One of the most ferocious bands I ever saw on Eric's, The Ruts made a number of first-rate singles and a decent enough debut album  - The Crack.

Singer Malcolm Owen's death was followed by the issue of this sad and confessional single which captures the existential destructiveness of loneliness far better than many other much more celebrated songs covering the same theme.

Owen died around the same time as Ian Curtis, but unlike Curtis's brilliant final words and music, the tremendous 'West One' failed to hit the charts.

More than a pity....  (SV)

Lights are burning red and white -
Lost on an island in the night;
Rescue me or here I'll stay,
A traffic island castaway.

[Click on the pic to hear the song]