Stiff, Stiffer, Stiffest: A Stiff Records Collection CD

There are no cuts from Elvis Costello or the Damned on Madness on Metro's Stiff, Stiffer, Stiffest, and while they're missed, along with several obscurities, that doesn't change that this is a fine single-disc encapsulation of what made Stiff Records so weird, wild, and wonderful. They were hardly what you could call a consistent label, but that was their charm -- they soared to unbelievable heights and crashed to unknowable depths, and were usually endearing, no matter which way they moved. Several of the greatest peaks are here -- Nick Lowe's "Heart of the City," Lene Lovich's "Lucky Number," Wreckless Eric's "Whole Wide World," Tracey Ullman's "Breakaway," Tenpole Tudor's "Swords of a Thousand Men," Adverts' "One Chord Wonders" -- and instead of crashes, there is a head-spinning array of variety, from the ska-punk of the Members, the hard-rocking Pink Fairies, the Mint Juleps' new wave reworking of "Jimmy Mack," Jona Lewie's bizarre "Stop the Cavalry," and Roogalator's funky jam, "Cincinnati Fatback." This might not add up to the definitive single-disc statement on Stiff, but it sure gives a good idea of what the label was all about, and it's a lot of fun. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine

Recorded in the 1970's.

Performers include: Ian Dury, Nick Lowe, The Rumour, Elvis Costello, Wreckless Eric, The Damned.

Audio Mixer: Peter Solley.

Liner Note Author: Joe Cushley.

Includes: Nick Lowe, Tracey Ullman, Rachel Sweet, Wreckless Eric, Kirsty MacColl, Tenpole Tudor, Jona Lewie, Lene Lovich & many more.Q (4/01, p.115) - 3 stars out of 5 - "...Here classics...rub shoulders with dated anomalies and novelties such as Lene Lovitch's 'Lucky Number'..."