It's about time someone noticed. We were all put through a lot of shit back in those days from record company creeps with overblown opinions of themselves. Most of them are gone now but this music isn't.

super job again Caryn, and I agree it's a pretty great collection. My opinion of early Mink DeVille is much higher than yours though that is not a song I would have picked, maybe "Spanish Stroll" or "She's So Tough."

I agree that overall the CBGB's album is pretty bad, mostly second and third-raters, but I have a real soft spot for it too: it introduced me to said Mink DeVille, the Shirts, and Robert Gordon (via Tuff Darts).

If you've got the dough, eight of this set's 14 songs (and lots more) can be found on Rhino's superlative four-disc No Thanks: The 70s Punk Rebellion, a box set I have played so often since Santa dropped it off in Christmas `03 that it's now hard to imagine daily life without it. The same is almost, but not quite, as true of Santa's `04 CARE package: Left of the Dial: Dispatches from the '80s Underground.

I agree with Rodney -- that the Rhino collection is the definitive one. Major difference is that the Rhino one costs $65 vs. something like $15, or so, for the Koch release. The Rhino one is well worth it, though. Covers everyone here and abroad -- but doesn't include Sex Pistols. Pardon my plug but my very own 2 X 5 will be reissued on Sanctuary in May for the first time on CD. Mine is more garage oriented. I think each and every one of you should buy it! I need a new porsche.

thanks Marty, I look forwrd to it!

You can't compare a single disc anthology with a multiple-disc one, c'mon, gimme a break. :)

The Tuff Darts comment now reminds me of the one song that I consider essential that isn't on here: "All For The Love Of Rock and Roll". So, touche, Eric, and thanks. (But I could never forgive that compilation for Just Water!)

I am THRILLED that 2x5 is being reissued. I had it on tape, and said tape has long since ceased to be listenable. At one point, that was one of the coolest things I owned. And the reissue is yet another sign that Sanctuary has its shit together.

Caryn,

You said the Velvets never played at CBGB's, and I think you're right. But I was thumbing through Sting's new bio over the weekend and he said they had. I think he was confused. I always thought CBGB's started well after the Velvets had folded.

All due respect (I guess) to Sting, but he's wrong. :)

Velvets never played CBGB's but John Cale did many times.

Caryn -- email me. I have something to tell you. Thanks.
MT

Rodney -- you might have mistakenly interpreted Sting's bio. The Police DID play CB's -- maybe that's what he said.

"Why Are They On Here"? Hmmm,well as for
"The Mumps",I don't know.But they sound
pretty good at a retrospective listen.
"Crocodile Tears" is a killer power pop
tune.Bandleader Lance Loud was a "R N R"
transplant from Calif. and did not have
much to do with the early NYC Punk scene
at all.

As for Mink DeVille, they deserve their
place in the pantheon.Their sound was &
still is unique and they dont sound like
anyone else.Their first two albums still
hold up quite nicely not sounding dated
or self consciously "Hip" like some of
their peers on the Koch disc.Back before
"Punk Rock" became just another boring
and formulaic genre taking up bin space
in your local retail/chain store,it used
to celebrate diversity and take pride in
sounding original and being creative.One
listen to Mink DeVille and you can hear
the influences of The Velvets,Stones,50s
R&B,Reggae,Brill Building Pop and more.
The same influences permeating the work
of Blondie,The Void-Oids,Dolls,Ramones &
all the rest of the best NYC bands,just
filtered differently that's all.

An early NYC punk band that never shows
up on any Punk type comps on the N.Y.C.
scene is "The Testors" featuring Sonny
Vincent on guitar.They totally kick ass
& Sonny is seriously underrated .He's up
there with Thunders,R.Quine,Jody Harris
from The Raybeats and other NYC classic
punk rock players. Marty Thau probably
knows him. I saw him play once with Moe
Tucker about 6 or 7 years back & he was
in-f'ing-credible.Seriously.

Sounds like a good'un - I'd buy it, but I think I have every band/song you mentioned on vinyl or CD.

I agree it was stretching the point a bit to have the Mumps on there - I think of them more as a Max's band than a CB's band. But nowadays, the Mumps are *perceived* (by the younger folks) as having been a CB's band even though they kind of only were one much later. There's also the distinct possibility that the Koch folks are trying to make this comp. of interest to the American Power Pop revival contingent. Those kids now view the Mumps as being one of THE most influential bands of the time!

As to Mink DeVille, I'd have to vote with Eric Olsen - they absolutely do deserve to be here, and deserve much more credit than they ever got, but "Spanish Stroll" or "So Tough" would have been better choices.

Marty -- I'm referring to a passage where he stated the Velvets played at CBGB. I don't doubt the Police did.

The bottom line - Marty is correct, and Sting is an idiot and has a bad editor! :-) The Velvets played Max's but they never played CB's.

I'm sorry, but with all due respect to Sting, he's not someone I'd consider a reliable information source as to New York City punk rock history, let alone CB's punk rock history. Musicians can't tell you where *they* are playing the next night, and are notoriously wrong in remembering their own history in terms of where they've played - I'd never ask a musician or rely on their memory, with very very few exceptions. This is not one of them.

The Velvets were long over before CB's started having rock bands on a regular basis, starting with (if I remember correctly) Television. It's a simple matter of history.

Go consult any book on the Velvet Underground - there are several - but stop beating the horse into the ground because the Almighty Sting said something. HE'S WRONG.

It's great that the amazing 2x5 album is being released on CD.
I think it is the best compilation of New York bands from that era.

Hopefully The Student Teachers (one of the 2x5 bands) will also have a CD of their own soon!
Check out the new website: http://www.thestudentteachers.com/

Marty, very happy that 2x5 is being re-issued. I played the crap out of that and went on to follow a couple of the bands with the Fleshtones being one of my faves.
I look forward to getting it.

Any other comps up your sleeve?

We are looking to expand and develope links with other artists to restore if not revitalise the untamed "RAW" ocean of art. Tune into our web site and tell us what you think. WEBSITE= www.seaspiritvibes.com

I think Tuff Darts should have been represented here (if you're going to leave off the Dolls, but list Thunders twice, at least include Peter Jordan, too!)

Also, to nitpick, both Nico and Cale played CBGB's, and there are live releases by both from said venue.

re: Deville - "Change It Comes" would have been an equally suitable track selection, but I do like how "Let Me Dream...." was preceded by "X-Offender" and followed by "Born to Lose" in the track order: thematic bookends with a meaty, beaty, big and bouncy mid-textual bridge.

Overall, the track order is very well done, even if redundant (see: Heartbreakers, Voidoids, Thunders) but such redundancy is also to fleshout and illustrate that this was no less of a million dollar sound, even if from the New Yorky City Underground.

To borrow from Paul Westerberg, How young are you(Caryn), that you never made it to Max's? Did you ever make it to Mudd?

Anyway... I remember when Peter Jordan would work, now and again, at Bleecker Bob's. Ditto, Lenny Kaye.

And, to reiterate, Tuff Darts should have been on this otherwise fine compilation.