After a quick glace through the internet there appears to be at least 3 different bands called Direct Hits, all seemingly after the Who compilation album of the same name. This one came out of Darwen, Lancashire from mid to late 1978 up to 1981. Sadly they were never signed and the pressure leaving their teens, working, studying and still gigging caught up with them.
Kevin Durkin - Bass -Vocals -Songs
Jim Porteous – Guitar -Vocals
Neil Porteous - Drums
Kevin and Neil went to school together and drafted Neil’s brother Jim on guitar. Beginning at local youth clubs they soon became a regular live band throughout the North West. In April 1980 they financed a couple of days at Bootleg Studios in Reddish, Stockport.
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| Direct Hits - Collisions at Teen Junction 1 |
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| Direct Hits - Collisions at Teen Junction 2 |
The Feeling Has Gone When they recorded the “Collisions at Teen Junction” album they obviously ran out of money so the 1000 copies they pressed (according to the Fanzine) had a plain white cover with the album title and track details printed by a hand printing set. It is claimed (by eBay sellers) "only 200 where ever made" but Jules remembers boxes of them stacked up as she helped with the makeshift cover, there where certainly a lot more than 200 but maybe not the full 1000. Unfortunately, because of the cheap pressing many copies had faults in the vinyl causing them to jump.
Why Do People Have To Fight?
Vanity Girls
Carnaby Eyes
City Of Manchester
Jenny Remembers
The Waiting Game
Rise From The Steets
Never Been In Love
The Lamps Are Going Out All Over Europe
Real Tears
All That Glitters
Kevin’s lyrics were included on a copied sheet inside, along with copies of his Direct Hits Fanzine. click to view
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| Direct Hits - Collisions at Teen Junction - Lyrics 1 |
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| Direct Hits - Collisions at Teen Junction - Lyrics 2 |
The Waiting Game has been posted on youtube
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XZvW0gqqy6Q
Direct Hits also featured two songs “Soul Shoes” and “Back to the Sixties” on the “Identity Parade” Manchester band sampler
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| Identity Parade 1 |
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| Identity Parade 2 |
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cDK5lNRZxg4&feature=related
"Soul Shoes"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UY6pcRlW0tg&feature=related
"Back to the Sixties" also found it's way onto the Powerpearls Volume 8 a collection of rare punks and new wave tracks from 1979 - 82 released in 2000.
Kevin, an obsessive self publicist, produced a Direct Hits Fanzine which they distributed at gigs. These are an interesting read particularly the complete set lists including cover versions. click to view
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| Direct Hits - Fanzine 1 |
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| Direct Hits - Fanzine 2 |
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| Direct Hits - Fanzine 3 |
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| Direct Hits - Fanzine 4 |
A few pics Neil PorteousPlus Neil Porteous - Kevin Durkin - Jim Porteous
Kevin did the reading when Jules (Julia) and I got married on 7th July 1990.
In 1996 I got Kevin to play on one of my songs
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LSL7gHEbzI4
Kevin Durkin on Guitar.
Midway through the recording, guitarists Geoff Crook and Kevin Durkin visited, I played them the song and despite thinking it a little explicit, Kevin helped with the guitar. A far cry from his usual style.
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ADDENDUM - - - - - Direct Hits….still stirring
As a result of the above I got the following email from Andy Morten
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23 May 2012
Hi Mike
I'm writing to you via your blog which I found whilst doing my annual Google searches for The Direct Hits of Collisions At Teen Junction "fame".
I've loved this record for almost 30 years (a mate had a copy – I now have a CDR of it) but it's only recently that I've been able to find out much about the band.
One of the things I do is co-ordinate CD releases for various UK reissue labels and this has been in my top dream projects for a while now.
Do you happen to have any contact with Kevin or the other band members? I'm very keen to license the album off them and give it the release it so hugely deserves.
Hope to hear from you soon.
Cheers!
Andy=
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We will see what Kevin says?
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29 May 2012
Hi Andy
Mike Wruk contacted me and told me you were interested in the old Direct Hits LP Collisions At Teen Junction, potentially licensing/releasing it etc.
Although I appreciate your interest, I would not want to pursue this in any way at all. It was all a long time ago.
Best wishes
Kevin
Kev also commented to me:
Fun times at the time, I suppose, but in the past (a long time in the past).
People look at these things differently, don’t they?
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On the Distractions Blog
http://distractionsnothing.blogspot.com/2011/07/gigs-will-tear-you-apart.html
CITY FUN -- Fanzine 1980The Direct Hits are listed a few times, and the groups' lead, Kevin Durkin (who was briefly a member of The Distractions in the mid-'90s) writes on the same page about their forthcoming album. Their LP, 'Collisions At Teen Junction', is even more difficult to track down than The Distractions 'Nobody's Perfect' these days.
