Hot damn, it's my favorite time of year: the weather is cooler, the leaves are falling, Halloween, Thanksgiving, holiday break from school and my Annual Annual!!!

This is my 15th annual Annual Annual, and I have to admit I was a bit perplexed thinking about what year I wanted to focus on this year. I'm not going to get into why I do this show, or offer a history of the past 15 years of hosting it. There are links below to all the previous specials, so you can go there to learn about it.

I will tell you last October I realized the date of this show was fast approaching and I needed to get on the ball quick, or it was not going to be a pleasant night. So I did what any DJ with 35+ years of underground radio experience, who owns a few thousand records, loves every genre, reads countless books on music, and is always keeping up with the latest sounds: I asked my friends what year I should do.

And 1981 rose to the top.

What a year that was for music. Punk had splintered into many forms: post-punk, industrial, goth, new wave, hardcore, alt, and experimental. Metal had also evolved to include NWOBM, and early thrash, as well as some early glam. Hiphop was still in its infancy, and reggae and international were flourishing.

So I did what any other self-respecting radio host would do with a two hour timeslot: I produced a four hour show.

I broke this up into four one-hour segments that I have posted at the top of every hour below.

I have so much fun hosting this special that I can hardly wait until next year. Then again I have no clue which year to choose.

There's a lot to dislike about the politics and commercial fare of 1981, but the music I have for you isn't of them.

Enjoy and please share.

jh

Hell's Kitchen Radio with John Hell
Mondays 8-10PM
Radio Valencia in SF
https://radiovalencia.fm

HOUR 1 — Hardcore / Punk / Alt-Roots
Straight Edge: Minor Threat (7")
What We Want is Free: Articles of Faith (7")
Lights Out: Angry Samoans (Back From Samoa -1982 (recorded in 1981)
American Wino: The Lewd (7")
Abolish Government/Silent Majority: T.S.O.L. (T.S.O.L.)
Smash the State: DOA (Hardcore '81)

Sex Bomb: Flipper (7")
Youth of America: Wipers (Youth of America)
Academy Fight Song: Mission of Burma (Signals, Calls, and Marches EP)
***Commercials from 1981***
Sex Beat: The Gun Club (Fire of Love)

Sick Boy: G.B.H. (City Baby Attacked By Rats)
Never Again: Discharge (Never Again)
Statues: Husker Du (7")

Marie Marie: The Blasters (S/T)
Radio Free Europe (Hib-Tone): REM (Murmer)
White Sweater: Romeo Void (It's A Condition)
See You In The Boneyard: The Flesh Eaters (A Minute to Pray, A Second to Die)

HOUR 2 — Post-Punk / Goth / Experimental
Nick the Stripper: The Birthday Party (Prayers on Fire)
Winning: The Sound (From The Lions Mouth)
About the Weather: Magazine (Magic, Murder and the Weather)

Middle Mass: The Fall (Slates)
Come Again: Au Pairs (Playing with a Different Sex)
Only Loved at Night: The Raincoats (Odyshapes)

Kick in the Eye: Bauhaus (Mask)
Follow the Leaders: Killing Joke (What's THIS For...!)
Dumb Waiters: Psychedelic Furs (Talk Talk Talk)

Makeshift Swahili: This Heat (Deceit)
HOUR 3 — Metal / NWOBHM / Early Thrash
Welcome to Hell: Venom (Welcome to Hell)
Don't Need Your Money: Raven (Rock Until You Drop)
Purgatory: Iron Maiden (Killers)

Ace of Spades: Motorhead (No Sleep Til Hammersmith)
C'Mon Let's Go: Girlschool (Hit and Run)
Heavy Metal Ears: Picture (Heavy Metal Ears)
Heavy Metal Mania: Holocaust (The Nightcomers)

I'm Alive: Cirith Ungol (Frost and Fire)
Swords and Tequila: Riot (Fire Down Below)
Riding with the Angels: Samson (with future Iron Maiden peeps) (Shock Tactics)

Gangland: Tygers of Pan Tang (Spellbound)
Princess of the Night: Saxon (Denim and Leather)
School Love: Anvil (Hard 'n' Heavy)

HOUR 4 — Reggae / Dub / Hip-Hop / Global
Youth of Englington: Black Uhuru (Red)
Dance of the Vampires: Scientist (Scientist Rids the World of the Evil Curse of the Vampires)
Brain Damage: Dennis Bovell (Brain Damage)

The Adventures of Grandmaster Flash on the Wheels of Steel: Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five (12" single)
Moody: ESG (ESG EP)
This Bed's Too Big Without You: Sheila Hylton
Tally Ho!: The Clean (7")

Der Mussolini: DAF (Alles ist Gut)
Heartbeat: Chris and Cosey (Heartbeat)
Make Room: Fad Gadget (7")

Bob Hope Takes Risks: Rip, Rig and Panic (7")
Shumba: Thomas Mapfuno (7")