VARIOUS: THE BEST GLAM ROCK ALBUM IN THE WORLD... EVER! 1988
This compilation, another in Virgin Records' lengthy line of double-CD "Best Ever" compilations, tackles
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| ALICE COOPER |
From the pure pop of Sweet and Mud to the edgy and intellectual stylistic excursions of Mott the Hoople
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| SWEET |
and Roxy Music, this compilation shows off an impressive range of artistry that existed in this genre.
It also includes some impressive rarities that attract the genre's hardcore fans: "Seven Deadly Finns" is a
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| BRIAN ENO |
non-album Brian Eno single that finds that arty iconoclast in an unusually pop-minded mood, and Chris Spedding's "Motor Bikin'" is a delightful glam rock tune built on roaring, motorcycle-style guitar riffs.
However, The Best Glam Rock Album in the World Ever suffers from the kind of basic selection problems
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| DAVID BOWIE |
that hinder many compilations. The first problem is the occasional questionable choice of artist: Golden Earring's "Radar Love" may have the kind of tribal drum break that popped up in many glam rock classics, but it is really a prog-rock trac,k and the Faces' "Stay With Me" rocks as hard as a glam classic, but it is too straightforward a rock & roll song to fit under the genre's banner.
Also, the compilers sometimes make the wrong choice for the right artist: Bryan Ferry was a leading light
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| SLADE |
for the artsy side of glam, but the R&B-styled ""Let's Stick Together"" is one of his least glam-oriented tracks, and "Perfect Day" is a great Lou Reed ballad, but "Walk on the Wild Side" had a stronger glam feel and a greater influence on the glam rock scene.
Finally, there are a few big oversights: the biggest and most notable is the total absence of tracks by Gary
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| T. REX |
Glitter, who scored one of the definitive glam hits with "Rock and Roll, Part 2." Despite these problems, The Best Glam Rock Album in the World Ever remains an entertaining and solid compilation of glam rock tracks with enough rarities to entice the hardcore enthusiast.
It may not succeed as a definitive collection, but it makes a good introduction to the charm and surprising
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| ROXY MUSIC |
stylistic versatility of glam rock.
(By Donald A. Guarisco)
Various – 1998 - The Best Glam Rock Album In The World... Ever!
Label: Virgin – VTDCD 139, EMI – 7243 8 44459 2 8, Virgin – VTDCD139
Series: The Best...Album In The World...Ever! – Glam Rock
Format: 2 x CD, Compilation, Stereo
Country: Europe
Released: 1998
Genre: Rock
Style: Glam
CD1.
01. Queen – Killer Queen 3:02
Written-By – Freddie Mercury
02. The Sweet – Blockbuster 3:11
Producer – Phil Wainman
Written-By – Chinn / Chapman
03. Mott The Hoople – All The Young Dudes 3:29
Written-By – D. Bowie
04. David Bowie – John, I'm Only Dancing 2:44
Producer – David Bowie, Ken Scott
Written-By – David Bowie
05. Roxy Music – Virginia Plain 2:58
Producer – Peter Sinfield
Written-By – Ferry
06. Iggy Pop – The Passenger 4:41
Producer – Bewlay Brothers
Written-By – Iggy Pop, Ricky Gardiner
07. Faces – Stay With Me 4:40
Producer – Faces, Glyn Johns
Written-By – Stewart, Wood
08. T. Rex – Children Of The Revolution 2:28
Producer – Tony Visconti
Written-By – Bolan
09. Alice Cooper – Elected 4:00
Producer – Bob Ezrin
Written-By – Cooper, Dunaway, Buxton, Bruce, Smith
10. Slade – Mama Weer All Crazee Now 3:41
Producer – Chas Chandler
Written-By – Lea, Holder
11. Sparks – This Town Ain't Big Enough For The Both Of Us 3:03
Producer – Muff Winwood
Written-By – Ron Mael
12. Bryan Ferry – Let's Stick Together 2:58
Producer – Bryan Ferry, Chris Thomas
Written-By – Harrison
