Album review: EDDIE and THE HOT RODS – The Singles 1976-85 (2 CDs)

October 16th, 2022 by brianmc

Cherry Red [release date: 14.10.22]

So much crammed into these two Eddie and The Hot Rods’ compilation CDs. So much history here. Of the band, of the nascent sound of Punk. Of the talent that flowed through the various line-ups. The ones who stayed, the ones who moved on.

Every A and B side released by these “Canvey Island R&B legends” is here. 40 tracks in chronological order.

The legendary ‘Live At The Marquee’ EP is the one that first gained the band wider public attention. Apart from the covers of ’96 Tears’, the song that ? and The Mysterians made a career out of, and a raw, racous cover of Them’s ‘Gloria’ (written by Van Morrison), the Quo like ‘Teenage Depression’ stands out. It entered the UK Charts Top 50 in 1976, and got the band onto Top Of The Pops. The then Holy Grail of best selling popular music.

The hits just kept on coming, bouncing about the UK Top Forty, then the one we all remember them for, ‘Do Anything You Wanna Do’ made the Top Ten. Real recognition.

They are all here on these two discs, along with great pub rock/proto punk songs that didn’t chart, like ‘Like On The Line’ and ‘Power and The Glory’.

The booklet that accompanies the set is an example of how to do it and get right. Each single is remembered through an impressive array of detailed notes, plus a colour reproduction of the sleeve art.

Current members and former members all get a mention. All 26 of them, including Eddie.

Cherry Red has excelled itself here. ****

Brian McGowan

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