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Crasstafarianism
The Feeding of the 5000The Feeding of the 5000 by Crass
Buy used from: £16.66
Life-changing album if ever there was one. This is where it all started and an absolute must.
Stations of the CrassStations of the Crass by Crass
Buy used from: £38.90
Blistering follow-up to their earlier release. Contains many fan favourites - particularly "I Ain't Think, It's Just a Trick!"
Penis EnvyPenis Envy by Crass
Buy used from: £23.95
Perhaps the pinnacle of music and politics in this absolute blinder of an album. All-female vocals with my all-time favourite "Where Next Columbus."
Christ the AlbumChrist the Album by Crass
Buy used from: £23.95
The beginning of a departure in sound, incorporating much of Rimbaud's earlier Avant-Garde influences. Some superbly challenging tracks nevertheless. The second disc is quirky but quality.
Yes Sir, I WillYes Sir, I Will by Crass
Buy used from: £10.99
Some tend to knock this as a the final move into Avant-Garde but I absolutely love this. The intensity of the politics is spellbinding. One for dedicated fans but not novices.
Acts of Love [CASSETTE]Acts of Love [CASSETTE] by Penny Rimbaud & Eve Libertine
I must confess this is a final step over the edge into Avant-Garde EXIT stuff for me. Unfortunately I only have this on vinyl but it emphasises the hippie origins of the band. For die-hards only.
10 Notes on a Summer's Day10 Notes on a Summer's Day by Crass
Buy used from: £15.75
Again, like Acts of Love, this is the poetry of Rimbaud set to free-flow jazz. It has actually grown on me but it is definitively not punk. Sounds quite similar to the Ex; a gentle"beautiful frenzy."
Best Before 1984Best Before 1984 by Crass
Buy used from: £28.68
Collates their EPs and Singles. All the sing-a-long classics on here: "Bloody Revolutions", "Big A, Little a" and "Rival Tribal Revel Revel" among others.
Christ the BootlegChrist the Bootleg by Crass
Gives those of us who weren't around then a brief insight into the live machinations of the band. Mixed quality of recording but a great sample of songs.
You'll Ruin It for EveryoneYou'll Ruin It for Everyone by Crass
Buy used from: £14.44
A live album plagued by rabble-rousing violence among the Scottish punks. Good quality and worth its salt.
Shibboleth: My Revolting LifeShibboleth: My Revolting Life by Penny Rimbaud
Buy new: £5.97 / Used from: £7.94
Rimaud's stylistic take on the whole legend of Crass. Interesting and well-written, but lacks the depth and questioning of Berger's book.
The Story of "Crass"The Story of "Crass" by George Berger
Buy new: £5.96 / Used from: £4.33
Great and interesting read and peels behind the layers of the Crass legend. Very few people I haven't lent this book at some point. Very few.
The Day the Country Died: A History of Anarcho Punk 1980 to 1984The Day the Country Died: A History of Anarcho Punk 1980 to 1984 by Ian Glasper
Buy new: £9.48 / Used from: £10.00
Has a small section on Crass, but conveys the massive impact they had. Just about all the bands said "I liked punk, then heard Crass... and it was never the same again." I know what they mean!
Love Songs CrassLove Songs Crass by "Crass"
Buy new: £6.48 / Used from: £8.06
All the lyrics and respective composers in this book. Worth having for Rimbaud's introduction as although he is sometimes hard going, he is always worth reading!
The Day The Country Died [2007] [DVD]The Day The Country Died [2007] [DVD] by Various
Buy new: £10.98 / Used from: £9.99
Bit of a disappointment and has been superseded by "There Is No Authority But Yourself" but is worth a view at least once.
Senseless Acts of Beauty: Cultures of ResistanceSenseless Acts of Beauty: Cultures of Resistance by George McKay
Buy new: £12.00 / Used from: £13.49
Contains a chapter on the impact of Crass. Largely redundant due to the detail on Wikipedia of all things, but one for the diehards.
Sense of SolitudeSense of Solitude by Stratford Mercenaries
Buy used from: £6.74
What Steve did next (well, after Schwartzeneggar). It's alright, but doesn't have anywhere near the same punch as Crass.
No Sighing Strains of ViolinsNo Sighing Strains of Violins by Stratford Mercenaries
Buy new: £9.29 / Used from: £4.43
As above.
The Death of ImaginationThe Death of Imagination by Penny Rimbaud
Buy new: £18.09
Picks up where the Avant-Garde stuff left off. I do love this album though, not politically savvy but inspiring!
Penny Rimbaud's How?Penny Rimbaud's How? by Crass Agenda
Buy used from: £36.83
Similar in style and sound to the free-form poetic ramblings of late-Crass and Rimabud/Eve Libertine work (Skating the Side of Violence). It's a grower, not a show-er. The opposite of punk though.
Savage UtopiaSavage Utopia by Crass Agenda
Buy new: £13.98 / Used from: £11.85
The Diamond Signature (Rimbaud's other book) put to music at a live performance. My advice is to listen alongside the book. It helps.
Crass Art and Other Pre-postmodernist MonstersCrass Art and Other Pre-postmodernist Monsters by Gee Vaucher
Buy used from: £75.00
You'll be lucky to grab a copy of this, but it contains other similar collage-confronation work of the Crass artist. Provocative and better than Banksy (ish...!).
The Last of the Hippies: An Hysterical RomanceThe Last of the Hippies: An Hysterical Romance by Penny Rimbaud
Recalls the demise of Wally Hope and Pen's life before it all went black (pardon the pun). Ever heard the Levellers' "Beanfield?" Remember Wally Hope!
The Diamond Signature: A Novel in Four BooksThe Diamond Signature: A Novel in Four Books by Penny Rimbaud
Buy new: £7.16 / Used from: £3.10
Companion book to the aforementioned Avant-Garde performance. Experimental, and very '60s but links the beat-poets to the punks in a roundabout way.
12 Crass Songs12 Crass Songs by Jeffrey Lewis
Buy new: £10.08 / Used from: £7.05
Anti-folk anarcho-legend Jeffrey Lewis showing his punk colours. I prefer "It's the One's Who've Cracked" but it's not Crass. Listen to everything he's done. Honestly. Do it.