Dear Fun, (City Fun)
Once again, this is Kev of The Direct Hits keeping you up to date on what's happening with the finest band in the land. Our projected single has been cancelled due to duff sound etc., and we will now be releasing an album in six weeks’ time. The LP will probably be called 'Collisions At Teen Junction', and will contain 12 songs. We recorded the basic tracks and most of the vocals yesterday at Bootleg Studios in Reddish, and there's a couple of dubs and mixing/editing to be done early next week. Twelve tracks in one day is pretty good going, but it's tiring! Instead of filling the mag with old schoolboys poems and bad language (not to mention bad grammar) why not print this?
Direct Hits / First LP 'Collisions At Teen Junction'
Side One
1. "The Feeling Has Gone"
If you're feeling dejected and it's raining, hum this, it is the saddest song ever written.
2. "Vanity Girls"
i.e. Most girls. Nice girls are scarce, it seems, vanity girls only let you down.
3. Why Do People Have To Fight?
Fists turn into boots turn into knives turn into guns. Guns turn into H bombs but the battle's never won! Don't do it!!
4. "City Of Manchester"
An ode tot he fair city, written in my youth. Who shut down the Piccadilly Snack Bar
5. "Rise From The Streets"
Don't be shy, get a guitar, form a band, and get up on stage and make a noise. Then you'll understand what this song's all about.
6. "All That Glitters"
...Is not gold. A bit of philosphy for you... very pessimistic too... don't day I didn't warn you!
Side Two
1. "The Waiting Game"
A pure pop sing... it's about us actually.
2. "Jenny Remembers"
Our Lennonesque epic. Contains hip references to the Electric Circus (!) and weird guitar solo of the year: The Byrds meet Joy Division meet pop art.
3. "Carnaby Arms"
This is about that I went down to London in October... I hate the place... Ended up having hallucinations in Victoria Coach Station.
4. "Real Tears"
More despair... real tears can never be wiped away.
5. "The Lamps Are Going Out All Over Europe"This is the true story (the outbreak of the First World War) about "The Folly Of Men" for all the old dogs who wear their medals to church (don't call me Joan Baez).
6. "Never Been In Love"
While 'romantics' like Pete Shelley fall in love with someone new once a fortnight, some of us would like it to happen just once in a lifetime... I wonder what it's like?
So there's the details - the LP will be three quid or less. Thanks City Fun.
Kevin Durkin
P.S. I promise we'll take out a full page ad for the album.
Kev.
This was not the finished track order
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| Direct Hits - Collisions at Teen Junction - Label |
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Warning, some copies of “Collisions At Teen Junction” are being sold at up to £80 see the information below.
(they ask £100 on ebay but no sign of anyone paying that for it)
To be honest the mistake for the more successful London group "The Direct Hits" has probably pushed much of the interest, but the quality of the material found when people have listened to it has created a genuine interest.
Don't get ripped off, you must be a bit of an obsessive to pay excessive amounts for vinyl when the sound is available on YoutTube
-----------------------------------------Artist: Direct Hits(they ask £100 on ebay but no sign of anyone paying that for it)
To be honest the mistake for the more successful London group "The Direct Hits" has probably pushed much of the interest, but the quality of the material found when people have listened to it has created a genuine interest.
Don't get ripped off, you must be a bit of an obsessive to pay excessive amounts for vinyl when the sound is available on YoutTube
Title: Collisions At Teen Junction
Tracks: The Feeling Has Gone / Why Do People Have To Fight? / Vanity Girls / Carnaby Eyes / City Of Manchester / Jenny Remembers / The Waiting Game / Rise From The Streets / Never Been In Love / The Lamps Are Going Out All Over Europe / Real Tears / All That Glitters
Format: LP
Label: Bootleg Records Cat.No: Boot 004
Info: This is the super rare mod revival album from direct hits. Released by Bootleg records in 1980 this was very much a D.I.Y. Release with a homemade printed plain white sleeve with the title on one side and the tracklist on the rear. This copy includes a typed photocopied lyric sheet, a promotional release insert and hand written letter from the band to a music journalist about future plans and gig dates!!! The sleeve is showing signs of age with a stain to the top right and the vinyl is in great shape.-----------------------------------------
Scarce deleted UK Bootleg Records 12-track vinyl LP, glossy white sleeve with pink text & original lyric sheet insert. .
CONDITION: SLEEVE DAMAGE TO CORNER/TITLE AS SEEN IN PIC- VINYL: NR MINT *RARELY PLAYED*
Blurb from Popsike: ''IMPOSSIBLE TO FIND !!!!
Never seen for sale on eBay. 'COLLISIONS AT TEEN JUNCTION' LP by DIRECT HITS.
Rumour has it that only 200 copies of this record exist…and this EXTREMELY RARE and VERY BRITISH MOD FOOTSTOMPER never pops up. They sound similar to early TELEVISION PERSONALITIES and early TIMES. Please note THIS IS NOT THE BAND WHO RELEASED A SINGLE AND AN L.P. ON THE WHAAM! LABEL.
