Aternative reissue house Left For Dead Records, which was formed by James Reynolds, founder of early New York Punk/New Wave indie label Jimboco Records, the Independent Label Alliance distribution network, and ‘80s/’90s Safe House Records, have announced the release of Rousers 1979 Sire Session by ‘70s Manhattan Punk act The Rousers.
This is being release October 14, 2025 on both black and translucent white individually numbered 12” LP vinyl and 2 x CD set (with bonus tracks). In 2026 it will also be available for digital download and streaming on Bandcamp.
Inspired by The New York Dolls, Ramones and ‘50s Rockers like Duane Eddy, The Rousers were underdocumented in their prime. They had some major label interest, but no one committed them to vinyl until Reynolds issued their “Party Boy” b/w “Don’t Let The Band Stop Playing” 45 (produced by Wayne Kramer of the MC5) via Jimboco in 1981.
Reynolds is now releasing the demos that the original Rousers lineup, which included vocalist Jeff Buckland, rhythm guitarist Bill Dickson, bassist John Hannah, lead guitarist Tom Milmore, and drummer Jerid O’Connell. The demos were cut for Sire in the label’s basement studio on New York’s Upper West Side in 1979.
Tracked to tape under the ear of Ed Stasium, who had also recently worked with The Ramones and Talking Heads, the demos are long overdue for release.
Never before released, the tapes sat shelved in the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame’s Sire archives for decades, digitized and restored in 2024. Mixing duties were split between Bob Stander (Parchessi Studio) and Ed Stasium himself.
The project is described as “a rescue mission.” The release features full tracklistings for both vinyl and expanded CD editions, plus detailed liner notes by Punk historian and musician Tim Stegall (The Tim “Napalm” Stegall Substack, Ugly Things).
