The Diodes "Action/Reaction" LP

This record came out in October 1980 on Orient Records which was an independent label run by Willi Morrison and Ian Guenther. The Diodes decided to leave CBS after their second record "Released" was shelved. John Catto describes this record as their "commercial" album.  It has a huge sound from a production standpoint and the band had been touring extensively with bands like U2 so they were also at the top of their game from a musicianship standpoint.  John Hamilton had left the band and Mike Lengyell replaced him on drums. "Strange Time" and "Rock It" were the first single released from this record which came out around the same time. John Catto and Ian Mackaye felt "City of the Dead" was the strongest on this release. "Catwalker" was the song that got them rotation on radio. This was released as the second single along with the title track. However "Polaroid" is the hidden gem on this release in my opinion. The artwork is a photo of a collection of rayguns that George Whiteside which was fun and stunning. You can hear the band talk about this release on a show we did on November 13th, 2011. The songs on here are:

1. That Was The Way It Was
2. Catwalker
3. Strange time
4. Polaroid
5. Action Reaction
6. City of the dead
7. Rock it over and under
8. Everything I am
9. Edge of darkness
Bongo Beat Records has made this material available again on a CD which contains a number of other songs which are:

10. Survivors (an out take from the Action Reaction recording)
11. Ghost Story (recorded April 8, 1981 at Stagesound)
12. Heat of the beat (recorded April 8, 1981 at Stagesound)
13. Catwalker (recorded at Eastern Sound on December 1979)
14. Spanish Main (recorded at Eastern Sound on December 1979)

15. Play with fire (Live at Horseshoe and broadcast on CFNY on June 7, 1980)