Toy Dolls, The
Dig That Groove Baby (green)
Hailing from Sunderland in Englands industrial northeast, the Toy Dolls infused their take on punk with ample doses of working-class humour, the three-chord format a launching pad for witty originals and clever cover tunes. l983 debut Dig That Groove Baby captures the group at their finest, their twisted rendition of kiddies tune "Nellie The Elephant" topping the indie charts; the title track is an infectious singalong, while "Spiders In The Dressing Room" and "Glenda And The Test Tube Baby" are more irreverent tongue in cheek, all delivered in the peculiar androgynous accent of frontman Michael "Olga" Algar. Essential!