13. Golden Earring – Radar Love 5:06
Written-By – B. Hay, G. Kooymans
14. Lulu – The Man Who Sold The World 3:45
Written-By – Bowie
15. Steve Harley & Cockney Rebel – Judy Teen 3:43
Written-By – Steve Harley
16. Lou Reed – Perfect Day 3:43
Producer – David Bowie, Mick Ronson
Written-By – L. Reed
17. Electric Light Orchestra – 10538 Overture 5:27
Written-By – Jeff Lynne
18. Roy Wood & Wizzard – Ball Park Incident 3:38
Written-By – Roy Wood
19. David Essex – Rock On 3:23
Written-By – D. Essex
20. Steve Harley & Cockney Rebel – Sebastian 6:56
Written-By – S. Harley
BONUS TRACK (From Urban Aspirines)
21. Gary Glitter & The Glitter and - Do You Wanna Touch me (Oh Yeah) 3:29
01. Roy Wood & Wizzard – See My Baby Jive 4:58
Written-By – Roy Wood
02. Mott The Hoople – All The Way From Memphis 4:57
Written-By – I. Hunter
03. T. Rex – 20th Century Boy 3:38
Producer – Tony Visconti
Written-By – Bolan
04. The Sweet – The Ballroom Blitz 4:02
Producer – Phil Wainman
Written-By – Chapman / Chinn
05. Mud – Tiger Feet 3:50
Written-By – Chapman / Chinn
06. Suzi Quatro – Devilgate Drive 3:46
Producer – Nicky Chinn & Mike Chapman
Written-By – Chinn / Chapman
07. Geordie – All Because Of You 2:41
Executive-Producer – Eliot M. Cohen
Written-By – Vic Malcolm
08. Slade – Gudbuy T'Jane 3:30
Producer – Chas Chandler
Written-By – Lea, Holder
09. New York Dolls – Personality Crisis 3:40
Written-By – David Johansen, Johnny Thunders
10. Roxy Music – Do The Strand 3:46
Producer – Chris Thomas, Roxy Music
Written-By – Bryan Ferry
11. Ian Hunter & Mick Ronson – Once Bitten Twice Shy 3:50
Written-By – I. Hunter
12. Chris Spedding – Motor Bikin' 2:38
Written-By – Chris Spedding
13. Brian Eno – Seven Deadly Finns 3:06
Producer – Brian Eno
Written-By – Eno
14. The Runaways – Cherry Bomb 2:19
Written-By – Joan Jett, Kim Fowley
15. T. Rex – Solid Gold Easy Action 2:19
Producer – Tony Visconti
Written-By – Marc Bolan
16. Blackfoot Sue – Standing In The Road 3:53
Written-By – Alan Jones, David Farmer, Edward Golga, Thomas Farmer
17. Mud – Dyna-Mite 2:57
Written-By – Chinn / Chapman
18. The Glitter Band – Angel Face 2:57
Written-By – Shephard, Rossall
19. Cozy Powell – Dance With The Devil 3:33
Written-By – Hayes, Dennys
20. Hello – New York Groove 2:43
Written-By – Russell Ballard
21. Arrows – I Love Rock And Roll 3:02
Written-By – Merrill, Hooker
22. Suzi Quatro – Can The Can 3:33
Written-By – Chinn / Chapman
VARIOUS: VELVET TINMINE (20 JUNK SHOP GLAM ROCK RAVERS) 2003
UK glam rock in its early to mid 1970s heyday was so hugely popular and influential when it came to its
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| ARROWS |
Compiled and annotated by a troika of musician/writer obsessives, Philip King, Bob Stanley and Mark
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| BEARDED LADY |
Stafford, Velvet Tinmine brought the concept of ‘junkshop glam’ into the discourse, the album’s title a funnily appropriate riff on both the David Bowie song “Velvet Goldmine” and the Todd Haynes glam fantasia that followed some decades later.
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| HELLO |
In either edition it kicks off with a real monster: the aggro-Sweet, finger-snapping and heavy-stomping “Rebels Rule” by the brilliantly named Iron Virgin.
After that it’s a happy slumgullion of plenty of familiar elements that all do seem like they should have
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| IRON VIRGIN |
been hits, however secondhand: shriekalong lyrics, blaring synths alongside the drums and retro-50s moves, and big-sounding production even if on often smaller budgets.
The excellent liner notes talk about a slew of names that would gain more attention later, like producer
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| THE PLOD |
Martin Rushent and cult musicians like Martin Newell and Simon Fisher Turner, as well as honestly tragically-fated figures like the Bowie disciple Brett Smiley.
