“I’m A Mess! Punk 45: Punk 45s In the UK 1977-1978” 2022. Soul Jazz Records. Limited edition double LP. As the record’s title suggests, this is a singles comp from the heyday of UK punk by bands that have mostly been lost or overshadowed in punk rock history. There’s 19 different artists and tracks, mostly short, sharp and/or messy, so I’m only going to focus on the ones I like best. “I Am a Dalek” by The Art Attacks is one of my tops; they were a pretty short-lived band, only around from ’77-’78, with just 2 single released and clearly Sex Pistols inspired. “Saints and Sinners” by Johnny and Self Abusers has a bit of an early Damned feel; they split the day the single came out and members would reform into Simple Minds which is kind of mind-blowing. Trash’s “Priorities” is great chugging mod/garage-punk; they only released one other single but their claim to fame is they “auditioned in front of Roger Daltrey and John Entwistle for the role as a mod group in the film Quadrophenia, but didn’t get the part and split in ’79” (Discogs).The comp’s title inspiration, “I’m A Mess” by Stormtrooper is so British-sounding; they’re from the Isle of Wight and were active from ’75-’78; this was their only recording. Social Security’s “I Don’t Want My Heart to Rule My Head” is angular fun, very Buzzcocky; besides this single they actually put a full LP…in 2009 from recordings in ’77. The Cybermen’s “Cybernetic Surgery” is really short and pretty great; this track appeared on a 4-song EP in ’78 and they released just one more song in ’79. The Exile’s “Fascist DJ” has a great title, the music is pretty simple with a 70’s American pre-punk vibe; which makes a bit more sense when I learned that they “eventually morphed into The Television influenced [band] Friction” (Discogs). “True Life” by Machines is buzzy, a bit Exploited/oi; they put out just this single in ’78 but are one of only bands on this comp to resurrect themselves years later, recording a new album in 2011.