Editorial Review

Originally released as a 10-track live album in the late 1970s when live albums were all the rage, Read more

Features

• Enhanced
• Live
• Original recording remastered

Reviews (32)

One of the best live cd's you'll ever own!!
Back in 1977, Cheap Tricks management wanted to release a cd that would hold them over until the new release was finished. Dream Police was almost ready to roll, but it just needed a little extra time to be fully completed before it was released to the world. Up until now, Cheap Trick had not had much success in North America and they were counting on the Dream Police release to put them on the map. When they recorded Live a Budokan it was to help get things rolling and to be a stop gap measure to fill the void until the new release was ready. It was also only supposed to be released in Japan. Well as it turned out, it was one hell of a stop gap. Live At Budokan became the anthem in North America and broke the band big time. It was a tremendous success that helped propel the band to new heights. Songs like I Want You To Want Me became overnight hits. They had reached massive successalmost overnight or least it seemed. Cheap Trick was a hard working band and this over night success so to speak was well earned.
Finally, the entire show!
Like The Who, Cheap Trick utterly dominates the stage as a live band. Unlike The Who, however, Cheap Trick has never really put out a truly extraordinary studio album (good albums yes, but not extraordinary). I think these are the reasons why Live at Budokan has always been a favorite of critics and listeners alike.
One of the best live performances I've ever heard - it's a little cheesy but you'll still love it!
Cheap Trick is essentially a minor guilty pleasure and a little cheesy, but if you can get past that then you will find that they are an AMAZING band! Their strengths lay in their live performances, and this album especially proves this point (they were more of a "show" than an artistic, political or poetic group, and they knew this). What's so fascinating about "Cheap Trick At Budokan: The Complete Concert" is that it's so well-produced for a live show - you can hear everything clearly! The drums are especially easy and fun to listen to. The songs are all essentially cheesy-but-fun power pop songs with a hard rock twist, and even if they aren't the deepest songs in the world lyrically, you will still probably love them. Not all of the songs here are great, unfortunately (the original album only had 10 songs, but this has about 25 - that could explain it), but the album's length and the amount of good ones it DOES have more than make up for it. "Hello Kiddies", "Big Eyes" and "Surrender", for example, are all classic power pop songs from the early seventies. Singer Robin Zander does an excellent job with the vocals as fits perfectly as a power pop/hard rock vocalist - I'm pretty sure that most people will love him. The lyrics aren't all that interesting by themselves, but Robin definitely adds much needed energy to the mix. Like I said, the only downfall to this particular verson of the album is that some of the extra songs aren't that good (the original album wasn't the whole concert, but this is). Basically, if you're into power pop, the history of rock or if you're looking for an amazing live album, then "Cheap Trick At Budokan: The Complete Concert" is one of the best you buy! Absolutely recommended!
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Subjects:  1. Album Rock    2. Arena Rock    3. Hard Rock    4. New Wave    5. Pop    6. Pop/Rock    7. Popular Music    8. Power Pop    9. Rock    10. Rock/Pop   

Features

• Original recording remastered

Reviews (9)

Strange Music
OK...This is my favorite album of all time.There is nothing like it.NOTHING!!!I think Robert Smith is one of the greatest songwriters of all time.Steve Severin is also great, of course.I have every album from the Cure and Siouxsie & the Banshees...BUT...this is still my favorite.Acid had a good effect on these two.Extreme psychedelia at it's finest.I love 60s psychedelia, too.. but this is better.I listen to it every day.So original with excellent sounds! When i first heard the female vocals on this album, i was disappointed because it wasn't Robert Smith, but they grew on me. I would have liked to hear Robert's 80s voice on these tracks.That would be a 10.He sounds a little worn out these days.I like the extra instrumental tracks on the 2nd CD.I always wished they were tracks of their own, and now i have them.The new RS vocals suck, but I'm elated with the improved main CD.I have to give it 5 stars because it's so good!!!If you want to enter a new dimension, listen to this.If you only like standard pop sounds, forget it.

