John Lydon (kinda but not really) “The Lydons and The O’Donnells Family Album” 1986. MBC Records. Today, January 31st, is John Lydon’s 65th birthday (b. 1956). This weird “supergroup” record is a compilation of tracks originally recorded in 1979-80 featuring contributions (maybe?!) from members of Bananarama, Killing Joke and Generation X but may or may not actually have any ties to Lydon himself despite his name and likeness being prominently displayed on both the front and back covers. Side A has four tracks that were first issued by 4″ Be 2″ – a band composed of Lydon on production (which he later denied), his brother Jimmy, his other brother Martin (aka John Rambo Stevens), Jock O’Donnell, Paul Young (not the blue-eyed soul-pop crooner, rather a friend of John’s whose main claim to fame was chasing Sid Vicious with an axe after Vicious tried to kick in Lydon’s door) and Wally Waldron (also in Bloodsport). The first two tracks, “One of the Lads” and “Frustration” are both an odd mashup of punk/pop, reggae and banjo-picking Americana hill country music. “Jimmy Jones” is a swirly new wave number with snottyish punk’d vocals and “The Bitch” is a PiL-styled lengthy postpunk stoner droner. The first two track on Side B, “R.U. Dirty” and “Highland Tinker,” were recorded live at Futurama Leeds by Jock McDonald’s Indecent Exposure Show (Jimmy Lydon and Patrick/Jock O’Donnell) and are notable in that they purportedly have the first performances ever by Bananarama’s Keren Woodward and Sarah Dallin. The last two song on Side B are “No Feelings” – a cover of the Sex Pistols – and (listed as) “Rock ‘n’ Roll” by Gary Glitter – but the song is actually “Freaks.” I’m not entirely certain where Billy Idol and Tony James from Generation X show up on the record, same for   Geordie Walker and Youth (Martin Glover) from Killing Joke, but I’d bet on the live Futurama Leeds tracks. Overall, the record is a classic Lydon “swindle” – but this time not from Johnny Rotten but his brother, looking to cash in on the Lydon name. “Ever get the feeling you’ve been cheated?”