Hits Greatest Stiffs
Encyclopedia
Hits Greatest Stiffs is a various artists compilation album, drawn from ten of the first eleven Stiff Records
singles, BUY 1 – BUY 11.
The tracks follow the numerical order of the singles, but feature mostly the b sides, although several singles were originally issued as double a-sides. The other sides of the Motörhead and Elvis Costello
track had appeared on the previous compilation album, A Bunch of Stiff Records
. The "missing" single from the sequence (BUY 10) was "Neat Neat Neat
"/"Stab Your Back"/"Singalongascabies" by The Damned whereas both sides of The Tyla Gang's single were included on this album.
The inner sleeve included pictures of numerous artists, many of which, such as Abba and Tom Petty, appeared on other labels. Although some thought this was some form of slight, they were shown because Stiff admired them, despite their being on other labels. The album did not enter the UK charts, but featured some of the most important recording artists of the New Wave
era.
Initial copies of the LP included a free copy of the next single, BUY 12, Max Wall
's "England's Glory"/"Dream Tobacco".
Stiff Records
Stiff Records is a record label created in London in 1976, by entrepreneurs Dave Robinson and Andrew Jakeman , and active until 1985. It was reactivated in 2007....
singles, BUY 1 – BUY 11.
The tracks follow the numerical order of the singles, but feature mostly the b sides, although several singles were originally issued as double a-sides. The other sides of the Motörhead and Elvis Costello
Elvis Costello
Elvis Costello , born Declan Patrick MacManus, is an English singer-songwriter. He came to prominence as an early participant in London's pub rock scene in the mid-1970s and later became associated with the punk/New Wave genre. Steeped in word play, the vocabulary of Costello's lyrics is broader...
track had appeared on the previous compilation album, A Bunch of Stiff Records
A Bunch of Stiff Records
A Bunch of Stiff Records, also known as A Bunch of Stiffs, is a various artists album to promote some of the first acts to be signed by Stiff Records....
. The "missing" single from the sequence (BUY 10) was "Neat Neat Neat
Neat Neat Neat
"Neat Neat Neat" was the second single by The Damned, released simultaneously with their debut album Damned Damned Damned.The single was reissued in Stiff's mail order Damned 4 Pack mail-order set...
"/"Stab Your Back"/"Singalongascabies" by The Damned whereas both sides of The Tyla Gang's single were included on this album.
The inner sleeve included pictures of numerous artists, many of which, such as Abba and Tom Petty, appeared on other labels. Although some thought this was some form of slight, they were shown because Stiff admired them, despite their being on other labels. The album did not enter the UK charts, but featured some of the most important recording artists of the New Wave
New Wave music
New Wave is a subgenre of :rock music that emerged in the mid to late 1970s alongside punk rock. The term at first generally was synonymous with punk rock before being considered a genre in its own right that incorporated aspects of electronic and experimental music, mod subculture, disco and 1960s...
era.
Release history
Issued as an LP (FIST 1) on 16 September 1977, it was also issued on Cassette (ZFIST 1) on 22 October 1977. It has not been re-released on CD.Initial copies of the LP included a free copy of the next single, BUY 12, Max Wall
Max Wall
Max Wall , was an English comedian and actor, whose performing career covered music hall, theatre, films and television.-Early years:...
's "England's Glory"/"Dream Tobacco".
Track listing
- Nick LoweNick LoweNicholas Drain "Nick" Lowe , is an English singer-songwriter, musician and producer.A pivotal figure in UK pub rock, punk rock and new wave, Lowe has recorded a string of well-reviewed solo albums. Along with vocals, Lowe plays guitar, bass guitar, piano and harmonica...
– "Heart Of The City" – (b side of BUY 1 "So it Goes") - Pink FairiesPink FairiesPink Fairies were an English rock band active in the London underground and psychedelic scene of the early 1970s. They promoted free music, drug taking and anarchy and often performed impromptu gigs and other agitprop stunts, such as playing for free outside the gates at the Bath and Isle of Wight...
– "Between The Lines" – (a side of BUY 2) - RoogalatorRoogalator (band)Roogalator was a pub rock band formed in London in 1972, by the US born guitarist, Danny Adler.That same year, Adler had recorded demos with 10cc's Graham Gouldman at Strawberry Studios. Prior to Roogalator, Adler had also played with Smooth Loser, a band formed with BBC DJ Emperor Rosko's brother,...
– "Cincinnati Fatback" – (b side of BUY 3 "All Aboard") - Tyla Gang – "Styrofoam" – (a side of BUY 4)
- Tyla Gang – "Texas Chainsaw Massacre Boogie" – (b side of BUY 4)
- Lew LewisLew LewisLew Lewis is a "Little Walter-influenced" harmonica player and vocalist who was a member of Eddie and the Hot Rods before forming his own bands, and guesting on albums by The Stranglers, The Clash and others.-Career:...
– "Caravan Man" – (b side of BUY 5 "Boogie on the Street") - The Damned – "Help!Help! (song)"Help!" is a song by The Beatles that served as the title song for both the 1965 film and its soundtrack album. It was also released as a single, and was number one for three weeks in both the United States and the United Kingdom....
" – (b side of BUY 6 "New RoseNew Rose"New Rose" was the first single by British punk rock group The Damned, released on October 22, 1976. It was the first single by a British punk group, and was released in the Netherlands, Germany, and France in 1977....
") - Richard HellRichard HellRichard Hell is a singer, songwriter, bass guitarist, and writer.Richard Hell was an innovator of punk music and fashion. He was one of the first to spike his hair and wear torn, cut and drawn-on shirts, often held together with safety pins...
– "You Gotta Lose" – (b side of BUY 7 "Another World" / "Blank Generation") - Plummet AirlinesPlummet AirlinesPlummet Airlines, was a British pub rock band of the mid 1970s, which was originally formed in Nottingham. Band members later joined The Pogues and Darts.-History:...
– "This Is The World" – (b side of BUY 8 "Silver Shirt") - Motörhead – "Leaving Here" (a side of BUY 9 (b side "White Line FeverWhite Line Fever (song)"White Line Fever" is a song written by Motörhead in 1977. it was chosen as the B-side of their debut single, "Leaving Here" and appeared later on the band's eponymous Motörhead album.The song is credited to Eddie Clarke, Lemmy and Phil Taylor....
")) - Elvis CostelloElvis CostelloElvis Costello , born Declan Patrick MacManus, is an English singer-songwriter. He came to prominence as an early participant in London's pub rock scene in the mid-1970s and later became associated with the punk/New Wave genre. Steeped in word play, the vocabulary of Costello's lyrics is broader...
– "Radio Sweetheart" (b side of BUY 11 "Less Than ZeroLess Than Zero (song)"Less Than Zero" is the eighth track on Elvis Costello's debut album My Aim Is True, and the first Costello single that Stiff Records released.In the liner notes to the Rhino edition of the album, Costello writes:...
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