In the Beginning (RSD 24)

The Slits were known for their uncompromising attitude and aggressive, confrontational music, first seen on their 1977 tour with The Clash. To this day they are cited as being hugely inspiring to many female artists. But even their seminal Island Records 1979 debut album ‘Cut’, with its infamous sleeve of the band members naked and caked in mud, does not capture the true energy and spontaneity as well as these live recordings do.

The album spans from an early, chaotic punk-era show which includes classics such as ‘Shoplifting’, ‘Newtown’ and ‘Love & Romance’. It shows how they evolved into their dubby, reggae-influenced style with songs such as ‘Typical Girls’, and finishes with a track from their last ever performance in 1981. Over its fifteen tracks it features three songs never otherwise recorded*. The gatefold sleeve includes updated notes from Mick Mercer and previously unseen live and at home photos.