Superb.Who cares when the vocals were recorded?
The reviewers here who do not like the bonus disk do not understand the Cure, or more specifically, Robert Smith.I have been following the Cure since _17 Seconds_ and this is perhaps the best "Cure" album after _17 Seconds_, _Faith_, and _Pornography_.The feel of the vocals is very reminiscent of the great period around _Japanese Whispers_. The sound is tremendously colorful, playful, and loose; the lyrics are some of the best [most bizarre] RS has written;and Robert sounds like he's having fun impressing Severin.Who cares when the vocals were recorded?A few of the songs feature acoustic rhythm parts reminscent of _The Top_, but less smarmy."The Man from Nowhere" is a double-time rhythm guitar driven instrumental that could serve as a film theme song for for some bizarre spy or superhero.On the original CD it bridged a couple of songs, muffled, but you can here it here in its entirety. It's hilarious.

Not as Fun as It Appears to Be
The Glove is actually a mock-up band consisting of The Cure's Robert Smith and Steven Severin of Siouxsie and the Banshees, with help from a female vocalist named Jeanette Landray. The band name is lifted from the Beatles' "Yellow Submarine," which featured a blue glove as the `muscle' for the Blue Meanies. They also borrow some artwork from the Beatles project, and take more than a little inspiration from the psychedelia of this project, with a natural tendency toward the "Blue" (read `dark') side of the equation. The original album was released back in 1983, so it is understandable why numerous fans of the Cure or the Banshees may be unfamiliar with the existence of this project. Now that is re-released as a 2-disk deluxe package, that may change, although I don't think they were missing much.
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Subjects:  1. Alternative Pop/Rock    2. Pop    3. Post-Punk    4. Psychedelic    5. Rock    6. Rock/Pop   

Editorial Review

Gabriela "Nena" Kerner's American debut combines tracks from her first two European releases, including everyone's favorite antinuclear dance-pop single in both English and German. Likable as "99 Red Balloons" and "99 Luftballons" were, their international success was not to be repeated, even though tracks like "Kino" and "Just a Dream" have a similar just-this-side-of-kitsch appeal. "Leuchtturm" and "Uner Kannt Durch's Marchenland" are also strong, but the clumsy "Let Me Be Your Pirate" makes you wish Nena had stuck to her native tongue. Then again, it was that bilingual approach that allowed her to transcend her stateside status as a one-hit wonder--if only through a technicality. Read more

Reviews (30)

track one
Track one [99 red balloons] was redone and it's an awful redo..the first time i heard it I thought I got a bad disc...it's almost like it skips in teh middle and some mix genious added a 'slow motion effect' to the guitars in the middle of the track and a bunch of crap right after Nena finishes her solo at the beginning...don't buy it..the german version of the song is good but damn..they ruined the English one.

Nina is ageless!
I think this is a wonderful cd for young and old to enjoy.It's great to dance to or just to relax to!It's a cd I can listen to with my teenage daughter and she loves it too!

I LUUUUUUv 99 luftballons!
99 luftballons rox my sox!99 red balloons just can't compare, altho it is good too!the rest of the songs are pretty good, altho that one about the pirate sux.w/e.u should buy this cd just so u can hear the original version of 99 luftballons! ok, well, i'd luuuuuuuuv to stay and chat sum more, but unfortunately I can't.sry! ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Dance-Pop    2. Germany    3. New Wave    4. Pop    5. Popular Music    6. Rock    7. Rock/Pop   

Editorial Review

When Devo's debut album came out in 1978, nobody knew what to make of the mutant new-wave quintet from Akron, Ohio. With Brian Eno's skillful production, Mark and Bob Mothersbaugh, Jerry and Bob Casale, and Alan Myers emerged fully formed and outrageous with their razor-sharp social commentary and exhibition of subversive media savvy.Beyond their industrial uniforms and pseudo-devolved demeanor, Devo also happened to be a rocking little band. Classic rave-outs like "Mongoloid," "Jocko Homo," and "Uncontrollable Urge" illustrate the band's perky-jerky intensity. On their inimitable cover of the Rolling Stones' youth anthem, "Satisfaction," Devo's avant-garde robot funk takes the song to a new level of alienation and discontent. While the band went on to greater fame, this was the only album they made that truly mattered. Read more

Reviews (60)