Get yer "Mod Money and Power Pop Pounds" at the ready because you will need them for what is one of the most sought after L.P.s from the British Mod Revival era.''
Probably THE (!!!!) most sought after ’79 Mod Revival album. The charming vocals and the great melodies makes this MONSTER RARITY a real model. Everyone who know these songs loves this record (!!!). Original first pressing, released on private mini Mod label ’Bootleg’ records in 1981 (catalogue number BOOT 004). Here is the fantastic track listing. “The Feeling Has Gone” / “Why Do People Have To Fight” / “Vanity Girls” / “Carnaby Eyes” / “City Of Manchester” / “Jenny Remembers” / “The Waiting Game” / “Rise From The Streets” / “Never Been In Love” / “The Lamps Are Going Out All Over Europe” / “Real Tears” and “All That Glitters”....
SOLD FOR $126 IN 2007-hence start price;
Items securely packaged to avoid damage during delivery.
I'm listing some vinyl records that i bought in the late 1970's - early 1980's during the Mod Revival. Please check them all out if you're interested. I'm happy to combine postage costs if more than one record is bought. Please be aware the postage & packing includes the price of the cardboard mailer, not just the postal charge.
For auction here is this 1982 release from direct hits '' Collisions At Teen Junction '' please don't confuse this band with 'The Direct Hits' who were a London trio. The band that recorded this album were from Darwen/Blackburn (the former i think) in Lancashire and a part of the Manchester scene at that time, circa 1980.
From what i can gather, there was only ever 200 copies of this album made, so it's mega rare and as each copy that surfaces / comes up for sale, ends up with a collector, it will only get harder to find in the future.
It's on the Bootleg label - Boot 004
It's hard to describe their sound, but they are very upbeat and very melodic on most of the tracks and the album is filled with jangly guitars. They were a three piece (as mentioned), guitar, bass and drums and their lead singer had a nasally sort of voice and sounds (to me anyway) a little like Glen Tilbrook from Squeeze (if a bit weaker in the vocal department). He also sounds a bit like Pete Shelley of the Buzzcocks at times.
The line-up was - songwriter Kevin Durkin (bass/vocals), Jim Porteous (guitar/vocals) and Neil Porteous (drums)
I recall seeing them live on a handful of occasions around that time (1979 - 1981) and from what i can remember, they dressed sharp and I think regarded themselves as part of the Mod Revival. The main man (Kevin), was a relatively small geezer who wore glasses.
I'm not a record dealer or a collector, just a music lover who bought hundreds of records over the last 40 years, so not really qualified to grade accurately. All i can tell you is that this record plays fine on both sides, all the way through. There is some light surface noise (but i never owned any vinyl that didn't have surface noise, even from brand new) but there are no skips or jumps and it doesn't get stuck anywhere. Both labels are nice, bright and clean
The cheaply made sleeve is in pretty good condition for its 29 - 30 years. It has some storage marks, which show up worse than usual because it's a mainly white sleeve. It actually looks better in the flesh than in my photos. There are no splits to any of the three edges, but the bottom edge is separating (the back coming away from the front, if you know what i mean) and just needs a bit of gum / glue applying along about half of it, which I’ll leave for the buyer to attend to (if they think necessary). It also has a small sticker in the top right hand corner on the rear.
Also includes the insert, which is basically a sheet of A4 paper with the lyrics typed out on it (very indie ).
The inner sleeve is just the regular plain white type.
Price: a realistic £60 and no reserve. Copies over the last couple of years have changed hands for around £100. Whatever price you pay, look after this record and it will prove to be an investment in time.
Thanks for looking.
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Direct Hits - Collisions at Teen Junction.
Vinyl is in superb condition - as new.
Sleeve has some wear - to be expected of a thirty year old record.
I was given this by Kevin Durkin when I went to jam with the band in Darwen. I was playing in The Cybermen at the time.
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Some old comments
Wow, I went to St Thomas Aquinas and saw Direct Hits play there live. Excellent stuff. I own a copy of Collisions at Teen Junction and recently converted it to MP3 so it's recently had its first few plays in over 30 years. I remember reading the review in the NME which was quite flattering of the young band. on DIRECT HITS - Darwen
Thankfully Kevin has made mp3s of these great songs available on YouTube. Had the pleasure of meeting Kevin at last weekends Distractions gig... sadly he confirmed that he's not interested in any reissue. A crying shame, this is a superb album (Soul Shoes and Back to the Sixties bonus tracks!). on DIRECT HITS - Darwen
someone should just bootleg it. on DIRECT HITS - Darwen
The point is that the vinyl was pretty low quality, it did it's job but to rip a bootleg from the old vinyl would be pointless. You may as well just download the tracks from YouTube they are all there in low and high quality on the DirectHitsDarwen or kevin durkin channels. I honestly can't see why anyone would pay money for it, it's of interest but not essential. on DIRECT HITS - Darwen
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