While not being outside the realms of reason for there being variations upon this theme in the future it’d be hard to argue that this doesn’t adhere to its title like a well-trained platoon of paratroopers. Short of buying all the full-length albums that these songs are from or a box-set being released (watch out!), this is a comprehensive 34 track colossus from the Bowery’s bowels comprised of the expected roll-call of classics (Gun Club, Blondie, The Cramps, Television, Thunders etc), a brief history of grime (MC5, Stooges, Dolls, Velvets), a few crooked cast-offs hauled from wreckages and crevices (Mars, Bush Tetra, The Waitresses) and curios such as John Cale’s stunning cobweb covered version of ‘Hearbreak Hotel, definitely NOT to be confused with those earlier CBGB’s comps that featured alongside two Mink De Ville songs a crock of shite so bad that I can’t even be bothered to go and check what the bands were. If you’ve heard them you’ll know what I mean. Oh well, Tuff Darts AOR-KISS ‘Nutbush Cty Limits’ caboodle of the crap they sing about on ‘Fun City’ features here but it does say definitive so our compiling hosts have delved deep and made shit as welcome as it was courtesy of owner Hilly Kristal’s pooch alongside brilliance that now seems almost everyday.
__________________________________________________

- Stu Gibson