For the uninitiated, Tales From the Australian Underground Volume 2: 1977 - 1990 charts the evolution of the Australian alternative sound beginning with the big bang of 1976 and the debut recordings of both Radio Birdman and The Saints, right through to the digital and alternative-mainstream crossover of the early '90s.

Using 7 inch records in the main to provide the storyline, Tales uncovers a bevy of vinyl treasure in the quest to tell the truth. Radio Birdman, The Saints, The Birthday Party, Tactics, Scientists, Sekret Sekret and the Triffids are just some of the acts making the graduation from volume one, whilst Teenage Radio Stars, SPK, The Singles, Sacred Cowboys, Severed Heads, Salamander Jim, Ollie Olsen, Primitive Calculators, feedtime, The Stems and the Widdershins are just some of the thirty-four debutantes. In total, 45 tracks from forty-five underground stars, with 24 of those tracks appearing on CD for the very first time.
Some of the highlights include:

star	Teenage Radio Stars - Wanna Be Your Baby
The debut CD release for the teenage pre-Models Sean Kelly and James Freud
star	Thought Criminals - More Suicides Please
The classic track from a 1978 punk rock Roger Grierson, the ex-MD of FMR
star	Shy Impostors - At the Barrier
The debut CD release for the pre-Sunnyboys Richard Burgman and Peter Oxley
star	Sekret Sekret - Chimes
The debut CD release from this track from the pre-Cruel Sea Danny, James and Ken
star	Salamander Jim - Hot Cakes For Daddy
The debut CD release from this inspirational Tex Perkins led band of the mid-eighties
star	Ollie Olsen - Win/Lose
The debut CD release for this one time Whirlywirld track - taken from the seminal Dogs in Space soundtrack
star	Primitive Calculators - Pumping Ugly Muscle
The debut CD release for this Dogs in Space soundtrack favourite
star	The Hummingbirds - Alimony
The debut CD release for this much loved indie hit of the eighties
star	Ed Kuepper - Everything I've Got
The classic Ed track


TRACKLISTING:

Disc One:
tales cover

   1. Radio Birdman: New Race (original version)
   2. The Saints: Know Your Product
   3. Teenage Radio Stars: Wanna Be Your Baby
   4. Thought Criminals: More Suicides Please
   5. Boys Next Door: Dive Postion
   6. The Hitmen: I Am The Man
   7. SpK: Mekano
   8. Little Murders: Things Will Be Different
   9. The Riptides: Tomorrows Tears
  10. Seems Twice: Non-Plussed
  11. The Singles: Love Of Loves
  12. Shy Impostors: At the Barrier
  13. Tactics: Second Language
  14. Surfside Six: Can't You See the Sign
  15. The Birthday Party: Blast Off
  16. Machinations: Arabia
  17. Dropbears: Fun Lovin'
  18. The Particles: I Luv Trumpet
  19. Minuteman: Voodoo Slaves
  20. Sacred Cowboys: Nothing Grows in Texas
  21. Sardine v: Stuck On You
  22. Severed Heads: Dead Eyes Opened (album version)
  23. Laughing Clowns: Everything That Flies
  24. Hoodoo Gurus: Lets All Turn On
  25. Scientists: Solid Gold Hell 

Disc Two:

   1. Sekret Sekret: Chimes
   2. The Triffids: Raining Pleasure
   3. Screaming Tribesman: A Stand Alone
   4. Salamander Jim: Hot Cakes For Daddy
   5. Lime Spiders: Out Of Control
   6. David Virgin: Give it Up
   7. Inner Sleeves: End it All
   8. Tall Tales & True: Wasted Life
   9. Toys Went Beserk: Guns At My Head
  10. Ollie Olsen: Win/Lose
  11. Primitive Calculators: Pumping Ugly Muscle
  12. feedtime: Don't Tell Me (7" version)
  13. Happy Hate Me Nots: Salt, Sour & Brighton
  14. The Stems: For Always
  15. Hummingbirds: Alimony (original version)
  16. Widdershins: Now You Know
  17. Died Pretty: Everybody Moves
  18. Proton Energy Pills: Less Than I Spend
  19. Lightning Scary: Kim Salmon top button
  20. Ed Kuepper: Everything I've Got