ARTIST: Chumbawamba                   

TITLE: Pictures of Starving Children Sell Records

YEAR RELEASED: 1986

CHART ACTION: None

SINGLES: None

OTHER SONGS YOU MAY KNOW: Oh, not here, no way.

LINEUP: Harry Hamer, Alice Nutter, Boff Whalley, Mavis Dillon, Lou Watts, Danbert Nobacon, Dunstan Bruce, Simon Lanzon

WHAT’S IT ALL ABOUT: First record from the anarchist band / collective is a broadside against celebrities and corporate greed, in a very 80’s style.

SOME WORDS, PHRASES AND CLAUSES ABOUT THIS RECORD: Listening to this album, you can somehow hear how this group of in your face anarchists got a hit single. They do have pop sensibilities and musical chops.

Listening to this now, it’s very dated. The first part slams all of the celebrity benefits and calls out Freddie Mercury (for playing at Sun City), Paul McCartney, the Rolling Stones, David Bowie and Cliff Richard.

For the second side, it takes aim at Unilever and Coca Cola for investing in South Africa and taking advantage of the poor and indigent around the world.

It’s good for a curious listen, but really, not much else unless you want to study the political messages of 80’s anarchy.

NOTES & MINUTIAE: This isn’t streaming, but you can find it on You Tube.

IS THERE A DELUXE VERSION: No

GRADE: C+: Definitely of a time and place, just not this one.