Singled Out
Released 22nd May
On gatefold sleeve double colour vinyl (blueish & cherry red)or one shiny CD!
Thirty-three tracks! Rounding up all the band’s 7” single releases to date! That’s all their A- and B-sides!
Includes two soon to be released singles, one which will appear as a free 7” with the next issue of SAFETY PIN MAGAZINE. The other as a very limited-edition lathe cut 7”.
To excite/annoy completists there will be third (standard) 7” released at the same time, featuring an A and B-side that don’t appear here.
Cyanide Pills released their first 7” single ‘Break It Up’ in 2009, following it up with a further 14 fab 45s, the most recent being a split single with Switzerland’s Nasty Rumours early last year. Most of these releases featured exclusive non-album B-sides which we’ve rounded up for Singled Out. Good to have them in one place innit! All tracks were recorded at the Billiard Room in Leeds with producer Carl “Razorblade” Rosamond.
“Influences? Hmm well, we don’t just listen to punk rock, neither did the early bands because there wasn’t any” said lead singer Phil speaking with Vive le Rock magazine in 2023. “We like the usual suspects obviously, our favourites are the Belgian band The Kids, X-Ray Spex and Buzzcocks. We like Satan’s Rats, The Tours, Knots, The Fingers, Panic, Kleenex, Crime, The Terrorways, Victims, Wipers, The Briefs, The Spits, The Plugz, Bad Nerves, Nasty Rumours, stuff like that, loads of stuff, Syd Barrett, The Kinks, MC5, Stooges, Bowie, Ruben and the Jets, Kim Fowley, John Lee Hooker, Howlin’ Wolf. The list goes on and on and on.”
We asked Phil a few questions to tie-in with the release of Singled Out…
All these tracks were recorded with Carl Rosamond as producer. What do you like about working with him?
Mr Razorblade is a local legend around these parts. When we first went into his place we wanted to capture what we sounded like in the rehearsal room or live. He did more than that, he made us sound like a proper band. I don’t know what knobs he’s twiddling but it sure works! We are great friends and we wouldn’t work with anyone else.
What are your favourite A- and B-side tracks from this compilation and why?
For me, favourite B-sides are ‘Stick ‘em Up’ because it has the late great Jock on lead guitar, it’s our nod to glam rock. Also ‘Lock-up’. It was tradition back in the day for snotty punk bands to show their appreciation for reggae and dub by having a go themselves however crap it may be, this was our attempt.
A-sides, I like them all, maybe ‘Suicide Bomber’ because it’s becoming hard to find, I’ve heard that copies can change hands for over £8 these days! The new singles are pretty good too.
Over the years you’ve toured the world, what's been your strangest gig? And what is your favourite venue to play?
Yes, we were lucky enough to meet Paul, who took us out on the road and with the help of Sandra our booking agent we have played some amazing places. Highlight would be Heligoland a small island in the North Sea, (look it up) two long boat rides away, the last boat was full of drunken punks, Conor turned green with sea sickness, bless him.
Also, a place we played just off Hollywood Boulevard called Madame Siam, I think it was once a nineteenth century opium den. Our favourite haunts are Wild at heart in Berlin and Freakshow in Essen both incredible punk rock clubs. All the places we have played have been great, our tours have been eventful, it’s been an adventure.
How would you describe the other members of Cyanide Pills?
Adorable! Ha, I’m not falling for that.
We asked the band members to nominate their favourite single…
Sy - ‘Waiting (For You To Call Me)’ because I’m a sucker for power-pop songs with a catchy chorus.
Chris - ‘Break it Up’ is my favourite single because it was the first one, and getting a 7” out on Damaged Goods was a big step up from playing at Batley Frontier Club. I think we put two songs on the B-side because we thought it might be our only release.
TRACKLISTING
1 – Break It Up
2 – Suicide Bomber
3 – Conquer The World
4 – Up Against the Wall
5 – Johnny Thunders Lived in Leeds
6 – Where Did It Go?
7 – Apathy
8 – Waiting (For You to Call Me)
9 – Government
10 – Big Mistake
11 – Just For You
12 – The Kids Can’t Be Trusted with Rock ‘n’ Roll
13 – Hope You’re Having Fun
14 – Falling For You
15 – Amalia
16 – Second Best
17 – Mail order Bride
18 – Stick ‘em Up
19 – Black Lightning
20 – Diagnosis
21 – Lying Low
22 – Shallow
23 – Lock Up
24 – Conspiracy Theory
25 – Hooked on You
26 – Hit It
27 – My Baby’s Become a Right Wing Extremist
28 – I’m Celebrating
29 – Do You Wanna Know?
30 – Don’t Tell Me Everything’s Alright
31 – I Don’t Wanna Dance
32 – My Mind’s on Strike
33 – New Love