Creature of doom (The Only Ones) (LP 4474 - 4477)

The Only Ones  The Only Ones (Vinyl, CBS Records, 1978) ****  

The Only Ones  Even Serpents Shine (Vinyl, CBS Records, 1979) ****  

The Only Ones  Baby's Got A Gun (Vinyl, CBS Records, 1980) *** 

The Only Ones  The Best of The Only Ones: Another Girl, Another Planet (CD, CBS Records, 2006) ****   

Genre: Alt rock, power pop, new wave

Places I remember: Marbecks Records, Amoeba Music

Fab, and all the other pimply hyperboles: Another Girl, Another Planet (The Only Ones)

Gear costume: Out There in the Night (Even Serpents Shine)

They loom large in his legend (The Album Collection playlists): Part 1; Part 2; Part 3; Part 4; Part 5; Part 6; Part 7

Active compensatory factors: The Only Ones became MY band in 1978-1980. 

I was working at Marbecks Records during my University holidays and I fell hard for the first album. It was such a breath of fresh air in 1978: Peter Perrett's distinctive drawl and his singular approach to his songwriting; the inventive guitars of John Perry; and the authoritative engine room provided by seasoned campaigners Mike Kellie on drums and Alan Mair on bass.

Although its best moment is the instant classic Another Girl, Another Planet, the rest of the album has a great variety of approaches. These guys were able to play superbly to provide different shades of new wave music.

Even Serpents Shine is a superb follow up. No difficult second album syndrome for The Only Ones. The songs are catchy and well-arranged and while there is no instant classic pop hit this time, the songs are better overall in my opinion.

Their third album, Baby's Got a Gun was also their final album. They changed things up from the first two and tried a more commercially minded producer and the album was their most successful in terms of sales. Weird then that they should give up at this point.

Although I sold BGAG at one point, I've now bought back a copy. I'd still rate the other two albums ahead of it, but it's great to have the complete set.

Where do they all belong? The Best of The Only Ones - Another Girl, Another Planet is a handy one stop shop compilation. It has 21 songs that cover their career from 1977 to 1980. Only four years, but such quality!

There was something about you (The Only Ones) #298

The Only Ones Out There In The Night/ Lovers Of Today (CBS, BA 222541, 1977)

I was a fan of this band in the late seventies. Knowledge of them coincided with my first stint of working at Marbecks' Records in the Queen's Arcade. I was studying at Auckland University and Roger gave me jobs in my holidays when things got busy in the store around Christmas time. 

Most people know the band from Another Girl, Another Planet - a great song that was on their first album.

This A side comes from their second album, Even Serpents Shine, which is my least favourite of the three they made.

But having said that, this is still a superior piece of edgy pop. Edgy because of Peter Perrett's quirky vocal style. An acquired taste, but one I really like.

Hidden gem: Their first single was Lovers Of Today. It came out on an independent label, before they moved to CBS.