5 CD ? Definitive, career-spanning five-CD box set from influential Geordie post-punk band who still play shows to this day. ? Formed by fusing the energy of punk with the artistic values of musical theatre, Punishment Of Luxury were born in Gateshead, Newcastle-Upon-Tyne at the end of 1976. Their acclaimed debut single, ‘Puppet Life’, was issued on leading indie label Small Wonder in 1978, prompting a deal with United Artists for debut album The Laughing Academy (1979) and several singles. ? After being dropped by UA, Punishment Of Luxury (sometimes known as Punilux) continued to tour, selling copies of their aborted second album Revolution By Numbers (sold as Gigantic Days in 1981 by mail-order). In due course, the band signed to independent label Red Rhino, recording a mini-album 7 and spin-off single ‘Hold Me (Never Mould Me)’ in 1983. Thereafter, singer/guitarist Neville Atkinson (as Nevilluxury) issued a solo album for Red Rhino entitled Feels Like Dancing Wartime (1984). ? The band occasionally reconvened to make records (namely, 1989’s Hi Alien and 2011’s mini-LP 5) and have played intermittent live shows. Meanwhile, their influence was obvious – just compare their debut single ‘Puppet Life’ with ‘Take Me Out’ by Franz Ferdinand for evidence or even ‘Excess Bleeding Heart’ from Laughing Academy with ‘Babylon’s Burning’ by The Ruts. ? Coordinated with help from Neville Atkinson, Puppet Life offers the complete recorded output of Punilux down the years. All their tracks for Small Wonder, United Artists and Red Rhino are joined by a previously unissued John Peel session from 1978, a whole disc’s worth of hitherto unheard live material – including excerpts from a planned live album at the Nashville, a previously unissued Red Rhino track slated as a single and more. Neville has also contributed unique sleeve-notes and visuals for the booklet. DISC ONE DISC TWO DISC THREE DEBUT SINGLE 1. PUPPET LIFE 2. THE DEMON LAUGHING ACADEMY 3. PUPPET LIFE 4. FUNK ME 5. THE MESSAGE 6. ALL WHITE JACK 7. OBSESSION 8. RADAR BUG/METROPOLIS 9. BRITISH BABOON 10. BABALON 11. EXCESS BLEEDING HEART 12. LAUGHING ACADEMY BONUS TRACKS 13. ENGINE OF EXCESS 14. JELLYFISH 15. SECRETS 16. BRAIN BOMB 17. BABY DON’T JUMP GIGANTIC DAYS 1. PLANTS AND INSECTS 2. FASCICULT BARBARACLIQUE 3. EMPIRE OF IDIOTS 4. NO ADMITTANCE 5. BLOOD MONEY 6. DEATH AND BOOGIE 7. AUSCHWITZ 8. LOVE DECAY(ED) 9. ALL CHANGE BONUS TRACKS 10. DESTINY 11. DAMAGING MAN 12. WHY DON’T YOU 13. SNOWQUEEN 14. YOU EAT TOO MUCH 15. REVOLUTION BY NUMBERS 16. MY WIFE’S IN LOVE WITH A POLAR BEAR 17. DOUBLE AGENT JOHN PEEL SESSION (30/8/78) 18. LET’S GET MARRIED * 19. YOU’RE SO BEAUTIFUL * 20. BABALON * 21. FUNK ME * * previously unissued “7” 1. FUNGHI 2. THE BIRD AND THE ELEPHANT 3. FAIRIATION 4. GASMAN 5. REVELATIONS 6. GOLDEN CORSETS 7. TRIA-DANCE BONUS TRACKS 8. HOLD ME (NEVER MOULD ME) 9. DOUBTING THOMAS (previously unissued single) * FEELS LIKE DANCING WARTIME (by Nevilluxury) 10. THE DRAGON 11. FEELS LIKE DANCING WARTIME 12. EYES 13. MOTIVATOR 14. WELCOME 15. THE PRISONER 16. ROCK OUT THE BOX DISC FOUR DISC FIVE HI ALIEN 1. ALIEN CONTACT 2. PARTY GOBLINS 3. KILLER RIFT 4. BULLSHITELERO 5. DO THE ALIEN 6. WISE GUY “5” 7. MAMONANIMAL 8. FRACTURE 9. I RANG YVONNE 10. MR DINOSAUR 11. CRY LIVE NASHVILLE 16/12/79 1. ALL WHITE JACK * 2. OBSESSION * 3. RADAR BUG * 4. BRITISH BABOON * 5. LAUGHING ACADEMY * 6. BABALON * 7. PUPPET LIFE * 8. EXCESS BLEEDING HEART * 9. MY WIFE’S IN LOVE WITH A POLAR BEAR * 10. ENGINE OF EXCESS * KANT KINO 6/3/79 11. OBSESSION * 12. FUNK ME * 13. BABY DON’T JUMP * 14. GARDEN * 15. BRAIN BOMB * HOPE & ANCHOR 1979 16. LET’S GET MARRIED * 17. YOU’RE SO BEAUTIFUL * READING FESTIVAL 24/8/79 18. PUPPET LIFE * 19. THE DEMON * 20. RADAR BUG * 21. METROPOLIS * 22. JELLYFISH * 23. BRAIN BOMB * * previously unissued
