Inflammable Material is the debut album by the Northern Irish punk band Stiff Little Fingers released in 1979 by Rough Trade Records. It became the first album on an independent record label to enter the UK Top 20, which led to the wider proliferation of independent labels and later indie rock across the United Kingdom. Another event which caused SLF to reorient towards punk rock was the 'Battle of Bedford Street', a riot outside of Ulster Hall in October 1977 which erupted due to the cancellation of a Clash performance. In terms of the band realising they were 'not alone' in the Ulster punk scene, the aborted Clash show was 'huge'.
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On its initial release, Paul Morley of the NME declared that "even more so than Never Mind The Bollocks – which turned out to be comedy – much more so than The Clash – which turned out to be quaint – as astonishing in its impact as The Ramones, Inflammable Material is the classic punk rock record." Morley went on to note the album was a "crushing contemporary commentary, brutally inspired by blatant bitter rebellion and frustration" concluding that "There are parts of Inflammable Material that are not just exciting or stimulating but quite humbling. It is a remarkable document." Garry Bushell of Sounds also praised the album, declaring it "a magnificent slice of vintage punk played fast and frantic, and loaded with powerful lyrics and forceful hooks barked out with anger and conviction by the man with the permanent sore throat, vocalist/lead guitarist Jake Burns." Bushell concluded that "Stiffs to be one of the most impressive old style punk bands to have broken surface in recent times, and my worries are mostly for the future: will their music progress or stagnate?"
Track listing
All tracks composed by Stiff Little Fingers (Jake Burns, Henry Cluney, Ali McMordie, Brian Faloon) and their manager Gordon Ogilvie; except where indicated.
The 2001 EMI CD reissue added the following tracks:
The reissue includes the first part of an interview of Jake Burns by Alan Parker (the second part is included in the reissue of Nobody's Heroes).
Chart position
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This was the first album on an independent record label to enter the UK Top Twenty.
Personnel
Personnel taken from Inflammable Material liner notes.