New March 2021 Release Date Announced for Gang of Four Box Set, Band Releases Demo of Unreleased Song “Elevator”

Influential post-punk outfit Gang of Four has announced a new boxset called GANG OF FOUR: 77-81, which will be released on March 12 on LP and CD. This new boxset will contain remastered versions of their first two studio albums Entertainment! and Solid Gold, alongside a singles collection, live recordings and previously unreleased demos like “Elevator,” which is on streaming platforms now.

“Elevator” is a nostalgic punk rock demo, with old-school Ramones style lyricism and vocal delivery, complemented by catchy guitar chords and old-school punk drum tempos. This was one of Gang of Four’s first songs, which was inspired by the burgeoning punk scenes in the UK and New York City at the time.

“‘Elevator’ always worked well live.” the band’s Jon King said in a press release. “It was a keeper until it wasn’t. By the time we got into the Workhouse studio to record ‘Entertainment’, it was in the dumper. I’d forgotten ever writing it until it was dug up for the box set cassette. I like it: the jangly riff, propulsive rhythm, and dopey lyrics take me right back to the day.”

Gang of Four were recent the subjects of a new compilation album The Problem of Leisure: A Celebration of Andy Gill and Gang of Four, which featured covers by IDLES, Flea and John Frusciante and Killing Joke. One of the covers featured System of Down frotnman Serj Tankian and Rage Against The Machine guitarist Tom Morello covering Gang of Four’s “Natural’s Not In It.” The band’s Anti Hero EP came out last year and featured performances by the late Andy Gil, who passed away that same year.

GANG OF FOUR: 77-81 tracklist

ENTERTAINMENT!

A1. Ether
A2. Natural’s Not In It
A3. Not Great Men
A4. Damaged Goods
A5. Return The Gift
A6. Guns Before Butter
B1. I Found That Essence Rare
B2. Glass
B3. Contract
B4. At Home He’s A Tourist
B5. 5.45
B6. Love Like Anthrax

SOLID GOLD

A1. Paralysed
A2. What We All Want
A3. If I Could Keep It For Myself
A4. Outside The Trains Don’t Run On Time
A5. Why Theory?
B1. Cheeseburger
B2. The Republic
B3. In The Ditch
B4. A Hole In The Wallet
B5. He’d Send In The Army

SINGLES

A1. To Hell With Poverty
A2. It’s Her Factory
A3. Armalite Rifle
B1. Capital (It Fails Us Now)
B2. History’s Bunk!
B3. Cheeseburger (Live) *
B4. What We All Want (Live) *
*Live at Hammersmith Palais

LIVE AT AMERICAN INDIAN CENTER 1980

A1. Not Great Men
A2. Contract
A3. Outside The Trains Don’t Run On Time
A4. Damaged Goods
B1. He’d Send In The Army
B2. Guns Before Butter
B3. 5.45
C1. Anthrax
C2. It’s Her Factory
C3. Ether
C4. Natural’s Not In It
D1. At Home He’s A Tourist
D2. Rosanne
D3. Return The Gift
D4. Glass

CASSETTE

SIDE A -THE EARLY DEMOS (VARIOUS)

I) REHEARSAL ROOM – LEEDS, 1977-78

The Things You Do
What You Ask For
Armalite Rifle
Love Like Anthrax
Silence Is Not Useful
Disco Sound
Damaged Goods
Elevator

II) CARGO DEMOS – CARGO STUDIO, ROCHDALE

Song One
Song Two

iii) THE TAPES – POLYDOR STUDIOS, JAN 1978

Essence Rare
Tourist
Return The Gift
5.45
Corked Up With The Ether

SIDE B – ABBEY ROAD DEMOS

FROM 5TH JANUARY 1981 – (single track from cassette)

Why Theory
Cargo
Trains
Army
Disco/Funk
Dog’s Breath
Asshole
Cymbal
Reverb
Cheeseburger
Ditch

Photo Credit: Boston Lynn Schulz