Look What The Rubber City Exported
A band that dressed like spacemen, moved like robots and had a painting of pro golfer Chi Chi Rodriguez gracing the cover of its first full-length album. No wonder Devo had to escape northeast Ohio to find their musical niche in London during the "Year of Punk (1978)."
If You Like Music, Buy This Album
DEVO has not been given appropriate credit for their contributions to modern music. Written off as a "One Hit Wonder" (for "Whip It" which is not on this album but is on "Freedom Of Choice"), DEVO bridged the gaps between punk and new wave and again from new wave to electronica. They have influenced more bands than most people realize. If you fancy yourself as one who has a big CD/MP3 collection, it is incomplete without this album! Also, visit their web site: http://www.clubdevo.com . They are still alive and kicking and they occasionally tour. Buy this album and go and see them. I've met them, they are very nice guys!
Devo's Best
This is not "Whip It".
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Subjects:  1. American Punk    2. American Underground    3. New Wave    4. Pop    5. Popular Music    6. Post-Punk    7. Rock    8. Rock/Pop   

Editorial Review

Released four years after the Talking Heads called it a day with 1988's Read more

Reviews (30)

Worthwhile; possibly obsolete
This 2-disc set spans, somewhat uncomfortably, the boundary between a greatest-hits collection (targeted at the casual fan) and a retrospective box set (targeted at the completist).Nearly all of the band's well-known hits are here (with the odd exception of "Uh Oh, Love Comes to Town"), padded out to double-CD length with live cuts and non-album tracks.The result is completely listenable, as the boundary between the group's quirky art-rock days and their FM-radio heyday falls nicely between discs, but new fans might consider the later, single-disc hits collection a better value while fans wanting to go deeper will seek out the recent DualDisc re-releases which feature lots of bonus tracks.
Strong compilation from a smart pop band
Talking Heads is one of those rare bands with the distinction of making smart pop music accesible for the masses.The double disc "Sand in the Vaseline" is a good reflection of their career.I first became familar with them in the early eighties when songs like "Burning down the House" was all over FM radio and MTV.Disc 2 represents this era thoroughly, and includes some smaller hits that I forgot about until I bought the CD.
Almost perfect...if I could I would rate 4.5
I love this band...they just might be my favorite band of all time!And this is a freaking great compilation.My only complaint...and its not a huge deal, I just wish that a few songs would have been on it for example 1. Uh Oh (love has come to town), 2. What a Day that Was and 3. Found a Job.Its okay though because I have those songs on other cds...just a minor complaint.If you want to get way into the Heads this would be a great place to start.What a great band. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Album Rock    2. Alternative Pop/Rock    3. American Punk    4. College Rock    5. New Wave    6. New York Punk    7. Pop    8. Pop/Rock    9. Popular Music    10. Post-Punk    11. Rock    12. Rock/Pop   

Editorial Review

Few could challenge John Hughes in 1980s teen coming-of-age flicks. This brat-pack extravaganza boasts the anthemic "Don't You (Forget About Me)" by Simple Minds, a hit so large it vaulted them into the collective consciousness. The rest of it is more disposable. Elizabeth Daily (aka E.G.) was a kindred spirit of Pia Zadora in that people kept trying to make her famous, although in retrospect it's hard to figure out why. The Karla DeVito track "We Are Not Alone" still wears well, although it may be because it's synonymous with some great imagery from the movie. Producer Keith Forsey went on to work with Billy Idol and Charlie Sexton with mixed results. --Read more

Features

• Soundtrack

Reviews (21)

Great 80's snapshot- and good music too!
Hey, whats all this shouting about the Breakfast Club soundtrack being only worth buying for the Simple Minds track? Some people are so narrow minded...!
Don't Forget About The Soundtrack!
Personally, I find "Don't You (Forget About Me)" to be a great track, but it does tend to overshadow the other awesome songs in this movie. I'm so gladthey released this on CD (unlike the Sixteen Candles soundtrack), because I've been wanting to get my hands on a copy of "We Are Not Alone", the track that plays in the library when they're all dancing.

