Boy, Man and Soldier: Skids 1978 - 1981

With their breakthrough hit ‘Into The Valley’ in 1979, Dunfermline, Scotland’s premier export Skids quickly rose to become one of the most respected and popular bands to emerge from the UK punk and new wave era. Founding members Richard Jobson (vocals) and Stuart Adamson (guitars) were a dynamic combination up front (Adamson went on to even greater commercial success when he later founded Big Country) while the band’s tight, taut sound was grounded by the William Simpsonon bass and first Tom Kellichanand later Mike Baillieon drums.

‘Into The Valley’had actually comeon the heels of a trio of cult-appeal early singles –‘Charles’, ‘Sweet Suburbia’, and ‘The Saints Are Coming’, all considered classics today, while its success saw chart follow ups with the likes of ‘Animation’, ‘Masquerade’, ‘Working For The Yankee Dollar’, ‘Circus Games’and ‘Goodbye Civilian’. Always considered up there with the greatest among their peers –The Jam, Siouxsie And The Banshees, and The Stranglers, for example – both singles and albums showcased an intelligence and literate sensibility as well as musical innovation and awesome power. On stage they were simply dynamite.

The 5-disc Boy, Man and Soldier: Skids 1978 -1981 collection brings together the vast majority of the Skids’ recorded output from the glory years 1978 –1981. It includes the albums Scared To Dance, both the original mix of Days In Europa and its 1980 remix version, The Absolute Game and Joy plus all ofthe band’s non-album singles, in their edited single forms, along with B-sides and single and 12” edits..

Beautifully presented in 7”X7” Super Deluxe packaging, Boy, Man and Soldier comes fully illustrated with original sleeve art from the era married to a new design by Phillip Marshall and original cover shot by Virginia Turbett.