For the uninitiated, Tales From the Australian Underground Volume 2: 1977 - 1990 charts the evolution of the Australian alternative sound beginning with the big bang of 1976 and the debut recordings of both Radio Birdman and The Saints, right through to the digital and alternative-mainstream crossover of the early '90s.

Using 7 inch records in the main to provide the storyline, Tales uncovers a bevy of vinyl treasure in the quest to tell the truth. Radio Birdman, The Saints, The Birthday Party, Tactics, Scientists, Sekret Sekret and the Triffids are just some of the acts making the graduation from volume one, whilst Teenage Radio Stars, SPK, The Singles, Sacred Cowboys, Severed Heads, Salamander Jim, Ollie Olsen, Primitive Calculators, feedtime, The Stems and the Widdershins are just some of the thirty-four debutantes. In total, 45 tracks from forty-five underground stars, with 24 of those tracks appearing on CD for the very first time.

Some of the highlights include:

Teenage Radio Stars - Wanna Be Your Baby
The debut CD release for the teenage pre-Models Sean Kelly and James Freud

Thought Criminals - More Suicides Please
The classic track from a 1978 punk rock Roger Grierson, the ex-MD of FMR

Shy Impostors - At the Barrier
The debut CD release for the pre-Sunnyboys Richard Burgman and Peter Oxley

Sekret Sekret - Chimes
The debut CD release from this track from the pre-Cruel Sea Danny, James and Ken

Salamander Jim - Hot Cakes For Daddy
The debut CD release from this inspirational Tex Perkins led band of the mid-eighties

Ollie Olsen - Win/Lose
The debut CD release for this one time Whirlywirld track - taken from the seminal Dogs in Space soundtrack

Primitive Calculators - Pumping Ugly Muscle
The debut CD release for this Dogs in Space soundtrack favourite

The Hummingbirds - Alimony
The debut CD release for this much loved indie hit of the eighties

Ed Kuepper - Everything I've Got
The classic Ed track

This release comes as a 2CD set complete with a 36 page full-colour booklet containing photographs, every single cover, and in-depth look at each and every track. It's an exhausting and dialectic exercise compiling Tales From the Australian Underground but someone has to do it, right?

TRACKLISTING:

Disc One:

1. Radio Birdman: New Race (orig version)
2. The Saints: Know Your Product
3. Teenage Radio Stars: Wanna Be Your Baby
4. Thought Criminals: More Suicides Please
5. Boys Next Door: Dive Postion
6. The Hitmen: I Am The Man
7. SpK: Mekano
8. Little Murders: Things Will Be Different
9. The Riptides: Tomorrows Tears
10. Seems Twice: Non-Plussed
11. The Singles: Love Of Loves
12. Shy Impostors: At the Barrier
13. Tactics: Second Language
14. Surfside Six: Can't You See the Sign
15. The Birthday Party: Blast Off
16. Machinations: Arabia
17. Dropbears: Fun Lovin'
18. The Particles: The Trumpet Song
19. Minuteman: Voodoo Slaves
20. Sacred Cowboys: Nothing Grows in Texas
21. Sardine v: Stuck On You
22. Severed Heads: Dead Eyes Opened (album version)
23. Laughing Clowns: Everything That Flies
24. Hoodoo Gurus: Lets All Turn On
25. Scientists: Solid Gold Hell

Disc Two:

1. Sekret Sekret: Chimes
2. The Triffids: Raining Pleasure
3. Screaming Tribesman: A Stand Alone
4. Salamander Jim: Hot Cakes For Daddy
5. Lime Spiders: Out Of Control
6. David Virgin: Give it Up
7. Inner Sleeves: End it All
8. Tall Tales & True: Wasted Life
9. Toys Went Beserk: Guns At My Head
10. Ollie Olsen: Win/Lose
11. Primitive Calculators: Pumping Ugly Muscle
12. feedtime: Don't Tell Me (7" version)
13. Happy Hate Me Nots: Salt, Sour & Brighton
14. The Stems: For Always
15. Hummingbirds: Alimony (original version)
16. Widdershins: Now You Know
17. Died Pretty: Everybody Moves
18. Proton Energy Pills: Less Than I Spend
19. Lightning Scary: Kim Salmon top button
20. Ed Kuepper: Everything I've Got