How does it compare to the artist's other releases
Not applicable
Value for Money
Good
Advantages:
A diverse musical choice, the good, the bad & the ugly .
Disadvantages:
No Damned, Costello or Dury ! Oh, the humanity !
Recommend to potential buyers:
yes
Full review
Believe it or not, this was one of their adversting slogans, as was "If they're dead, we'll sign 'em". It also described Elvis Costello as "Buddy Holly on acid" and "Four Eyes, One Vision". They had slogans by the dozen, these lads. ...
Stiff Records was a small label started by ex-Dr.Feelgood tour manager, Jake Riviera and Dave Robinson. Very quickly it signed artists and began having hits: Ian Dury, Elvis Costello, The Damned. Sadly, none of those are on this compilation, which is not in the least suprising but is a shame. I should say, by the way, that this single CD is a kind of taster for the massive Stiff Box Set.
The music seems to fall very roughly into three categories: "The well-known hits", "the classic but were never hits" and the "obscure, and even I don't remember these" tracks. In the first category we have tracks such as Lene Lovich's slightly OTT song 'Lucky Number', a nicely demented song sung by what appeared at the time to be an unhinged young gypsy lady. Memorable, I think is the best word to apply there. And let's not forget Kirsty McColl's cover of Billy Bragg's 'New England'. Throw on top of that Costello's old friend Nick Lowe ('Heart Of The City'), Jona Lewie ('Stop The Cavalry') and Ten Pole Tudor ('Swords Of A Thousand Men') and you have a nice selection of late 70's pop hits to thrill your lugholes.
In the second category we have The Members, The Adverts, Department S, The Tyla Gang, old underground hippies The Pink Fairies (making a last stab before they gave up for good. Maybe Stiff DID pick the right slogan after all...), The Rumour (without Graham Parker) and Lew Lewis (with a great little gem of an old fashioned blues track). All tracks that are minor classics in their own right but ones that the record buying British public in their wisdom didn't rate highly enough to buy. In this category, a special mention must be made of Wreckless Eric, His 'Whole Wide World' stands out here like a sore thumb. This is a real little gem that the whole world (ahem) should know. But doesn't. Eric is still making records and touring (check out his last years 'Bungalow Hi' album) and he remains, along with John Otway, one of the few true Brit eccentrics still making good music, now that Viv Stanshall has gone....
As for the rest, well it's just...the rest. Tracks most of which even I've never heard of or are (let's be honest) real stinkers. Tracy "I was big in America, me..." Ullman? Nah, I don't think so. Rachel Sweet and her sickly pop? Pass!
Complaints? Well apart from the missing rather more famous artists, I would have like to have seen the b-side to Wreckless Eric's single, a great track called 'Semaphore Signals' or perhaps another of the more "off the wall artists" that were signed to this label. What I would would recommend is that you look around for this CD (it can be had fairly cheaply), rip the best tracks on it, search out those missing Costello, Dury and Damned tracks and burn your own splendid compilation!
Full track listing:
1. Heart of The City - Nick Lowe 2. Solitary Confinement - The Members 3. Boogie In The Street - Lew Lewis & His Band 4. Lucky Number - Lene Lovich 5. Whole Wide World - Wreckless Eric 6. Breakaway - Tracey Ullman 7. Styrofoam - The Tyla Gang 8. Free Yourself - The Untouchables 9. Swords of A Thousand Men -Tenpole Tudor 10. B-A-B-Y - Rachel Sweet 11. Emotional Traffic - The Rumour 12. Between The Lines - The Pink Fairies 13. New England - Kirsty MacColl 14. Jimmy Mack (Live) - The Mint Juleps 15. Cincinnati Fatback - Roogalator 16. One Chord Wonders - The Adverts 17. Stop The Cavalry - Jona Lewis 18. Butcher Baby - The Plasmatics 19. Yankee Wheels - Jane Aire and The Belvederes 20. Drive Friendly - Motor Boys Motor 21. Going Left Right - Department S
More details
How does it rate alongside the competition
Outstanding
Cover / Inlay Design and Content
Satisfactory
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Stiffest contains 22 excellent reasons to be cheerful. In 1976, at a total cost of £45, Nick Lowe's "Heart Of The City" launched Stiff Records. The label soon ente...
Stiff, Stiffer, Stiffest -
Although this compilation was delayed by years of contractual disputes,Stiff, Stiffer,
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Stiffestcontains 22 excellent reasons to be cheerful. In 1976, at a total cost of £45, Nick Lowe's "Heart Of The City" launched Stiff Records. The label soon entere...
