One Way System - Writing On The Wall
Original Release Date
1983
Release Information
UK LP 1983 (Anagram - GRAM 008)
UK CD 1994 (Captain Oi - AHOY CD 21)
1 Corrupted World 2:20
2 This Is The Age 2:28
3 One Day Soon 2:09
4 Nightmare 2:55
5 Neurotix 4:12
6 Reason Why 2:51
7 Into The Fires 2:38
8 Days Are Numbered 2:48
9 On The Line 3:24
10 Life On The Outside 5:16
CD Bonus Tracks
11 Cum On Feel The Noize 3:08
12 Children Of The Night 3:04
13 Down 3:28
14 Shine Again 5:00
15 Out Of Mind 3:46
16 Stab The Judge (Demo) 1:52
17 Me And You (Demo) 3:03
18 Jackie Was A Junkie (Demo) 2:04
19 Jerusalem (Demo) 3:22
20 Give Us A Future (Demo) 2:46
21 Magic Roundabout (Demo) 1:13
Chart Placings
UK Indie Hit: 6, 4 wksCredits
GRAM 008:
Management – Jettisoundz Ltd
Agency – Smash Artists
Producer – Lord Bentham
Engineer – Colin Richardson
___________________________________________________
AHOY CD 21:
Gav White - vocals
David Ross - guitars
Gaz Buckley - bass
Tom Couch - drums
Produced by Lord Bentham and One Way System.
Tracks 1-10 originally released by Anagram Records (GRAM 008).
Track 11 originally released as a single by Anagram (ANA 9).
Tracks 12-15 originally released as an EP by Anagram (ANA 19).
Tracks 16-21 previously unreleased demo recordings.
Special thanks to Iain McNay, John Bentham and Jim Phelan.
Additional Credits
None yet
Reviews & Opinions
PUNKY GIBBON: Rampaging into life with 'Corrupted World' and the electrifying 'This Is The Age', Writing On The Wall takes the ultra-grumpy brick-throwing stance of the debut several steps further, this time hurling not just solitary bricks but the whole housing estate as well, culminating in 'Life On The Outside', a stunning five-minute display of muscle flexing which lobs in some erie sound effects for good measure. The LP has issues - the actual song verses aren't very memorable (it's only on the hooky choruses that they truly catch fire), Gav's singing is pretty one-note, the lyrics are mundane (topics include drugs, war, kids on the street) - but it's still pretty good, and the rage is palpable on faster numbers like 'Nightmare', which blaze like mad. The CD reissue on Captain Oi! adds relevant single sides – including a great version of Slade’s 'Cum On Feel The Noize' – and some demos. (These later songs are not dated, but sound like they originate from the pre-No Entry days.)
SHATTERHEAD, PUNK LIVES ISSUE 11, 1983: In PL No.9 we were told to watch out for the 'flames' surrounding this particular album. Well, I approached it gingerly, with gloves of asbestos covering my itching digits wondering just what was going to happen. When I heard the album through a couple of times I took a deep breath of relief and shouted, 'False Alarm!' to the gathering populace. One Way System have made a reasonable album and nothing more, developing their approach but continuing many of the more obvious faults. [Read full review here]
TIM YOHANNAN, MAXIMUM ROCKNROLL #10, DECEMBER 1983: An excellent second album from these guys, Ut mostly consists of medium and fast-tempo Britpunk, and al the songs are delivered with great power. "Corrupted World" and "Nightmare" really kick ass, though the latter is also on the recent 45. Recommended. [Punky Gibbon note: 'NIghtmare' was not on any OWS B-side, recent or otherwise.]
Additional Notes
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Images
UK LP 1983 (Anagram - GRAM 008). Click here for more
UK CD 1994 (Captain Oi - AHOY CD 21). Click here for more
