The Purple Hearts

One of the standout bands of the British mod revival of the late '70s and early '80s, the Purple Hearts wrote and recorded one of the community's enduring anthems, "Millions Like Us," and were one of the best-received acts on the scene during their heyday. The group's taut sound and energetic attack were clearly informed by the Jam and the early Who, like most of their peers, and their songs also boasted a punky concision and strong melodic hooks. Their debut LP, 1980's Beat That!, was their defining work, a tough, smart, streamlined set of no-frills guitar rock, while their second and final studio album, 1986's Pop-ish Frenzy, was the work of a band exploring new wave pop as the mod scene began to fade out. In 2024, Extraordinary Sensations: Studio & Live 1979-1986 collected both albums in full, along with rare and unreleased single sides, demos, and live recordings.