a brilliant piece of music!
To contradict everything that has been said before, I would simply like to state that it is enirely possible to love this soundtrack without adoring "Don't You". There are so many good songs on this album and any one of them makes me dance and sing along. The instrumentals are great either, they make you think about the movie and they are sooo 80s-like! Of course, I think you should love the movie to buy it. Otherwise, what's the point of doing so?
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Subjects:  1. 80's    2. New Romantic    3. New Wave    4. Pop    5. Pop/Rock    6. Soundtrack    7. Soundtracks & Film Scores    8. Synth Pop   

Reviews (4)

Brilliant as Always!
This band came into my life in 1988 with "Blue Bell Knoll," and I've never looked back.Lullabies to Violaine, vol. 2 is a great addition with numbers I hadn't heard, "Mud and Dark," and "Summer-Blink."This is an example, though not complete, of their evolving from a heavier style to a lighter and more sophosticated sound.Where are "Carolyn's Fingers," and "Blue Bell Knoll?"
In a word, it's... cool.
The Cocteau Twins were one of those mysterious bands that the really cool kids in High School were into. You know, the ones with lots of black clothing, complicated footwear, hip hairdos, and surprisingly easy access to mind-altering substances. In other words, not me.
Really Beautiful
I've never been a Cocteau Twins fanatic, but this collection and V. 1 could change my mind.To my ears, the Twins were at their very best on their singles and toward the end of their career.Liz Frazer's voice was sweeter, the songs less "cutesy" and more beautiful, and they could throw up a beautiful wall of sound when they wanted to. Cherry Colored Funk, Round, An Elan and the second version of Violane are especially stunning in this collection, but I wouldn't want to be without a single disc in either of the two volumes.Even if you've always had a bit of a problem with the Twins you ought to check this out.There's some incredible stuff that I wouldn't want to live without here.I should add that the sound quality is some of the most incredible I've ever heard on a popular music disc, and beats their album remasters in terms of depth, spread and especially textural beauty (and there's a LOT of that here).At the asking price, this and V. 1 are about the best bargains going. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Alternative Pop/Rock    2. Ambient Pop    3. Dream Pop    4. Pop    5. Post-Punk    6. Rock    7. Rock/Pop    8. Scotland   

Features

• Extra tracks
• Original recording reissued
• Original recording remastered

Reviews (42)

I can't stop messing with the danger zone.
Cyndi Lauper's solo debut is an essential eighties classic. Too bad her fame didn't last because I think she is an awfully gifted artist who makes great music to go along with that gift. I think her voice is amazing. And her creativity always shines through her work. It's a shame we let her go. She still has a small, yet significantly devoted following of fans who have her back no matter what, and hey, I'm with them. Although I can't call myself a true die-hard Cyn fanatic (yet), on a count of this is the only album of her's that I own. I plan on getting more (if not all) of her records in the near future. Well as far as this record, I was totally blown away! My expectations were not too high (only expecting great singles and the rest filler). They were eventually surpassed by miles. This record was released in late 83, but in the spring-time of the following year is when it really took off, peaking at number 4 on the album charts and Girls just wanna have fun a number 2 hit on the hot one-hundred list, this record has to date sold over six-million copies. Also Cyndi was the first female ever to have four top five hits from just one album. Time after time #1 (three weeks), GJWHF #2, She-bop #3 and All through the night #5. Money changes everthing was also a hit but only charted at #27 (which ain't bad considering most of her later singles never even charted). All in all this album is already one of my favorites from back in the day.
This is unusually good.
This is an 80's classic if there ever was one. Truth be known, I'd even keep this over one of her collections. Sure I'd miss "True Colors" and "Drove All Night", but this is pure Cyndi front-to-back. Half her hits are on this one album, like "Time After Time", "All Through The Night", "She Bop", and of course "Girl's Just Want to Have Fun". But what makes "She's So Unusual" is the lesser-knowns. I totally love "I'll Kiss You" and "Yeah Yeah". Plus this is remastered with extra tracks! Then there's the classic cover photo. You don't get that in 2006. A must for fans.

