Spiral Scratch Schedule

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Jon Savage states that it was instrumental in helping establish the small labels and scenes in both Manchester and Liverpool.Savage, p.298It is often said that the many small DIY labels that sprang up across the country in 1977 took Spiral Scratch as their inspiration.for instance, "Spiral Scratch helped to codify the DIY-or-die fervor that resulted in so many scrappy English 7”s over the next few years" in Harvell, J."Rhythm of Cruelty:Howard Devoto, Magazine and the Post-punk Revival" (Retrieved 29 June 2007)The EP was also an exercise in the demystification of the record-making process (for example, its title was taken from the music's being recorded literally as a spiral scratch on each side of the vinyl; also, the listing of take numbers and overdubs on the record sleeve).

Spiral Scratch is a four-track EP by the British punk rock band Buzzcocks, recorded in 1976 and released in January 1977.

Spiral Scratch turned my head around."Reynolds, p.94.Eighties indie band Orange Juice mentioned "Boredom", used a line from it and adapted the guitar solo on their 1982 single "Rip It Up."Todd Hutlock: "And then there it is: that same ringing, repeating guitar riff that Buzzcocks put in our heads years previous" in Buzzcocks:boredom/Orange Juice;Rip It UpThe success of this EP also helped to establish the reputation of Martin Hannett in the music industry.The EP was reissued in the UK in 1979, having been deleted when Buzzcocks signed to United Artists in 1977. Remaining on the New Hormones label, but credited to "Buzzcocks with Howard Devoto" the record was distributed by Virgin records and reached No 31 in the charts, staying in for six weeks.Brown, T.et al.

"I had absolutely no idea there'd been a history of independent labels before that.

Despite this, the disc quickly sold out its initial run of 1,000 copies, and went on to sell 16,000 copies, initially by mail order, but also with the help of the Manchester branch of music chain store Virgin, whose manager took some copies and persuaded other regional branch managers to follow suit."Mail order was very important.

"People were buying Spiral Scratch.for the sheer fact of its existence, its existence as a cultural landmark and portent of revolution."Reynolds, p.93Bob Last founded his Fast Product label after Spiral Scratch came out.