GANG OF FOUR

Formed: Leeds, West Yorkshire, England, UK

Discography / Lineups

Post-punk band which pioneered the punk/funk sound. They made one great LP - Entertainment! - which is an absolute classic. They often sang about love or sex, but not in a lovey-dovey way, and also about unemployment, capitalism and the media. They do all this without a sense of humour, but it doesn't matter because their early songs are excellent.

Photo by Mike Nolan

I don't like anything they've done since. Solid Gold is like a boring version of the first LP, without songs. Songs Of The Free downplays the punk and ups the funk, very tediously. By the time of their fourth LP, Hard (1983), they'd become a very dull soul/dance band with no punky leanings. No wonder they split up soon after, given the hostile reaction from fans and critics alike. A crummy live album called At The Palace was issued as a less than engrossing parting shot.

They have reformed numerous times since.

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DISCOGRAPHY

Subsequent studio albums: Mall (1991), Shrinkwrapped (1995), Return The Gift (2005), Content (2011), What Happens Next (2015), HAPPY NOW (2019).

Singles & Albums / Extraneous Releases / Promos / Bootlegs / Various Artists

Gang Of Four - Damaged GoodsDamaged Goods (7", 1978)

Gang Of Four - At Home He's A TouristAt Home He's A Tourist (7", 1979)

Gang Of Four - Entertainment!Entertainment! (LP, 1979)

Outside The Trains Don't Run On Time (7", 1980)

Gang Of Four (12", 1980)

Gang Of Four - What We All WantWhat We All Want (7"/12", 1981)

Solid Gold (LP, 1981)

Gang Of Four - To Hell With PovertyTo Hell With Poverty! (7"/12", 1981)

Gang Of Four - Another Day/Another DollarAnother Day/Another Dollar (12", 1981)

Gang Of Four - I Love A Man In A UniformI Love A Man In A Uniform (7"/12", 1982)

Songs Of The Free (LP, 1982)

Call Me Up (7", 1982)

Gang Of Four - Is It LoveIs It Love (7"/12", 1983)

Hard (LP, 1983)

Silver Lining (7", 1983)

At The Palace (LP, 1984)

Is It Love - Live May 1984 (12", 1984)

Extraneous Releases

Gang Of Four - Lord Make Me A CowboyGang Of Four / Five Or Six (7", flexi, split, 1982)

The Peel Sessions (12", 1986)

Gang Of Four - A Brief History Of The Twentieth CenturyA Brief History Of The Twentieth Century (LP/CD, 1990)

The Peel Sessions Album (LP/CD, 1990)

Gang Of Four - Entertainment! & Yellow EPEntertainment! & Yellow EP (CD, twofer, 1995)

Gang Of Four - Solid Gold & Another Day / Another DollarSolid Gold & Another Day / Another Dollar (CD, twofer, 1995)

100 Flowers Bloom (2xCD, 1998)

Hard / Solid Gold (2xCD, twofer, 2003)

Promos

Gang Of Four - Four From A Brief History Of The Twentieth Century Four From A Brief History Of The Twentieth Century (CDS, 1990)

Bootlegs

Anthrax Marxists (LP, 1980)

Gang Of Four - Gang Bang Live!Gang Bang (LP, 1980)

Gang Of Four - Desperation A.M.Desperation A.M. (LP, 2006)

Gang Of Four - BBC Recordings 1979-1981BBC Recordings 1979-1981 (LP, 2006)

Peel Sessions '77-'81 (LP, 2006)

Peel Sessions (LP, 2010)

Various Artists

Fast Product - The First Year Plan UK LP 1979 (EMI/Fast Product): Love Like Anthrax / Armalite Rifle / Damaged Goods

Mutant Pop 78/79 US LP 1980 (PVC): Love Like Anthrax / Armalite Rifle / Damaged Goods

What's All This, John? Germany LP 1980 (EMI): Not Great Men

Rock Against Racism - RAR's Greatest Hits Netherlands LP 1980 (Ariola Benelux): Why Theory

URGH! A Music War UK 2xLP 1981 (A&M): He'd Send In The Army [Live]

Dogs In Space UK LP/CD 1987 (WEA): Anthrax

Lipstick Traces UK LP/CD 1993 (Rough Trade): At Home He's A Tourist

1-2-3-4 Punk & New Wave 1976-1979 UK 5xCD 1999 (Universal): Damaged Goods

No Thanks! The '70s Punk Rebellion US 4xCD 2003 (Rhino): Love Like Anthrax

Rough Trade Shops - Post Punk 01 UK 2xCD 2003 (Mute): I Found That Essence Rare

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