Unavailable for over 20 years, In The Beginning There Was Rhythm was Soul Jazz Records first foray into post-punk and punk-funk in the UK and captures the groundbreaking and seminal groups that crossed the divide of punk and dance music for the first time.
"In the Beginning is essen,al missing-link history – and body-rockin' fun" The Guardian "In the Beginning doesn't have a single limp tune. It'll amaze new listeners and give old ones some hard-to-find tracks. Buy it." Pitchfork
"There's no denying that In the Beginning There Was Rhythm is a great gateway into this expansive, fruiGul, trailblazing era." All Music First released in 2001, this album is fully remastered, remade and presented once more in its enSrety and features A Certain RaSo, Cabaret Voltaire, Throbbing Gristle, The Human League, The Pop Group, Gang of Four, The Slits, 23 Skidoo and This Heat.
This album comes as a limited-ediSon one-off pressing double coloured vinyl (red and blue) complete with two bespoke inner bags containing extensive sleevenotes and original photography.
As Muzik magazine noted on its iniSal release 'In The Beginning' is a choice selecSon from the ferSle post-punk period when bands thought nothing of combining poliScs and philosophy with imported dance rhythms and edgy industrial angst. The bands featured come (mostly) from the then bleak post-industrial North of England – Manchester, Sheffield, Leeds as well as Bristol and London, and yet all show a fascinaSon with black American rhythms and an experimentaSon in sound that was completely unique at the Sme.
The title of the album comes from The Slits track of the same name.
This album is produced with all the original photos and full extensive sleevenotes.