No Thanks! The '70s Punk Rebellion [Box]

Performer: Various Artists
Producer: Gary Stewart; Chris Parry; Gordon Ogilivie; Craig Leon; David Kershenbaum; Dennis Bovell; Devo; Dils; Earle Mankey; East Bay Ray; Ed Hollis; Belway Brothers; X; Martin Zero; Jimmy Nanos; Fear; Bob Last; Chris Stamp; Pat Rand; Gang Of Four; John Hewlett; Genya Ravan; Geza X; Jake Riviera; Gary Stewart; Fast Product; Falcon Stuart; Chris Gray; Rod Coe; Jim Keylor; Chris Thomas; Andy Arthurs; Rand McNally; David Batchelor; A.T.V.; Robin Mayhew; Jimmy Pursey; John Cale; Joy Division; Kim Fowley; Kim King; Lance Quinn; Larry Wallis; Lenny Kaye; Alex Chilton; Magazine; Martin Hannett; Martin Rushent; Marty Thau; Mick Glossop; Mick Ronson; Mickey Foote; Mike Chapman; Mike Howlett; Mike Thorne; Murray Krugman; Nick Lowe; Nils Stevenson; Nobody; Andy Johns; Pere Ubu; Pete Gage; Peter Wilson; Phil Wainman; Richard Gottehrer; Richard Hell; Robert John Lange; Roger Bechirian; Sandy Pearlman; Speedy Keen; Stan Lee; Steve Lillywhite; Stiff Little Fingers; Talking Heads; Television; The Adverts; The Dead Kennedys; The Fall; The Mekons; The Pop Group; The Rezillos; The Undertones; The Vibrators; The Weirdos; Todd Rundgren; Tom Verlaine; Tommy Erdelyi; Tony Bongiovi; Ultravox; Vic Maile; Vic Smith; X; Bernard Rhodes; Bill Inglot; Iggy Pop; Black Flag; Brian Eno; Gary Stewart (Compilation)
Distributor: WEA (Distributor)

Notes: Includes a 114-page booklet with photos plus essays and track annotations by Gary Stewart, Chris Morris, Ira Robbins and Dave Schulps. Recorded between 1972 & 1980. Personnel: Johnny Thunders (vocals, guitar, acoustic guitar); Nick Lowe, Sylvain Sylvain, Elvis Costello (vocals, guitar, piano); Jerry Harrison, Knox, Bernard Albrecht (vocals, guitar, keyboards); Chip Kinman, Chrissie Hynde, Nick Garvey, Robert Smith , Ricky Gardner, Ross "The Boss" Funichello, Guy Days, Mick Jones , Bob "Derwood" Andrews, Dix Denney, Hugh Cornwell, Paul Fox , Philo Cramer, Kevin Lycett, Ivan Julian, Graeme Douglas, Jake Burns, Matt Dangerfield, Danny Kustow, Joe Strummer, Jonathan Richman, Kimberley Rew, Lee Ving, Mark Perry, Midge Ure, Nick Cash, Andrew Gill, Paul Weller, Pete Shelley, Peter Perrett, Robert Quine, Robyn Hitchcock, Steve Diggle, Stuart Adamson, B.C. Gilbert, Tom Greenhalgh, Tom Verlaine, Walter Lure, Willy DeVille, David Byrne, Garry Roberts , Bob Mothersbaugh, Viv Albertine, Steve New, John MacArthur Ellis, Bram Tchaikovsky, Brian James, Carlos Alomar, Henry Cluney (vocals, guitar); David Bowie, Joe Jackson, Casino Steel (vocals, piano); Mark Mothersbaugh, Johnnie Fingers (vocals, keyboards); Sandy West, David Robinson , Warren Cann, Hunt Sales, Mark Laff, Rat Scabies, Dolphin Taylor, Simon Crowe (vocals, drums); Jim Melton (vocals, percussion); Cherie Currie, Chris Bailey, Colin Newman, Siouxsie Sioux, Darby Crash, Derf Scratch, Dave Vanian, David Johansen, David Thomas , Debbie Harry, Duncan "Kid" Reid, Mark Stewart, Dave "Kermit" Treganna, Ernie Brooks, Exene Cervenka, Feargal Sharkey, Barry Masters, Fred Smith , Andy McMaster, Eugene Reynolds, Christopher Payne, Jackie Fox, Gerald V. Casale, Malcolm Owen, Glen Matlock, Graham Lewis, Fay Fife, Handsome Dick Manitoba, Howard Devoto, Jean-Marie Carroll, Ian Curtis, Ian Dury, Chris Cross, John Denney, Tessa Pollitt, Jean Jacques Burnel, Jello Biafra, Jimmy Pursey, Joan Jett, Joey Ramone, John Doe , John Foxx, Jon King, Keith Morris, Klaus Flouride, Alan Vega, Leonard Graves Phillips, Lux Interior, Mark E. Smith , Mark Stewart, Nicky Tesco, Pat Collier, Andy Metcalfe, Patti Smith, Andy Shernoff, Pauline Murray, Penelope Houston, Pete Briquette, Poly Styrene, Richard Hell, Richard Jobson, Richard Lloyd , Ari Up, Stiv Bators, TV Smith, Tom Robinson, Tony James, Tony Kinman, Tony Sales, Vic Godard, Bob Geldof, Iggy Pop, Billy Idol, Bob Casale, Ron Asheton, Bruce Foxton, Captain Sensible (vocals); Chas Jankel, John Perry, John Perry, Tom Herman (guitar, keyboards); Chris Stein, Martin Bramah, Damian O'Neill, Dave Guy Parsons, Steve Shears, East Bay Ray, Ed Kuepper, Bryan Gregory, Jak "Airport" Stafford, Gary Chaplin, Frank Infante, John O'Neill, Gary Valentine, Poison Ivy Rorschach, John