Protex: Strange Obsession LP
— Price: 159 SEK

Strange Obsesesions has long been the holy grail of fervent record collectors worldwide. Rumors have abound that this album had been released in Holland and or that there were a small number of white label test pressings in existence but none of these claims have ever been substantiated. As far as I can ascertain, this is the first time that ten of these tracks have become commercially available anywhere. The fruits of these Chas Chandler sessions had only been previously hinted at with the bands final singles and the track All I Wanna Do Is Rock ‘N’ Roll that appeared on the American only Polydor compilation album Made In Britain.

The title track of this release is worth the entrance fee alone. A genuine teen anthem if there ever was one. A live rendition of the song was featured in the Shellshock Rock movie but to get to hear the song recorded in a proper studio is truly a blissful experience. The production is clean and crisp and it baffles me how either the band or record company were dissatisfied with these sessions at the time. Perhaps when revisited and with the hindsight of time on their side their perspectives may have changed.

(Sean O'Neill; co-author of It Makes You Wanna Spit!)