Crass Records, alongside One Little Independent Records, reissue their iconic three volume compilation series, ‘Bullshit Detector’, on LP, available in both classic black and special edition grey vinyl.

‘Bullshit Detector’ was the name of a series of compilation LPs put together by the anarcho-punk band Crass and released on their own label. Three editions were released between 1980 and 1984, consisting of demo tapes, rough recordings and artwork that had been sent to the band.

The sound quality of the ‘Bullshit Detector’ series was mixed and often basic, or even poor, as Crass would master the tapes directly to record without any additional production or enhancement. For Crass, the expectation of a polished performance was missing the point.

After punk had already been co-opted, re-packaged and sold back to us, ‘Bullshit Detector’ volumes 1-3 were, and still are, seen by many to capture the purest ethos of punk culture, an event that inspired hundreds to take to their bedrooms and garages and join the DIY revolution.

Crass believed in the power of community and that their movement was for everybody. These compilations are an admittedly harsh but important part of that story; when Crass gave punk back to the people.

Sleeve notes from ‘Bullshit Detector Three’ read: “Don’t expect music when the melody is anger, when the message sings defiance, three chords are frustration when the words are from the heart.”