McKay, Greg Ginn, John Callis, Honeyman Scott, James, Honest John Plain, Howard Pickup, John Britton, Tim Wright, Louie Erlanger, Gary Sanford, Greg Scars, James Honeyman-Scott, Dave Higgs, James Williamson, John McFee, John McGeoch, Johnny Ramone, Lenny Kaye, Lita Ford, Alex Fergusson, Nigel Bennett, Pat Smear, Peter Laughner, Poison Ivy, Stan Lee, Billy Zoom, Gerry Cott, John Turnbull , John Waddington, Cheetah Chrome (guitar); Eric Clark , Gareth Sager, Steve Thompson , Lora Logic (saxophone); Richard Sohl (piano); Dave Greenfield, Una Baines, Mark Ambler, Ritch Colbert, Steve Atkinson, Adam Maitland, Jimmy Destri, Mick Gallagher, Mick Ronson, Rabbit, Steve Nieve, Steven Severin, Billy Currie, Chuck Wagon (keyboards); Allen Ravenstine (synthesizer); Stu Boy King, Bruce Smith (drums, percussion); Chris Bennett, Chris Frantz, Clem Burke, Micky Shine, Pete Thomas , D.J. Bonebrake, Steve Nicol, Laurie Driver, Mark Cain, Gerry Mackleduff, Nickey Beat, Dave Ruffy, Spit Stix, B.P. Hurding, Rick Wernham, Danny Furious, Gary Smallman, Dave Houghton, Tom Kellichan, Billy Doherty, Adrian Lillywhite, Hugo Burnham, Manfred Jones, Jack Black, Nick Knox, Brian Migdol, Carlos Charles, Steve Nichol, Pat Garrett, Pablo Labritain, Angel Paterson, Terry Chimes, Karlos Kaballero, Martin Jackson, Jay Dee Daugherty, Jerry Nolan, Jet Black, John Maher, Johnny Blitz, Jon Langford, Kenny Morris, Karl Burns, Laurence Tolhurst, Alan Myers, Mike Kellie, Morris Windsor, Rick Buckler, Robert Gotobed, Rusty Egan, Scott Asheton, Scott Krauss, Stephen Morris, Steve Goulding, Tommy Ramone, Billy Ficca, Ivor Hay, Bob Ward, Marc Bell, Budgie , Brian Faloon (drums); Martin Rev (electronics). Audio Remasterers: Dave Schultz; Dan Hersch; Bill Inglot. Audio Remixers: Danny Kadar ; Doug Bennett; Johnny Thunders; Rough Trade; Tony James; Iggy Pop; Bruce Dickinson . Liner Note Authors: Gary Stewart; Gary Stewart; Chris Morris. Recording information: Barnes, England; Belfast, Ireland; Berlin, Germany; Brisbane, Queensland, Australia; Cambridge, England; Cleveland, OH; Cologne, Germany; Edinburgh, Scotland; England; Hermosa Beach, CA; Hilvarenbeek, The Netherlands; London, England; Los Angeles, CA; Manchester, England; Memphis, TN; Monmouth, Wales; New York, NY; Rochdale, England; Rockfield, Wales; San Francisco, CA; Stockport, England; Studio City, CA; Surrey, England; Van Nuys, CA; Worthing, England. Director: Kim Fowley. Photographers: Lynn Goldsmith; Donald Greenhaus; Eric Blum; Chester Simpson; Richard P. Rodgers ; Fraser Gray; Jeff Albertson ; Erica Echenberg; Jenny Lens; Roberta Bayley; AJ Pontsios; Bob King ; Ray Stevenson; Adrian Boot; Ebet Roberts; Godlis; Ian Dickson; Kees Tabak; Pieter Maz�l; Tom Copi; Bob Gruen; Glenn A. Baker; Andrew Kent; Denis O'Regan; Virginia Turbett; Lee Black Childers; Fin Costello; Paul Canty; Jill Furmanovsky; Janette Beckman; Jules Bates; Laura Levine; Richard Boon; Simon Fowler; Tom Sheehan. Arrangers: Ed Hollis; Voidoids; Barry Masters; Graeme Douglas; Steve Nichol; Dave Higgs; Joe Jackson; New York Dolls; Andy Metcalfe; Paul Gray; Richard Hell; Richard Hell & the Voidoids; Robert Quine; Buzzcocks. Like all the great rock revolutions, punk was fueled by singles. Sure, there were a lot of tremendous albums, but all the artists that cut great LPs also had great 7"s -- and in the case of Television and Patti Smith, they had independent singles released prior to their first albums that never appeared on their debuts. Since rock criticism tends to be album-driven, singles tend to get slightly overlooked, and since punk is a rock critic's favorite, some revisionist historians paint the era as fueled by albums, not singles. Rhino's excellent four-disc No Thanks! The '70s Punk Rebellion corrects that error by focusing on the singles, winding up with a one-stop introduction and summary of the era that is as good as Loud, Fast & Out of Control, their similar set on early rock & roll. The compilers have bent the rules of punk slightly, deciding to include proto-punkers like New York Dolls, the Stooges, the Dictators, and Jonathan Richman, and then to not present the cuts in a strictly chronological order. This benefits the album, since