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New Rose

If the prices on Discogs are anything to go by, 'New Rose' by The Damned is by far the most valuable record I own, with their median selling price currently at £250. Presumably this must be due to its being a first pressing of the first British punk rock release. It was one of a batch of six singles I bought at the local charity shop last summer for £2, the others being 'Lucky Number' by Lene Lovich, 'Denis' by Blondie, Talking Heads' 'Love Goes To Building On Fire', Stiff Little Fingers' 'Alternative Ulster' and 'United' by Throbbing Gristle.

That was a lucky day's shopping, but it could have been luckier still had I decided to also buy the copy of the 'Capital Radio' EP by The Clash they had, for which the Discogs median value is £165. "Who wants to listen to a record with band interview clips on it?" I thought. Having belatedly realised what I'd missed out on, I returned to the shop a couple of hours later, only to find it had been sold. In any case it's foolish for me to think of this stuff in financial terms, when I hate selling things and would much sooner give them away. 

It's a rough-and-ready recording of a simple song, but, for me at least, it still sounds thrilling. The B-side is a ropey version of Lennon & McCartney's 'Help', which hasn't aged as well.

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