In The Beginning

The Slits were known for their uncompromising attitude and aggressive, confrontational music, first seen on their 1977 tour with The Clash. To this day they are cited as being hugely inspiring to many female artists. But even their seminal Island Records 1979 debut album Cut, with its infamous sleeve of the band members naked and caked in mud, does not capture the true energy and spontaneity as well as these live recordings do. From an early, chaotic punk-era show which includes classics such as “Shoplifting,” “Newtown” and “Love & Romance,” the album shows how they evolved into their dubby, reggae-influenced style with songs such as “Typical Girls,” and finishes with a track from their last-ever performance in 1981. Features guests Nina Hagen and Neneh Cherry. Over its fifteen tracks it features three songs never otherwise recorded*. The gatefold sleeve includes updated notes from Mick Mercer and previously unseen live and at home photos. Pressed on transparent blue vinyl for Record Store Day 2024. Tracklist 1. Vindictive 2. A Boring Life* 3. Slime* 4. New Town 5. Love & Romance 6. Shoplifting 7. Number One Enemy 8. Number One Enemy (acoustic) (guest vocal from Nina Hagen) 9. In The Beginning 10. New Town 11. Man Next Door 12. I Heard It Through The Grapevine 13. Typical Girls 14. Fade Away* 15. In The Beginning (guest vocal from Neneh Cherry) Tracks 1-7 Live at Dingwalls, London 9/77; 8 live in rehearsal; 9-14 Live in Cincinnati & San Francisco 1980; 15 Live at Hammersmith Palais, Dec. 1981 (last ever show). *Never previously recorded