTMF – Bob Dylan’s Got A Lot To Answer For
The Buff Medways – Troubled Mind
Billy Childish And The Singing Loins – I Don’t Like The Man I Am
Billy Childish And Holly Golightly – Upside Mine
The Guy Hamper Trio Feat. James Taylor – Moon Of The Popping Trees
CTMF – All Our Forts Are With You
The Musicians Of The British Empire – Christmas 1979
The Delmonas – I Feel Like Giving In (French)
The Musicians Of The British Empire – Thatcher’s Children
Thee Mighty Caesars – Lie Detector
The Pop Rivets – Fun In The UK
Thee Headcoatees – Hurt Me
CTMF – A Song For Kylie Minogue
The Shall I Say Quois Feat. CTMF – It’s So Hard To Be Happy
Jack Ketch And The Crowmen – Brimful Of Hate
CTMF – Failure Not Success (ALT)
Thee Headcoats – Davey Crockett
The Musicians Of The British Empire – Joe Strummer’s Grave
The Buff Medways – Medway Wheelers
CTMF – You Can’t Capture Time (Slight Return)
The Spartan Dreggs – A Shropshire Lad
The William Loveday Intention – Sex And Flies
Thee Headcoats – The Same Tree
Thee Mighty Caesars – Cowboys Are Square
Billy Childish And The Singing Loins – Song Of The Medway

This fully-loaded twin-spin single offers two renditions of Billy's '100 Yds Of Crash Barrier', provided by two of the leading ensembles active on the current moronic music scene.

This top 7 inch 45 contains two versions of 'Traces Of You', written and sung by Nurse Julie Hamper. One side being called a demo, the other not. The last word goes to Mister Childish; 'this 45 will almost certainly be much like the way we do things, and hopefully be in accord with the listeners expectations, (dependent on what it is that they expect)'.

Three brilliant albums by the Buff Medways, neatly contained in one box, complete with booklet! The albums are Steady The Buffs, 1914, and Medway Wheelers. Buffs leader Billy Childish kindly answered a few questions about the band… The Buff Medways were formed quickly after Thee Headcoats split. The group split after ‘The Last of The Buff Medways’ 7” on Damaged Goods, with Billy Childish forming the Musicians of The British Empire soon after. How do you feel about the group looking back? Do you ever listen to the Buffs LPs? “I listen to some tracks if I have to learn them (I don’t know any of my songs and can’t remember words or how to play them, even live). I like the group a lot.” Were The Buff Medways the greatest group ever to be named after a breed of chicken? According to all accounts indeed they were. 

STAFF COMMENTS

Barry says: A lovely little collection of three releases from Wild Billy Childish and The Buff Medways. Two of the LP's here were originally released on Graham Coxon's Transcopic label and have been unavailable for some time. A timely and welcome box set.

TRACK LISTING

STEADY THE BUFFS

Troubled Mind
Dawn Said
A Strange Kind Of Happyness
Archive From 1959
Time’s Up
Sally Sensation
Vanessa Does Favours
Strood Lights
Misty Water
Well Well
You Piss Me Off
Ivor

1914

Unable To See The Good
All My Feelings Denied
Sonya Fagg
Evidence Against Myself
The Least Disappointing Man
Just 15
Nurse Julie
Saucy Jack
Mons Quiff (instrumental)
Barbara Wire
You Are All Phonies
Caroline

MEDWAY WHEELERS 

The Man I Am
A Distant Figure Of Jon
Karen With A C
22 Weeks
Dustbin Mod (instrumental)
Medway Wheelers
(i’m A) Lie Detector
Private View
The Poet’s Dream
You’re Out The Band Sunshine
Poundland Poets
I’m Glad I’m Not Like David Wise

Wild Billy Childish has been recording and performing since the 1977 punk explosion. The Pop Rivets, Thee Milkshakes, The Headcoats and The Buff Medways are just a few musical outfits that Billy has been involved with part time. His day job is being an internationally exhibited artist and poet.

CTMF (The Chatham Forts) was the first group name Billy came up with for a group whilst he was Head of Research for The Medway Military Research Group - investigating the Medway Fortifications (as well as being an Apprentice Stonemason at Chatham Dockyard, Kent, 1976). It wasn't until 2013 that Billy got around to utilising the name. CTMF features his wife Julie on bass/vocals and Wolf Howard on drums (both playing with Billy in previous incarnations over the years). Described by Billy as 'the epitome of modern: the sound of yesterday, tomorrow!', CTMF have released ten albums and over thirty singles/EPs.

