The Tom Robinson Band “Power in the Darkness” (1978)<i> Capitol/Razor & Tie</i>

The Sex Pistols preached anarchy in the U.K., the Clash represented a new brand of revolution rock, but the gutsiest figure to emerge during England’s incendiary late ‘70s punk movement well may have been the relatively unknown Tom Robinson. This working class lad was not only one of the few openly gay figures in rock, but he wrote and sang a gay liberation anthem that just about sealed his fate as a cult artist. “Glad to Be Gay” is just one of 17 rabble-rousing songs on this extended CD version of Robinson’s vastly underrated first album. “Power In the Darkness” proved the cockney singer to be an impressively intelligent and articu late spokesmen for the underclass. With such numbers as the soulful title track and the blazing rave-up “Ain’t Gonna Take It,” Robinson took passionate stands in defense not just of gays but of immigrants, women, punkers--just about anyone who has been beaten down and spat upon in his native land. There’s plenty of musical substance, as well, behind Robinson’s lyrically detailed, sociopolitical material. Revved up garage rockers such as “Up Against the Wall” positively burn with muscular guitars and drums. There are choice melodic hooks in tracks such as the bleak “Too Good to Be True” and the punchy “You Gotta Survive.” And--as if to show that it’s OK to be apolitical, too--Robinson even included a few old-fashioned car songs. Don’t miss the especially catchy “2-4-6-8 Motorway.”