A"CYNDI" CLASSIC
WOW, what memories this album brings back. The Very Best voice in the Industry has to this day never gotten her just rewards. I admire Cyndi very much, she always stayed true to her heart and made the music she wanted to, not what the record company's wanted her to make in order to sell mega records. She stayed true to her heart and sure, some of her albums did not sell to well. But, geez, do people listen to the words of all those songs she sings, they are so wonderful. Now Cyndi is on a comeback with the "at last" cd and now the Body electric, everyone "BUY IT" and let's get out there to see her in concert, she puts on an absolutely awesome show, i know, i go to them. This album is a classic, with some bonus stuff on it, purfect to have and just so nice to listen to, we will all feel young again. Just look at CYNDI on the new album cover, she looks absolutely amazing.JUST BUY THIS ONE AND BUY THE BODY ACOUSTIC ON NOV 8,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,Frank ... Read more

Subjects:  1. New Wave    2. Pop    3. Pop/Rock    4. Popular Music    5. Rock    6. Rock/Pop   

Editorial Review

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Reviews (58)

A solid album with two classic New Order songs
"Blue Monday" probably stands as the very best techno-pop dance song that New Order ever did, and, indeed, must be considered one of the best songs of this genre.But "Blue Monday," and its instrumental (and somewhat redundant) counterpart "The Beach" are only a part of what makes "Power, Corruption and Lies" such a strong album, the second in New Order's discography.A much different song, but just as compelling, is "Age of Consent," with off-beat lyrics and bass line you can't get out of your head (copied, by the way, by "The Jesus and Mary Chain," towards the end of their classic "Head On").These two songs alone would probably make this a worthwhile album.Other strong tracks include "586" (I would have cut out the introduction and just gone right into the danceable part), the ethereal "Your Silent Face," and "Leave Me Alone."
Total Classic
One of the best rock records of all time. One of the best dance/electronic records of all time. Way ahead of the pack at 1983?!, timeless and not stuck in 80's /new wave AT ALL if you ask me. Much more musically varied and interesting than much of today's electronica scene as much as I like all of that too. Early electronic dance music with a post-punk attitude. Emotionally moody and yearning. Great imagery. Sumner's vocals are weak and strained but ultimatly that becomes a huge charm as it seems vulnerable and..well..punkish in spirit in an odd way. Also..a surprizingly soulful record too with the italo-disco element...but this time existentailly wounded. Funky and pyschedelic too with all the key bending stuff on the synths. If all alternative and dance music could be this interesting. All this AND one the best record covers of all time by Manchester graphic designer Peter Saville also..way ahead of the curve. A reason to have it on vinyl however(which includes a secret message in the color codes on the the back of the album which refer to Factory Records' release catalogue system!). This record is a total winner.

New Order's Apogee
If you think "Blue Monday," New Order's signature New Wave dance track, is the only song worthwhile on this 1983 release, you couldn't be more mistaken.As I'm sitting here attempting to collect the necessary words to write this review, I hear wave upon wave of Gillian's magnificent synths in "Your Silent Face."With an album filled with songs of this high calibre, where can one go wrong?I suppose I've got to say that POWER, CORRUPTION, & LIES is THE New Order album, my favourite out of the band's (currently) eight LPs.While the others have their own charm and spirit, this one perfectly captures and blends the post-punk ethos of Joy Division with the new lease on life that is New Order--and it's the one I find myself drawn to the most whenever I feel the need to pop in a CD and enjoy some music.Incessant, stacatto, almost militaristic beats courtesy of Stephen Morris and an assortment of drum machines icily pulse in the listener's ear while the aforementioned synthlines, delicate and forever lovely, create a dreamy, lush, and warm effect.This album is thus a very strange mixture of frost and warmth as displayed on the cover, a still-life of roses (now the desktop picture on my personal computer).When you're finished looking at the cover and you pop the CD into the stereo, you're instantly grabbed by the urgent riff of "Age of Consent"...and you're not let go until the last notes of "Leave Me Alone" fade away (well, unless you choose to listen to "The Beach," the instrumental/dubbed version of "Blue Monday," which was rather uselessly tacked onto the American re-release).While "The Beach" may ruin the ending flow of this masterpiece ("Leave Me Alone" is the PERFECT closer), "Blue Monday" fits snugly in between its prototype, "586" (quite possibly my favourite New Order song), and "Your Silent Face" (certainly in my top five).If you, however, feel the need to listen to the album minus the "bonus" tracks, feel free to do so.But I've written enough:if you're reading this page and looking for something new, something different, something grand, read some of the wonderful reviews already posted and do purchase this album.I can't guarantee you won't regret your decision, since we all have different musical tastes, but I can tell you that this album changed my life and the way I listen to music--and it continues to do so every day. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Alternative Dance    2. Alternative Pop/Rock    3. Club/Dance    4. College Rock    5. Pop    6. Popular Music    7. Post-Punk    8. Rock    9. Rock/Pop    10. Synth Pop   