This four-track 7" EP includes four song versions recorded for broadcast on Marc Riley's show on BBC6 Music on the evening of 31st August 2022. Opening up with a take on Richard Hell's 'Love Comes In Spurts', (endorsed by Richard himself), followed by 'Failure Not Success', a track that showcases Billy at his poetic best. Both are alternative takes from February 2023's LP release 'Failure Not Success'. The tracks that follow are 'Petrol In A Cup', and 'Love Can Lose'.

"This will be much like the way we do things, and hopefully it'll be in accord with your expectation, but not necessarily" (Billy Childish - July '19).

TRACK LISTING

Side A
1. Love Comes In Spurts (alt)
2. Failure Not Success (alt)
Side B
1. Petrol In Cup
2. Love Can Lose

New studio album by Billy and CTMF! Featuring Billy at his song writing best! Includes covers of Richard Hell and Jimi Hendrix songs, along with a newly recorded version of ‘Bob Dylan’s Got a Lot to Answer For’! We asked Billy a few questions about this mighty fine album… Great album title! It will seem counter-intuitive to some but why do you favour failure over success? If the Pop Rivets (the first group I was in in 1977) had been “successful” in the formal sense, then it would have been a disaster - no learning about sound, growth, and independence. Luckily, we considered ourselves successful from the outset by doing what we wanted the way we wanted. We believed the hype of punk rock – do-it-yourself and lived it, unlike the “successful” leaders of the movement. I’ve always wanted small gigs where your open and exposed. The same with recording - excitement, mistakes, humour, and hopefully joy. The reason to become “successful” is to cut yourself from your origin and roots. In short, we'll decide what success is, not a critic, the world, or public opinion.

The album opens with a cracking cover of Richard Hell’s ‘Love Comes in Spurts’. You’ve previously recorded this with Thee Headcoats on Brother Is Dead… But Fly Is Gone! from 1998. What made you want to revisit the song? Has Richard heard it? If so, what did he think? I forgot that we did it with Thee Headcoats. If I had that LP, I’d give it a listen. I do remember covering it live with The Pop Rivets in 1978. Richard said he liked it a lot and told his girlfriend he only wants my tunes at his funeral. I said, “not too soon I hope." He assured me he's well. We’re digging the instrumental track ‘Walk of the Sasquatch’. Is this track in honour of the North Kent Sasquatch Research Group? What do you know about that mysterious organization? The track is more about the pacific Northwest cousin of the English version (the Woodwose). The North Kent Sasquatch program has gone a little quite of late, but I believe they are still trying to get Cobham Woods - nearby across the river - to be designated as a reserve, though of course this poses some danger to the public during the spring breeding season. The album closes with a version of previous single ‘Bob Dylan’s Got a Lot to Answer For’. What would you say is the biggest thing Bob has to answer for? And what do you most admire him for? It’s a different take from than the 45 version. The single was recorded in full lockdown. What has Bob got to answer for? I guess a lot and nothing. It’s not his fault he is famous, it is the fans and enablers that should be strung up for turning poor little pop stars into demi-gods. He seems to be one of the few in the mainstream music industry, who has remained in charge of his own recordings, sounds, and writing. Besides writing a few very good songs, I also liked his pronouncement: “I made bad records on purpose.” Now that’s a great line - so maybe he deserves his Nobel prize after all. You have a couple of CTMF shows coming up at the Lexington in London in February. Given you have such a great hat collection, have you decided what stage gear you’ll be wearing yet? Billy’s “fashion box” will have to be investigated. I first got “into” fashion in thee Headcoats days. Thee Headcoatees started attracting members of the gay community to our gigs, that’s when I saw an opportunity to “go for the pink pound.” There was much excitement in the dressing room, pre-show, especially from Holly, to see “what fashion Billy might have in his bag this week.” Hats are of course top of all fashion requirements, and I’ll give my best thought and attention on the day.

