While not nearly as famous as the band the members would form later (The Nightingales), Birmingham's The Prefects produced vital punk in the early days of the movement in the United Kingdom. Going Through The Motions, the first compilation of their studio recordings, will be out on Friday via Call of the Void. The set is sporadically great, and it is, like lots of what was released in the era, full of the kind of fire that still inspires.
Touring with The Clash on the White Riot tour, The Prefects earned loyal followers even if the band didn't put out enough material in the day, apparently. "Going Through the Motions" is fairly decent, more Dr. Feelgood than Pistols, while "Escort Girls" is a punchy delight. Robert Lloyd and his crew here channel the same spirit that fueled so many early Buzzcocks recordings, and the brief number is one of the real highlights here.
If the epic "Bristol Roads Lead to Dachau" is more of a curiosity than a treasure, "Things in General" is a bit better. The influence of The Clash looms large over this one, as it does over "625 Lines", rendered here in a live version. Still, at times, The Prefects took some real chances, like on the spry and abrasive "Agony Column", and an energetic cover of "She Cracked" from Yanks The Modern Lovers. A nice time capsule of the era, and a reminder of a band that deserves far more attention, Going Through The Motions is one of the best reissues dropping this week.
Going Through The Motions is out on Friday via Call of the Void. More details via the link below.
[Photo: Call of the Void]