(By Ned Raggett)
Various – 2003 - Velvet Tinmine (20 Junk Shop Glam Ravers)
Label: RPM Records – RPM 251
Series: Lipsmackin 70's
Format: CD, Compilation
Country: UK
Released: 2003
Genre: Rock, Pop
Style: Glam
TRACKS
01. Iron Virgin – Rebels Rule 3:13
Producer – Nick Tauber
Written-By – Iron Virgin
02. Hello – Another School Day 2:53
Producer – David Blaylock
Written-By – Bradbury, Allen, Marshall
03. Warwick – Let's Get The Party Going 3:27
Producer – Nicky Chinn, Peter Coleman
Written-By – Rose
04. The Damned – Morning Bird 2:30
Producer – Miki Dallon
Written-By – M.Nyere, J.Davies, T.Fiserman
05. Sisters – Kick Your Boots Off 2:41
Producer – Nick Smith
Written-By – Elwood, Smith
06. Flame – Big Wheel Turning 3:41
Written By – Shanx, Smith
07. Arrows – Toughen Up 2:54
Written-By – Chapman/Chinn
08. Crunch – Let's Do It Again 2:53
Producer – Miki Dallon
Written-By – Cox, West, Faulkner
09. Bearded Lady – Rock Star 3:06
Producer – Miki Dallon
Written-By – J. R. Waughman
10. Simon Turner – (Baby) I Gotta Go 3:13
Arranged By – Johnny Arthey
Producer – Jonathan King
Written-By – King
11. Brett Smiley – Va Va Va Voom 3:11
Producer – Andrew Oldham
Written-By – Smiley
12. Shakane – Love Machine 2:51
Producer – Miki Dallon
Written-By – Adrian Castillo
13. Washington Flyers – The Comets Are Coming 2:27
Producer – Jimmy Edwards, Lynton Guest
Written-By – Edwards, Guest
14. Stavely Makepeace – Slippery Rock 70s 2:50
Written-By – Fletcher, Woodward
15. The Plod – Neo City 3:26
Written-By – Carl Szymanski, John Fitzsimons, Martin Newell, Michael Natkanski
16. Ricky Wilde – I Wanna Go To A Disco 3:05
Producer – Marty Wilde
Written-By – Marty Wilde, Wilde
17. Tartan Horde – Bay City Rollers We Love You 3:38
Written-By – Terry Modern
18. Big Wheel – Shake A Tail Part 1 3:27
Producer – Barry Green
Written-By – B.Green, D.Jordan
19. Fancy – Wild Thing 2:57
Producer – Mike Hurst
Written-By – Chip Taylor
20. Tubthumper – Kick Out The Jams 2:30
Producer – Don Reedman, Jeff Jarratt
Written-By – D. Reedman, J.Jarratt
VARIOUS: GLITTERBEST (20 PRE PUNK 'N' GLAM TERRACE STOMPERS 2004
There isn't a single redeeming quality to Glitterbest: 20 Pre Punk 'n' Glam Terrace Stompers.
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| CRUSHED BUTLER |
Nothing but good old dumb fun. From the mindless cover of the Kinks' "You Really Got Me" by the Hammersmith Gorillas that kicks things off with a resounding thud all the way to the end of the disc, it is nothing but loud guitars, shouted vocals, stomping beats, and ridiculous lyrics.
It covers the years 1971-1976, and if you recognize any of the bands here you were probably a
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| HOLLYWOOD BRATS |
member. Lost gems? There are a few: the tough power pop of the Jook's "Aggravation Place," the '50s-inspired outer-space boogie of Flintlock's "Sooner or Later," the tough Modern Lovers in a wind tunnel sound of Despair's "Sweet Sweet Heart," Streak's "Bang Bang Bullet" (which apes the New York Dolls right down to Johnny Thunders' trademark guitar swoops), and the primitive thunk of Crushed Butler's very very stupid "High School Dropout."
(Is Crushed Butler the greatest name for a band ever? Maybe.) Best of all is the extremely nasty "Sick on
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| JET |
You" by the Hollywood Brats, which includes tender lyrics like "I'm sick to death of everything you do/And if I'm gonna puke/Oh babe I'm gonna puke on you." Otherwise, the disc serves up a wide range of forgotten music that never made a dent in any chart but sounds damn fine in 2004.
You get glitter with Bowie as alien vocals on Jet's "Nothing to Do With Us," weird Roxy Music by way of
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| STREAK |
Taco cabaret glam from Tiger Lily on "Ain't Misbehavin'," an early primitive version of "City of Fun" by England's Glory (later the Only Ones), hyped-up pub rock from Ducks Deluxe on the rockin' "Coast to Coast," and wonderfully silly stuff like American Jam Band's "Jam Jam" and Spunky Spider's "You Won't Come."
