“Let Them Eat Jellybeans!” 1981, French reissue 1984/85 on red “election jelly vinyl,” Alternative Tentacles. Compilation of US bands, side A featuring the creme de la creme of early 80′s punk. Flipper’s “Ha Ha Ha” gets routinely stuck in my head (especially the line “We go downtown to do our shopping and we live in suburbia and I say ha ha ha ha ha ho ho ho ho ho”). Bad Brain’s “Pay to Cum” has moved into the classic punk category – probably one of the best tracks ever. Of course Dead Kennedys appear; Alternative Tentacles was Jello Biafra’s label and “Nazi Punks – Fuck Off” is another punk classic, as is Circle Jerk’s “Paid Vacation.” “Police Story” is from the pre-Rollins/Dez Cadena era though the insert credits Rollins (Henry Garfield) with vocals.  Several tracks on this LP are versions not found on other releases, including “Police Story,” “Nazi Punks – Fuck Off” and “Pay to Cum.”

Side B is a bit more obscure, less punk and more experimental/dissonant in its sound. Lyrically “Isotope Soap” by Geza X disturbingly amusing (”Washed my hair now my head is bare with isotope soap”) while other songs are overtly political and anti-capitalism: “Corporate Food” by Anonymous and “Joke’s on You” by Christian Lunch. (According to the comp’s insert, he went into self-imposed exile to Germany until Reagan left office.) Reggae filtered through a punk lens even makes a showing on The Offs’ “Everyone’s a Bigot,” which is infectiously catchy despite its subject material.