these artists are in the same spirit of the bands they inspired, and the sequencing plays like a great mixtape. Rhino has also evenly balanced the set between American and British punk, including both early hardcore punkers the Dead Kennedys and British pub rock renegades like Nick Lowe and Ian Dury in equal measure. Though there's a bit of difference between "California �ber Alles" and "Heart of the City," they deserve to be paired on this set because they both were genuinely independent, exciting 45s that crackled with energy and captured the spirit of punk, albeit in different ways. And that's what makes No Thanks! work so well -- it illustrates how diverse punk and new wave were in the late '70s, but it places a premium on adventure and excitement, which means even artier bands like Pere Ubu and Suicide come across as pure rock & roll. If there is any flaw to the box, it's that most record collectors will already own the lion's share of these songs -- in fact, if they own Rhino's previous 1993 multi-disc punk retrospective D.I.Y., they'll own no less than 53 of these songs (an additional 14 songs have appeared on other Rhino titles, making for a grand total of 67 of 100 songs already released by Rhino). While this is undoubtedly a problem for some collectors, it is also true that it functions more as an overview for fans that don't already own a bunch of this on CD, and on that level it can't be faulted. True, this may contain no tracks from the Sex Pistols, since John Lydon refused them permission (allegedly because Rhino chose not to release the 2002 Sex Pistols box set in the States), but every other major player is here, and the music here is so good they're not missed at all. Finally, if a collector is wondering whether it's worth the expense to buy this box, there are three rare singles that make their debut here: the aforementioned Television and Patti Smith singles, "Little Johnny Jewel" and "Hey Joe [version]," plus an early single version of the Pretenders' "The Wait." (Note: "Little Johnny Jewel" was released nearly simultaneously on an expanded reissue of Television's Marquee Moon.) For those that can afford it, that's reason enough to pick up the set. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine Rhino Records once again slams the musical ball out of the ballpark with the four-CD box set, NO THANKS!, a chronicling of the 1970s punk movement. Aside from the Sex Pistols' noticeable exclusion, Rhino casts a wide net in the artists featured throughout, and, as such, they've included plenty of the genre's heavy hitters--the Ramones, the Clash, the Jam, X, Television, and Blondie, to name but a few. In addition, acts that planted the seeds of the movement--particularly the New York Dolls and Iggy & the Stooges--are included. The classics that pop up--including the Modern Lovers' Farfisa-organ-soaked "Roadrunner," the Buzzcocks' yearning "Ever Fallen in Love (With Someone You Shouldn't've?)," and the Only Ones' infectious "Another Girl, Another Planet"--are an iPod fanatic's dream come true. And the one thing all of these disparate artists have in common--from Elvis Costello to Siouxsie & the Banshees, the Mekons to Talking Heads, Wire to the Pretenders--is an inherently defiant attitude and a fierce DIY ethic. A nice touch is compilation producer Gary Stewart's classy acknowledgment and apology for the Pistols' absence at the end of set's meticulously designed and extensively annotated 114-page booklet.

Rolling Stone (12/25/03, p.112) - Included in Rolling Stone's "Top 10 Reissues of 2003" Rolling Stone (11/27/03, p.100) - 4 stars out of 5 - "...A greatest hits of what passed for punk at the time...gigantic, astonishing young-loud-snotty anthems by the Clash and X-Ray Spex and the Germs, but also Nick Lowe's wry power pop, Ian Drury's goofy disco and Television's guitar-hero acrobatics..." Entertainment Weekly (10/31/03, p.74) - "...Simply top-notch....Any compilation that rescues both Television's 'Little Johnny Jewel' and Eddie and the Hot Rods' 'Do Anything You Want to Do' from obscurity deserves a coupla tons of praise..." - Rating: A

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