You won't find any of this stuff in the history books and no one would ever call any of these bands
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| THE HAMMERSMITH GORILLAS |
innovators or visionaries. So what. Crank it up next time you want to bug your neighbors, blast it out of your car speakers, embrace it as the offspring of the ridiculous novelty singles of the '50s that you always turn up when they get played by accident on oldies radio. Have fun! That is what rock & roll is truly about and Glitterbest is 100 percent rock & roll.
(By Tim Sendra)
Various – 2004 - Glitterbest (20 Pre Punk 'N' Glam Terrace Stompers)
Label: RPM Records (2) – RPM 265
Series: Lipsmackin 70's
Format: CD, Compilation
Country: UK
Released: 2004
Genre: Rock
Style: Hard Rock, Punk, Power Pop, Glam
TRACKS
01. The Hammersmith Gorillas – You Really Got Me
Drums – Gary Anderson
Performer – Alan Butler
Producer – Larry Page
Vocals, Guitar – Jesse Hector
Written-By – R. Davies
02. Streak – Bang Bang Bullet
Bass – Ben Brierley
Drums – Paul Varley
Guitar – Jake Hooker
Written-By – Bryan, Falsworth
03. The Jook – Aggravation Place
Bass – Ian Hampton
Drums – Chris Townson
Guitar – Trevor White
Vocals – Ian Kimmet
Written-By – Ian Kimmet
04. Jet – Nothing To Do With Us
Bass – Martin Gordon
Drums – Chris Townson
Guitar – Davey O'List
Piano – Sir Peter Oxendale
Producer – Roy Thomas Baker
Vocals – Andy Ellison
Written-By – Martin Gordon
05. Milk'N'Cookies – Good Friends
Bass – Sal Maida
Drums – Mike Ruiz
Guitar – Ian North
Producer – Muff Winwood
Vocals – Justin Strauss
Written-By – Ian North
06. Flintlock – Sooner Or Later
Drums, Percussion – Mike Holoway
Guitar, Vocals – Jamie Stone , John Summerton
Keyboards – Bill Rice
Lead Vocals – Derek Pascoe
Written-By – Holoway
07. Trevor White – Crazy Kids
Backing Band – Chris Townson, Martin Gordon
Written-By – Trevor White
08. American Jam Band – Jam Jam
Written-By – Evans
09. Spunky Spider – You Won't Come
Written-By – Millman, Moran
10. One Hit Wonders – Goodbye
Producer – Mike Berry
Written-By – M.Berry
11. Dog Rose – All For The Love Of City Lights
Producer – David Paramor
Written-By – P.Robinson, R.Sandilands
12. Helter Skelter – I Need You
Bass – Vic Allen
Drums – Gary Anderson
Vocals, Guitar – Jesse Hector
Written-By – Jesse Hector
13. Ducks Deluxe – Coast To Coast
Bass, Vocals – Nick Garvey
Drums – Tim Roper
Guitar – Martin Belmont
Guitar, Vocals – Sean Tyla
Written-By – Nick Garvey
14. Tiger Lily – Ain't Misbehavin'
Bass – Chris St John
Drums – Warren Cann
Guitar – Stevie Shears
Piano – Billy Curry
Vocals – Dennis Leigh
Written-By – A.Razaf, Waller, Brooks
15. Chris Spedding & The Vibrators – Pogo Dancing
Bass – Pat Collier
Drums – John Edwards
Guitar – John Ellis
Guitar, Vocals – Chris Spedding, Knox
Producer – Mickie Most
Written-By – Chris Spedding
16. Despair – Sweet Sweet Heart
Bass – Dave Slaughter
Drums – Richard Wernham
Lead Guitar – Dave Fudger
Vocals, Guitar – Knox
Written-By – Ian Carnochan
17. Farm – Fat Judy
Bass – Graham Thatcher
Drums – Dick Gardiner
Guitar – Alan Davies , Norman Ley
Producer – Neil Ferris
Vocals – Bob Bett
Written-By – Bett, Ley
18. Crushed Butler – High School Dropout
Bass – Alan Butler
Drums – Darryl Read
Vocals, Guitar – Jesse Hector
Written-By – Read, Hector
19. England's Glory – City Of Fun
Bass – Harry Kakoulli
Drums – Jon Newey
Lead Guitar – David Clarke
Vocals, Guitar – Peter Perrett
Written-By – Perrett
20. Hollywood Brats – Sick On You
Bass – Wayne Manor
Drums – Lou Sparks
Guitar, Vocals – Brady
Keyboards – Casino Steel
Vocals, Guitar – Andrew Matheson
Written-By – Matheson, Steel
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