Track Listing

1. Orgasm Addict
2. What Do I Get
3. I Don't Mind
4. Love You More
5. Ever Fallen In Love (With Someone You Shouldn'T'Ve)
6. Promises
7. Everybody's Happy Nowadays
8. Harmony In My Head
9. You Say You Don't Love Me
10. Are Everything
11. Strange Thing
12. Running Free
13. What Ever Happened To?
14. Oh Shit
15. Autonomy
16. Noise Annoys
17. Just Lust
18. Lipstick
19. Why Can't I Touch It
20. Something's Gone Wrong Again
21. Raison D'Etre
22. Why She's A Girl From The Chainstore
23. Airwaves
24. What Do You Know

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #2807 in Music
• Released on: 2001-08-20
• Number of discs: 1
• Formats: Extra tracks, Original recording remastered
• Dimensions: .22 pounds

Amazon.co.uk Review
The Buzzcocks were proud proponents of late-1970s punk rock, with a name designed to shock and song titles like "Oh Shit?" and "Orgasm Addict" (both of which appear on this singles collection) . But in retrospect, it's easier to see what else they accomplished--some of the catchiest, most provocative pop singles ever. Pete Shelley expressed heartbreak and frustration ("Ever fallen in love with someone you shouldn't have fallen in love with?" goes the catchy chorus on their biggest hit) without falling victim to lovey-dovey clichés. This definitive 1979 collection nicely captures the Manchester quartet's tight melodies, economic writing and appropriately fast pace. --Steve Knopper

CD Description
The Buzzcocks emerged from Manchester's thriving punk enclave with a succession of startling pop singles. Tight melodies and highly memorable hooklines were enveloped in a breathless group sound full of purpose and drive which contrasted with singer Pete Shelly's dispassionate, almost throwaway, delivery. These eight singles, both a-sides and flips, covereda variety of subject matter, from masturbation ('Orgasm Addict') to 1981 nuspeak ('Everybody's Happy Nowadays'), without recourse to obfuscation. Such seminal recordings have ensured the Buzzcocks' place in a lineage just a bit below the Kinks and the Smiths as one of the best purveyors of the 45 rpm.

Customer Reviews

Manchester's finest!
Long before the Stone Roses were the darlings of the Manchester indie scene, the Buzzcocks were writing and playing some of the best music in the country. In the late 70's they wrote some of the best love songs ever to be played under the banner of 'punk', and they make the so-called 'punk' bands of the 21st century look like the third-rate metal bands with guitarists that can't solo that they are.

I was tempted to take a star away for the inclusion of a few later tracks that aren't as good quality as the others (i.e. 'Why She's A Girl From The Chainstore' et al.) that weren't on the original release of the CD. However, I can easily forgive that due to the fantastic songs that make up the rest of the album.

From the teen anthem 'Ever Fallen In Love', through the heartache of 'Promises', to the naive optimism of 'Everybody's Happy Nowadays' and the harsher Steve Diggle vocal on 'Harmony In My Head' you simply cannot help but love these songs.

Great band; great singles
An utterly fantastic collection.

The Buzzcocks were masters of those three minute soap operas (on black vinyl)that we used to spend 99 pence a throw on back in the seventies.

They started as part of the punk movement, but went on to go beyond this, practically inventing the concept of power pop on their own with tight singles with great tunes and a good dose of camp.

Most of the Buzzcocks albums were bitty. This great collection represents them at their best. No filler guaranteed!

Timeless Classic
Every serious music fan needs to have a copy of this album. Buzzcocks were so influential on the punk scene, but have also extended their influence to the modern day, with many new groups citing them as an influence. Their quirky and short melodic-punk classics from the early days are all captured on this single collection. It's also worth catching up with their new releases as their recent writing has been as good as, if not even better, than the early days!