TRACK LISTING

1. Love Comes In Spurts
2. Failure Not Success
3. Beneath The Flowers Serpents
4. Walk Of The Sasquatch
5. Hanging By A Tenuous Thread
6. Fire
7. The Old Long Bar
8. Come Into My Life
9. Skinwalker
10. Becoming Unbecoming Me
11. Moon Of The Popping Trees
12. Bob Dylan’s Got A Lot To Answer For

In memory of Chris Broderick of the Singing Loins, who passed away earlier this year, we present a new studio album by Wild Billy Childish and Arf and Rob from The Singing Loins. The Fighting Temeraire contains new songs, old songs re-worked, traditional songs and a Bob Dylan cover.HMS Temeraire was a 96 gun ship of the line, built in Chatham, as was HMS Victory. After the passing of their dear friend, Chris Broderick, (lead Singer of The Singing Loins), Billy, Arf, and Rob decided to get together and record a 45 in his memory. The single 'Song of the Medway' soon led to this full length LP. The Billy/Loins connection goes back to the early '90s. Billy had recorded the first two Singing Loins LPs in his bathroom back then, as well as an LP of folk variations of his own tunes with Chris and Arf. It was Chris's dying wish that the boys should continue the Singing Loins, so it was pretty much a given that this fine LP would come to be. At once ancient and modern, it is a fitting tribute to a great ship (and singer) of the Medway.

TRACK LISTING

1. Song Of The Medway
2. A La Mort Surbite
3. I Don't Like The Man That I Am
4. White Whale Blues
5. Stood Upon A Chair
6. The Broken And The Lost Of The Old Long Bar
7. The Fighting Temeraire
8. A Rusty Stain
9. Your Mediocre Mind
10. The Walls Of Red Wing
11. The Jutland Sea
12. The Rochester Recruiting Sergeant

Billy & The Loins reunite for a tribute 7” to founding Loins member Chris Broderick. Billy recorded the first two Singing Loins LPs with Chris Broderick and Arf' Alan in his bathroom at May Road, Rochester in 1991 and 1993. The lads then decided to record an LP of folk variations of Billy’s own tunes, called At The Bridge. The Singing Loins then went their own way recording many LPs. Fast forward to late 2021 and the singer Chris was diagnosed with blood cancer. Before his passing in January 2022, he let Arf (and later Loin Rob), know that he wished them to carry on the group. That said Billy proposed a memorial 45 (and an LP to follow). The tracks: ‘The Song of the Medway’ is about their hometowns of Rochester, Chatham, Strood and Gillingham, all on the banks of the River Medway. Chatham's ancient Dockyard was where Nelson’s Victory was built. The Broken and the Lost of the Old Long Bar celebrates a drinking hole on Chatham High Street (which once boasted more pubs and brothels in a single mile than anywhere in the world). Especially written by Billy for this return of The Singing Loins, the songs are at once brand new and ancient. 

TRACK LISTING

1. Song Of The Medway
2. The Broken And The Lost Of The Old Long Bar

New album from CTMF! On CD, digital and black vinyl LP! Billy Childish - Musician, poet, painter and writer shows no sign of slowing down. The last twelve months have seen him record a “career in a year” with The William Loveday Intention, battle off a debilitating COVID infection and revisit his punk roots with CTMF

STAFF COMMENTS

Barry says: The always prolific Childish returns for another storming LP of fuzzed-out punk and jilted rock and/or roll. Screaming guitars segue into jangling rhythmic sections, brilliantly epitomising the melodic duality of this hugely influential character.

TRACK LISTING

1 – Where The Wild Purple Iris Grows
2 – Mystery Song
3 – Ballad Of Hollis Brown
4 – She Was Wearing Tangerine
5 – Pluma Dorada
6 – Come Into My Life
7 – Train Kept A Rollin'
8 – You Can't Capture Time (Slight Return)
9 – You Say That You Love Me
10 – Tunnel Of Love
11 – Mouldy Fig
12 – The Same Tree

Like an Inexplicable Wheel' The strangest thing in life is time, not clocks but that there was a past and there will be a future apparently). Life seems to be an inexplicable wheel, and I thought there should be a pop song (or two) about that. 'Last Punk Standing' A more CTMF sounding track. This should really be called 'Who'll be the Last Punk Standing?' but it looked better as a shortened title. Again it's about time, and knowledge running out. When a generation passes there's no one left to explain the true nature of their experience. eg- those who fought in WW2 are all but gone and that's how we get the rise of the new right: we learn from history that we don't learn from history. Who'll be left to pass on the essence of what punk was about - home-made, please yourself music. PS - the character Roberta, is from a Leadbelly tune- I thought it nice to have her and Mark E. Smith in the same pop song (Mark was still with us when we recorded this number). Billy Childish – May 2019

STAFF COMMENTS

Barry says: There's no denying that Childish has had one of the most prolific and succesful careers in the rock and/or roll world thus far, and it doesn't look like he has any intention of slowing down. Clashing, snarling punk-rock attitude and most importantly, bloody good tunes.