The Only Ones
Led by the raffish and slightly scuzzy romance-obsessed Peter Perrett, the Only Ones were one of the punk era's most underrated bands. Not as confrontational as the Sex Pistols, as politically indulgent as the Clash, or as stripped-down as the Ramones, the Only Ones played not-so-fast guitar rock that sounded deeply indebted to the New York Dolls and other mid-'70s proto-punks. Singing his intelligently crafted pop songs in a semi-tuneful whine of a voice and backed by a band that effectively combined youthful exuberance with gracefully aging veterans (non-punk drummer Mike Kellie had done time with early-'70s clod-rockers Spooky Tooth, bassist Alan Mair was nearly 40), Perrett was an astute chronicler of the vagaries of modern, dysfunctional love. Despite a career that lasted from 1978-1981 and one certifiable "hit" song to their credit (the brilliant "Another Girl, Another Planet"), the Only Ones became the archetypal contenders that never broke big, despite assurances from fans and critics that they couldn't miss.
Although they split up in 1981 after only three records, the Only Ones, due in large part to "Another Girl, Another Planet," became more influential than one would have guessed. Listen to Paul Westerberg and you'll hear more than a little Peter Perrett (in fact, the Replacements covered "Another Girl"); look at the number of Only Ones releases over the past decade (a half-dozen at least) and you soon realize that a significant cult surrounding the band grew after their breakup. Ironically, it was the posthumous release of the sessions for John Peel's BBC show that, more than any of the proper studio releases, accurately displayed the muscle and smarts of this fine band. There have been many rumors surrounding Perrett's life after the Only Ones, many of them involving an alleged heroin addiction. Perrett did continue to record and release solo projects during the '80s, including a project known as the One in the mid-'90s.
© John Dougan /TiVo
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Discography
15 album(s) • Sorted by Bestseller
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The Only Ones (2008 re-mastered version)
Rock - Released by Sony BMG Music Entertainment on 1 Apr 1978
The Qobuz Essential Discography16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Another Girl Another Planet The Best Of
Pop/Rock - Released by SONY BMG Catalog on 23 Oct 2006
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
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The Only Ones - Even Serpents Shine - Baby's Got A Gun (Original Album Classics)
Rock - Released by Sony Music UK on 6 Jan 2012
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
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Even Serpents Shine (2008 re-mastered version)
Rock - Released by Sony BMG Music Entertainment on 1 Jan 1979
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
The Immortal Story
Pop/Rock - Released by Columbia on 1 Jan 1991
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Baby's Got A Gun
Rock - Released by Sony BMG Music Entertainment on 1 Jun 1980
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
The Only Ones (2008 re-mastered version)
Rock - Released by Sony BMG Music Entertainment on 1 Apr 1978
The Qobuz Essential Discography16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Remains
Alternative & Indie - Released by Domino Recording Co on 15 Jun 1984
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
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The Big Sleep
Punk / New Wave - Released by Jungle on 9 Apr 1993
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
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