Editorial Review

Long before the idiom "talk to the hand" entered public discourse, Cy Curnin was singing to his, a melodramatic tic that made Fixx videos and live shows seem pretentious, or at least odd. But beyond their frontman's Bowie affectations, the Fixx showed a consistent pop sensibility that earned them a loyal fan base in the United States, despite little success in their native England. And while early collaborations with producer Rupert Hines may have yielded their best work ("Stand or Fall," "One Thing Leads to Another," "Red Skies," "Saved By Zero"), this generous collection shows the band was capable of cooking up hooks throughout its decade-long run. Read more

Reviews (18)

The FixX
If you like the fixx you got to have this one,or if you just started this is the one.

Sweet album.
All these songs are good I didnt realize how many songs they sung that i like.

A great collection
Much better than the previously released collection.Has the nuggets that almost got away (Driven Out) and all of the classics.A good way to get all the best, or to complete the collection. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. New Wave    2. Pop    3. Pop/Rock    4. Rock    5. Rock/Pop   

Editorial Review

The soundtrack to the Jonathan Demme documentary, Read more

Features

• Extra tracks
• Live
• Original recording reissued
• Original recording remastered
• Soundtrack
• Special Edition

Reviews (59)

Best Album I've Ever Heard
I can't believe anybody gave this album less than 5 stars.This is the most compelling performance I have ever heard.I have 50.76 gigs of music on iTunes and this is my favorite album.

good Talking Heads record
i own this on vinyl and it's just good talking head songs live,although i have to say the original version of some songs are better but if you have the money i guess go for it but i recommend buying non live recordings.

Bigger is not always better
The original LP version of this was a mere 9 songs, and was absolutely brilliant. I remember playing it constantly, wearing it out much like my two album "The Name Of This Band Is Talking Heads" double live album. I also got to see the concert film at some midnight show and was enthralled...a concert movie for people who liked music! I loved it so much that I eventually got David Byrne to sign the book that came with the album.
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Subjects:  1. Album Rock    2. American Punk    3. College Rock    4. New Wave    5. New York Punk    6. Pop    7. Pop/Rock    8. Post-Punk    9. Rock    10. Rock/Pop   

Features

• Original recording remastered

Reviews (6)

Ripping review
I'm going to handle this the same was as Kiss Me and not say anything about the CD itself, what for?We all know it by heart anyway.The bonus stuff?Interesting, but hardly essential.
Its Midnight And The Crows Are Beckoning: The Cure Resurrect A Goth-Pop Classic
CD Review: The Cure - The Head On The Door: Remastered And Expanded Edition
A dramatic shift.
A distinct change of direction, "The Head on the Door" finds the Cure drifting towards pop music for the first time.This is really enabled by the band-- with the return of bassist Simon Gallup to the fold, leader/vocalist/guitarist Robert Smith had the anchor that the band needed.Gallup could play the morbid, goth sort of basslines that the band cut their teeth on, but he could also manage a bright funk and pop sound.Ditto for drummer Boris Williams, who provided a fine foil for Gallup in the rhythm section.But just as key was the presence of guitarist Porl Thompson, who allowed Smith to construct shimmering guitar textures.The group is rounded out by founding member Lol Tolhurst, contributing on keyboards (although in the liner notes, his contribution is played down quite a bit).
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Subjects:  1. Alternative Pop/Rock    2. College Rock    3. Goth Rock    4. New Wave    5. Pop    6. Post-Punk    7. Rock    8. Rock/Pop   

Reviews (12)

Blondie rocks...
Great cd! It has the hits and a couple of others as well that perhaps weren't that popular but still nice songs. The dvd has basically the songs from the "Greatest Video Hits" with the addition of "Good Boys" and "Rapture Riders." Both cd and dvd are very good and by buying this combo it's cheaper than buying a cd and dvd separate so, good bargain for Blondie fans on a budget!

I have been a fan for 30 years now....
Blondie is one of the great bands from the NYC scene of the late 1970s. They had a cool retro underground sound, but they were also capable of hits. They hit the top of the charts several times in the US and UK. For five years they were one of the biggest American bands. They were also one of the first rock bands to artfully move into the reggae, disco, and rap genres. I first saw them on Don Kirshner's Rock Concert in 1976. When I moved to NYC twenty years later, I used to see various members of the band hanging out downtown. It was a surreal experience. Just last week I saw Frank Infante at a club. This was one of the first cool bands that I got into before my brothers. There have been a few greatest hits records from Blondie. This one celebrates their controversial induction into the Hall of Fame. This one collects all their hit singles. Plus in has the "In The Flesh" remix. This sounds like an Electroclash tune. It also includes some newer material like "Maria" and "Good Boys." One of the best tracks is the Blondie vs. The Doors mashup "Rapture Riders." This is pretty good.
Still Waiting
I bought this solely for the DVD.I enjoyed it a lot, really.It made me wish they'd release "Eat to the Beat" as a DVD (that way we'd get the rest of it.)So, I'm 'still waiting'. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. American Punk    2. Club/Dance    3. New Wave    4. New York Punk    5. Pop    6. Pop/Rock    7. Punk    8. Rock    9. Rock/Pop    10. United States of America   

Editorial Review

The beat that got a generation dancing and brought ska back into the public eye. Produced by Elvis Costello, then still a boy wonder himself, the album built on the sound of the Specials' first two singles, and gave the world its first extended look at Two Tone. Inspired writing and arranging (much of it down to founder Jerry Dammers) with Terry Hall as the laconic front man made for a perfect combination, the riddim of ska and the speed of punk. As a testament to its power, two decades haven't lessened its impact. Read more

Features

• Enhanced
• Original recording reissued
• Original recording remastered

Reviews (39)

Two tone ska classic.The perfect blend of strong song writing, fun, ska and touch of punk energy
When this album came out most punx I knew were totally into it.I know I was.There'd been that music scene of the B 52's, BLONDIE, ELVIS COSTELLO, JOE JACKSON and TALKING HEADS.Punk had exploded onto the scene as well, of course, The SEX PISTOLS, The CLASH, The DEAD KENNEDYS, BLACK FLAG, CIRCLE JERKS, BAD BRAINS.Punk had always had some sorta connection to reggae, BAD BRAINS being the quintessinal creator of sublime punk as well as non-sleepy reggae songs.
Pressure Drop
Well I'm not a kid, but M. Fantino, The Specials didn't influence The Clash on Pressure Drop. Toots and the Maytals did, seeing as how Pressure Drop is actually a Maytals song, not a Clash song. Just a heads up.
Err, ummm, Yeah...
It irks me a little when people actually like bands like No Doubt and Sublime. It infuriates me that no one knows that the Specials could veritably rip all these new school California pansies new ones. The Specials are my all time favorite SKA band, and this is hands down the best album from them. It's got that stunning blend of punk, reggae and funk that no one has really been able to copy succesfully. Everyone I have revealed this album seems to adore it. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. England    2. New Wave    3. Pop    4. Popular Music    5. Rock    6. Ska    7. Ska Revival   

Features

• Original recording remastered

Reviews (9)

Crazy, over the top, and brilliant
Robert Smith sounds likes he's losing his mind throughout this entire cd.
This Is A Psychedelic/Goth Masterpiece! -- A Note About The New Remaster . . .
Complaints that Rhino "screwed up the pressing" are flat out wrong. I queried Rhino directly about this release and "Dr. Rhino" subsequently informed me that Robert Smith himself took the opportunity to make some adjustments to certain aspects of the album he was unhappy with. The opening drum roll on "Shake Dog Shake" has been edited to meet Robert's original intentions and he also intentionally sped up "Bananafishbones" by a semi-tone.